Isaiah 66
1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, “Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, nayo dunia ni mahali pa kuweka miguu yangu. Iko wapi nyumba mtakayoijenga kwa ajili yangu? Mahali pangu pa kupumzikia patakuwa wapi?
2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Je, mkono wangu haukufanya vitu hivi vyote, hivyo vikapata kuwepo?” asema Bwana. “Mtu huyu ndiye ninayemthamini: yeye ambaye ni mnyenyekevu na mwenye roho yenye toba, atetemekaye asikiapo neno langu.
3 Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
Lakini yeyote atoaye dhabihu ya fahali ni kama yeye auaye mtu, na yeyote atoaye sadaka ya mwana-kondoo, ni kama yule avunjaye shingo ya mbwa. Yeyote atoaye sadaka ya nafaka, ni kama yule aletaye damu ya nguruwe, na yeyote afukizaye uvumba wa kumbukumbu, ni kama yule aabuduye sanamu. Wamejichagulia njia zao wenyewe, nazo nafsi zao zinafurahia machukizo yao.
4 So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
Hivyo, mimi pia nitawachagulia mapigo makali, nami nitaleta juu yao kile wanachokiogopa. Kwa maana nilipoita, hakuna yeyote aliyejibu, niliposema, hakuna yeyote aliyesikiliza. Walifanya maovu machoni pangu na kuchagua lile linalonichukiza.”
5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
Sikieni neno la Bwana, ninyi mtetemekao kwa neno lake: “Ndugu zenu wanaowachukia ninyi na kuwatenga ninyi kwa sababu ya Jina langu, wamesema, ‘Bwana na atukuzwe, ili tupate kuona furaha yenu!’ Hata sasa wataaibika.
6 Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!
Sikieni hizo ghasia kutoka mjini, sikieni hizo kelele kutoka hekaluni! Ni sauti ya Bwana ikiwalipa adui zake yote wanayostahili.
7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.
“Kabla hajasikia utungu, alizaa; kabla hajapata maumivu, alizaa mtoto mwanaume.
8 Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.
Ni nani amepata kusikia jambo kama hili? Ni nani amepata kuona mambo kama haya? Je, nchi yaweza kuzaliwa kwa siku moja, au taifa laweza kutokea mara? Mara Sayuni alipoona utungu, alizaa watoto wake.
9 Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.
Je, nilete mwana hadi wakati wa kuzaliwa na nisizalishe?” asema Bwana. “Je, nifunge tumbo la uzazi wakati mimi ndiye nizalishaye?” asema Mungu wako.
10 Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her,
“Shangilieni pamoja na Yerusalemu na mfurahi kwa ajili yake, ninyi nyote mnaompenda, shangilieni kwa nguvu pamoja naye, ninyi nyote mnaoomboleza juu yake.
11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance.
Kwa kuwa mtanyonya na kutosheka katika faraja ya matiti yake; mtakunywa sana, na kuufurahia wingi wa mafuriko ya ustawi wake.”
12 For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees.
Kwa kuwa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Nitamwongezea amani kama mto, nao utajiri wa mataifa kama kijito kifurikacho; utanyonya na kuchukuliwa mikononi mwake na kubembelezwa magotini pake.
13 As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”
Kama mama anavyomfariji mtoto wake, ndivyo nitakavyokufariji wewe, nawe utafarijiwa huko Yerusalemu.”
14 When you see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants, but His wrath will be shown to His enemies.
Wakati mtakapoona jambo hili, mioyo yenu itashangilia, nanyi mtastawi kama majani; mkono wa Bwana utajulikana kwa watumishi wake, bali ghadhabu yake kali itaonyeshwa kwa adui zake.
15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire— His chariots are like a whirlwind— to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.
Tazama, Bwana anakuja na moto, magari yake ya vita ni kama upepo wa kisulisuli, atateremsha hasira yake kwa ghadhabu kali, na karipio lake pamoja na miali ya moto.
16 For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.
Kwa maana kwa moto na kwa upanga wake Bwana atatekeleza hukumu juu ya watu wote, nao wengi watakuwa ni wale waliouawa na Bwana.
17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.
“Watu wote wanaojiweka wakfu na kujitakasa wenyewe ili kwenda bustanini, wakimfuata aliye katikati ya wale ambao hula nyama za nguruwe na panya pamoja na vitu vingine vilivyo machukizo, watafikia mwisho wao pamoja,” asema Bwana.
18 “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
“Nami, kwa sababu ya matendo yao na mawazo yao, niko karibu kuja na kukusanya mataifa yote na lugha zote, nao watakuja na kuuona utukufu wangu.
19 I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.
“Nitaweka ishara katikati yao, nami nitapeleka baadhi ya hao walionusurika kwa mataifa, hadi Tarshishi, kwa Puli na Waludi (wanaojulikana kama wapiga upinde), kwa Tubali na Uyunani, hadi visiwa vya mbali ambavyo havijasikia juu ya sifa zangu au kuuona utukufu wangu. Watatangaza utukufu wangu miongoni mwa mataifa.
20 And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.”
Nao watawaleta ndugu zenu wote, kutoka mataifa yote, mpaka kwenye mlima wangu mtakatifu katika Yerusalemu kama sadaka kwa Bwana, juu ya farasi, katika magari ya vita na magari makubwa, juu ya nyumbu na ngamia,” asema Bwana. “Watawaleta, kama Waisraeli waletavyo sadaka zao za nafaka, katika Hekalu la Bwana, katika vyombo safi kwa kufuata desturi za ibada.
21 “And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
Nami nitachagua baadhi yao pia wawe makuhani na Walawi,” asema Bwana.
22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.
“Kama vile mbingu mpya na nchi mpya ninazozifanya zitakavyodumu mbele zangu,” asema Bwana, “ndivyo jina lenu na wazao wenu watakavyodumu.
23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.
Kutoka Mwezi Mpya hata mwingine, na kutoka Sabato hadi nyingine, wanadamu wote watakuja na kusujudu mbele zangu,” asema Bwana.
24 “As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”
“Nao watatoka nje na kuona maiti za wale walioniasi mimi. Funza wao hawatakufa, wala moto wao hautazimika, nao watakuwa kitu cha kuchukiza sana kwa wanadamu wote.”
