< Isaiah 44 >
1 YET now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Sasa, sikiliza, Yakobo mtumishi wangu, na Isreli, Niliyekuchagua:
2 Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Yahwe asema hivi, yeye aliyekufanya na kukuumba wewe katika tumbo na yeye aliye kusadia wewe: Usiogope, Yakobo mtumishi wangu; na wewe Yeshuruni, niliyekuchagua.
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Maana nitashusha mvua kwenye aridhi yenye kiu, na mikondo ya maji kwenye ardhi kavu; Nitashusha roho yangu kwa watoto wako, na baraka zangu kwa watoto wako.
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
Watakuwa miongoni mwa nyasi, kama mti pembeni ya mkondo wa maji.
5 One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
Mmoja atasema, 'Mimi ni wa Yahwe; na mwingine ataita jina la Yakobo, na mwingine ataandika kwenye mkono wake 'Mimi ni wa Yahwe, na kujiita mwenyewe kwa jina la Israeli.''
6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Yahwe asema hivi—Mfalme wa Israeli na Mkombozi wake, Yahwe wa majeshi: ''Mimi ni mwanzo na ni mwisho; na hakuna mungu ila mimi.
7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
Ni nani aliye kama mimi? Na atangaze na anielezee matukio yaliyotokea tangu nilipoanzisha watu wangu wa kale, na waache watangaze matukio yajayo.
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Usiogope wala usifadhaike. Je si mimi niliyekutangazia toka zamani, na nikatangaza? ninyi ni mashaidi wangu: Je kuna Mungu mwingine zaidi yangu? Hakuna Mwamba mwingine zaidi yangu; Ninajua hakuna.''
9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Mitindo yote ya sanamu si kitu; vitu wanavyo vifurahia ndani havina maana; mashahidi wake hawawezi kuona au kujua chochote, na watapatwa katika aibu.
10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
Ni nani atengenezae miungu au sanamu zisizo na maana?
11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
Tazama, washirika wote watapatwa na aibu; mafundi ni watu tu. waache washikilie msimamao wao kwa pamoja; wataogopa na kuhaibishwa.
12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
Mhunzi anafanya kazi kwa vyombo vyake, kutengeneza, kufanya kazi kwenye makaa ya mawe. Hurekebisha kwa kutumia nyundo na hufanya kazi kwa mkono wake wenye nguvu. Hupata njaa, na nguvu zake humuishia; Hajanywa maji na huzimia.
13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
Seremala hupima mbao kwa kamba na kuiweka alama kwa kitu kikali. Huichonga kwa vyombo vyake na kuweka alama kwa kutumia dira. Huichonga baada ya sanamu ya mtu, kama mtu anyevutia, ili iweze kukaa ndani ya nyumba.
14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Huikata chini mierezi, huchagua miti ya miseprasi au miti ya mialoni. Huchukua mti yeye mwenyewe katika msitu. huotesha mvinje na mvua huifanya ikue.
15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
Basi mtu hutumia kwa moto na kujipatia joto. Ndio, huwasha moto kuwooka mkate. Halafu hutengeneza miungu ili ausujudie;
16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
Huchoma sehemu ya kuni kwa moto, na huchoma nyama yake juu yake. hula na kushiba. huota moto na kusema, ''Ah, Nimepata joto, nimeouna moto.''
17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
Kwa kutumia mbao hutengeneza miungu, sanamu yake; huisujudu na kuhieshimu, huipa sifa na kusema, ''Niokoe mimi, maana wewe ni mungu wangu.''
18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
Hawajui, wala hawaelewi, maana macho yao yamepofuka na hawaoni, na mioyo yao haiwezi kufahamu.
19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
Hakuna anayefikiria, wala kuelewa na kusema, ''Nimechoma sehemu ya mbao kwenye moto; na pia nimewooka mkate kwa kutumia makaa yake. Nimechoma nyama kwa makaa yake nikala. Sasa Je ninaweza kutengeneza kitu kinachochukiza kwa ajili ya kuabudia kwa sehemu ya mbao iliyobakia? Je ninaweza kusujudia sanamu ya mbao?''
20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
Ni kama anayejilisha majivu; moyo wke mdanganyifu unampoteza yeye. Huwezi kujiokoa mwenyewe, wala hawezi kusema, ''Hiki kitu katika mkono wangu wa kulia sio mungu wa kweli.''
21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
Fikiria kuhusu vitu hivi, Yakobo na Israeli, maana wewe ni mtumishi wangu: Nimekuumba wewe; wewe ni mtumishi wangu:
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Nimeyafuta makosa yako, kama wingu zito, matendo yako mabaya, na wingu, ni kama dhambi zako; maana nimekukomboa wewe.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Imba, enyi mbingu, maana Yahwe ameyafanya haya; piga kelele enyi mkaao katika nchi. Pazeni sauti enyi mlima milima, enyi misitu yenye miti ndani yake, ewe mlima, ewe msitu wenye kila aina ya mti ndani yak; Maana Yahwe amemkomboa Yakobo, na nitakuonyesha utukufu wake katika Israeli.
24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Yahwe asema hivi, Mkombozi wako, yeye aliyekuumba wewe kutoka tumboni: ''Mimi ni Yahwe, niliyefanya kila kitu, mimi mwenyewe nizinyooshae mbigu, mimi peke niitngenezae nchi.
25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
Mimi niliyezikata dalili za waongo na kuwaabisha wanaosoma dalili zake; Mimi niliyezigeuza busara za wenye hekima na kujeuza ushauri wao kuwa ujinga.
26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
Mimi, Yahwe, niliyethibitisha maneno ya mtumishi wake na kuutimiza utabiri wa mjumbe wake. Aliyezungumza kuhusu Yerusalemu, 'Atakuwa mwenyeji; na katika mji wa Yuda, 'Watatengeneza tena, na nitapatengeneza palipoharibika;
27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
awezae kusema kwa bahari kubwa, 'Kauka,' na yanakauka mda huo.'
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Yahwe ndiye amwambiye Koreshi, 'Ni mchungaji wangu, atafanya kila nilitakalo; atatoa amri kuhusu Yerusalemu, 'Utajengwa kwa upya, 'na kuhusu Hekalu, 'Basi na msingi wake uanzwe kuwekwa.''