The Word of the Lord to Judah
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
Enenda ukalie masikioni mwa Yerusalemu, ukisema, Bwana asema hivi, Nakukumbuka, hisani ya ujana wako, upendo wa wakati wa uposo wako; Jinsi ulivyonifuata huko jangwani, katika nchi isiyopandwa mbegu.
3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Israeli walikuwa utakatifu kwa Bwana; malimbuko ya uzao wake; Wote watakaomla watakuwa na hatia; uovu utawajilia; asema Bwana.
4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
Lisikieni neno la Bwana, ninyi nyumba ya Yakobo, na ninyi, jamaa zote za nyumba ya Israeli.
5 thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Bwana asema hivi, Baba zenu waliona dhuluma gani kwangu, hata wakafarakana nami, wakafuata ubatili, nao wakawa ubatili?
6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
Wala hawakusema, Yuko wapi Bwana, aliyetutoa katika nchi ya Misri; akatuongoza jangwani, katika nchi ya ukame na mashimo, katika nchi ya kiu na ya kivuli cha mauti, katika nchi ambayo ndani yake hapiti mtu, wala haikukaliwa na watu?
7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
Nami nikawatia katika nchi ya shibe, mpate kula matunda yake na mema yake; lakini ninyi mlipoingia katika nchi ile, mliitia unajisi nchi yangu, na urithi wangu mliufanya kuwa chukizo.
8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Makuhani hawakusema, Yuko wapi Bwana? Wala wana-sheria hawakunijua; wachungaji nao waliniasi, nao manabii walitoa unabii kwa Baali, wakafuata mambo yasiyofaidia kitu.
The Divine Appeal
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
Basi, kwa ajili ya hayo nitateta nanyi, asema Bwana, nami nitateta na watoto wa watoto wenu.
10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
Maana, vukeni mpaka visiwa vya Kitimu, mkaone; tumeni watu waende Kedari, mkafikiri sana; mkaone kwamba jambo kama hili limekuwa wakati wo wote.
11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Je! Taifa wamebadili miungu yao, ingawa siyo miungu? Lakini watu wangu wameubadili utukufu wao kwa ajili ya kitu kisichofaidia.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
Enyi mbingu, staajabuni kwa ajili ya jambo hili, mkaogope sana, na kuwa ukiwa sana, asema Bwana.
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Kwa maana watu wangu hawa wametenda maovu mawili; wameniacha mimi, niliye chemchemi ya maji ya uzima, wamejichimbia mabirika, mabirika yavujayo, yasiyoweza kuweka maji.
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
Je! Israeli ni mtumwa? Je! Ni mzalia? mbona amekuwa mateka?
15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
Wana-simba wamenguruma juu yake, wametoa sana sauti zao; Nao wameifanya nchi yake kuwa ukiwa; miji yake imeteketea, haina watu.
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
Tena wana wa Nofu na Tahpanesi wamevunja utosi wa kichwa chako.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
Je! Hukujipatia mambo haya mwenyewe, kwa kuwa umemwacha Bwana, Mungu wako, alipokuongoza njiani?
18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
Na sasa una nini utakayotenda katika njia iendayo Misri, kunywa maji ya Shihori? Au una nini utakayotenda katika njia iendayo Ashuru, kunywa maji ya ule Mto?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Uovu wako mwenyewe utakurudi, maasi yako yatakukaripia; ujue, basi, ukaone, ya kuwa ni jambo baya sana na uchungu, kuwa umemwacha Bwana, Mungu wako, na ya kuwa moyoni mwako hamna kunihofu, asema Bwana, Bwana wa majeshi.
20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
Kwa maana tangu zamani wewe umeivunja nira yako, na kuvipasua vifungo vyako; ukasema, Mimi sitatumika; kwa maana juu ya kila kilima kirefu, na chini ya kila mti wenye majani mabichi, umejiinamisha, ukafanya mambo ya ukahaba.
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
Nami nalikuwa nimekupanda, mzabibu mwema sana, mbegu nzuri kabisa; umegeukaje, basi, kuwa mche usiofaa wa mzabibu-mwitu machoni pangu?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
Maana ujapojiosha kwa magadi, na kujipatia sabuni nyingi, lakini uovu wako umeandikwa mbele zangu, asema Bwana MUNGU.
23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
Wawezaje kusema, Sikutiwa unajisi, sikuwafuata Mabaali? Itazame njia yako bondeni, ujue uliyoyatenda; wewe u ngamia mwepesi, apitaye katika njia zake;
24 a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
punda wa mwitu aliyeizoelea nyika, avutaye pumzi za upepo katika tamaa yake; katika wakati wake ni nani awezaye kumgeuza? Wote wamtafutao hawatajichokesha nafsi zao; katika mwezi wake watamwona.
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
Zuia mguu wako usikose kiatu, na koo yako isiwe na kiu; lakini wewe ulisema, Hapana matumaini kabisa; la, maana nimewapenda wageni, nami nitawafuata.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
Kama mwivi aonavyo haya akamatwapo, ndivyo waonavyo haya nyumba ya Israeli; wao, na wafalme wao, na wakuu wao, na makuhani wao, na manabii wao;
27 saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
waliambiao gogo la mti, Wewe u baba yangu; na kuliambia jiwe, Ndiwe uliyenizaa; kwa maana wamenipa mimi visogo, wala hawakunielekezea nyuso zao; lakini wakati wa taabu watasema, Simama ukatuokoe.
28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
Lakini wako wapi miungu yako ulioifanya? Na wasimame hao, kama wakiweza kukuokoa wakati wa taabu yako; kwa maana hesabu ya miungu yako ni sawasawa na hesabu ya miji yako, Ee Yuda.
29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
Mbona mnataka kuteta nami? Ninyi nyote mmeniasi, asema Bwana.
30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Nimewapiga watoto wako bure; hawakukubali kurudiwa; upanga wenu wenyewe umewala manabii wako, kama simba aharibuye.
31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
Ee kizazi litazameni neno la Bwana. Je! Nimekuwa jangwa kwa Israeli? Au nchi yenye giza kuu? Mbona watu wangu wanasema, Sisi tumetoroka, hatutaki kuja kwako tena?
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
Je! Mwanamwali aweza kusahau mapambo yake, au bibi arusi mavazi yake? Lakini watu wangu wamenisahau mimi kwa muda wa siku zisizo na hesabu.
33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
Jinsi ulivyoitengeneza njia yako ili kutafuta mapenzi! Kwa sababu hiyo hata wanawake wabaya umewafundisha njia zako.
34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
Tena katika pindo za nguo zako imeonekana damu ya roho zao maskini wasio na hatia; sikuiona penye mahali palipobomoka, lakini naliiona juu ya hawa wote.
35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
Lakini ulisema, Sina hatia mimi; bila shaka hasira yake imegeuka na kuniacha. Tazama, nitaingia hukumuni pamoja nawe, kwa sababu unasema, Sikutenda dhambi mimi.
36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
Mbona unatanga-tanga hivi upate kugeuza mwendo wako? Utaona haya kwa ajili ya Misri pia, kama ulivyoona haya kwa ajili ya Ashuru.
37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
Hata kwake pia utatoka, na mikono yako juu ya kichwa chako; kwa maana Bwana amewakataa uliowakimbilia, wala hutafanikiwa katika hao.
