Revelation 17
1 And there came one of the seven angels, who had the seven vials, and spoke with me, saying: Come, I will shew thee the condemnation of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters,
Mmoja wa wale malaika saba waliokuwa na bakuli akaja, akaniambia, “Njoo, mimi nitakuonyesha adhabu aliyopewa yule mzinzi mkuu, mji ule uliojengwa juu ya maji mengi.
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication; and they who inhabit the earth, have been made drunk with the whine of her whoredom.
Wafalme wa dunia wamefanya uzinzi pamoja naye; na wakazi wa dunia wamelewa divai ya uzinzi wake.”
3 And he took me away in spirit into the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Kisha, Roho akanikumba, akaniongoza mpaka jangwani. Huko nikamwona mwanamke ameketi juu ya mnyama mwekundu. Mnyama huyo alikuwa ameandikwa kila mahali majina ya makufuru; alikuwa na vichwa saba na pembe kumi.
4 And the woman was clothed round about with purple and scarlet, and gilt with gold, and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the abomination and filthiness of her fornication.
Mwanamke huyo alikuwa amevaa vazi la rangi ya zambarau na nyekundu; alikuwa amejipamba kwa dhahabu, mawe ya thamani na lulu. Mkononi mwake alishika kikombe cha dhahabu ambacho kilikuwa kimejaa machukizo na mambo machafu yanayoonyesha uzinzi wake.
5 And on her forehead a name was written: A mystery; Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications, and the abominations of the earth.
Alikuwa ameandikwa juu ya paji la uso wake jina la fumbo “Babuloni mkuu, mama wa wazinzi na wa mambo yote ya kuchukiza sana duniani.”
6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I wondered, when I had seen her, with great admiration.
Nikamwona huyo mwanamke amelewa damu ya watu wa Mungu, na damu ya watu waliouawa kwa sababu ya kumtangaza Yesu. Nilipomwona nilishangaa mno.
7 And the angel said to me: Why dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Lakini malaika akaniambia, “Kwa nini unashangaa? Mimi nitakuambia maana iliyofichika ya mwanamke huyu na mnyama huyo amchukuaye ambaye ana vichwa saba na pembe kumi.
8 The beast, which thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall come up out of the bottomless pit, and go into destruction: and the inhabitants on the earth (whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world) shall wonder, seeing the beast that was, and is not. (Abyssos g12)
Huyo mnyama uliyemwona alikuwa hai hapo awali, lakini sasa amekufa. Hata hivyo, karibu sana atapanda kutoka shimoni kuzimu, lakini ataangamizwa. Wanaoishi duniani watashangaa; naam, watu wote ambao majina yao hayakupata kuandikwa katika kitabu cha uzima tangu mwanzo wa ulimwengu, watashangaa kumwona huyo mnyama ambaye hapo awali, aliishi, kisha akafa na sasa anatokea tena! (Abyssos g12)
9 And here is the understanding that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman sitteth, and they are seven kings:
“Hapa panahitaji akili na hekima! Hivyo vichwa saba ni vilima saba, na huyo mwanamke anaketi juu yake. Vichwa hivyo pia ni wafalme saba.
10 Five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come: and when he is come, he must remain a short time.
Kati ya hao wafalme saba, watano wamekwisha angamia, mmoja anatawala bado, na yule mwingine bado hajafika; na atakapofika atabaki kwa muda mfupi.
11 And the beast which was, and is not: the same also is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into destruction.
Huyo mnyama ambaye alikuwa anaishi hapo awali lakini sasa haishi tena ni mfalme wa nane, naye pia ni miongoni mwa hao saba, na anakwenda zake kuharibiwa.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but shall receive power as kings one hour after the beast.
“Zile pembe kumi ulizoziona ni wafalme ambao bado hawajaanza kutawala. Lakini watapewa mamlaka ya kutawala kwa muda wa saa moja pamoja na yule mnyama.
13 These have one design: and their strength and power they shall deliver to the beast.
Shabaha ya hawa kumi ni moja, na watampa yule mnyama nguvu na mamlaka yao yote.
14 These shall fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and elect, and faithful.
Watapigana na Mwanakondoo, lakini Mwanakondoo pamoja na wale aliowaita na kuwachagua, ambao ni waaminifu, atawashinda kwa sababu yeye ni Bwana wa mabwana na Mfalme wa wafalme.”
15 And he said to me: The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and nations, and tongues.
Malaika akaniambia pia, “Yale maji uliyoyaona pale alipokaa yule mzinzi, ni mataifa, watu wa kila rangi na lugha.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest in the beast: these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire.
Pembe zile kumi ulizoziona na yule mnyama watamchukia huyo mzinzi. Watachukua kila kitu alicho nacho na kumwacha uchi; watakula nyama yake na kumteketeza kwa moto.
17 For God hath given into their hearts to do that which pleaseth him: that they give their kingdom to the beast, till the words of God be fulfilled.
Maana Mungu ametia mioyoni mwao nia ya kutekeleza shabaha yake, yaani kwa kukubaliana wao kwa wao na kumpa huyo mnyama mamlaka yao ya kutawala, mpaka hapo neno la Mungu litakapotimia.
18 And the woman which thou sawest, is the great city, which hath kingdom over the kings of the earth.
“Na yule mwanamke uliyemwona ndio ule mji mkuu unaowatawala wafalme wa dunia.”
