Israeli Amwacha Mungu
12:1 Isa 38:4; Eze 1:3Neno la Bwana lilinijia kusema, 22:2 Za 71:17; Eze 16:8; Kut 13:21; Hos 2:15; Ufu 2:4; Isa 54:4; Yer 3:4; Kum 1:29“Nenda ukahubiri masikioni mwa watu wa Yerusalemu:
“ ‘Nakumbuka moyo wako wa uchaji katika ujana wako,
jinsi ulivyonipenda kama bibi arusi
na kunifuata katika jangwa lile lote,
katika nchi isiyopandwa mbegu.
32:3 Kut 19:6; Yak 1:18; Kum 7:6; Law 23:9-14; Yer 10:25; Ufu 14:4; Yer 30:16; 50:7Israeli alikuwa mtakatifu kwa Bwana,
kama malimbuko ya kwanza ya mavuno yake;
wote waliowaangamiza walihesabiwa kuwa na hatia,
nayo maafa yaliwakumba,’ ”
asema Bwana.
4Sikia neno la Bwana, ee nyumba ya Yakobo,
nanyi nyote jamaa za nyumba ya Israeli.
52:5 2Fal 17:15; Rum 1:21; Isa 44:9; Kum 32:21; 1Sam 12:21; Za 31:9Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana:
“Je, baba zenu waliona kosa gani kwangu,
hata wakatangatanga mbali nami hivyo?
Walifuata sanamu zisizofaa,
nao wenyewe wakawa hawafai.
62:6 Hos 13:4; Kum 18:5; 32:10; Kut 6:6; Yer 51:43Hawakuuliza, ‘Yuko wapi Bwana,
aliyetupandisha kutoka Misri
na kutuongoza kupitia nyika kame,
kupitia nchi ya majangwa na mabonde,
nchi ya ukame na giza,
nchi ambayo hakuna mtu asafiriye ndani yake
wala hakuna mtu aishiye humo?’
72:7 Hes 13:27; Kum 11:10-12; Za 106:34-39; Kum 8:7-9; Yer 7:30; 16:18; Eze 36:17Niliwaleta katika nchi yenye wingi wa vitu
ili mpate kula matunda yake
na utajiri wa mazao yake.
Lakini mkaja na kuinajisi nchi yangu,
na kuufanya urithi wangu chukizo.
82:8 2Sam 2:12; Rum 2:20; 1Fal 18:22; Yer 23:13; Isa 40:19; Yer 4:22; 3:15; 9:14Makuhani hawakuuliza,
‘Yuko wapi Bwana?’
Wale wanaoshughulikia sheria hawakunijua mimi;
viongozi waliasi dhidi yangu.
Manabii walitabiri kwa jina la Baali,
wakifuata sanamu zisizofaa.
92:9 Isa 3:13; Mik 6:2; Eze 20:35-36; Yer 25:31“Kwa hiyo naleta tena mashtaka dhidi yako,”
asema Bwana.
“Nami nitaleta mashtaka dhidi ya watoto wa watoto wako.
102:10 Mwa 10:4; 25:13Vuka, nenda ngʼambo mpaka pwani ya Kitimu2:10 Kitimu hapa ni Kipro, kisiwa katika Bahari ya Mediterania. nawe uangalie,
tuma watu waende Kedari, wachunguze kwa makini,
uone kama kumekuwepo kitu kama hiki.
112:11 Gal 4:8; Isa 37:19; Za 106:20; Rum 1:23; Kum 4:5-9; 1Sam 4:21; Yer 16:20Je, taifa limebadili miungu yake wakati wowote?
(Hata ingawa hao si miungu kamwe.)
Lakini watu wangu wamebadili Utukufu wao
kwa sanamu zisizofaa kitu.
12Shangaeni katika hili, ee mbingu,
nanyi tetemekeni kwa hofu kuu,”
asema Bwana.
132:13 Za 36:9; Yn 4:14; Yer 17:13; Kum 31:16; Isa 65:11; 12:3“Watu wangu wametenda dhambi mbili:
Wameniacha mimi,
niliye chemchemi ya maji yaliyo hai,
nao wamejichimbia visima vyao wenyewe,
visima vilivyobomoka, visivyoweza kuhifadhi maji.
