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.
Yeremiya ye kenoo saŋ ka ke taamanseeroo ti
1 Ñiŋ kumoo le naata nte Yeremiya kaŋ ka bo Yaawe* bulu, Yahuuda mansakewo Sedekiya la maraloo sanji tanjaŋo kono. Wo saŋo le keta Babiloni mansakewo Nebukanesa la mansayaa sanji taŋ niŋ seyinjaŋo ti. 2 Wo waatoo la Babiloni mansakewo la kelediŋ kafoo le tarata Yerusalaamu saatewo suki kaŋ. Wo tumoo ì ye nte Yeremiya soroŋ kelediŋ kantarilaalu la luwo to le, meŋ be Yahuuda mansakewo la mansasuwo kono.
3 Ate Yahuuda mansakewo Sedekiya le ye m muta jee, a ko n ye ko, “Muŋ ne ye a tinna ite ye ñiŋ kiilaariyaa kumoo fo? I ko Yaawe ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: ‘A juubee, m be ñiŋ saatewo duŋ na Babiloni mansakewo bulu le, a ye a taa. 4 Yahuuda mansakewo Sedekiya te kana la mutaroo ma. Fo a si duŋ Babiloni mansakewo buloo kono doroŋ. A niŋ a be diyaamu la ñoo ye le, ñaa niŋ ñaa. 5 A be a samba la Babiloni bankoo kaŋ ne, aduŋ a be tu la wo le to, fo janniŋ n niŋ a be janjuŋ na. Niŋ ali ye Babiloninkoolu kele fanaa, ali te nooroo ke la. Nte Yaawe le ye a fo.’ ”
6 Wo tumoo le mu Yaawe la kumoo naata nte Yeremiya kaŋ ko: 7 “A juubee, Hanameli be naa i yaa le, i bariŋ Sallumu dinkewo. A be a fo la i ye le ko, i ye a la kenoo saŋ, meŋ be Anatoti saatewo to, kaatu ite le mu baadiŋ sutuŋo ti meŋ ye siloo soto ka a saŋ.”
8 Bituŋ m bariŋ dinkewo Hanameli naata n kaŋ kelediŋ kantarilaalu la luwo to, ko Yaawe la kumoo ye a yitandi n na ñaameŋ. A ko n ye ko, “Dukaree n na kenoo saŋ, meŋ be Anatoti, Benjamini tundoo kaŋ, kaatu ite le mu baadiŋ sutuŋo ti meŋ ye siloo soto ka a saŋ, ka a ke i la sotofeŋo ti. A saŋ i faŋo ye.”
Bituŋ ŋa a loŋ ko ñiŋ mu Yaawe la kumoo le ti. 9 Wo le to ŋa kenoo ñiŋ saŋ, meŋ tarata Anatoti saatewo to, ka bo m bariŋ dinkewo Hanameli bulu. Ŋa kodiforo kuntoolu sumaŋ a ye joo ti, meŋ kaañanta kuntu taŋ niŋ woorowula fee. 10 Ŋa a safee seedeyaaraŋ kayitoo kono, ŋa a noto, ŋa seedoolu ke a la. N naata kodiforoo peesa peesarilaŋo kaŋ ka a joo. 11 Bituŋ ŋa seedeyaaraŋ kayitoo taa meŋ be notoriŋ, kenoo saŋo saratoolu niŋ kaŋolu safeeta meŋ kono, aniŋ a be seyinkaŋ safeeriŋ kayiti doo meŋ bala, meŋ maŋ noto. 12 Ŋa ì dii Baruku la, Neriya dinkewo, Maseya mamariŋo. Ŋa ì dii a la Hanameli ñaa la le, aniŋ seedoolu mennu ye seedeyaaraŋ kayitoo tampu, ka taa Yahuuda moolu mennu be siiriŋ nuŋ kelediŋ kantarilaalu la luwo to jee.
13 Ì ñaa la jee n ko Baruku ye ko, 14 Yaawe Alihawaa Maariyo* ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: “Ñiŋ seedeyaaraŋ kayitoolu taa, meŋ notota aniŋ meŋ maŋ noto, i ye ì ke daandiŋo kono, ñiŋ kamma la ì si mee fo waati jaŋ. 15 Kaatu nte Yaawe Alihawaa Maariyo, Banisirayila la Alla ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: Buŋolu niŋ kenoolu, aniŋ wayini* yiri kankaŋolu be saŋ na ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ ne kotenke.”
