Seventy Years of Captivity
1The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 2So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
4And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. 5They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. 6Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”
7“But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.”
8Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy25:9 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them. them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
12“But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,25:12 Or Chaldeans for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever. 13I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”
The Cup of God’s Wrath
15This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.”
17So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it: 18Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin and an object of horror and scorn, a curse25:18 That is, their names to be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, to be seen by others as cursed—as they are today; 19Pharaoh king of Egypt, his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines (those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21Edom, Moab and Ammon; 22all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea; 23Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who are in distant places25:23 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads; 24all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who live in the wilderness; 25all the kings of Zimri, Elam and Media; 26and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon. will drink it too.
27“Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.’ 28But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! 29See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the Lord Almighty.’
30“Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:
“ ‘The Lord will roar from on high;
he will thunder from his holy dwelling
and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread the grapes,
shout against all who live on the earth.
31The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth,
for the Lord will bring charges against the nations;
he will bring judgment on all mankind
and put the wicked to the sword,’ ”
declares the Lord.
32This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Look! Disaster is spreading
from nation to nation;
a mighty storm is rising
from the ends of the earth.”
33At that time those slain by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like dung lying on the ground.
34Weep and wail, you shepherds;
roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered has come;
you will fall like the best of the rams.25:34 Septuagint; Hebrew fall and be shattered like fine pottery
35The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
the leaders of the flock no place to escape.
36Hear the cry of the shepherds,
the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38Like a lion he will leave his lair,
and their land will become desolate
because of the sword25:38 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 46:16 and 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger of the oppressor
and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.
Miaka Sabini Ya Kuwa Mateka
125:1 2Fal 24:2; Yer 46:2Neno likamjia Yeremia kuhusu watu wote wa Yuda, katika mwaka wa nne wa utawala wa Yehoyakimu mwana wa Yosia mfalme wa Yuda, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa kwanza wa utawala wa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli. 225:2 Yer 18:11Hivyo nabii Yeremia akawaambia watu wote wa Yuda na wale wote waishio Yerusalemu: 325:3 1Nya 3:14; Yer 11:7; 26:5; 7:26; Isa 65:12Kwa miaka ishirini na mitatu, kuanzia mwaka wa kumi na tatu wa utawala wa Yosia mwana wa Amoni mfalme wa Yuda, hadi siku hii ya leo, neno la Bwana limekuwa likinijia, nami nimesema nanyi mara kwa mara, lakini hamkusikiliza.
425:4 Yer 6:17; 29:19; 7:25-26Ingawa Bwana amewatuma watumishi wake wote hao manabii kwenu mara kwa mara, hamkusikiliza wala hamkujali. 5Walisema, “Geukeni sasa, kila mmoja wenu kutoka njia yake mbaya na matendo yake maovu, ndipo mtaweza kukaa katika nchi ambayo Bwana aliwapa ninyi na baba zenu milele. 625:6 Kut 20:3; Kum 8:19Msiifuate miungu mingine ili kuitumikia na kuiabudu. Msinikasirishe kwa vitu ambavyo mmevitengeneza kwa mikono yenu.”
725:7 Kum 32:21; 2Fal 17:20; Yer 7:19“Lakini ninyi hamkunisikiliza mimi, tena mkanikasirisha kwa vitu mlivyovitengeneza kwa mikono yenu, nanyi mmejiletea madhara juu yenu wenyewe,” asema Bwana.
8Kwa hiyo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asema hivi: “Kwa sababu hamkuyasikiliza maneno yangu, 925:9 Isa 13:3-5; 14:31; 41:2; 2Nya 29:8; Yer 18:16; Hes 21:2; Eze 12:20nitayaita mataifa yote ya kaskazini na mtumishi wangu Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli,” asema Bwana. “Nitawaleta waishambulie nchi hii na wakazi wake wote, na dhidi ya mataifa yote yanayowazunguka. Nitawaangamiza kabisa na kuwafanya kitu cha kuchukiwa na kudharauliwa, na kuwa magofu daima. 1025:10 Isa 24:8; Eze 26:13; Yer 7:34; Mhu 12:3-4; Mao 5:15; Ufu 18:22-23; 15:5Nitawaondolea sauti ya shangwe na furaha, sauti ya bibi na bwana arusi, sauti ya mawe ya kusagia, na mwanga wa taa. 1125:11 Law 26:31-32; Yer 12:11-12; 28:14; 4:26-27; 2Nya 36:21Nchi hii yote itakuwa ukiwa na isiyofaa kitu, nayo mataifa haya yatamtumikia mfalme wa Babeli kwa miaka sabini.”