142:14 Kut 4:22; Yer 31:9Je, Israeli ni mtumishi, yaani mtumwa kwa kuzaliwa?
Kwa nini basi amekuwa mateka?
152:15 Yer 4:7; 50:17; 2Fal 25:9; Law 26:43Simba wamenguruma;
wamemngurumia.
Wameifanya nchi yake kuwa ukiwa;
miji yake imeteketezwa, nayo imeachwa haina watu.
162:16 Isa 19:13; Yer 43:7-9Pia watu wa Memfisi2:16 Memfisi kwa Kiebrania ni Nofu. na Tahpanhesi2:16 Tahpanhesi ni mji katika nchi ya Misri.
wamevunja taji ya kichwa chako.
172:17 Yer 4:18; Isa 1:28; Yer 17:13; 19:4Je, hukujiletea hili wewe mwenyewe
kwa kumwacha Bwana, Mungu wako
alipowaongoza njiani?
182:18 Isa 30:2; Hos 13:3; Eze 17:15; 2Fal 16:7; Hos 5:13; 7:11; Isa 7:20Sasa kwa nini uende Misri
kunywa maji ya Shihori?2:18 Kijito kinachoelekeza maji katika Mto Naili.
Nawe kwa nini kwenda Ashuru
kunywa maji ya Mto Frati?
192:19 Hos 14:4; Isa 59:12; Yer 14:7; Kut 19:5; Ay 20:14; Amo 8:10; Yer 3:11; 19:4Uovu wako utakuadhibu;
kurudi nyuma kwako kutakukemea.
Basi kumbuka, utambue
jinsi lilivyo ovu na chungu kwako
unapomwacha Bwana Mungu wako
na kutokuwa na hofu yangu,”
asema Bwana, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
202:20 Law 26:13; Yer 3:23; Kum 12:2; Yer 5:5; Ay 21:14; Isa 57:7; Eze 16:15; Isa 1:12“Zamani nilivunja nira yako
na kukatilia mbali vifungo vyako;
ukasema, ‘Sitakutumikia!’
Naam kweli, kwenye kila kilima kirefu
na chini ya kila mti uliotanda matawi yake
ulijilaza kama kahaba.
212:21 Kut 15:17; Za 80:8; Mk 12:1; Isa 5:4Nilikupanda ukiwa mzabibu ulio bora sana,
mkamilifu na wa mbegu nzuri.
Ilikuwaje basi ukawa kinyume nami,
ukaharibika na kuwa mzabibu mwitu?
222:22 Za 51:2; Ay 9:30; Mao 1:8, 17; Yer 17:1Hata ujisafishe kwa magadi
na kutumia sabuni nyingi,
bado doa la hatia yako liko mbele zangu,”
asema Bwana Mwenyezi.
232:23 Yer 23:27; Mwa 3:12-13; Rum 3:19; 2Fal 23:10; Yer 31:22; Mit 30:12; Yer 9:14“Wawezaje kusema, ‘Mimi si najisi,
sijawafuata Mabaali’?
Kumbuka jinsi ulivyotenda kule bondeni;
fikiri uliyoyafanya.
Wewe ni ngamia jike mwenye mbio
ukikimbia hapa na pale,
242:24 Mwa 16:12; Yer 14:6; Ay 39:6punda-mwitu aliyezoea jangwa,
anayenusa upepo katika tamaa yake kubwa:
katika wakati wake wa kuhitaji mbegu
ni nani awezaye kumzuia?
Madume yoyote yanayomfuatilia
hayana haja ya kujichosha;
wakati wa kupandwa kwake watampata tu.
252:25 Isa 57:10; Kum 32:16; Yer 3:13; 14:10Usikimbie hadi miguu yako iwe haina viatu,
na koo lako liwe limekauka.
Lakini ulisema, ‘Haina maana!
Ninaipenda miungu ya kigeni,
nami lazima niifuatie.’
26“Kama vile mwizi aaibikavyo wakati amekamatwa,
hivyo ndivyo nyumba ya Israeli inavyoaibishwa:
wao wenyewe, wafalme wao na maafisa wao,
makuhani wao na manabii wao.
