Jeremiah Buys a Field
1 The Lord spoke to me in the tenth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylonia. 2 At that time, the Babylonian army had surrounded Jerusalem, and I was in the prison at the courtyard of the palace guards. 3 Zedekiah had ordered me to be held there because I told everyone that the Lord had said:
I am the Lord, and I am about to let the king of Babylonia conquer Jerusalem. 4 King Zedekiah will be captured and taken to King Nebuchadnezzar, who will speak with him face to face. 5 Then Zedekiah will be led away to Babylonia, where he will stay until I am finished with him. So, if you people of Judah fight against the Babylonians, you will lose. I, the Lord, have spoken.
6 Later, when I was in prison, the Lord said:
7 Jeremiah, your cousin Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, will visit you. He must sell his field near the town of Anathoth, and because you are his nearest relative, you have the right and the responsibility to buy it and keep it in the family.
8 Hanamel came, just as the Lord had promised. And he said, “Please buy my field near Anathoth in the territory of the Benjamin tribe. You have the right to buy it, and if you do, it will stay in our family.”
The Lord had told me to buy it 9 from Hanamel, and so I did. The price was 17 pieces of silver, and I weighed out the full amount on a scale. 10-11 I had two copies of the bill of sale written out: an official copy containing the details of our agreement and another copy, without the details. Some witnesses and I signed the official copy, which was folded and tied, before being sealed shut with hot wax. Then I gave Hanamel the silver. 12 And while he, the witnesses, and all the other Jews sitting in the courtyard were still watching, I gave both copies to Baruch son of Neriah.
13-14 I told Baruch that the Lord had said:
Take both copies of this bill of sale, one sealed shut and the other open, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. 15 I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, and I promise you that people will once again buy and sell houses, farms, and vineyards in this country.
Jeremiah Questions the Lord
16 Then I prayed:
17 Lord God, you stretched out your mighty arm and made the sky and the earth. You can do anything. 18 You show kindness for a thousand generations, but you also punish people for the sins of their parents. You are the Lord All-Powerful. 19 With great wisdom you make plans, and with your great power you do all the mighty things you planned. Nothing we do is hidden from your eyes, and you reward or punish us as we deserve.
20 You are famous because you worked miracles in Egypt, and you are still working them in Israel and in the rest of the world as well. 21 You terrified the Egyptians with your miracles, and you reached out your mighty arm and rescued your people Israel from Egypt. 22 Then you gave Israel this land rich with milk and honey, just as you had promised our ancestors.
23 But when our ancestors took over the land, they did not obey you. And now you have punished Israel with disaster. 24 Jerusalem is under attack, and we suffer from hunger and disease. The Babylonians have already built dirt ramps up to the walls of our city, and you can see that Jerusalem will be captured just as you said.
25 So why did you tell me to get some witnesses and buy a field with my silver, when Jerusalem is about to be captured by the Babylonians?
The Lord Explains about the Field
26 The Lord explained:
27 Jeremiah, I am the Lord God. I rule the world, and I can do anything!
28 It is true that I am going to let King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia capture Jerusalem. 29 The Babylonian army is already attacking, and they will capture the city and set it on fire. The people of Jerusalem have made me angry by going up to the flat roofs of their houses and burning incense to Baal and offering wine sacrifices to other gods. Now these houses will be burned to the ground!
30-33 The kings and the officials, the priests and the prophets, and everyone else in Israel and Judah have turned from me and made me angry by worshiping idols. Again and again I have tried to teach my people to obey me, but they refuse to be corrected.
I am going to get rid of Jerusalem, because its people have done nothing but evil. 34 They have set up repulsive idols in my temple, and now it isn't a fit place to worship me. 35 And they led Judah into sin by building places to worship Baal in Hinnom Valley, where they also sacrificed their sons and daughters to the god Molech. I have never even imagined they would commit such disgusting sins.
36 Jeremiah, what you said is true. The people of Jerusalem are suffering from hunger and disease, and so the king of Babylonia will be able to capture Jerusalem.
37 I am angry with the people of Jerusalem, and I will scatter them in foreign countries. But someday I will bring them back here and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39-41 I will make their thoughts and desires pure. Then they will realize that, for their own good and the good of their children, they must worship only me. They will even be afraid to turn away from me. I will make an agreement with them that will never end, and I won't ever stop doing good things for them. With all my heart I promise that they will be planted in this land once again. 42 Even though I have brought disaster on the people, I will someday do all these good things for them.
43 Jeremiah, when you bought the field, you showed that fields will someday be bought and sold again. You say that this land has been conquered by the Babylonians and has become a desert, emptied of people and animals. 44 But someday, people will again spend their silver to buy fields everywhere—in the territory of Benjamin, the region around Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, and in the hill country, the foothills to the west, and the Southern Desert. Buyers and sellers and witnesses will sign and seal the bills of sale for the fields. It will happen, because I will give this land back to my people. I, the Lord, have spoken.
