Worshiping Other Gods Brings Horrible Trouble
1A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. It was about all the Jews living in Lower Egypt. They were living in Migdol, Tahpanhes and Memphis. It was also about all the Jews living in Upper Egypt. 2The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He said, “You saw all the trouble I brought on Jerusalem. I also brought it on all the towns in Judah. Today they lie there deserted and destroyed. 3That’s because of the evil things their people did. They made me very angry. They burned incense to other gods. And they worshiped them. They and you and your people of long ago never knew those gods. 4Again and again I sent my servants the prophets. They said, ‘Don’t worship other gods! The Lord hates it!’ 5But the people didn’t listen. They didn’t pay any attention. They didn’t turn from their sinful ways. They didn’t stop burning incense to other gods. 6So my burning anger was poured out. It blazed out against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. It made them the dry and empty places they are today.”
7The Lord God who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “Why do you want to bring all this trouble on yourselves? You are removing from Judah its men and women, its children and babies. Not one of you will be left. 8Why do you want to make me angry with the gods your hands have made? Why do you burn incense to the gods of Egypt, where you now live? You will destroy yourselves. All the nations on earth will use your name as a curse. They will say you are shameful. 9Have you forgotten the evil things done by your people of long ago? The kings and queens of Judah did those same things. So did you and your wives. They were done in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. 10To this day the people of Judah have not made themselves humble in my sight. They have not shown any respect for me. They have not obeyed my law. They have not followed the rules I gave you and your people of long ago.”
11The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “I have decided to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy the whole land of Judah. 12I will destroy the people of Judah who are left. They had decided to go to Egypt and make their homes there. But all of them will die in Egypt. They will die of war or hunger. All of them will die, from the least important of them to the most important. They will die of war or hunger. People will use their name as a curse. They will be shocked at them. They will say bad things about them. And they will say they are shameful. 13I will use war, hunger and plague to punish the Jews who live in Egypt. I punished Jerusalem in the same way. 14None of the people of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape. Not one of them will live to return to Judah. They long to return and live there. But only a few will escape from Egypt and go back.”
15All the Jews who were living in Lower and Upper Egypt gathered to give Jeremiah their answer. A large crowd had come together. It included men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods. Their wives were there with them. All of them said to Jeremiah, 16“We won’t listen to the message you have spoken to us in the Lord’s name! 17We will certainly do everything we said we would. We’ll burn incense to the female god called the Queen of Heaven. We’ll pour out drink offerings to her. We’ll do just as we and our people of long ago have done. Our kings and our officials also did it. All of us did it in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food. We were well off. We didn’t suffer any harm. 18But then we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven. We stopped pouring out drink offerings to her. And ever since that time we haven’t had anything. Instead, we’ve been dying of war and hunger.”
19The women added, “We burned incense to the Queen of Heaven. We poured out drink offerings to her. And our husbands knew we were making cakes that looked like her. They knew we were pouring out drink offerings to her.”
20Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people who were answering him. He spoke to men and women alike. He said, 21“Didn’t the Lord know you were burning incense in the towns of Judah? Didn’t he care that you were also doing it in the streets of Jerusalem? You and your people of long ago were doing it. Your kings and officials were doing it too. So were the rest of the people in the land. 22The Lord couldn’t put up any longer with the evil things you were doing. He hated the things you did. So your land became a curse. It became a dry and empty desert. No one lived there. And that’s the way it still is today. 23You have burned incense to other gods. You have sinned against the Lord. You haven’t obeyed him or his law. You haven’t followed his rules. You haven’t lived up to the terms of the covenant he made with you. That’s why all this trouble has come on you. You have seen it with your own eyes.”
24Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people. That included the women. He said, “All you people of Judah in Egypt, listen to the Lord’s message. 25The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, ‘You and your wives have done what you promised you would do. You said, “We will certainly keep the promises we made to the Queen of Heaven. We’ll burn incense to her. We’ll pour out drink offerings to her.” ’
“Go ahead then. Do what you said you would! Keep your promises! 26But listen to the Lord’s message. Listen, all you Jews living in Egypt. ‘I make a promise by my own great name,’ says the Lord. ‘Here is what I promise. “No one from Judah who lives anywhere in Egypt will ever again pray in my name. None of them will ever make this promise. They will never say, ‘You can be sure that the Lord and King is alive.’ ” 27I am watching over them to do them harm and not good. The Jews in Egypt will die of war and hunger until all of them are destroyed. 28Some will not be killed. They will return to Judah from Egypt. But they will be very few. Then all the people of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know the truth. They will know whether what I say or what they say will come true.
29“ ‘I will give you a sign that I will punish you in this place,’ announces the Lord. ‘Then you can be sure that my warnings of harm against you will come true.’ 30The Lord says, ‘I am going to hand over Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt. I will hand him over to his enemies who want to kill him. In the same way, I handed over King Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He was the enemy who wanted to kill Zedekiah.’ ”
Maafa Kwa Sababu Ya Ibada Za Sanamu
144:1 Kut 14:2; Yer 43:7-8; Isa 19:13; 11:11; Yer 46:14; Kum 32:42; Yer 24:8Neno hili lilimjia Yeremia kuhusu Wayahudi wote waishio Misri, huko Migdoli, Tahpanhesi na Memfisi,44:1 Memfisi kwa Kiebrania ni Nofu. katika nchi ya Pathrosi44:1 Pathrosi ina maana Misri ya Juu. kusema: 244:2 Law 26:31; Kum 29:23; Mik 3:12; Yer 6:11; 40:5; 2Nya 34:24“Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli: Mliona maangamizi makubwa niliyoyaleta juu ya Yerusalemu na juu ya miji yote ya Yuda. Leo imeachwa ukiwa na magofu 344:3 Hes 25:3; Isa 19:1; Kum 32:17; Yer 19:4; Amu 2:19; Kut 32:22; Hes 11:33; 16:40kwa sababu ya uovu waliokuwa wameufanya. Walinikasirisha kwa kufukiza uvumba na kwa kuabudu miungu mingine ambayo kamwe wao, wala ninyi, wala baba zenu hawakuifahamu. 444:4 Yer 7:13, 25; Hes 11:29; Kum 18; 9; 1Fal 14:24; 1Pet 4:3Tena na tena, niliwatuma watumishi wangu manabii ambao walisema, ‘Msifanye jambo hili la kuchukiza ambalo nalichukia!’ 544:5 Yer 11:8-10; 25:4; Dan 9; 6; Mwa 6:5; 2Tim 2:19; Eze 8:18; 16:18; 23:41Lakini hawakusikiliza wala hawakujali, hawakugeuka ili kuuacha uovu wao, wala hawakuacha kufukiza uvumba kwa miungu mingine. 644:6 Eze 8:18; 20:34; Law 26:31-34; Zek 7:14Kwa hiyo hasira yangu kali ilimwagika, ikawaka dhidi ya miji ya Yuda na barabara za Yerusalemu, na kuifanya ukiwa na magofu kama ilivyo leo.
744:7 Yer 26:19; 51:22; Hes 16:36; Rum 1:23; 2Fal 21:14“Basi hili ndilo Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Kwa nini kujiletea maafa makubwa kama haya juu yenu kwa kujikatilia mbali kutoka Yuda wanaume na wanawake, watoto na wanyonyao, hata kujiacha bila mabaki? 844:8 Isa 40:18-20; Rum 1:23; Yer 44:18; 1Kor 10:22; Za 44:13; Yer 41:5; Kut 12:12Kwa nini kuichochea hasira yangu kwa kile ambacho mikono yenu imekitengeneza, mkaifukizia uvumba miungu mingine huko Misri, mahali mlipokuja kuishi? Mtajiangamiza wenyewe na kujifanya kitu cha kulaania na shutumu miongoni mwa mataifa yote duniani. 944:9 Yer 11:12; 32:32; Amu 2:19; 2Fal 23:11; Mit 31:10; Yer 6:12; 1Fal 21:25Je, mmesahau uovu uliotendwa na baba zenu, na wafalme na malkia wa Yuda, na uovu uliofanywa na ninyi na wake zenu katika nchi ya Yuda na barabara za Yerusalemu? 1044:10 Mit 28:14; Gal 3:19; 2Fal 17:17; 1Fal 9:6-9; Mt 23:12; Flp 2:9; Kum 6:13; Mt 5:17-20Mpaka leo hawajajinyenyekeza au kuonyesha heshima, wala hawajafuata sheria yangu na amri nilizoweka mbele yenu na baba zenu.
