Baiziraela banobgwilila kanyi
1 “Mu tjibaka itjetjo,” koleba Yahwe, “ndowobe ndili Ndzimu we misha yose ye Iziraela ngono banowobe bathu bangu.”
2 Yahwe bakati,
“Bathu bakatjila mu thumo,
bawana mahwilo ngoni mu tjilambanyika,
ndowozha kupa Iziraela kunyaluluka.”
3 Yahwe bakazha kundili mu tjibaka tjapinda beti,
“Ndakakuda nge ludo gusingapele,
ndakadwilila kukulakidza kugalamoyo kwangu mukuli.
4 Ndowokubaka kakale, ngono unowobakika,
iwe mwanadi Iziraela!
Unowozwinakisa kakale nge zwilidzo zwe dzithamborini,
unowobhuda ukazana nzano wekushatha.
5 Unowolima minda dze mizhambi,
pezhugwi kwe matombo e Samariya,
balimi banowolima,
banowoshathila mitjelo yabo.
6 Ngoti kowobe ne zhuba linoti balindi bakamimila,
mu matombo e Ifureimi bakati,
‘Izhani, ngatitathileni ku Ziyoni,
kuna Yahwe Ndzimu wedu.’ ”
7 Ngoti Yahwe banolebeleka bakati,
“Mbilani Jakubo nge shatho,
shathani ngekwa she we zwitjaba.
Gudzo lenyu ngalihwike muti,
‘imwi Yahwe, matjidza bathu benyu,
ilo limbelimbe le Iziraela.’
8 Bonani, ndowobabgwiliza kudwa mu shango ye bunandzwa,
abakubunganya kudwa ku phelelo dze shango,
pakati kwabo mapofu ne banoshudza,
ne bakadzi bakazwisenga ne bakadzi bamu zwibhayo,
bose koga mbunga nkulu, banowobgwilila ipapa.
9 Banowozha nge tjililo,
banowozha nge mitembezelo andibabgwiliza.
Ndowobatungamilila ku wobana dze vula,
mu zila yakatambunuka yabasingake bakakuthiwa,
ngoti ndimi tate kuna Iziraela,
Ifureimi i mbano yangu.
10 “Ihwani dama la Yahwe imwi zwitjaba,
mukulebe ku misupho ye gungwa kulekule,
muti, ‘Iye wakapaladza Iziraela unowoikubunganya,
unowoitjengeta se nlisi elisa mbudzi ne pkhwizi dzidze.’
11 Ngoti Yahwe badzutunula Jakubo,
bakansunungula mu luboko gwe wakasima kunpinda.
12 Banowozha bepululudza ku Dombo le Ziyoni,
banowoshathila makombolelo a Yahwe,
beshathila mathunde ne nkumbi we zhambi ne mafuta,
ne mbudzana ne pkhwizana ne ng'ombe,
matjilo abo anowonga nnda unodilidzigwa,
abatjowobe mu buyendasi kakale.
13 Ipapo baanadi banowoshatha bakazana,
ne bazhuzha ne bawola banowoshatha.
Ndowoshandula tjililo tjabo tjikabe lushatho,
ndowobanyaladza ndikabapa kushatha mu bumo gwe buyendasi,
14 Ndowonyalulusa mimoyo ye bapirisiti nge mafuta,
bathu bangu banowogutshiwa nge makombolelo angu,” kojalo Yahwe.
Yahwe banohwilangoni Baiziraela
15 Yahwe bakati,
“Hwi lohwika ku Rama,
tjililo ne kuhwazogwadza kukulu.
Rahele unolilila bana babe,
unolamba kunyaladziwa ngekwe bana babe,
ngoti batjisipo.”
16 Yahwe bakati,
“Dziba hwi lekulila kuko,
ne mishodzi ye mesho awo,
ngoti nshingo unowolipiwa,
kojalo Yahwe.Banowobuya kudwa mu shango ye tjita.
17 Kuna kugalabgwe mu bumangwana gugo,
kojalo Yahwe.Bana babo banowobgwilila ku shango yabo.
18 Nge malebeswa ndakahwa Ifureimi elila eti,
‘Makanditjemela se mbotana isakakatha,
ndakatjemegwa.
Mundibgwilize mu tjimo ndowobgwilila,
ngoti ndimwi Yahwe Ndzimu wangu.
19 Ndakati ndabhuda mu zila,
ashanduka,
ndakati ndisino kuhwisisa,
abhakhwa nge shoni, alonga nsholo,
ngoti ndakasengana ne kulengudzika kwe butjetjana gwangu.’
20 Apa Ifureimi nkololo wangu unodika kene?
Apa mwana wangu wandinoshathila kene?
Nenguba ndigala ndileba nge kubhayana naye,
ndowonkumbula ne kwakajalo zwako.
Ndizo mazwiwo angu anodziyidzika nge kukwe,
nge malebeswa ndowon'hwila zogwadza,” kojalo Yahwe.