Yeremiya duwaata ka Yaawe tentu
16 Kabiriŋ ŋa seedeyaaraŋ kayitoo dii Baruku la, Neriya dinkewo fokabaŋ, n duwaata ka Yaawe tentu ko:
17 Hee Yaawe Alla, ite le ye saŋo niŋ bankoo daa ka bo niŋ i la sembe baa la, aduŋ i ye a ke niŋ i bulu sembemaa le la. Feŋ maŋ koleyaa ite fee. 18 Ite ka kanu bambaloo yitandi moo wuliwuloolu la le, bari i ka alifaalu la boyidaalu juloo joo ì diŋolu to le. Kooni! Alla sembemaa, Alla meŋ warata, ite le too mu Yaawe Alihawaa Maariyo ti! 19 I la feeroolu warata le, aduŋ i la keroolu semboo warata. I ñaa ka tara hadamadiŋolu bee taaraŋ siloolu la le, aduŋ i ka moo-wo-moo joo ka bo niŋ a maañaa le la, aniŋ ka bo niŋ a kekuwolu la. 20 I ye taamanseeroolu niŋ kaawakuwolu le ke Misira bankoo kaŋ, fo ka naa bula bii la, i ka ì ke Banisirayila kono le, aniŋ duniyaa hadamadiŋolu bee kono. Wo ye a tinna le i too bota, ka naa bula bii la.
21 I ye i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu bondi naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ niŋ taamanseeroolu niŋ kaawakuwolu le la. I ye ì ke niŋ i bulu sembemaa baa le la, aduŋ a ye kijafara baa le saabu moolu ma. 22 I ye ñiŋ bankoo dii ì la le, i kalita ì mumuñolu ye meŋ na ka a dii ì la, keekewo niŋ liyo ka woyi ñiŋ bankoo meŋ kaŋ. 23 Ì dunta ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ ne, ì ye a taa, bari ì maŋ i la kumakaŋolu muta, waraŋ ka taama i la yaamaroolu la. I ye ì yaamari kuwolu mennu bee la, ì maŋ hani feŋ ke jee. Wo le ye a tinna i ye ñiŋ kasaaroo bee boyi ì kaŋ.
24 A juubee baŋ, Babiloninkoolu ye seleraŋolu loo le ka saatewo suki, fo ì si a muta. Hawusari keloo, konkoo, aniŋ alibalaa kuuraŋo be a tinna le ñiŋ saatewo ye duŋ ì bulu, mennu be a kele kaŋ. I ye meŋ fo, a keta le, aduŋ a fele, i faŋo ñaa be a kaŋ ne. 25 Hani wo, ite Yaawe Alla le ko n ye ko, “Kenoo ñiŋ saŋ i ye seedoolu ke a la, saatewo be duŋ na Babiloninkoolu bulu ñaa-wo-ñaa.”
