Hope for the Mountains of Israel
1“Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The enemy said of you, “Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.” ’ 3Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander, 4therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you— 5this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.’ 6Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.
8“ ‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, 10and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.
13“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because some say to you, “You devour people and deprive your nation of its children,” 14therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord. 15No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
Israel’s Restoration Assured
16Again the word of the Lord came to me: 17“Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. 18So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. 20And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ 21I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.
22“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
24“ ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!
33“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’
37“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Unabii Kwa Milima Ya Israeli
136:1 Eze 6:2, 3; 17:22“Mwanadamu, itabirie milima ya Israeli na useme, ‘Ee milima ya Israeli, sikieni neno la Bwana. 236:2 Eze 25:3; Kum 32:13; Eze 35:10; Hab 3:19; Eze 6:2-3Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Kwa sababu adui wanasema juu yako, “Aha! Mahali palipoinuka pa zamani pamekuwa milki yetu.” ’ 336:3 Za 44:12-14; Mao 3:62; Oba 1:13; Mao 2:16Kwa hiyo tabiri na useme, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Kwa sababu wamewafanya ukiwa na kuwagandamiza kila upande ili mpate kuwa milki ya mataifa mengine na kuwa kitu cha kusimangwa na kudhihakiwa miongoni mwa watu, 436:4 Eze 6:3; Kum 11:11; Za 79:4; Eze 33:24; Law 26:43; Yer 2:26; Eze 33:28-29kwa hiyo, ee milima ya Israeli, sikieni neno la Bwana Mwenyezi: Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo kwa milima na vilima, kwa makorongo na mabonde, kwa mahame yaliyo ukiwa, miji iliyoachwa ambayo imetekwa nyara na kudharauliwa na mataifa mengine yanayowazunguka, 536:5 Kum 4:24; Isa 66:16; Yoe 3:2-14; Zek 1:15; Yer 25:31; Kum 29:20hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Katika wivu wangu uwakao nimenena dhidi ya mataifa mengine na dhidi ya Edomu yote, kwa maana kwa furaha na hila katika mioyo yao waliifanya nchi yangu kuwa milki yao ili wapate kuteka nyara sehemu yake ya malisho.’ 636:6 Za 123:3-4; Eze 34:29Kwa hiyo tabiri kuhusu nchi ya Israeli na uiambie milima na vilima, makorongo na vijito na mabonde: ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Ninanena katika wivu wa ghadhabu yangu kwa sababu mmedharauliwa na mataifa. 736:7 Yer 25:9; Hes 14:30Kwa hiyo hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Ninaapa kwa mkono wangu ulioinuliwa kwamba mataifa wanaowazunguka nao pia watadharauliwa.
836:8 Isa 4:2; 27:6; Eze 20:5; 47:12“ ‘Lakini ninyi, ee milima ya Israeli, mtatoa matawi na matunda kwa ajili ya watu wangu Israeli, kwa sababu hivi karibuni watakuja nyumbani. 9Mimi ninawajibika nanyi na nitawaangalia kwa upendeleo, mtalimwa na kupandwa mbegu, 1036:10 Isa 49:17-23; Yer 30:18; Isa 61:4; Amo 9:14nami nitaizidisha idadi ya watu kwenu, naam, nyumba yote ya Israeli. Miji itakaliwa na watu na magofu yatajengwa upya. 1136:11 Mik 7:14; Law 26:9; Ay 42:13; Hos 2:20; 1Nya 5:20; Yer 31:28; Zek 10:8Nitaongeza idadi ya watu na wanyama juu yenu, nao watazaana sana na kuwa wengi mno. Nitawakalisha watu ndani yenu kama ilivyokuwa wakati uliopita, nami nitawafanya mfanikiwe kuliko hapo kwanza. Ndipo mtakapojua kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana. 1236:12 Eze 47:14; Oba 1:17Nitawafanya watu, watu wangu Israeli, kutembea juu yenu. Watawamiliki ninyi, nanyi mtakuwa urithi wao, kamwe hamtawaondolea tena watoto wao.
1336:13 Hes 13:32“ ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Kwa sababu watu wanakuambia, “Unawala watu na kuliondolea taifa lako watoto wake,” 14kwa hiyo hutakula tena watu wala kulifanya tena taifa lako lisiwe na watoto, asema Bwana Mwenyezi. 1536:15 Isa 54:4; Za 89:50-51; Sef 3:19-20; Eze 34:29Sitakufanya tena usikie dhihaka za mataifa, wala kudharauliwa na kabila za watu, wala kulifanya taifa lako lianguke, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.’ ”
16Neno la Bwana likanijia tena, kusema: 1736:17 Za 106; 37:38; Law 15:19; Yer 2:7; Law 12:2; Yer 2:7“Mwanadamu, nyumba ya Israeli walipokuwa wakiishi katika nchi yao wenyewe, waliinajisi kwa mwenendo wao na matendo yao. Mwenendo wao mbele zangu ulikuwa kama mwanamke aliye katika hedhi. 1836:18 2Nya 34:21; Eze 16:36, 38; 23:37Hivyo nilimwaga ghadhabu yangu juu yao kwa sababu walikuwa wamemwaga damu katika nchi na kwa sababu walikuwa wameitia nchi unajisi kwa sanamu zao. 1936:19 Kum 28:64; Law 18:24-28; Eze 7:8; 24:14; 39:24Nikawatawanya miongoni mwa mataifa, nao wakaenda huku na huko katika nchi mbalimbali, nikawahukumu sawasawa na mwenendo wao na matendo yao. 2036:20 Law 18:21; Rum 2:24; Isa 52:5; Yer 33:24; 42:10; Eze 17:22; 12:16Tena popote walipokwenda miongoni mwa mataifa walilitia unajisi Jina langu takatifu, kwa kuwa watu walisema kuwahusu, ‘Hawa ndio watu wa Bwana, lakini imewapasa kuondoka katika nchi yake.’ 2136:21 Za 74:18; Isa 48:9Lakini niliwahurumia kwa ajili ya Jina langu takatifu, ambalo nyumba ya Israeli imelitia unajisi miongoni mwa mataifa huko walikokwenda.
