Lamentations 4
1 How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
Dhahabu imechakaa; jinsi gani dhahabu safi imebadilika! Mawe matakatifu yamezagaa katika kila njia ya mtaa.
2 How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
Wana wa dhamani wa Sayuni walikuwa na dhamani ya uzito wa dhahabu safi, lakini sasa hawana dhamani zaidi ya majagi ya udogo, kazi ya mikono ya mfinyazi!
3 Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.
Ata mbwa wa mitaani wanatoa maziwa yao kuwanyonyesha watoto wao, lakini binti wa watu wangu amekuwa katili, kama mbuni katika jangwa.
4 The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.
Ulimi wa mtoto mchanga anaye nyonya unagota juu mdomo wake kwa kiu; watoto wanaomba chakula, lakini hakuna kwa ajili yao.
5 Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
Wao walizoea kula chakula cha gharama sasa wana shinda njaa mitaani; wao walio lelewa kwa kuvaa nguo za zambarau, sasa wamelala katika majalala.
6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.
Hukumu ya binti wa watu wangu ni kubwa kuliko hiyo ya Sodoma, na ilipinduliwa kwa dakika na hakuna aliye yanyua mkono kumsaidia.
7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
Viongozi wake walikuwa wasafi kuliko theluji, weupe kuliko maziwa; miili yao ilikuwa imara kuliko jiwe, mwili wao ulikuwa kama yakuti samawi.
8 But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
Muonekano wao umekuwa mweusi kama giza; hawatambuliki mitaani. Ngozi zao zimesinya kwenye mifupa yao; imekuwa kavu kama kuni.
9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
Hao walio uawa kwa upanga walikuwa na furaha zaidi kuliko hao walio kufa kwa njaa, walio potea, wakatobolewa kwa ukosefu wa mavuno shambani.
10 The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Mikono ya wanawake wenye huruma imewachemsha watoto wao; wamekuwa chakula chao wakati ambapo binti wa watu wangu alipo kuwa akiharibiwa.
11 The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.
Yahweh alionyesha gadhabu yake yote; alimwaga hasira yake kali. Aliwasha moto Sayuni uliteketeza misingi yake.
12 The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
Wafalme wa dunia hawaku amini, wala wakazi wa dunia, kwamba maadui au wapinzani waliweza kuingia malangoni ya Yerusalemu.
13 But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
Haya yalitokea kwasababu ya dhambi za manabii na na maasi ya makuhani walio mwaga damu ya wenye haki mbele zake.
14 They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
Walitanga, kwa upofu, mitaani. Walikuwa wamejitia unajisi kwa damu hiyo ambapo hakuna aliye ruhusiwa kushika nguo zao.
15 “Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”
“Kaa mbali! Wewe mnajisi!” Watu waliwapazia sauti. “Kaa mbali! Kaa mbali! Usiguse!” Hivyo wakatanga; watu walisema miongoni mwa mataifa, “Hawawezi kukaa hapa tena.”
16 The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.
Yahweh mwenyewe akawatawanyisha; hawatazami tena. Hawa waheshimu makuhani, na hawaonyeshi upendeleo kwa wazee.
17 All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.
Macho yetu yalikwama, yakitazama bure kwa msaada; kutoka minara yetu ya ulinzi tulitazama taifa lisilo weza tuokoa.
18 They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!
Walifuata hatua zetu, hatukuweza kutembea mitaani mwetu. Mwisho wetu ulikuwa karibu na siku zetu zilihesabiwa, mwisho wetu ulifika.
19 Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
Walio tukimbiza walikuwa wepesi kuliko tai wa aangani. Walitukimbiza kwenye milima na kutuwinda nyikani.
20 The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
Pumzi katika pua zetu - mpakwa mafuta wa Yahweh - ndiye aliye kamatwa katika shimo; ambaye ndiye aliye semewa, “Chini ya kivuli chake tutaishi miongoni mwa mataifa.”
21 So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.
Shangilia na ufurahi, binti wa Edomu, wewe unaye ishi nchi ya Uzi. Lakini kwako pia kikombe kitapitishwa; utalewa na kuvua nguo.
22 O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.
Binti wa Sayuni, hukumu yako itafika mwisho, hataongeza mateka yako lakini binti wa Edomu, ata muhadhibu; ata funua dhambi zako.
