1
Neno hili ndilo lililomjia Yeremia, kutoka kwa Bwana, baada ya wakati ule Nebuzaradani, amiri wa askari walinzi, alipomwacha aende zake toka Rama, baada ya kumchukua hali ya kufungwa minyororo, pamoja na wafungwa wote wa Yerusalemu na Yuda, waliochukuliwa hali ya kufungwa mpaka Babeli.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
2
Naye amiri wa askari walinzi akamtwaa Yeremia, akamwambia, Bwana, Mungu wako, alitamka mabaya haya juu ya mahali hapa;
The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster on this place,
3
naye Bwana ameyaleta, na kufanya kama alivyosema; kwa sababu mmemwasi Bwana, wala hamkuitii sauti yake; ndiyo maana neno hili limewajia ninyi.
and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you.
4
Na sasa, tazama, nakufungulia leo minyororo hii iliyo mikononi mwako. Kama ukiona ni vema kwenda Babeli pamoja nami, haya! Njoo, nami nitakutunza sana; lakini kama ukiona ni vibaya kwenda Babeli pamoja nami, basi, acha; tazama, nchi yote i mbele yako; palipo pema machoni pako na pa kukufaa, enenda huko.
But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”
5
Alipokuwa bado hajaenda, akasema, Rudi sasa kwa Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, mwana wa Shafani, ambaye mfalme wa Babeli amemweka kuwa liwali juu ya miji ya Yuda, ukakae pamoja naye kati ya watu; au enenda po pote utakapoona mwenyewe kuwa pakufaa. Basi, amiri wa askari walinzi akampa vyakula na zawadi, akamwacha aende zake.
But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.
6
Basi, Yeremia akaenda kwa Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, huko Mizpa, akakaa pamoja naye kati ya watu wale waliosalia katika nchi.
So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
7
Kisha, wakuu wote wa majeshi waliokuwa katika bara, wao na watu wao, waliposikia kwamba mfalme wa Babeli amemweka Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, kuwa liwali juu ya nchi, na kwamba amemkabidhi wanaume na wanawake na watoto, na baadhi ya maskini wa nchi wasiochukuliwa mateka Babeli;
When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon,
8
ndipo wakamwendea Gedalia huko Mizpa; nao ni hawa, Ishmaeli, mwana wa Nethania, na Yohana na Yonathani, wana wa Karea, na Seraya, mwana wa Tanhumethi, na wana wa Efai, Mnetofa, na Yezania, mwana wa Mmaaka, wao na watu wao.
they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
9
Na Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, mwana wa Shafani, akawaapia wao na watu wao, akisema, Msiogope kuwatumikia Wakaldayo; kaeni katika nchi, mkamtumikie mfalme wa Babeli; nayo itawafaa.
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
10
Na mimi, tazama, nitakaa Mizpa, ili nisimame mbele ya Wakaldayo watakaotujilia; lakini ninyi chumeni divai, na matunda ya wakati wa jua, na mafuta, mkaviweke vitu hivyo katika vyombo vyenu, mkakae katika miji yenu mliyoitwaa.
As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”
11
Kadhalika waliposikia Wayahudi wote, waliokuwa katika Moabu, na kati ya wana wa Amoni, na hao waliokuwa katika Edomu, na hao waliokuwa katika nchi zote, ya kuwa mfalme wa Babeli amewaachia Yuda mabaki, na ya kuwa amemweka Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, mwana wa Shafani, juu yao;
When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them,
12
basi, Wayahudi wote wakarudi kutoka kila mahali walikofukuzwa wakaenda mpaka nchi ya Yuda, wakamwendea Gedalia huko Mizpa, wakakusanya divai, na matunda ya wakati wa jua mengi sana.
they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.
13
Tena Yohana, mwana wa Karea, na wakuu wote wa majeshi ya barani, wakamwendea Gedalia huko Mizpa,
Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
14
wakamwambia, Je! Una habari wewe ya kuwa Baalisi, mfalme wa wana wa Amoni, amemtuma Ishmaeli mwana wa Nethania, akuue? Lakini Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, hakusadiki neno hili.
and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15
Basi, Yohana, mwana wa Karea, akamwambia Gedalia huko Mizpa kwa siri, akisema, Niache niende nikampige Ishmaeli, mwana wa Nethania, wala hapana mtu atakayejua jambo hili; kwani akuue wewe, hata wakatawanyike Wayahudi waliokukusanyikia, na mabaki ya Yuda wakaangamie?
Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”
16
Lakini Gedalia, mwana wa Ahikamu, akamwambia Yohana, mwana wa Karea, Usilitende jambo hili, maana unamsingizia Ishmaeli.
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”