Jeremia ma randa ehi romakunino
1 Muhona wa hungira ku ami mombura oitjamurongo youhona wa Sidkija, ombara ya Juda; wina ondja ri ombura oitjamurongo na hambondatu youhona wa Nebukadnesar, ombara ya Babilon. 2 Moruveze ndo otjimbumba tjovita tjombara ya Babilon tja rwisa Jerusalem, nami mba paterwa morupanda rwondjuwo youhona yombara ya Juda. 3 Ombara Sidkija we ndji patera mo motjovakamburwa, nu we ndji pere ondjo yokutja ami mba zuvarisa kutja Muhona wa tja nai: “Ami me tjiti kutja ombara ya Babilon i kambure otjihuro hi, 4 nombara Sidkija ke nokutaura, nungwari ma yandjewa momake wombara ya Babilon; eye ma hakaene na yo omurungu nomurungu nave hungire kumwe. 5 Sidkija ma twarewa kObabilon, neye ma kakara ngo nga ami tji mbe kemuvarura. Eye novandu ve nandi va rwisa Ovababilon, kamaave toṋa. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire.”
6 Jeremia wa tja nai: “Muhona we ndji raera 7 kutja Hanamel, omuzandu wainyangu Salum, meya ku ami okuyekuningira omarandero wehi romakunino mOanatot, wehi romakunino mOanatot, mehi ra Benjamin, ami tjinga ambi ri omuzamumwe wopopezu na ye, nambi nousemba wokuranda ro omuini.” 8 Tjazumba otja Muhona pa hungirire, Hanamel weya ku ami mbo morupanda na ningire okuranda ehi romakunino ndi. Ami otji mba tjiwa kutja Muhona, tjiri, wa hungirire ku ami. 9 Ami mba randa ehi romakunino ndi ku Hanamel, nu mbe mu sanekera otjimariva; oro ra kosa ovimariva ovisilveri omurongo na hambombari. 10 Ami mba tjanga ena randje komazuvasaneno womarandasaneno ne ye pata, ape novandu mbu mave tarere, ne saneke imbi ovimariva kotjisanekero. 11 Mba toora inga omazuvasaneno ayeyevari womarandasaneno, ooinga nga patwa mu mwa ri omazuvasaneno nomihingo vyawo, na inga nga ri kamwaha, 12 ne ye yandja ku Baruk, omuzandu wa Nerija nondekurona ya Makseja. Ami mbe ye yandja ku Baruk ngunda ape na Hanamel novahongonone varwe, mba tjangere ko omana wawo komazuvasaneno womarandasaneno; wina pa ri ovarumendu, mba haamene mbo morupanda. 13 Nami mba tja nai ku Baruk, owo avehe ngunda averi po: 14 “Muhona Omunamasaaehe, Ndjambi wa Israel, we ku rakiza kutja u kambure omazuvasaneno womarandasaneno nga, ooinga nga patwa, na nga ri kamwaha, nu u ye twe motjikuve tjomunoko kutja ye ṱizirwe mo oruveze orure. 15 Muhona Omunamasaaehe, Ndjambi wa Israel, wa tja ozondjuwo nomahi womakunino novikunino vyomivite mavi randwa rukwao mehi ndi.”
Ongumbiro ya Jeremia
16 Ami tji mba za nokuyandja omazuvasaneno nga yevari womarandasaneno ku Baruk, arire tji mba kumbu nai: 17 “Muhona Ndjambi, ove wa ungurire eyuru nehi mouvara na momasa woye omanene; kape notjiṋa tji u ha sora okutjita. 18 Ove u raisa otjari komayovi, nungwari wina u verera ovanatje omauvi wooihe. Oove Ndjambi omunene nomunauvara; oove Muhona Omunamasaaehe. 19 Ove u ripura omeripuriro wounongo nu u ungura ovyomasa; u muna oviṋa avihe ovandu mbi ve tjita, nu u ve sutisa otja kozondjito zawo. 20 Rukuru ove wa tjitire ovihimise novikumise mOengipte, nove wa kara pokuvitjita nga ndinondi mOisrael na mokati koviwaṋa avihe vyarwe, nga nambano tji wa tjiukwa akuhe. 21 Ove wa pitisa otjiwaṋa tjoye mOengipte amo tjiti oviraisiro novihimise mbya tirisa ovanavita na eṱe, nouvara nomasa woye. 22 Ove we tji pa ehi etumbe nehapise ndi otja tji wa kwizikirire ooihe mukururume. 23 Nungwari owo tji ve ya mehi ndi nave ri kambura okurira ouini wawo kave karere nonḓuviro komatwako woye nu kave hupire otja komahongero woye; owo kave tjitire otjiṋa tji we ve rakizire okutjita. Komuhingo mbwi otji we ve etera omaumba aehe nga.
