< Isaiah 66 >
1 Thus saith the LORD: The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; where is the house that ye may build unto Me? And where is the place that may be My resting-place?
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 For all these things hath My hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith the LORD; but on this man will I look, even on him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth 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 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he broke a dog's neck; he that offereth a meal-offering, as if he offered swine's blood; he that maketh a memorial-offering of frankincense, as if he blessed an idol; according as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth 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 Even so I will choose their mockings, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear, but they did that which was evil in Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
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 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for My name's sake, have said: 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may gaze upon your joy', but they shall be ashamed.
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 Hark! an uproar from the city, Hark! it cometh from the temple, Hark! the LORD rendereth recompense to His enemies.
Sikieni hizo ghasia kutoka mjini, sikieni hizo kelele kutoka hekaluni! Ni sauti ya Bwana ikiwalipa adui zake yote wanayostahili.
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child.
“Kabla hajasikia utungu, alizaa; kabla hajapata maumivu, alizaa mtoto mwanaume.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Is a land born in one day? Is a nation brought forth at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth 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 to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD; Shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy 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 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her;
“Shangilieni pamoja na Yerusalemu na mfurahi kwa ajili yake, ninyi nyote mnaompenda, shangilieni kwa nguvu pamoja naye, ninyi nyote mnaoomboleza juu yake.
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breast of her consolations; that ye may drink deeply with delight of the abundance of her glory.
Kwa kuwa mtanyonya na kutosheka katika faraja ya matiti yake; mtakunywa sana, na kuufurahia wingi wa mafuriko ya ustawi wake.”
12 For thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream, and ye shall suck thereof: Ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the 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 one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Kama mama anavyomfariji mtoto wake, ndivyo nitakavyokufariji wewe, nawe utafarijiwa huko Yerusalemu.”
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like young grass; and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward His servants, and He will have indignation against 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 in fire, and His chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render 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 will the LORD contend, and by His sword with all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Kwa maana kwa moto na kwa upanga wake Bwana atatekeleza hukumu juu ya watu wote, nao wengi watakuwa ni wale waliouawa na Bwana.
17 They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the detestable thing, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith 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 For I know their works and their thoughts; the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall 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 And I will work a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare 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 shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an offering unto the LORD, upon horses, and in chariots, and in fitters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into 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 of them also will I take for the priests and for the Levites, saith the LORD.
Nami nitachagua baadhi yao pia wawe makuhani na Walawi,” asema Bwana.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
“Kama vile mbingu mpya na nchi mpya ninazozifanya zitakavyodumu mbele zangu,” asema Bwana, “ndivyo jina lenu na wazao wenu watakavyodumu.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD.
Kutoka Mwezi Mpya hata mwingine, na kutoka Sabato hadi nyingine, wanadamu wote watakuja na kusujudu mbele zangu,” asema Bwana.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have rebelled against Me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
“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.”