2236:22 Rum 2:24; Kum 9:5-6; Za 106:8; Eze 20:9; Kum 9:5-6; Isa 37:35“Kwa hiyo iambie nyumba ya Israeli, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Si kwa ajili yako, ee nyumba ya Israeli, kwamba ninafanya mambo haya, bali ni kwa ajili ya Jina langu takatifu, ambalo mmelitia unajisi miongoni mwa mataifa mliyoyaendea. 2336:23 Isa 5:16; 37:23; Za 46:10; 126:2; Eze 20:14; 20:41; Hes 6:27Nitauonyesha utakatifu wa Jina langu kuu, ambalo limetiwa unajisi miongoni mwa mataifa, jina ambalo limetiwa unajisi miongoni mwao. Ndipo mataifa watakapojua kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana, asema Bwana Mwenyezi, nitakapojionyesha mwenyewe kuwa mtakatifu kwa kuwapitia ninyi mbele ya macho yao.
2436:24 Isa 43:5-6; Eze 34:13; 37:21“ ‘Kwa kuwa nitawaondoa ninyi toka mataifa, nitawakusanya kutoka nchi zote na kuwarudisha kwenye nchi yenu wenyewe. 2536:25 Ebr 9:13; 10:22; Law 14:7; Zek 3:4; Za 51:2-7; Mdo 22:16; Yoe 3:21Nitawanyunyizia maji safi, nanyi mtakuwa safi, nitawatakasa kutoka uchafu wenu wote na kutoka sanamu zenu zote. 2636:26 Yer 24:7; Za 51:10; 2Kor 3:3, 18; Yn 3:3-5; Eze 18:31Nitawapa moyo mpya na kuweka roho mpya ndani yenu, nitaondoa ndani yenu moyo wenu wa jiwe na kuwapa moyo wa nyama. 2736:27 Efe 1:13; Yoe 2:29; Yn 3:5; Rum 8:4-9; Eze 37:14; Isa 44:3; Yer 50:20Nami nitaweka Roho yangu ndani yenu na kuwafanya ninyi mfuate amri zangu na kuwafanya kuwa waangalifu kuzishika sheria zangu. 2836:28 Yer 30:22; 31:33; Eze 11:17; 14:11; 34:24; 37:14; Zek 8:8Mtaishi katika nchi niliyowapa baba zenu, ninyi mtakuwa watu wangu nami nitakuwa Mungu wenu. 2936:29 Eze 34:29; Mt 1:21; Rum 11:26; Za 105:16Nitawaokoa ninyi kutoka unajisi wenu wote. Nitaiita nafaka na kuiongeza iwe nyingi sana nami sitaleta njaa juu yenu. 3036:30 Law 26:4-5; Hos 2:21-22; Eze 34:13-14Nitaongeza matunda ya miti na mazao ya mashamba, ili kwamba msipate tena aibu miongoni mwa mataifa kwa ajili ya njaa. 3136:31 Isa 6:5; Yer 31:19; Eze 6:9; 34:13-14Ndipo mtakapozikumbuka njia zenu za uovu na matendo yenu maovu, nanyi mtajichukia wenyewe kwa ajili ya dhambi zote na matendo yenu ya kuchukiza. 3236:32 Dan 9:19; Kum 9:5Ninataka ninyi mjue kwamba sifanyi hili kwa ajili yenu, asema Bwana Mwenyezi. Oneni aibu na mkatahayari kwa ajili ya mwenendo wenu, ee nyumba ya Israeli!
3336:33 Rum 8:30-32; Isa 49:8; Law 16:30; 26:31“ ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Siku ile nitakapowasafisha kutoka dhambi zenu zote, nitarudisha watu waishi katika miji yenu na magofu yatajengwa upya. 3436:34 Yer 51:3Nchi iliyokuwa ukiwa italimwa badala ya kukaa ukiwa machoni mwa wale wote wanaopita ndani yake. 3536:35 Mwa 2:8; Isa 51:3; Yoe 2:3; Amo 9:14Watasema, “Hii nchi iliyokuwa imeachwa ukiwa sasa imekuwa kama bustani ya Edeni, miji ile iliyokuwa magofu, ukiwa na kuangamizwa, sasa imejengewa ngome na kukaliwa na watu.” 3636:36 Eze 3:26-27; 24:27; 29:21; 17:22; Lk 1:64; Yer 42:10Ndipo mataifa yanayowazunguka yaliyobakia watakapojua kuwa Mimi Bwana nimejenga tena kile kilichoharibiwa na nimepanda tena kile kilichokuwa ukiwa. Mimi Bwana nimenena, nami nitalifanya.’
3736:37 Zek 10:6; 13:9; 13:9; Yer 29:12-14“Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Mara nyingine tena nitasikia maombi ya nyumba ya Israeli na kuwatendea jambo hili: Nitawafanya watu wake kuwa wengi kama kondoo, 3836:38 1Fal 8:63; 2Nya 35:7-9; Kut 6:2kuwa wengi kama kundi la kondoo kwa ajili ya dhabihu huko Yerusalemu wakati wa sikukuu zao za wakati ulioamriwa. Hivyo ndivyo miji iliyokuwa magofu itajazwa na makundi ya watu. Ndipo watakapojua kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana.”
