< Joel 2 >
1 Blow ye the cornet in Zion, and sound an alarm on my holy mount; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh;
Pigeni tarumbeta katika Sayuni; pigeni mbiu katika mlima wangu mtakatifu. Wote waishio katika nchi na watetemeke, kwa kuwa siku ya Bwana inakuja. Iko karibu,
2 It is a day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and of tempestuous obscurity, like the morning-dawn spread out upon the mountains: a people numerous and strong, the like of which hath never been and after it there will be none any more, even to the years of all coming generations.
siku ya giza na huzuni, siku ya mawingu na utusitusi. Kama mapambazuko yasambaavyo toka upande huu wa milima hata upande mwingine jeshi kubwa na lenye nguvu linakuja. Jambo kama hili halijakuwepo tangu zamani wala halitakuwepo tena kamwe kwa vizazi vijavyo.
3 Before it devoureth a fire; and behind it singeth a flame: like the garden of 'Eden was the land before it [came], and after it is a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing escapeth from it.
Mbele yao moto unateketeza, nyuma yao miali ya moto inawaka kwa nguvu. Mbele yao nchi iko kama bustani ya Edeni, nyuma yao ni jangwa lisilofaa: hakuna kitu kinachowaepuka.
4 Like the appearance of horses is its appearance; and like horsemen, so do they run.
Wanaonekana kama farasi; wanakwenda mbio kama askari wapanda farasi.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains do they leap; they are like the noise of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, as a strong people arrayed for a battle.
Wanatoa sauti kama magari ya vita, wanaporukaruka juu ya vilele vya milima, kama mlio wa miali ya moto ilayo mabua, kama jeshi kubwa lililojipanga kwa ajili ya vita.
6 At its presence the people are much pained: all the faces are covered with blackness.
Wanapoonekana, mataifa yanakuwa katika maumivu makuu; kila uso unabadilika rangi.
7 Like mighty men do they run; like men of war they climb up a wall; and they march every one on his own ways, and they turn not aside on their paths.
Wanashambulia kama wapiganaji wa vita; wanapanda kuta kama askari. Wote wanatembea katika safu, hawapotoshi safu zao.
8 And they do not press one another; every one on his beaten track do they go forward: and they pass through between war-like weapons, and change not their purpose.
Hakuna anayemsukuma mwenzake; kila mmoja anakwenda mbele moja kwa moja. Wanapita katika vizuizi bila kuharibu safu zao.
9 Into the city they hasten forward; on the wall they run; into the houses they climb up; through the windows they make their entrance like a thief.
Wanaenda kasi kuingia mjini; wanakimbia ukutani. Wanaingia ndani ya nyumba; kwa kuingilia madirishani kama wevi.
10 Before them trembleth the earth; the heavens quake; the sun and the moon are obscured, and the stars withdraw their brightness.
Mbele yao dunia inatikisika, anga linatetemeka, jua na mwezi vinatiwa giza, na nyota hazitoi mwanga wake tena.
11 And the Lord uttereth his voice before his army; for very numerous is his camp; for strong is he that executeth his word; for great is the day of the Lord and very terrible; and who is able to endure it?
Bwana anatoa mshindo wa ngurumo mbele ya jeshi lake; majeshi yake hayana idadi, ni wenye nguvu nyingi wale ambao hutii agizo lake. Siku ya Bwana ni kuu, ni ya kutisha. Ni nani anayeweza kuistahimili?
12 But even now also, saith the Lord, return ye fully to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
“Hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “nirudieni kwa mioyo yenu yote, kwa kufunga, kwa kulia na kuomboleza.”
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and return unto the Lord your God; for gracious and merciful is he, long suffering, and of great kindness, and he bethinketh himself of the evil.
Rarueni mioyo yenu na siyo mavazi yenu. Mrudieni Bwana, Mungu wenu, kwa maana yeye ndiye mwenye neema na mwingi wa huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, ni mwingi wa upendo, huona huruma, hujizuia kuleta maafa.
14 He that is conscious [of guilt], let him return and repent: when [the plague] may leave behind it a blessing; even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord your God.
Ni nani ajuaye? Yeye aweza kugeuka na kuwa na huruma na kuacha baraka nyuma yake: sadaka za nafaka na sadaka za vinywaji kwa ajili ya Bwana Mungu wenu.
15 Blow the cornet in Zion, sanctify a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly;
Pigeni tarumbeta katika Sayuni, tangazeni saumu takatifu, liiteni kusanyiko takatifu.
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth out of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Wakusanyeni watu, wekeni wakfu kusanyiko; waleteni pamoja wazee, wakusanyeni watoto, wale wanyonyao maziwa. Bwana arusi na atoke chumbani mwake na bibi arusi naye atoke katika chumba chake.