21 “Uzwibigile matjwawo e zila,
biga zwinolakidza kwaunoyenda.
Yela njele zila hwulu,
zila yaunotobela.
Shanduka iwe mwanadi Iziraela,
bgwilila ku mizana iyo.
22 Unowodzungaila kwe tjibaka tjingapani,
iwe nkololokadzi usingagalikebgwe?
Ngoti Yahwe babumba tjithu tjitshwa mu shango,
nkadzi unotjengeta nlume.”
23 Yahwe Masimbawose, Ndzimu we Iziraela bakati, “Ndowoti ndibashandusa kudwa mu kutapiwa, banowoshingisa matama iyawa mu shango ye Juda ne mu mizana yayo beti,
“ ‘Yahwe ngabakukombolele,
iwe n'gali we ndulamo, iwe dombo lakayengemala!’
24 “Ngono Juda ne mizi mikulu yose inowobakidzana ne balimi na ibabo banodzungaila ne mbudzi ne pkhwizi dzabo. 25 Ngoti ndowonyalulusa bakanyala mikumbulo ne bakatemeka mafupa.”
26 Ipapo amuka mu hwope alingalinga, hwope dzangu dzakabe dzindizipila.
27 “Bonani, misi yaswika,” koleba Yahwe, “yandinowolima ng'umba ye Iziraela ne ng'umba ye Juda nge mbewu ye bathu neye ng'ombe. 28 Koga sekwa ndakabe ndakalonga meya mu nyama ndibadzikunula ne kubapkhwanya ne kubatshindunula ne kubakolomola ndi bahwisa zogwadza ndowolonga meya mu nyama ndibabaka kakale ndibadzwala kojalo Yahwe. 29 Mu mazhuba iyawo abatjofa bati,
“ ‘Botate bakaja zhambi dzinoshababa,
ndizo meno e bana abe ne gwadzila,’
30 “Koga mmwe ne mmwe unowofila tjibi tjitje, nthu mmwe ne mmwe unoja zhambi dzinoshababa, meno awe anowobe ne gwadzila.
31 “Bonani, misi yaswika,” koleba Yahwe, “yandinowoti athama tjidumano tjitshwa ne ng'umba ye Iziraela neye Juda, 32 tjisingafanane ne tjidumano tjandakathama na bobatategulu babo pandakabadusa nge luboko ndibadusa mu shango ye Egipiti, tjidumano tjangu tjabakatjuluka nenguba ndakabe ndili nlume wabo, kojalo Yahwe. 33 Koga itjetji tjowobe tjidumano tjandinowothama ne ng'umba ye Iziraela mu misi iyeyo, kojalo Yahwe, ndowolonga nlayo wangu mubali, ndowoukwala mu mimoyo yabo ngono ndowobe Ndzimu wabo ibo banowobe bathu bangu. 34 Akutjina nthu ungadiya mbakidzani naye kene nthu kadiya hama iye eti, ‘Ziba Yahwe!’ Ngoti banowobe bendiziba kudwa muna ntukununu kunoti nkulu tjose,” kojalo Yahwe, “ngoti ndowobazwiibhatigwa matjinyo abo kakale anditjowokumbula tjibi tjabo kakale.”
35 Yahwe bakati,
ibo banothama zhuba kuti livoneke masikati,
ibo banolaula mwedzi ne nyenyedzi,
kuti dzipenye busiku,
ibo banodzonga gungwa,
kuti ndizo mapundu alo amilike,
Yahwe Masimbawose ndilo zina labo.
36 “Ha ndaulo idzedzi ndingabhuda mbeli kwangu,”
koleba Yahwe,
“zwizekugwana zwa Iziraela zowomisa
kobe itjaba mbeli kwangu.”
37 Yahwe bakati,
“Ha zhuzhugwi kungalizanyiwa,
ne thiwa dze shango dzingatendebudziwa,
ndowofupatila zwizekugwana zose zwa Iziraela
ngekwe tjabakathama,” koleba Yahwe.
38 “Bonani, misi yaswika,” kojalo Yahwe, “yakunowoti nzi nkulu iwoyu ukamusigwa Yahwe kudwa pa thungamakole ye Hananeli kunoti ku ndzibo we Nkoba. 39 Nsungo unotambunudza unowoyendila kule wakatambunuka kunoti ku Dombo le Garebu udwapo utendebukila ku Goya. 40 Nkuku wose we zwitumbu ne milota ne minda kunoti ku nkuku we Kidironi kuyendila ku ndzibo we Nkoba we Mbizi ku bhezhuba kowobe kwakayengemala kwa Yahwe. Akutjowofa kwadzikunugwa kene kupkhwanyiwa nge kusingapele.”
Israel Will Return to God
1 The Lord said:
Israel, I promise
that someday all your tribes
will again be my people,
and I will be your God.
2 In the desert I was kind
to those who escaped death.
