Jeremiah Buys a Field
1 The Lord spoke to me in the tenth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, which was also the eighteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia. 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylonia was attacking Jerusalem, and I was locked up in the courtyard of the royal palace. 3 King Zedekiah had imprisoned me there and had accused me of announcing that the Lord had said, “I am going to let the king of Babylonia capture this city, 4 and King Zedekiah will not escape. He will be handed over to the king of Babylonia; he will see him face-to-face and will speak to him in person. 5 Zedekiah will be taken to Babylonia, and he will remain there until I deal with him. Even if he fights the Babylonians, he will not be successful. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
6 The Lord told me 7 that Hanamel, my uncle Shallum's son, would come to me with the request to buy his field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin, because I was his nearest relative and had the right to buy it for myself. 8 Then, just as the Lord had said, Hanamel came to me there in the courtyard and asked me to buy the field. So I knew that the Lord had really spoken to me. 9 I bought the field from Hanamel and weighed out the money to him; the price came to seventeen pieces of silver. 10 I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the money on scales. 11 Then I took both copies of the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the contract and its conditions, and the open copy— 12 and gave them to Baruch, the son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I gave them to him in the presence of Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed of purchase and of the people who were sitting in the courtyard. 13 Before them all I said to Baruch, 14 “The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, has ordered you to take these deeds, both the sealed deed of purchase and the open copy, and to place them in a clay jar, so that they may be preserved for years to come. 15 The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, has said that houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”
Jeremiah's Prayer
16 After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch, I prayed, 17 “Sovereign Lord, you made the earth and the sky by your great power and might; nothing is too difficult for you. 18 You have shown constant love to thousands, but you also punish people for the sins of their parents. You are a great and powerful God; you are the Lord Almighty. 19 You make wise plans and do mighty things; you see everything that people do, and you reward them according to their actions. 20 Long ago you performed miracles and wonders in Egypt, and you have continued to perform them to this day, both in Israel and among all the other nations, so that you are now known everywhere. 21 By means of miracles and wonders that terrified our enemies, you used your power and might to bring your people Israel out of Egypt. 22 You gave them this rich and fertile land, as you had promised their ancestors. 23 But when they came into this land and took possession of it, they did not obey your commands or live according to your teaching; they did nothing that you had ordered them to do. And so you brought all this destruction on them.
24 “The Babylonians have built siege mounds around the city to capture it, and they are attacking. War, starvation, and disease will make the city fall into their hands. You can see that all you have said has come true. 25 Yet, Sovereign Lord, you are the one who ordered me to buy the field in the presence of witnesses, even though the city is about to be captured by the Babylonians.”
26 Then the Lord said to me, 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all people. Nothing is too difficult for me. 28 I am going to give this city over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia and his army; they will capture it 29 and set it on fire. They will burn it down, together with the houses where people have made me angry by burning incense to Baal on the rooftops and by pouring out wine offerings to other gods. 30 From the very beginning of their history the people of Israel and the people of Judah have displeased me and made me angry by what they have done. 31 The people of this city have made me angry and furious from the day it was built. I have decided to destroy it 32 because of all the evil that has been done by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, together with their kings and leaders, their priests and prophets. 33 They turned their backs on me; and though I kept on teaching them, they would not listen and learn. 34 They even placed their disgusting idols in the Temple built for my worship, and they have defiled it. 35 They have built altars to Baal in Hinnom Valley, to sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech. I did not command them to do this, and it did not even enter my mind that they would do such a thing and make the people of Judah sin.”
A Promise of Hope
36 The Lord, the God of Israel, said to me, “Jeremiah, the people are saying that war, starvation, and disease will make this city fall into the hands of the king of Babylonia. Now listen to what else I have to say. 37 I am going to gather the people from all the countries where I have scattered them in my anger and fury, and I am going to bring them back to this place and let them live here in safety. 38 Then they will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them a single purpose in life: to honor me for all time, for their own good and the good of their descendants. 40 I will make an eternal covenant with them. I will never stop doing good things for them, and I will make them fear me with all their heart, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will take pleasure in doing good things for them, and I will establish them permanently in this land.
42 “Just as I have brought this disaster on these people, so I am going to give them all the good things that I have promised. 43 The people are saying that this land will be like a desert where neither people nor animals live, and that it will be given over to the Babylonians. But fields will once again be bought in this land. 44 People will buy them, and the deeds will be signed, sealed, and witnessed. This will take place in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah, and in the towns in the hill country, in the foothills, and in southern Judah. I will restore the people to their land. 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.”
