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(A)“Bw’oba odda, ggwe Isirayiri,” bw’ayogera Mukama,
    “eri nze gy’olina okudda.
Bw’oneggyako eby’omuzizo byonna
    n’otosagaasagana,
(B)era singa olayira mu mazima, mu bwenkanya
    era mu ngeri entuufu yennyini nti, ‘Ddala nga Mukama bw’ali omulamu,’
olwo amawanga gonna mu ye mwe gajja okuweerwa omukisa
    era mu ye mwe ganeenyumiririzanga.”

(C)Kubanga bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama eri abantu ba Yuda era n’eri abantu b’omu Yerusaalemi nti,

“Mulime ennimiro zammwe ezitali nnime,
    temusiga mu maggwa.
(D)Mukoowoole Mukama,
    mweweeyo mutukuze emitima gyammwe
    mwe abantu ba Yuda ne Yerusaalemi,
obusungu bwange buleme okubuubuuka ng’omuliro, olw’ebikolwa byammwe ebibi,
    ne wataba ayinza kubuzikiza.”

Yuda Erumbibwa

(E)“Kirangirire mu Yuda
    era okitegeeze mu Yerusaalemi ogambe nti,
‘Mufuuwe ekkondeere mu nsi yonna!
    Mulangirire nga mugamba nti, Mukuŋŋaane,
    tuddukire mu bibuga ebiriko ebigo!’
(F)Weereza obubaka eri Sayuuni nti,
    Mudduke temulwa,
kubanga ndireeta okuzikiriza okuva mu bukiikakkono,
    okuzikiriza okw’amaanyi.”

(G)Empologoma evudde mu kisaka kyayo,
    omuzikiriza w’amawanga afulumye gy’abeera, azze okumalawo ensi yo.
Ebibuga byammwe bijja kuzikirizibwa
    bibuleko abibeeramu.
(H)Noolwekyo mwambale ebibukutu mukungubage,
    mukube ebiwoobe
kubanga obusungu bwa Mukama obw’amaanyi tebutuvuddeeko.

(I)Mukama n’agamba nti, “Ku lunaku olwo,
    kabaka n’omukungu baliggwaamu omwoyo,
bakabona basamaalirire
    ne bannabbi beewuunye.”

10 (J)Ne ndyoka ŋŋamba nti, “Woowe Mukama Katonda, mazima olimbidde ddala abantu bano ne Yerusaalemi ng’ogamba nti, ‘Mulibeera n’emirembe,’ ate nga ekitala kiri ddala ku mimiro gyaffe.”

11 (K)Mu biseera ebyo abantu bano ne Yerusaalemi balibuulirwa nti, “Embuyaga ezookya eziva ku nsozi ezaakala ez’omu ddungu zifuuwa abantu bange nga teziwujja buwuzzi wadde okulongoosa obulongoosa 12 (L)embuyaga ezisingako awo ze ziriva gye ndi. Era kaakano mbasalira emisango.”

13 (M)Laba ajja ng’ebire,
    amagaali ge ng’empewo y’akazimu,
embalaasi ze zidduka okusinga empungu;
    zitusanze ffe kubanga tuzikiridde!
14 (N)Ayi Yerusaalemi, naaza omutima gwo guve mu kukola ebibi olyoke olokolebwe.
    Olikomya ddi ebirowoozo ebibi?
15 (O)Eddoboozi lyawulirwa okuva mu Ddaani,
    nga lirangirira okuzikirizibwa okuva mu nsozi za Efulayimu.
16 (P)“Labula amawanga nti ajja:
    kirangirirwe mu Yerusaalemi nti,
‘Abalabe bajja okuva mu nsi ey’ewala nga bayimba ennyimba ez’entalo
    nga balumba ebibuga bya Yuda.
17 (Q)Bakyetoolodde ng’abasajja abakuuma ennimiro
    kubanga Yuda yanjeemera,’ ”
    bw’ayogera Mukama.
18 (R)“Empisa zammwe,
    n’ebikolwa byammwe bye bibaleeseeko bino.
Kino kye kibonerezo kyammwe.
    Nga kya bulumi!
    Nga kifumita omutima.”

