Mungu Anakataa Ombi La Sedekia
121:1 2Fal 24:18; 1Nya 9:12; 2Fal 25:18; Yer 37:3; 52:1Neno lilimjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana wakati Mfalme Sedekia alipowatuma Pashuri mwana wa Malkiya, na kuhani Sefania mwana wa Maaseya kwake, kusema: 221:2 Mwa 25:22; Yer 32:5; Za 44:1-4; Yer 32:17; Kut 9:28; 2Fal 22:18; Mwa 10:10“Tuulizie sasa kwa Bwana, kwa sababu Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli anatushambulia. Labda Bwana atatenda maajabu kwa ajili yetu kama nyakati zilizopita, ili Nebukadneza atuondokee.”
3Lakini Yeremia akawajibu, “Mwambieni Sedekia, 421:4 Yer 32:5; 37:8-10; Isa 13:4‘Hili ndilo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Ninakaribia kuwageuzia silaha za vita zilizo mikononi mwenu, ambazo mnatumia kupigana na mfalme wa Babeli na Wakaldayo ambao wako nje ya ukuta wakiwazunguka kwa jeshi. Nami nitawakusanya ndani ya mji huu. 521:5 2Fal 22:13; Yer 6:12; Kut 6:6; 3:20; Yos 10:14; Eze 5:8Mimi mwenyewe nitapigana dhidi yenu kwa mkono wangu ulionyooshwa na mkono wa nguvu, kwa hasira na ghadhabu kali na ukali mwingi. 621:6 Yer 14:12; 7:20Nitawaangamiza waishio katika mji huu, watu na wanyama, nao watauawa kwa tauni ya kutisha. 721:7 Eze 12:14; 2Nya 36:10; Eze 29:19; Hab 1:6; Yer 39:5; 2Fal 25:7; Yer 52:9; 27:6Baada ya hayo, nitamtia Sedekia mfalme wa Yuda, maafisa wake na watu wa mji huu ambao walinusurika tauni, upanga na njaa, mkononi mwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli, na kwa adui zao wale wanaotafuta uhai wao. Atawaua kwa upanga; hatakuwa na rehema juu yao au huruma wala kuwasikitikia,’ asema Bwana.
8“Zaidi ya hayo, waambie watu hawa, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Tazama, naweka mbele yenu njia ya uzima, na njia ya mauti. 921:9 Yer 14:12; Eze 5:12; Yer 39:18; 45:5; 27:11; 40:9; 39:18Yeyote atakayekaa katika mji huu atakufa kwa upanga, njaa au tauni. Lakini yeyote atakayetoka na kujisalimisha kwa Wakaldayo ambao wameuzunguka mji huu kwa jeshi, atanusurika, naye ataishi. 1021:10 Yer 20:4; Amo 9:4; Yer 22:3; Isa 1:31; 42:25Nimekusudia kuufanyia mji huu jambo baya, wala si jema. Utatiwa mikononi mwa mfalme wa Babeli, naye atauteketeza kwa moto, asema Bwana.’
1121:11 Yer 13:18“Zaidi ya hayo, ambia nyumba ya mfalme ya Yuda, ‘Sikia neno la Bwana, 1221:12 Kut 22:22; Yer 22:3; Isa 1:31; 42:25Ewe nyumba ya Daudi, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo:
“ ‘Hukumuni kwa haki kila asubuhi,
mwokoeni mikononi mwa mdhalimu
yeye aliyetekwa nyara,
la sivyo ghadhabu yangu italipuka
na kuwaka kama moto
kwa sababu ya uovu mlioufanya:
itawaka na hakuna wa kuizima.
1321:13 Nah 2:13; Eze 5:8; 2Sam 5:6-7; Oba 1:3-4; Yer 49:4; 23:30; 50:31; 51:25Niko kinyume nawe, ee Yerusalemu,
wewe uishiye juu ya bonde hili
kwenye uwanda wa juu wa miamba,
asema Bwana,
wewe usemaye, “Ni nani awezaye kuja kinyume chetu?
Nani ataingia mahali pa kimbilio letu?”
1421:14 Mit 1:31; Isa 3:10-11; 2Nya 36:19; 2Fal 19:23; Mao 2:3; Eze 20:47; Yer 17:10Nitawaadhibu kama istahilivyo matendo yenu,
asema Bwana.
Nitawasha moto katika misitu yenu
ambao utateketeza kila kitu kinachowazunguka.’ ”
The Lord Refuses Zedekiah’s Appeal
1A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. It came when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur to Jeremiah. Pashhur was the son of Malkijah. Zedekiah sent Zephaniah the priest along with him. Zephaniah was the son of Maaseiah. They said to Jeremiah, 2“Ask the Lord to help us. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. In the past the Lord did wonderful things for us. Maybe he’ll do them again. Then Nebuchadnezzar will pull his armies back from us.”
3But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah and his people, 4‘The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, “The king of Babylon and his armies are all around this city. They are getting ready to attack you. You have weapons of war in your hands to fight against them. But I am about to turn your weapons against you. And I will bring your enemies inside this city. 5I myself will fight against you. I will reach out my powerful hand and mighty arm. I will come against you with all my great anger. 6I will strike down those who live in this city. I will kill people and animals alike. They will die of a terrible plague. 7After that, I will hand you over to your enemies. They want to kill you,” announces the Lord. “I will hand over Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his officials. I will also hand over the people in this city who live through the plague, war and hunger. All of them will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He will kill them with swords. He will show them no mercy. He will not feel sorry for them. In fact, he will not have any concern for them at all.” ’
8“Tell the people, ‘The Lord says, “I am offering you a choice. You can choose the way that leads to life. Or you can choose the way that leads to death. 9Those who stay in this city will die of war, hunger or plague. But suppose some go out and give themselves up to the Babylonians attacking you. They will live. They will escape with their lives. 10I have decided to do this city harm and not good,” announces the Lord. “It will be handed over to the king of Babylon. And he will destroy it with fire.” ’
11“Also speak to Judah’s royal family. Tell them, ‘Listen to the Lord’s message. 12Here is what the Lord says to you who belong to David’s royal house.
“ ‘ “Every morning do what is right and fair.
Save those who have been robbed.
Set them free from the people who have treated them badly.
If you do not, my anger will blaze out against you.
It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done.
No one will be able to put it out.
13Jerusalem, I am against you,”
announces the Lord.
“You live above this valley.
You are on a high, rocky plain.
And you say, ‘Who can come against us?
Who can enter our place of safety?’
14But I will punish you in keeping with what you have done,”
announces the Lord.
“I will start a fire in your forests.
It will burn down everything around you.” ’ ”