24 “Ovababilon va tunga ozondunduvahi okukovera otjihuro kutja ve tji kambure, nowo mave tji rwisa. Ovita nondjara nomutjise omuzeu mavi wisire otjihuro momake wawo. Ove omuini mo munu kutja avihe, mbi we ndji raera, vya yenenisiwa. 25 Nungwari ove, Muhona Ndjambi, oove ngu we ndji rakiza kutja mbi rande ehi romakunino ndi, ngunda ape novandu mbu mave tarere, nandarire kutja otjihuro hi matji huurwa i Ovababilon.”
26 Muhona wa tja nai ku ami: 27 “Owami Muhona Ndjambi woviutwa avihe. Pe notjiṋa ami tji mbi ha sora okutjita are? 28 Ami me yandja otjihuro hi mouvara wa Nebukadnesar, ombara ya Babilon, notjimbumba tje tjovita; owo mave tji rwisa, ave tji huura 29 nave tji nyosa. Owo mave tji nyosa puna ozondjuwo nḓa otjiwaṋa mu tje ndji pindikisira nokutwimisira Baal ovyomoro omuwa komitutu, na mokutiririra oomukuru varwe ozombunguhiro zomavinu. 30 Okuza kombutiro yomakuruhungi wawo, otjiwaṋa tja Israel notja Juda vye ndji yamburura, novyo vye ndji pindikisa nozondjito zavyo ozombi. 31 Ovandu votjihuro hi ve ndji pindikisa nu ve ndji pa omazenge okuza keyuva ndi tja tungwa nga ku ndinondi. Ami otji mbe rimana okutjinyona 32 mena romaurunde aehe nga tjitwa i ovandu va Juda nova Jerusalem puna ozombara novanane vawo, novapristeri novaprofete vawo mokundjiyamburura. 33 Owo ve ndji pa ongotwe; nu nandarire kutja mba ramanga okuvehonga kave vangere okupuratena nokuvyurwa. 34 Nandarire nao ave twa oviserekarera vyovisenginina vyawo oviyaukise mondjuwo ndja tungirwa omerikotameneno ku ami, nowo ve i ṱunda. 35 Owo va tungira Baal ovipunguhiro momukutu wa Ben-Hinom okupunguhira ko ovanatje vawo ovazandu novakazona komukuru wotjisenginina Molek. Ami hi na pu mbe ve rakiza okutjita nai, nu ihi katja ri momeripuriro wandje kutja ve sokutjita otjiṋa otjiyaukise otja ihi; notji va turisa otjiwaṋa tja Juda ondjo.”
Omakwizikiro womaundjiro
36 Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, wa tja nai ku ami: “Jeremia, ovandu mave tja ovita nondjara nomutjise omuzeu mavi wisire otjihuro hi momake wombara ya Babilon. Nambano puratena koviṋa vyarwe mbi me hungire. 37 Ami me kawonga otjiwaṋa komahi aehe ku mbe tji rimbira momazenge na momapindi wandje, nu me tji kotora kotjirongo hi ne tji esa kutja tji ture muno nokuhinatjipo. 38 Nu otjo matji rire otjiwaṋa tjandje, nami me rire Ndjambi watjo. 39 Ami meve pe omuhingo umwe uriri mongarero yawo nu owo mbwi: Okundjitira aruhe, kombwiro yawo noyozondekurona zawo. 40 Ami me tjiti omerikutiropamwe na wo omakarerere. Himee isa okuvetjitira ouwa, me twa mo ondira ku ami momitima vyawo avihe nokutja ave ha poka ku ami. 41 Ami me kara nonyuṋe mokuvetjitira ouwa, nu meve turisa ongarerere mehi ndi; me tjiti nao nomutima nomuinyo wandje auhe.
42 “Otja punga amba eta otjiwonga otjinene hi kotjiwaṋa hi, opunga ame ve pe ouwa auhe, mbu mbe ve kwizikira. 43 Ovandu mave tja ehi ndi ri ri otja okuti onguza mu mu hi nokuhupa omundu poo otjipuka, noro mari yandjewa mouvara wOvababilon. Nungwari omahi womakunino maye randwa rukwao mehi ndi. 44 Ovandu mave ye randa, nomazuvasaneno womarandasaneno maye tjangwa omana naye patwa, ngunda ape novandu mbu mave tarere. Ihi matji tjitirwa mehi ra Benjamin, movirongo mbya kondoroka Jerusalem, movihuro vya Juda, na movihuro, mbi ri momahi wozondunda na movivanda na mehi rokomukuma wokeyuva kokumuho kwa Juda. Me yarura ko otjiwaṋa mehi ratjo, ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire.”