1144:11 2Nya 34:24; Amo 9:4; Yer 21:10; Ufu 4:8“Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Mimi nimekusudia kuleta maafa juu yenu, na kuiangamiza Yuda yote. 1244:12 Yer 40:15; Isa 1:28; Zek 8:13; Yer 42:15-18; Kum 28:25; Yer 29:18Nitawaondoa mabaki ya Yuda waliokusudia kwenda Misri kukaa humo. Wote wataangamia huko Misri, wataanguka kwa upanga au kufa kwa njaa. Kuanzia aliye mdogo kabisa hadi aliye mkuu sana, watakufa kwa upanga au njaa. Watakuwa kitu cha kulaania na cha kutisha, cha laumu na shutumu. 1344:13 Yer 42:17; Kut 32:34; Law 26:14-17; Yer 15:2Nitawaadhibu wale waishio Misri kwa upanga, njaa na tauni kama nilivyoiadhibu Yerusalemu. 1444:14 Mao 4:15; Rum 9:27; Yer 22:24-27; 49:5; Eze 6:8Hakuna hata mmoja wa mabaki ya Yuda ambaye amekwenda kuishi Misri atakayeepuka au kunusurika ili kurudi katika nchi ya Yuda, ambayo wanaitamani sana kurudi na kuishi ndani yake, hakuna hata mmoja atakayerudi isipokuwa wakimbizi wachache.”
1544:15 Mit 31:10; Yer 6:12; 18:15Kisha wanaume wote ambao walijua kwamba wake zao walikuwa wakifukiza uvumba kwa miungu mingine, pamoja na wanawake wote waliokuwako, yaani, kusanyiko kubwa na watu wote walioishi nchi ya Misri na Pathrosi, wakamwambia Yeremia, 1644:16 1Sam 8; 19; Ay 15:25-26; Mit 1:24-27; Lk 19; 14; Yer 11:8-11; 42:19“Hatutausikiliza ujumbe uliotuambia katika jina la Bwana! 1744:17 Kum 23:23; Yer 7:18; Hes 30:12; Ay 21:15; Isa 3:9; 65:3; Neh 9:34; Yer 2:26; Hes 11:4-6; Kut 16:3; Hos 2:5-13Hakika tutafanya kila kitu tulichosema tutakifanya: Tutafukiza uvumba kwa Malkia wa Mbinguni na tutammiminia sadaka zetu za kinywaji kama vile sisi na baba zetu, wafalme wetu na maafisa wetu tulivyofanya katika miji ya Yuda na katika barabara za Yerusalemu. Wakati ule tulikuwa na chakula tele, tulikuwa matajiri wala hatukupata dhara lolote. 1844:18 Mal 3:13-15; Law 23:18; Yer 42:16Lakini tangu tulipoacha kumfukizia uvumba Malkia wa Mbinguni na kummiminia sadaka za kinywaji, hatupati chochote, na tumekuwa tukiangamizwa kwa upanga na njaa.”
1944:19 Yer 7:18; 18:15; Efe 5:22; Mwa 3:6; Law 7:12; Mdo 17:29Wanawake wakaongeza kusema, “Wakati tulipomfukizia uvumba Malkia wa Mbinguni na kummiminia sadaka zetu za kinywaji, je, waume zetu hawakujua kwamba tulikuwa tukitengeneza maandazi kwa mfano wake, na kummiminia yeye sadaka za kinywaji?”
