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's Return Home
1 The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they will be my people. 2 In the desert I showed mercy to those people who had escaped death. When the people of Israel longed for rest, 3 I appeared to them from far away. People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love. 4 Once again I will rebuild you. Once again you will take up your tambourines and dance joyfully. 5 Once again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria, and those who plant them will eat what the vineyards produce. 6 Yes, the time is coming when sentries will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Let's go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’”
7 The Lord says,
“Sing with joy for Israel,
the greatest of the nations.
Sing your song of praise,
‘The Lord has saved his people;
he has rescued all who are left.’
8 I will bring them from the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth.
The blind and the lame will come with them,
pregnant women and those about to give birth.
They will come back a great nation.
9 My people will return weeping,
praying as I lead them back.
I will guide them to streams of water,
on a smooth road where they will not stumble.
I am like a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my oldest son.”
10 The Lord says,
“Nations, listen to me
and proclaim my words on the far-off shores.
I scattered my people, but I will gather them
and guard them as a shepherd guards his flock.
11 I have set Israel's people free
and have saved them from a mighty nation.
12 They will come and sing for joy on Mount Zion
and be delighted with my gifts—
gifts of grain and wine and olive oil,
gifts of sheep and cattle.
They will be like a well-watered garden;
they will have everything they need.
13 Then the young women will dance and be happy,
and men, young and old, will rejoice.
I will comfort them and turn their mourning into joy,
their sorrow into gladness.
14 I will fill the priests with the richest food
and satisfy all the needs of my people.
I, the Lord, have spoken.”
The Lord's Mercy on Israel
15 The Lord says,
“A sound is heard in Ramah,
the sound of bitter weeping.
Rachel is crying for her children;
they are gone,
and she refuses to be comforted.
16 Stop your crying
and wipe away your tears.
All that you have done for your children
will not go unrewarded;
they will return from the enemy's land.
17 There is hope for your future;
your children will come back home.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
18 “I hear the people of Israel say in grief,
‘Lord, we were like an untamed animal,
but you taught us to obey.
Bring us back;
we are ready to return to you,
the Lord our God.
19 We turned away from you,
but soon we wanted to return.
After you had punished us,
we hung our heads in grief.
We were ashamed and disgraced
because we sinned when we were young.’
20 “Israel, you are my dearest child,
the one I love best.
Whenever I mention your name,
I think of you with love.
My heart goes out to you;
I will be merciful.
21 Set up signs and mark the road;
find again the way by which you left.
Come back, people of Israel,
come home to the towns you left.
22 How long will you hesitate, faithless people?
I have created something new and different,
as different as a woman protecting a man.”
The Future Prosperity of God's People
23 The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says, “When I restore the people to their land, they will once again say in the land of Judah and in its towns,
‘May the Lord bless the sacred hill of Jerusalem,
the holy place where he lives.’
24 People will live in Judah and in all its towns, and there will be farmers, and shepherds with their flocks. 25 I will refresh those who are weary and will satisfy with food everyone who is weak from hunger. 26 So then, people will say, ‘I went to sleep and woke up refreshed.’
27 “I, the Lord, say that the time is coming when I will fill the land of Israel and Judah with people and animals. 28 And just as I took care to uproot, to pull down, to overthrow, to destroy, and to demolish them, so I will take care to plant them and to build them up. 29 When that time comes, people will no longer say,
‘The parents ate the sour grapes,
But the children got the sour taste.’
30 Instead, those who eat sour grapes will have their own teeth set on edge; and everyone will die because of their own sin.”
31 The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant. 33 The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 None of them will have to teach a neighbor to know the Lord, because all will know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
35 The Lord provides the sun for light by day,
the moon and the stars to shine at night.
He stirs up the sea and makes it roar;
his name is the Lord Almighty.
36 He promises that as long as the natural order lasts,
so long will Israel be a nation.
37 If one day the sky could be measured
and the foundations of the earth explored,
only then would he reject the people of Israel
because of all they have done.
The Lord has spoken.
38 “The time is coming,” says the Lord, “when all of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as my city, from Hananel Tower west to the Corner Gate. 39 And the boundary line will continue from there on the west to the hill of Gareb and then around to Goah. 40 The entire valley, where the dead are buried and garbage is dumped, and all the fields above Kidron Brook as far as the Horse Gate to the east, will be sacred to me. The city will never again be torn down or destroyed.”