1225:12 Yer 27:7; 29:10; Isa 13:19-22; 14:22-23; Mwa 10:10; Za 137:8“Lakini miaka sabini itakapotimia, nitamwadhibu mfalme wa Babeli na taifa lake na nchi ya Wakaldayo kwa ajili ya hatia yao,” asema Bwana. “Nitaifanya kuwa ukiwa milele. 1325:13 Isa 30:8Nitaleta juu ya nchi hiyo mambo yote niliyosema dhidi yake, yote yaliyoandikwa katika kitabu hiki, na kutolewa unabii na Yeremia dhidi ya mataifa yote. 1425:14 Isa 14:6; Yer 50:19; 51:27-28; Ay 21:19; Yer 27:7Wao wenyewe watakuwa watumwa wa mataifa mengi na wafalme wakuu. Nitawalipizia sawasawa na matendo yao na kazi ya mikono yao.”
Kikombe Cha Ghadhabu Ya Mungu
1525:15 Za 75:8; Ufu 14:10; Ay 21:20; Isa 51:17; Yer 49:12; Mao 4:21; Eze 23:31Hili ndilo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, aliloniambia: “Chukua kutoka mkononi mwangu kikombe hiki kilichojaa divai ya ghadhabu yangu, na kuyanywesha mataifa yote ambayo ninakutuma kwao. 1625:16 Za 60:3; Nah 3:11; Yer 51:7Watakapoinywa, watapepesuka na kukasirika sana kwa sababu ya upanga nitakaoupeleka katikati yao.”
1725:17 Yer 1:10; 27:3Hivyo nikakichukua kikombe kutoka mkononi mwa Bwana, na kuyafanya mataifa yote aliyonituma kwao kukinywa: 1825:18 Yer 24; 9; Mwa 19:13; Yer 44:22; 13:13; Ay 12:19; 2Nya 29:8Yaani Yerusalemu na miji ya Yuda, wafalme wake na maafisa wake, kuwafanya magofu na kuwa kitu cha kuchukiza, cha dhihaka na laana, kama walivyo leo; 1925:19 2Fal 18:21; Isa 20:3; Eze 29:2; Yer 44:30pia Farao mfalme wa Misri, watumishi wake, maafisa wake na watu wake wote, 2025:20 Mwa 10:23; Yer 47:5; Amo 1:7-8; Yos 13:3; Sef 2:4-7; Mwa 10:19pia wageni wote walioko huko; wafalme wote wa nchi ya Usi; wafalme wote wa Wafilisti (wale wa Ashkeloni, Gaza, Ekroni na watu walioachwa huko Ashdodi); 2125:21 Mwa 19:38; Yer 27:3; Mwa 25:30; Kum 23:6Edomu, Moabu na Amoni; 2225:22 Mwa 10:15; Yer 47:4; Dan 11:18; Isa 11:11; Yos 19:29; Isa 48:20; Yer 31:10wafalme wote wa Tiro na Sidoni; wafalme wa nchi za pwani ngʼambo ya bahari; 2325:23 Mwa 25:3, 15; 22:21; Yer 9:26; 49:32Dedani, Tema, Buzi na wote walio maeneo ya mbali; 2425:24 2Nya 9:14; Yer 50:37wafalme wote wa Arabuni na wafalme wote wa watu wageni wanaoishi katika jangwa; 2525:25 Mwa 25:2; 10:22; Isa 21:2wafalme wote wa Zimri, Elamu na Umedi; 2625:26 Yer 51:41; 50:3-9; Isa 23:17na wafalme wote wa pande za kaskazini, wa karibu na wa mbali, mmoja baada ya mwingine; yaani falme zote juu ya uso wa dunia. Baada ya hao wote, mfalme wa Sheshaki25:26 Sheshaki ni Babeli kwa fumbo. atakunywa pia.