I gave them peace,
and when the time is right,
I'll do the same for you.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
The Lord Will Rebuild Israel
3 Some time ago, the Lord appeared to me and told me to say:
Israel, I will always love you;
that's why I've been so patient
and kind.
4 You are precious to me,
and so I will rebuild
your nation.
Once again you will dance for joy
and play your tambourines.
5 You will plant vineyards
on the hills of Samaria
and enjoy the grapes.
6 Someday those who guard
the hill country of Ephraim
will shout, “Let's go to Zion
and worship the Lord our God.”
Israel Will Return to Its Own Land
7 The Lord says:
Celebrate and sing for Israel,
the greatest of nations.
Offer praises and shout,
“Come and rescue
your people, Lord!
Save what's left of Israel.”
8 I, the Lord, will bring
my people back from Babylonia
and everywhere else on earth.
The blind and the lame
will be there.
Expectant mothers
and women about to give birth
will come and be part
of that great crowd.
9 They will weep and pray
as I bring them home.
I will lead them
to streams of water.
They will walk on a level road
and not stumble.
I am a father to Israel,
my favorite children.
10 Listen to me, you nations
nearby or across the sea.
I scattered the people of Israel,
but I will gather them again.
I will protect them like a shepherd
guarding a flock;
11 I will rescue them from enemies
who could overpower them.
12 My people will come
to Mount Zion
and celebrate;
their faces will glow
because of my blessings.
I'll give them grain, grapes,
and olive oil,
as well as sheep and cattle.
Israel will be prosperous
and grow like a garden
with plenty of water.
13 Young women and young men,
together with the elderly,
will celebrate and dance,
because I will comfort them
and turn their sorrow
into happiness.
14 I will bless my people
with more food
than they need,
and the priests will enjoy
the choice cuts of meat.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
The Lord Offers Hope
15 In Ramah a voice is heard,
crying and weeping loudly.
Rachel mourns for her children
and refuses to be comforted,
because they are dead.
* 16 But I, the Lord, say
to dry your tears.
Someday your children
will come home
from the enemy's land.
Then all you have done for them
will be greatly rewarded.
17 So don't lose hope.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
18 The people of Israel moan
and say to me,
“We were like wild bulls,
but you, Lord, broke us,
and we learned to obey.
You are our God—
please let us come home.
19 When we were young,
we strayed and sinned,
but then we realized
what we had done.
We are ashamed and disgraced
and want to return to you.”
20 People of Israel,
you are my own dear children.
Don't I love you best of all?
Though I often make threats,
I want you to be near me,
so I will have mercy on you.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
21 With rock piles and signposts,
mark the road well,
my dear people.
The road by which you left
by will now lead you home.
22 Will you ever decide
to be faithful?
I will make sure that someday
things will be different,
as different as a woman
protecting a man.
The Lord Will Bring Judah Home
23 The Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, said:
I promise to set the people of Judah free and to lead them back to their hometowns. And when I do, they will once again say,
“We pray that the Lord
will bless his home,
the sacred hill in Jerusalem
where his temple stands.”
24 The people will live in Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah. Some will be farmers, and others will be shepherds. 25 Those who feel tired and worn out will find new life and energy, 26 and when they sleep, they will wake up refreshed.
27 Someday, Israel and Judah will be my field where my people and their livestock will grow. 28 In the past, I took care to uproot them, to tear them down, and to destroy them. But when that day comes, I will take care to plant them and help them grow. 29 No longer will anyone go around saying,
“Sour grapes eaten by parents
leave a sour taste in the mouths
of their children.”
30 When that day comes, only those who eat sour grapes will get the sour taste, and only those who sin will be put to death.
The New Agreement with Israel and Judah
31 The Lord said:
The time will surely come when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 It will be different from the agreement I made with their ancestors when I led them out of Egypt. Although I was their God, they broke that agreement.
33 Here is the new agreement that I, the Lord, will make with the people of Israel:
“I will write my laws
on their hearts and minds.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 “No longer will they have to teach one another to obey me. I, the Lord, promise that all of them will obey me, ordinary people and rulers alike. I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done.”
35 I am the Lord All-Powerful.
I command the sun
to give light each day,
the moon and stars
to shine at night,
and ocean waves to roar.
36 I will never forget
to give those commands,
and I will never let Israel
stop being a nation.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
37 Can you measure the heavens?
Can you explore
the depths of the earth?
That's how hard it would be
for me to reject Israel forever,
even though they have sinned.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
Jerusalem Will Be Rebuilt
38 The Lord said:
Someday, Jerusalem will truly belong to me. It will be rebuilt with a boundary line running from Hananel Tower to Corner Gate. 39 From there, the boundary will go in a straight line to Gareb Hill, then turn toward Goah. 40 Even that disgusting Hinnom Valley will be sacred to me, and so will the eastern slopes that go down from Horse Gate into Kidron Valley. Jerusalem will never again be destroyed.