19 (S)Obulumi, Ayi Obulumi!
    Neenyoolera mu bulumi!
Ayi obulumi bw’omutima gwange!
    Omutima gunkubagana munda, sisobola kusirika,
kubanga mpulidde eddoboozi ly’ekkondeere,
    mpulidde enduulu z’olutalo.
20 (T)Okuzikirizibwa kweyongeddeko
    era ensi yonna eyonooneddwa.
Eweema zange zisaanyiziddwawo mu kaseera buseera,
    n’entimbe zange nga kutemya kikowe.
21 Ndituusa ddi nga ndaba bbendera z’olutalo
    n’okuwulira amaloboozi g’amakondeere?

22 (U)“Kubanga abantu bange basirusiru,
    tebammanyi.
Baana abatalina magezi;
    abatategeera.
Bakagezimunnyu mu kukola ebibi,
    tebamanyi kukola birungi.”
23 (V)Natunuulira ensi,
    nga njereere,
ate ne ntunula ne ku ggulu,
    ng’ekitangaala kigenze.
24 (W)Natunuulira agasozi
    nga gajugumira,
    n’ensozi zonna zaali ziyuuguuma.
25 (X)Natunula, era laba, waali tewasigadde muntu n’omu,
    era n’ebinyonyi byonna eby’omu bbanga byali bidduse.
26 Natunula, era laba, ensi ey’ebibala ebingi ng’efuuse ddungu,
    era n’ebibuga byayo byonna nga byonoonese, mu maaso ga Mukama,
    olw’obusungu bwe obungi.

27 (Y)Kubanga bw’atyo bw’ayogera Mukama nti,

“Ensi yonna eriyonoonebwa,
    wadde nga sirigizikiririza ddala.
28 (Z)Noolwekyo ensi erikungubaga
    era n’eggulu waggulu lirikwata ekizikiza,
kubanga njogedde
    era maliridde sijja kwejjusa wadde okukyusaamu.”

29 (AA)Olw’okuyoogona kw’abeebagazi b’embalaasi n’abalasa obusaale,
    ebibuga byonna biribuna emiwabo,
abamu beesogge ebisaka;
    n’abalala balinnye waggulu ku njazi.
Ebibuga byonna birekeddwa ttayo;
    tewali abibeeramu.

30 (AB)Okola ki ggwe,
    ggwe eyayonoonebwa?
    Lwaki oyambala engoye entwakaavu,
ne weeteekako eby’obugagga ebya zaabu,
    n’amaaso n’ogasiiga langi?
Omala biseera nga weeyonja.
    Baganzi bo bakunyoomoola; era baagala kukutta.

31 (AC)Mpulira okukaaba ng’okw’omukazi alumwa okuzaala,
    okusinda ng’okw’oyo asindika omwana we asooka,
okukaaba kw’omuwala wa Sayuuni ng’awejjawejja anoonya w’anassiza omukka,
    ng’agolola emikono gye ng’agamba nti,
“Zinsanze nze, nzirika.
    Obulamu bwange buweereddwayo mu batemu.”

Instructions for True Repentance

“Israel, if you return to me,”
declares the Lord,
“Return to me,
    remove your detestable idols from my presence,
        and don’t waver.
If you swear, ‘as surely as the Lord lives,’
    in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
then nations will be blessed[a] by him,
    and in him they will boast.”
For this is what the Lord says
    to the men[b] of Judah and Jerusalem,
“Break up your unplowed ground,
    and don’t sow among thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord
    and remove the foreskin of your heart,
you men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem,
    or else my wrath will break out like fire
and burn with no one to put it out,
    because of your evil deeds.”

Warning of the Coming Disaster

Declare in Judah, make known in Jerusalem, by saying,
    “Blow the trumpet in the land, cry out, and say,
‘Gather together
    and let’s go to the fortified cities!’
Raise a standard in the direction of Zion.
    Flee! Don’t stand around!
For I’m bringing calamity from the north,
    along with great destruction.
A lion has gone up from his thicket,
    and a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his place
    to make your land a waste.
Your cities will be ruined,
    and without inhabitants.
So, put on sackcloth,
    mourn and wail,
because the burning anger of the Lord
    has not turned away from us.”
“On that day,” declares the Lord,
    “the courage of the king and the leaders will fail.
The priests will be appalled
    and the prophets astounded.”