272:27 Yer 32:33; Eze 7:22; Isa 26:16; Yer 10:8; 9:3; 1Fal 14:9; 2Nya 29:9Wanaiambia miti, ‘Wewe ndiwe baba yangu,’
nalo jiwe, ‘Wewe ndiwe uliyenizaa.’
Wamenipa visogo vyao
wala hawakunigeuzia nyuso zao;
lakini wakiwa katika taabu, wanasema,
‘Njoo utuokoe!’
282:28 Isa 45:20; Kum 32:37; 2Fal 17:29; Isa 40:19Iko wapi basi ile miungu mliyojitengenezea?
Yenyewe na ije kama inaweza kuwaokoa
wakati mko katika taabu!
Kwa maana mna miungu mingi
kama mlivyo na miji, ee Yuda.
292:29 Dan 9:11; Mik 3:11; Yer 6:13; Mik 7:2“Kwa nini mnaleta mashtaka dhidi yangu?
Ninyi nyote mmeniasi,”
asema Bwana.
302:30 Neh 9:26; 2Nya 36:16; Mdo 7:52; 1The 2:15; Yer 11:21; Law 26:23“Nimeadhibu watu wako bure tu,
hawakujirekebisha.
Upanga wako umewala manabii wako
kama simba mwenye njaa.
312:31 Isa 45:19; Ay 21:14“Enyi wa kizazi hiki, tafakarini neno la Bwana:
“Je, nimekuwa jangwa kwa Israeli
au nchi ya giza kuu?
Kwa nini watu wangu wanasema, ‘Sisi tuko huru kuzurura,
hatutarudi kwako tena’?
32Je, mwanamwali husahau vito vyake,
au bibi arusi mapambo yake ya arusi?
Lakini watu wangu wamenisahau mimi,
tena kwa siku zisizo na hesabu.
33Je, wewe una ustadi kiasi gani katika kufuatia mapenzi!
Hata wale wanawake wabaya kuliko wote
wanaweza kujifunza kutokana na njia zako.
342:34 Yer 19:4; Mit 6:17; Kut 22:2; 2Fal 21:16Katika nguo zako watu huona
damu ya uhai ya maskini wasio na hatia,
ingawa hukuwakamata wakivunja nyumba.
Lakini katika haya yote
352:35 Mit 28:13; Eze 17:20; 2Sam 12:13; 1Yn 1:8-10; Mit 30:12; Isa 66:16; Yer 25:31unasema, ‘Sina hatia;
Mungu hajanikasirikia.’
Lakini nitakuhukumu kwa sababu unasema,
‘Mimi sijatenda dhambi.’
362:36 Yer 31:22; Hos 5:13; Za 108:12; Isa 30:2-7; Yer 37:7Kwa nini unatangatanga sana,
kubadili njia zako?
Utakatishwa tamaa na Misri
kama ulivyokatishwa na Ashuru.
372:37 2Sam 13:19; Yer 37:7Pia utaondoka mahali hapo
ukiwa umeweka mikono kichwani,
kwa kuwa Bwana amewakataa wale unaowatumainia;
hutasaidiwa nao.
Israel Deserts the Lord
1A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 2“Go. Announce my message to the people in Jerusalem. I want everyone to hear it. Tell them,
“Here is what the Lord says.
“ ‘I remember how faithful you were to me when you were young.
You loved me as if you were my bride.
You followed me through the desert.
Nothing had been planted there.
3Your people were holy to me.
They were the first share of my harvest.
All those who destroyed them were held guilty.
And trouble came to their enemies,’ ”
announces the Lord.
4People of Jacob, hear the Lord’s message.
Listen, all you tribes of Israel.
5The Lord says,
“What did your people of long ago find wrong with me?
Why did they wander so far away from me?
They worshiped worthless statues of gods.
Then they themselves became worthless.
6They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?
He brought us up out of Egypt.
He led us through a dry and empty land.
He guided us through deserts and deep valleys.
It was a land of total darkness where there wasn’t any rain.
No one lived or traveled there.’
7But I brought you into a land that has rich soil.
I gave you its fruit and its finest food.
