Isaiah 9
1 For there is no gloom to her who had been in anguish, In the former time, he brought into dishonour The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, In the latter time, hath he brought into honour The Lake-way over the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Hata hivyo, hapatakuwepo huzuni tena kwa wale waliokuwa katika dhiki. Wakati uliopita aliidhili nchi ya Zabuloni na nchi ya Naftali, lakini katika siku zijazo ataiheshimu Galilaya ya Mataifa, karibu na njia ya bahari, kando ya Yordani:
2 the people who were walking in darkness, Have seen a great light, —The dwellers in a land death-shadowed, A light, hath shined upon them.
Watu wanaotembea katika giza wameona nuru kuu, wale wanaoishi katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, nuru imewazukia.
3 Thou hast increased the exultation Thou hast made great the joy, —They joy before thee, according to the joy of harvest, As men exult when they distribute spoil.
Umelikuza taifa, na kuzidisha furaha yao, wanafurahia mbele zako, kama watu wanavyofurahia wakati wa mavuno, kama watu wafurahivyo wagawanyapo nyara.
4 For, the yoke of their burden, The cross-bar of their shoulder, The goad of their driver, Hast thou broken, as in the day of Midian.
Kama vile siku ya kushindwa kwa Wamidiani, umevunja nira iliyowalemea, ile gongo mabegani mwao na fimbo yake yeye aliyewaonea.
5 Surely, every boot of one tramping in tumult, and the war-cloak rolled in blood Then shall serve for burning, food for fire;
Kila kiatu cha askari kilichotumiwa vitani, na kila vazi lililovingirishwa katika damu vitawekwa kwa ajili ya kuchomwa, vitakuwa kuni za kuwasha moto.
6 For, A Child, hath been born to us, A Son, hath been given to us, And the dominion is upon his shoulder, —And his Name hath been called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty GOD, Father of Futurity, Prince of Prosperity.
Kwa maana, kwa ajili yetu mtoto amezaliwa, tumepewa mtoto mwanaume, nao utawala utakuwa mabegani mwake. Naye ataitwa Mshauri wa Ajabu, Mungu Mwenye Nguvu, Baba wa Milele, Mfalme wa Amani.
7 Of the increase of dominion, and of prosperity, There shall be no end—Upon the throne of David and Upon his kingdom, By establishing it and By sustaining it, With justice and With righteousness, —From henceforth, Even unto times age-abiding: The jealousy of Yahweh of hosts, will perform this!
Kuongezeka kwa utawala wake na amani hakutakuwa na mwisho. Atatawala katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi na juu ya ufalme wake, akiuthibitisha na kuutegemeza kwa haki na kwa adili, tangu wakati huo na hata milele. Wivu wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote utatimiza haya.
8 A word, hath My Lord, sent unto Jacob, —And it shall alight on Israel;
Bwana ametuma ujumbe dhidi ya Yakobo, utamwangukia Israeli.
9 and the people shall all of them know [it] —Ephraim and the dweller in Samaria—Who in pride and insolence of heart, are saying:
Watu wote watajua hili: Efraimu na wakazi wa Samaria, wanaosema kwa kiburi na majivuno ya mioyo,
10 Bricks, have fallen down But with hewn stone, will we build, —Sycomores, have been felled, But with cedars, will we replace them.
“Matofali yameanguka chini, lakini tutajenga tena kwa mawe yaliyochongwa, mitini imeangushwa, lakini tutapanda mierezi badala yake.”
11 Therefore will Yahweh strengthen the adversaries of Resin against him, —And his enemies will he arouse:
Lakini Bwana amemtia nguvu adui wa Resini dhidi yao na kuchochea watesi wao.
12 Syrians before and Philistines behind, Thus have they devoured Israel with open mouth, —For all this, hath his anger, not turned back, But still, is his hand outstretched.
Waashuru kutoka upande wa mashariki na Wafilisti kutoka upande wa magharibi wameila Israeli kwa kinywa kilichopanuliwa. Hata kwa haya yote, hasira yake haijageukia mbali, mkono wake bado umeinuliwa juu.
13 Yet, the people, have not turned unto him that smote them, —And Yahweh of hosts, have they not sought.
Lakini watu hawajamrudia yeye aliyewapiga, wala hawajamtafuta Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
14 Therefore hath Yahweh cut off from Israel—Head and tail Palm-top and rush, In one day.
Kwa hiyo Bwana atakatilia mbali kutoka Israeli kichwa na mkia, tawi la mtende na tete katika siku moja.
15 The elder and favourite, he, is the head, —And the prophet teaching falsehood, he, is the tail;
Wazee na watu mashuhuri ndio vichwa, nao manabii wanaofundisha uongo ndio mkia.
16 And they who should have led this people forward have been causing them to stray, —And, they who are led of them are destroyed,
Wale wanaowaongoza watu hawa wanawapotosha, nao wale wanaoongozwa wamepotoka.
17 For this cause, over their choice young men, will My Lord not rejoice, And on their fatherless and their widows, will he not have compassion, For every one of them, is profane and an evildoer, And, every mouth is speaking baseness, —For all this, hath his anger, not turned back, But still, is his hand outstretched.
Kwa hiyo Bwana hatawafurahia vijana, wala hatawahurumia yatima na wajane, kwa kuwa kila mmoja wao hamchi Mungu, nao ni waovu, na kila kinywa kinanena upotovu. Hata kwa haya yote, hasira yake haijageukia mbali, mkono wake bado umeinuliwa juu.
18 For lawlessness, hath consumed like fire, Briars and thorns, doth it devour, —Yea it hath kindled upon the thickets of the forest, And they have rolled up as a column of smoke.
Hakika uovu huwaka kama moto; huteketeza michongoma na miiba, huwasha moto vichaka vya msituni, hujiviringisha kuelekea juu kama nguzo ya moshi.
19 Through the wrath of Yahweh of hosts, is the land consumed, —And the people have come to be, as fuel for fire, A man unto his own brother, sheweth not pity;
Kwa hasira ya Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote nchi itachomwa kwa moto, nao watu watakuwa kuni za kuchochea moto. Hakuna mtu atakayemhurumia ndugu yake.
20 And he hath slain on the right, and yet is hungry, And hath eaten on the left, yet are they not satisfied, —Every one, the flesh of his own arm, will they eat:
Upande wa kuume watakuwa wakitafuna, lakini bado wataona njaa; upande wa kushoto watakuwa wakila, lakini hawatashiba. Kila mmoja atajilisha kwa nyama ya mtoto wake mwenyewe:
21 Manasseh—Ephraim, and Ephraim—Manasseh, They together—against Judah, —For all this, hath his anger not turned back, But still, is his hand outstretched.
Manase atamla Efraimu, naye Efraimu atamla Manase; nao pamoja watakuwa kinyume na Yuda. Hata kwa haya yote, hasira yake haijageukia mbali, mkono wake bado umeinuliwa juu.