10 Then I replied, “Ah, Lord God, you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem when you said, ‘You will have peace,’ while the sword is at their[c] throat!”

The Scorching Wind of Judgment

11 At that time, it will be told this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert is coming[d] toward my people, and it’s not for winnowing or cleansing. 12 A wind too strong for that is coming at my bidding.[e] Now I’m judging them as I speak.”

The People’s Response to Judgment

13 Look, he comes up like clouds,
    and his chariots are like a whirlwind.
His horses are as swift as eagles.
    Woe to us—we’re destroyed!
14 Jerusalem, wash your evil from your heart
    so that you may be delivered.
How long will you harbor
    evil schemes within you?
15 For a voice announces from Dan
    and declares disaster from Mount Ephraim.

The Lord Speaks

16 “Tell the nations, ‘Here they come!’[f]
    Proclaim to Jerusalem,
‘The besieging forces are coming from a distant land.
    They cry out[g] against the cities of Judah.
17 They have surrounded her like those guarding a field
    because they have rebelled against me,’”
        declares the Lord.
18 “Your lifestyles and your actions
    have brought these things on you.
This is your calamity—it is indeed bitter,
    for it has reached your heart!”

Jeremiah’s Lament for His People

19 “My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain.
    Oh, the aching[h] of my heart!
My heart pounds within me;
    I cannot keep silent.
For I hear the sound of the trumpet,[i]
    the alarm for war.
20 Disaster upon disaster is proclaimed,
    for the entire land is devastated.
Suddenly, my tent is destroyed,
    in a moment my curtains.
21 How long will I see the battle standard
    and hear the sound of the trumpet?

The Lord’s Complaint about His People

22 “For my people are foolish,
    they don’t know me.
They’re stupid children,
    they have no understanding.
They’re skilled at doing evil,
    but how to do good, they don’t know.”

A Vision of Chaos

23 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void,[j]
    at the heavens, and there was no light there.
24 I looked at the mountains; they were quaking,
    and all the hills moved back and forth.
25 I looked, and no people were there.
    All the birds of the sky had gone.
26 I looked, and the fruitful land[k] had become a desert.
    All its towns were broken down
because of the Lord,
    because of his burning anger.
27 For this is what the Lord says:
“The entire land will be devastated,
    but I won’t completely destroy[l] it.
28 Because of this, the land will mourn,
    and the heavens above will be dark.
Because I have spoken and decided,
    I won’t turn back from doing it.”

A Lament for Zion

29 At the sound of the horseman and the archer
    the entire city flees.
Its residents go into the thickets and climb among the rocks.
    Every city is abandoned, and no one lives in them.
30 You are ruined! What are you doing
    dressing in scarlet,
putting on golden ornaments,
    and highlighting your eyes with makeup?
You are making yourself beautiful in vain.
    Your lovers reject you—
        they’re out to kill you.
31 I heard a cry like that of a woman in labor,
    anguish like one giving birth to her firstborn,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for air,
    stretching out her hand:
    “Woe is me! I’m about to faint in front of killers!”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 4:2 Or bless themselves
  2. Jeremiah 4:3 Or people
  3. Jeremiah 4:10 Lit. the
  4. Jeremiah 4:11 The Heb. lacks is coming
  5. Jeremiah 4:12 Lit. coming to me
  6. Jeremiah 4:16 The Heb. lacks they come
  7. Jeremiah 4:16 I.e. battle cries
  8. Jeremiah 4:19 Lit. walls
  9. Jeremiah 4:19 I.e. the signal for the troops to attack
  10. Jeremiah 4:23 Cf. Gen 1:2
  11. Jeremiah 4:26 Or Carmel
  12. Jeremiah 4:27 Lit. do

“If you, Israel, will return,(A)
    then return to me,”
declares the Lord.
“If you put your detestable idols(B) out of my sight
    and no longer go astray,
and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
    you swear,(C) ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’(D)
then the nations will invoke blessings(E) by him
    and in him they will boast.(F)

This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

“Break up your unplowed ground(G)
    and do not sow among thorns.(H)
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
    circumcise your hearts,(I)
    you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath(J) will flare up and burn like fire(K)
    because of the evil(L) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench(M) it.