In spite of that, you made my land impure.
You turned it into something I hate.
8The priests did not ask,
‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who taught my law did not know me.
The leaders refused to obey me.
The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal.
They worshiped worthless statues of gods.
9“So I am bringing charges against you again,”
announces the Lord.
“And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10Go over to the coasts of Cyprus and look.
Send people to the land of Kedar and have them look closely.
See if there has ever been anything like this.
11Has a nation ever changed its gods?
Actually, they are not even gods at all.
But my people have traded away their glorious God.
They have traded me for worthless statues of gods.
12Sky above, be shocked over this.
Tremble with horror,”
announces the Lord.
13“My people have sinned twice.
They have deserted me,
even though I am the spring of water that gives life.
And they have dug their own wells.
But those wells are broken.
They can’t hold any water.
14Are you people of Israel servants?
You were not born as slaves, were you?
Then why have you been carried off like stolen goods?
15Lions have roared.
They have growled at you.
They have destroyed your land.
Your towns are burned and deserted.
16The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have cracked your skulls.
17Haven’t you brought this on yourselves?
I am the Lord your God, but you deserted me.
You left me even while I was leading you.
18Why do you go to Egypt
to drink water from the Nile River?
Why do you go to Assyria
to drink from the Euphrates River?
19You will be punished because you have sinned.
You will be corrected for turning away from me.
I am the Lord your God.
If you desert me, bad things will happen to you.
If you do not respect me, you will suffer bitterly.
I want you to understand that,”
announces the Lord who rules over all.
20“Long ago you broke off the yoke I put on you.
You tore off the ropes I tied you up with.
You said, ‘I won’t serve you!’
In fact, on every high hill
you lay down like a prostitute.
You worshiped other gods under every green tree.
21You were like a good vine when I planted you.
You were a healthy plant.
Then how did you turn against me?
How did you become a bad, wild vine?
22You might wash yourself with soap.
You might use plenty of strong soap.
But I can still see the stains your guilt covers you with,”
announces the Lord and King.
23“You say, ‘I am “clean.”
I haven’t followed the gods that are named Baal.’
How can you say that?
Remember how you acted in the valley.
Consider what you have done.
You are like a female camel running quickly here and there.
24You are like a wild donkey that lives in the desert.
She smells the wind when she longs for a mate.
Who can hold her back?
The males that run after her do not need to wear themselves out.
At mating time they will easily find her.
25Do not run after other gods
until your sandals are worn out and your throat is dry.
But you said, ‘It’s no use!
I love those gods.
I must go after them.’
26“A thief is dishonored when he is caught.
And you people of Israel are filled with shame.
Your kings and officials are dishonored.
So are your priests and your prophets.
27You say to a piece of wood, ‘You are my father.’
You say to a stone, ‘You are my mother.’
You have turned your backs to me.
You refuse to look at me.
But when you are in trouble, you say,
‘Come and save us!’
28Then where are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come when you are in trouble!
Let them save you if they can!
Judah, you have as many gods
as you have towns.
29“Why do you bring charges against me?
All of you have refused to obey me,”
announces the Lord.
30“I punished your people. But it did not do them any good.
They did not pay attention when they were corrected.
You have killed your prophets by swords.
You have swallowed them up like a hungry lion.
31“You who are now living, consider my message. I am saying,
“Have I been like a desert to Israel?
Have I been like a land of deep darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to wander.
We won’t come to you anymore’?
32Does a young woman forget all about her jewelry?
Does a bride forget her wedding jewels?
But my people have forgotten me
more days than anyone can count.
33You are very skilled at chasing after love!
Even the worst of women can learn from how you act.
34The blood of those you have killed is on your clothes.
You have destroyed poor people who were not guilty.
You did not catch them in the act of breaking in.
In spite of all this,
35you say, ‘I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong.
The Lord isn’t angry with me.’
But I will judge you.
That’s because you say, ‘I haven’t sinned.’
36Why do you keep on
changing your ways so much?
Assyria did not help you.
And Egypt will not help you either.
37So you will also leave Egypt
with your hands tied together above your heads.
I have turned my back on those you trust.
They will not help you.