17 Between the porch and the altar let the priests weep, the ministers of the Lord, and let them say, Spare, O Lord, thy people, and give not up thy heritage to reproach, for nations to make a by-word of them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Makuhani, ambao wanahudumu mbele za Bwana, na walie katikati ya ukumbi wa Hekalu na madhabahu. Waseme, “Wahurumie watu wako, Ee Bwana. Usifanye urithi wako kitu cha kudharauliwa, neno la dhihaka kati ya mataifa. Kwa nini wasemezane miongoni mwao, ‘Yuko wapi Mungu wao?’”
18 And the Lord was zealous for his land, and he had pity for his people.
Kisha Bwana atakuwa na wivu kwa ajili ya nchi yake na kuwa na huruma juu ya watu wake.
19 And the Lord answered and said unto his people, “Behold, I will send you the corn, and the young wine, and the oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will not give you up any more to be a reproach among the nations:
Bwana atawajibu: “Ninawapelekea nafaka, mvinyo mpya na mafuta, vya kuwatosha ninyi hadi mridhike kabisa; kamwe sitawafanya tena kitu cha kudharauliwa na mataifa.
20 And the host of the north will I remove far away from you, and I will drive it off into a land barren and desolate, with its advance toward the eastern sea, and its rereward toward the western sea; and its stench shall ascend, and its ill savor shall come up, because it hath done great things.”
“Nitafukuza jeshi la kaskazini likae mbali nanyi, nikilisukuma ndani ya jangwa, askari wa safu za mbele wakienda ndani ya bahari ya mashariki na wale wa safu za nyuma katika bahari ya magharibi. Uvundo wake utapaa juu; harufu yake itapanda juu.” Hakika ametenda mambo makubwa.
21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice; for the Lord hath done great things.
Usiogope, ee nchi; furahi na kushangilia. Hakika Bwana ametenda mambo makubwa.
22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness have become green; for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine yield their strength.
Msiogope, enyi wanyama pori, kwa kuwa mbuga za malisho yenu zinarudia ubichi. Miti nayo inazaa matunda, mtini na mzabibu inatoa utajiri wake.
23 And ye children of Zion, be glad, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the first rain in beneficence, and he hath caused to come down for you the rain, the first rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].
Furahini, enyi watu wa Sayuni, shangilieni katika Bwana Mungu wenu, kwa kuwa amewapa mvua za vuli kwa kipimo cha haki. Anawapelekea mvua nyingi, mvua ya vuli na ya masika, kama mwanzoni.
24 And the threshing-floors are full of corn, and the vats overflow with young wine and oil.
Sakafu za kupuria zitajaa nafaka, mapipa yatafurika mvinyo mpya na mafuta.
25 And I will repay to you the years [in] which the locust hath eaten [all], with the cankerworm, and the cricket, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I had sent against you.
“Nitawalipa kwa ajili ya miaka ile iliyoliwa na nzige: parare, madumadu na tunutu, jeshi langu kubwa ambalo nililituma katikati yenu.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall not be made ashamed unto eternity.
Mtakuwa na wingi wa vyakula mpaka mshibe, na mtalisifu jina la Bwana Mungu wenu, ambaye amefanya maajabu kwa ajili yenu; kamwe watu wangu hawataaibishwa tena.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else; and my people shall not be made ashamed unto eternity.
Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba mimi niko katika Israeli kwamba mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu, na kwamba hakuna mwingine; kamwe watu wangu hawataaibika tena.
28 And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my spirit over all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams: your young men shall see visions:
“Hata itakuwa, baada ya hayo, nitamimina Roho wangu juu ya wote wenye mwili. Wana wenu na binti zenu watatabiri, wazee wenu wataota ndoto, na vijana wenu wataona maono.
29 And also over the men-servants and over the maid-servants in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Hata juu ya watumishi wangu, wanaume kwa wanawake, katika siku zile nitamimina Roho wangu.
30 And I will display wonderful tokens in the heavens and on the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Nami nitaonyesha maajabu katika mbingu na duniani: damu, moto na mawimbi ya moshi.
31 The sun shall be changed into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the day of the Lord, the great and the terrible.
Jua litageuzwa kuwa giza na mwezi kuwa mwekundu kama damu, kabla ya kuja siku ya Bwana ile kuu na ya kutisha.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall escape; for on mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and among the remnant whom the Lord calleth.
Na kila mtu atakayeliitia jina la Bwana ataokolewa. Kwa maana juu ya Mlima Sayuni na katika Yerusalemu kutakuwepo wokovu, kama Bwana alivyosema, miongoni mwa walionusurika ambao Bwana awaita.