20Ndipo Yeremia akawaambia watu wote, wanaume na wanawake waliokuwa wakimjibu, 2144:21 Isa 64:5; Hos 8:13; Yer 11:13; Za 79:8; Yer 14:10; 2:26“Je, Bwana hakukumbuka na kufikiri juu ya uvumba uliofukizwa katika miji ya Yuda na barabara za Yerusalemu na ninyi pamoja na baba zenu, wafalme wenu, maafisa wenu na watu wa nchi? 2244:22 Mwa 19:13; Yer 25:18; Eze 33:28-29; Amo 2:13; Isa 1:14; Za 107:33-34Bwana alipokuwa hawezi kuendelea kuvumilia matendo yenu maovu na mambo ya machukizo mliyoyafanya, nchi yenu ilikuwa kitu cha kulaania na kuachwa ukiwa pasipo wakazi, kama ilivyo leo. 2344:23 Yer 40:2; Law 26:33; Dan 9:11-12; 1Fal 9:6; Law 18:4; Yer 7:13-15; Eze 39:23Kwa sababu mmefukiza uvumba na kufanya dhambi dhidi ya Bwana, nanyi hamkumtii wala kufuata sheria yake au amri zake au maagizo yake, maafa haya yamekuja juu yenu, kama mnavyoona sasa.”
2444:24 Mwa 3:6; Yer 43:7Kisha Yeremia akawaambia watu wote, pamoja na wanawake, “Sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi watu wote wa Yuda mlioko Misri. 2544:25 Kum 32:28; Mit 20:25; Yak 1:13-15; Mit 31:10; Eze 20:29Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli: Ninyi na wake zenu mmeonyesha kwa matendo yenu kile mlichoahidi mliposema, ‘Hakika tutatimiza nadhiri tulizoziweka za kumfukizia uvumba na kummiminia sadaka za kinywaji Malkia wa Mbinguni.’
“Endeleeni basi, fanyeni yale mliyoahidi! Timizeni nadhiri zenu! 2644:26 Mwa 22:16; Mdo 19:13; Za 50:16; Kum 32:40; Yer 24:8; Ebr 6:13-17; Mwa 15:2Lakini sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi Wayahudi wote mnaoishi Misri: ‘Ninaapa kwa Jina langu lililo kuu,’ asema Bwana, ‘kwamba hakuna hata mmoja atokaye Yuda anayeishi popote Misri ambaye kamwe ataomba tena kwa Jina langu au kuapa, akisema, “Hakika kama Bwana Mwenyezi aishivyo.” 2744:27 Yer 21:10; 31:28; Eze 7:6; Yer 1:12; Ay 15:22; 2Pet 3:8-9; Dan 9:14; Amo 9:8Kwa maana ninawaangalia kwa ajili ya madhara, wala sio kwa mema. Wayahudi walioko Misri wataangamia kwa upanga na njaa, hadi wote watakapoangamizwa. 2844:28 Isa 27:13; 10:19; Hab 3:2; Yer 45:5; Eze 6:8; Yer 39:16; 42:15-18Wale watakaonusurika upanga na kurudi katika nchi ya Yuda kutoka Misri watakuwa wachache sana. Ndipo mabaki wote wa Yuda waliokuja kuishi Misri watakapojua ni neno la nani litakalosimama, kwamba ni langu au lao.
2944:29 Mwa 24:14; Kut 3:12; Hes 16:38; Mt 12:38; Mit 19:21“ ‘Hii itakuwa ndiyo ishara kwenu kwamba nitawaadhibu mahali hapa, asema Bwana, ili mpate kujua kuwa onyo langu la madhara dhidi yenu hakika litatimizwa.’ 3044:30 Eze 29:3; Yer 25:19; Eze 32:32; Yer 24:8; 43:9-13; 2Fal 25:1-7Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: ‘Nitamtia Farao Hofra mfalme wa Misri mikononi mwa adui zake wanaoutafuta uhai wake, kama vile nilivyomtia Sedekia mfalme wa Yuda mikononi mwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli, adui aliyekuwa akiutafuta uhai wake.’ ”