Disaster From the North

“Announce in Judah and proclaim(N) in Jerusalem and say:
    ‘Sound the trumpet(O) throughout the land!’
Cry aloud and say:
    ‘Gather together!
    Let us flee to the fortified cities!’(P)
Raise the signal(Q) to go to Zion!
    Flee for safety without delay!
For I am bringing disaster(R) from the north,(S)
    even terrible destruction.”

A lion(T) has come out of his lair;(U)
    a destroyer(V) of nations has set out.
He has left his place
    to lay waste(W) your land.
Your towns will lie in ruins(X)
    without inhabitant.
So put on sackcloth,(Y)
    lament(Z) and wail,
for the fierce anger(AA) of the Lord
    has not turned away from us.

“In that day,” declares the Lord,
    “the king and the officials will lose heart,(AB)
the priests will be horrified,
    and the prophets will be appalled.”(AC)

10 Then I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived(AD) this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’(AE) when the sword is at our throats!”

11 At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, “A scorching wind(AF) from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; 12 a wind(AG) too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments(AH) against them.”

13 Look! He advances like the clouds,(AI)
    his chariots(AJ) come like a whirlwind,(AK)
his horses(AL) are swifter than eagles.(AM)
    Woe to us! We are ruined!(AN)
14 Jerusalem, wash(AO) the evil from your heart and be saved.(AP)
    How long(AQ) will you harbor wicked thoughts?
15 A voice is announcing from Dan,(AR)
    proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.(AS)
16 “Tell this to the nations,
    proclaim concerning Jerusalem:
‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land,(AT)
    raising a war cry(AU) against the cities of Judah.(AV)
17 They surround(AW) her like men guarding a field,
    because she has rebelled(AX) against me,’”
declares the Lord.
18 “Your own conduct and actions(AY)
    have brought this on you.(AZ)
This is your punishment.
    How bitter(BA) it is!
    How it pierces to the heart!”

19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish!(BB)
    I writhe in pain.(BC)
Oh, the agony of my heart!
    My heart pounds(BD) within me,
    I cannot keep silent.(BE)
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;(BF)
    I have heard the battle cry.(BG)
20 Disaster follows disaster;(BH)
    the whole land lies in ruins.(BI)
In an instant my tents(BJ) are destroyed,
    my shelter in a moment.
21 How long must I see the battle standard(BK)
    and hear the sound of the trumpet?(BL)

22 “My people are fools;(BM)
    they do not know me.(BN)
They are senseless children;
    they have no understanding.(BO)
They are skilled in doing evil;(BP)
    they know not how to do good.”(BQ)

23 I looked at the earth,
    and it was formless and empty;(BR)
and at the heavens,
    and their light(BS) was gone.
24 I looked at the mountains,
    and they were quaking;(BT)
    all the hills were swaying.
25 I looked, and there were no people;
    every bird in the sky had flown away.(BU)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;(BV)
    all its towns lay in ruins(BW)
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.(BX)

27 This is what the Lord says:

“The whole land will be ruined,(BY)
    though I will not destroy(BZ) it completely.
28 Therefore the earth will mourn(CA)
    and the heavens above grow dark,(CB)
because I have spoken and will not relent,(CC)
    I have decided and will not turn back.(CD)

29 At the sound of horsemen and archers(CE)
    every town takes to flight.(CF)
Some go into the thickets;
    some climb up among the rocks.(CG)
All the towns are deserted;(CH)
    no one lives in them.

30 What are you doing,(CI) you devastated one?
    Why dress yourself in scarlet
    and put on jewels(CJ) of gold?
Why highlight your eyes with makeup?(CK)
    You adorn yourself in vain.
Your lovers(CL) despise you;
    they want to kill you.(CM)

31 I hear a cry as of a woman in labor,(CN)
    a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of Daughter Zion(CO) gasping for breath,(CP)
    stretching out her hands(CQ) and saying,
“Alas! I am fainting;
    my life is given over to murderers.”(CR)