26 Yaawe la kumoo naata n kaŋ ko: 27 “A juubee, nte le mu Yaawe ti, hadamadiŋolu bee la Alla. Fo feŋ si koleyaa noo nte fee baŋ? 28 Nte Yaawe le ye ñiŋ fo ko: A fele, m be ñiŋ saatewo duŋ na Babiloninkoolu le bulu, ka a duŋ mansakewo Nebukanesa bulu, a ye a taa. 29 Itolu Babiloninkoolu mennu be ñiŋ saatewo kele kaŋ, ì be dimbaa le duŋ na a la ka a jani. A buŋolu be jani la le, ì ka cuuraayoo siisindi mennu santo teruriŋolu to, Baali* jalaŋo ye, ì ka miŋ feŋ sadaalu* boŋ jalaŋ koteŋolu ye daamennu to, ka n kamfandi. 30 Banisirayilankoolu, ì niŋ Yahuuda moolu maŋ feŋ-wo-feŋ ke n ñaa koto niŋ a maŋ ke kuu jawoo doroŋ ti, kabiriŋ ì dindiŋ. Ì maŋ feŋ-wo-feŋ ke niŋ a maŋ ke ka n kamfandi niŋ ì kekuwolu la. Nte Yaawe le ye a fo. 31 Ñiŋ saatewo moolu ye n kamfandi le ka n jusoo kandindi, ka bo luŋo meŋ na a loota ka naa bula bii la. Wo kamma la m be a bondi la n ñaa koto le. 32 M be wo le ke la, ñiŋ kamma la Banisirayilankoolu niŋ Yahuuda moolu ye kuu jawoo meŋ bee ke ka n kamfandi. Ì niŋ ì la mansoolu kafuriŋo le mu, ì la maralilaalu, ì la piriisoolu*, ì la annabiyomoolu, ka taa Yahuuda niŋ Yerusalaamu saatewo moolu. 33 Ì ye ì koo dii n na le, ì ye ì ñaa bali tiliŋ na n na. N tuta ì karandi la ñaa-wo-ñaa, ì maŋ i lamoyi waraŋ ka soŋ n na kuluuroo la. 34 Ì ye ì la jalaŋ ñewundiŋolu londi Batudulaa Buŋo* kono le n too be meŋ kunna, ka jee kosondi. 35 Ì ye batudulaa tintiŋolu* loo Baali jalaŋo ye Beni-Hinnomu Wulumbaŋo kono le ka ì dinkewolu niŋ ì dimmusoolu jani sadaa ti dimbaa kono Moleki jalaŋo ye. Nte maŋ ì yaamari wo la, aduŋ wo nene maŋ bula n kono, meŋ si a tinna ì ye ñiŋ kuu ñewundiŋo ke ka Yahuuda dundi junube kewo to.”
Alla ye a la moolu laahidi ka ì murundi ì la bankoo kaŋ
36 Yaawe ko: “Ali ka a fo ñiŋ saatewo ma le ko, a be duŋ na Babiloni mansakewo bulu le ka bo niŋ hawusaroo* la, konkoo, aniŋ alibalaa kuuraŋo. Bari saayiŋ, nte Yaawe, Banisirayila la Alla ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: 37 A be koyiriŋ ne ko, m be ì kafu la ñoo ma le ka bo bankoolu bee kaŋ, ŋa ì bayi daamennu to, n na jusukandoo, diminnaa, aniŋ kamfaa baa kono. M be ì murundi la naŋ ñiŋ dulaa to le, ŋa ì sabatindi tankoo kono. 38 Ì be ke la n na moolu le ti, ŋa ke ì la Alla ti. 39 M be ì ke la sondome kiliŋ ne ti, aniŋ ka tara sila kiliŋ, fo n ñaasilaŋo si tara ì kono fo abadaa. Wo be ke la ì faŋolu la nafaa le ti, aniŋ ì koomalankoolu la nafaa. 40 M be badaa-badaa kambeŋo le siti la n niŋ ì teema ko: N nene te m foño la kuu kendoo ke la ì ye, aduŋ m be n ñaasilaŋo dundi la ì sondomoolu kono le, ñiŋ kamma ì kana jenke n na karoo la kotenke. 41 M be seewoo la le ka kuu kendoo ke ì ye, aduŋ m be ì tutukuu la ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ tooñaake le, n sondomoo niŋ n niyo la.
42 “Nte Yaawe ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: Ko ŋa ñiŋ kasaara kuwo meŋ bee naati ñiŋ moolu kaŋ, m be kuu kendoo fanaa bee naati la ì kaŋ wo le ñaama, ŋa meŋ laahidi ì ye. 43 Moolu be kenoolu saŋ na le kotenke ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ, ali ka a fo meŋ na ko, tumbuŋo le mu, moo te daameŋ sako beeyaŋ, bayiri a dunta Babiloninkoolu bulu le. 44 Ì be kenoolu saŋ na kodiforoo la le, aduŋ ì be seedeyaa kayitoolu tampu la le, ka ì noto, aniŋ ka seedoolu ke ì la. Wo be ke la Benjamini tundoo kaŋ ne, Yerusalaamu dandanna saateeriŋolu to, Yahuuda saatewolu to, saatewolu mennu be konkotundoo* to, ka taa saatewolu mennu be Sefela* tundoo la, aniŋ Nekefu* tundoo saatewolu bulubaa kara maafaŋo la. M be ì la firiŋo murundi la ì kaŋ ne.” Yaawe le ye a fo.