2725:27 Isa 29:9; Nah 3:18; Hab 2:16; Eze 14:17; 21:4; Yer 51:57; Eze 23:32-34“Kisha uwaambie, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Kunyweni, mlewe na mtapike; angukeni, wala msiinuke tena kwa sababu ya upanga nitakaotuma miongoni mwenu.’ 28Lakini kama wakikataa kupokea kikombe kutoka mikononi mwako na kunywa, waambie, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote: Ni lazima mnywe! 2925:29 Mit 11:31; 1Pet 4:17; Isa 10:12; 2Sam 5:7; Eze 38:21; Yer 13:12-14; Isa 34:2Tazama, nimeanza kuleta maafa juu ya mji ulio na Jina langu, na je, kweli ninyi mtaepuka kuadhibiwa? Hamwezi kuepuka kuadhibiwa, kwa maana nitaleta vita juu ya wote waishio duniani, asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.’
3025:30 Isa 42:13; 16:10; Yoe 3:16; Za 46:6; Isa 63:3; Ufu 14:19-20“Basi sasa toa unabii kwa maneno haya yote dhidi yao, uwaambie:
“ ‘Bwana atanguruma kutoka juu;
atatoa sauti ya ngurumo
kutoka makao yake matakatifu
na kunguruma kwa nguvu sana
dhidi ya nchi yake.
Atapiga kelele kama wao wakanyagao zabibu,
atapiga kelele dhidi ya wote waishio duniani.
3125:31 Hos 4:1; Mik 6:2; Yer 23:19; 1Sam 12:7; Yer 2:9, 35; Eze 36:5; Yer 15:9Ghasia zitasikika hadi miisho ya dunia,
kwa maana Bwana ataleta mashtaka dhidi ya mataifa;
ataleta hukumu juu ya wanadamu wote
na kuwaua waovu wote,’ ”
asema Bwana.
3225:32 Isa 34:2; Yer 23:19; Isa 30:25; Kum 28:49Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo:
“Tazama! Maafa yanaenea
kutoka taifa moja hadi jingine;
tufani kubwa inainuka
kutoka miisho ya dunia.”
3325:33 Eze 39:17-20; Isa 66:16; Yer 16:4; Isa 34:2-8; Yer 8:2; Za 79:3Wakati huo, hao waliouawa na Bwana watatapakaa kila mahali, kuanzia mwisho mmoja wa dunia hadi mwisho mwingine. Hawataombolezewa wala kukusanywa au kuzikwa, lakini watakuwa kama mavi yaliyoenea juu ya ardhi.
3425:34 Yer 6:26; Za 44:22; Zek 11:4-7; Yer 2:8; Zek 10:3; Isa 34:6; Yer 50:27Lieni na kuomboleza, enyi wachungaji,
mgaagae mavumbini,
ninyi viongozi wa kundi.
Kwa maana wakati wenu wa kuchinjwa umewadia;
mtaanguka na kuvunjavunjwa
kama vyombo vizuri vya udongo.
3525:35 Ay 11:20Wachungaji hawatakuwa na mahali pa kukimbilia,
viongozi wa kundi hawatapata mahali pa kutorokea.
3625:36 Yer 6:26; 23:1; Zek 11:3Sikia kilio cha wachungaji, maombolezo ya viongozi wa kundi,
kwa maana Bwana anayaharibu malisho yao.
37Makao yao ya amani yataharibiwa
kwa sababu ya hasira kali ya Bwana.
3825:38 Ay 10:16; Yer 4:7; 44:22; 4:26; 46:16; 50:16; Kut 15:7Kama simba ataacha pango lake,
nchi yao itakuwa ukiwa
kwa sababu ya upanga wa mdhalimu,
na kwa sababu ya hasira kali ya Bwana Mungu.
