< Haggai 1 >

1 [I am], Haggai, a prophet. I received a message from Yahweh on August 29th, during the second year that Darius was the king [of Persia]. I told this message to Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Jehozadak’s son Jeshua, the Supreme Priest.
Katika mwaka wa pili wa utawala wa Mfalme Dario wa Uajemi, katika siku ya kwanza ya mwezi wa sita, neno la Bwana lilikuja kupitia kwa nabii Hagai kwenda kwa Zerubabeli mwana wa Shealtieli, mtawala wa Yuda na kwa Yoshua mwana wa kuhani mkuu Yehosadaki:
2 Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of heaven, told [me] that the people were saying that it was not yet time for them to rebuild Yahweh’s temple.
Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote: “Hawa watu husema, ‘Wakati haujawadia wa kujenga nyumba ya Bwana.’”
3 Then Yahweh gave me this message [to tell to the people of Jerusalem]:
Kisha neno la Bwana likaja kupitia kwa nabii Hagai:
4 “It is not right [RHQ] for you to be living in luxurious houses while my temple is only ruins!
“Je, ni wakati wenu ninyi wa kuishi katika nyumba zenu zilizojengwa vizuri, wakati hii nyumba ikibaki, gofu?”
5 [I, ] Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of heaven, say this: Think about what is happening to you.
Sasa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote: “Zitafakarini vyema njia zenu.
6 You have planted a lot [of seeds], but you are not getting many [crops] to harvest. You eat [food], but you never get enough. You drink [wine], but you are still thirsty. You wear clothes, but you do not stay warm. You earn money, [but things are very expensive], with the result that [it is as though] [MET] [your money disappears because] you are putting it in purses/pockets that have [big] holes in them.”
Mmepanda vingi, lakini mmevuna haba. Mnakula lakini hamshibi, mnakunywa, lakini hamtosheki. Mnavaa nguo, lakini hamsikii joto. Mnapata mishahara, lakini inatoweka kama imewekwa kwenye mfuko uliotobokatoboka.”
7 [So] this is what Yahweh, the Commander of the armies of heaven, says: “Think about what is happening to you.
Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote: “Zitafakarini vyema njia zenu.
8 [Then] go up into the hills, [cut down trees, ] and bring timber [down here], and rebuild my temple. When you do that, I will be pleased, and I will be honored.
Pandeni milimani mkalete miti na kujenga nyumba, ili nipate kuifurahia, na nitukuzwe,” asema Bwana.
9 You expected [to harvest] plenty [of crops], but there were few [crops to harvest]. And when you brought the crops home, I caused them to spoil [IDM] quickly. The reason [that happened is that] my temple is a ruins, while each of you are busy building your own [beautiful] houses.
“Mlitarajia mengi, kumbe, yametokea kidogo. Ulichokileta nyumbani nilikipeperusha. Kwa nini?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Ni kwa sababu ya nyumba yangu, inayobaki katika hali ya magofu, wakati kila mmoja wenu anajishughulisha na nyumba yake mwenyewe.
10 It is because of what you [are doing] that rain does not fall from the sky, and [as a result] there are no crops.
Kwa hiyo, kwa sababu yenu mbingu zimezuia umande wake na ardhi mavuno yake.
11 I have caused a (drought/severe lack of rain) on the hills and on your fields. The result has been that your grain [has withered], and your grapevines [MTY] and olive trees [MTY] and all your [other] crops have dried up. [Because of that, ] you and your cattle [do not have enough food], and the hard work that you have done will be for nothing.”
Niliita ukame mashambani na milimani, kwenye nafaka, mvinyo mpya, mafuta pamoja na chochote kinachozalishwa na ardhi, juu ya watu na ngʼombe, pamoja na kazi za mikono yenu.”
12 Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and all the others of God’s people who were still alive obeyed the message that Yahweh our God had said, and they heeded the message that I had given them, because [they knew that] Yahweh our God had sent/appointed me. And the people revered Yahweh.
Kisha Zerubabeli mwana wa Shealtieli, Yoshua kuhani mkuu mwana wa Yehosadaki, pamoja na mabaki yote ya watu wakaitii sauti ya Bwana Mungu wao pamoja na ujumbe wa nabii Hagai, kwa sababu alikuwa ametumwa na Bwana Mungu wao. Watu walimwogopa Bwana.
13 Then [I], Haggai, who was Yahweh’s messenger, gave this message from Yahweh to the people: “I, Yahweh, declare that I am with you.”
Kisha Hagai, mjumbe wa Bwana, akawapa watu ujumbe huu wa Bwana: “Mimi niko pamoja nanyi,” asema Bwana.
14 [So] Yahweh motivated Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the other people to want to rebuild the temple of our God, the Commander of the armies of angels. They gathered together and started to work to rebuild it.
Kwa hiyo Bwana akachochea roho ya Zerubabeli mwana wa Shealtieli, mtawala wa Yuda, na roho ya kuhani mkuu Yoshua mwana wa Yehosadaki, pamoja na roho za mabaki yote ya watu. Walikuja wakaanza kufanya kazi katika nyumba ya Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wao,
15 [They started work] on September 21st, during the second year that Darius was the king.
katika siku ya ishirini na nne mwezi wa sita, katika mwaka wa pili wa utawala wa Mfalme Dario.

< Haggai 1 >