Isaiah 38
1 About that time, Hezekiah became [very] ill and was close to dying. [So] I went to see him. And I gave him this message: “This is what Yahweh says: ‘You should tell the people in your palace what you want them to do after you die, because you will not recover from this illness. You are going to die’”
Katika siku hizo Hezekia akaugua, naye akawa karibu kufa. Nabii Isaya mwana wa Amozi akaenda kwake na kumwambia, “Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Tengeneza mambo ya nyumba yako, kwa sababu utakufa, hutapona.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed this:
Hezekia akaelekeza uso wake ukutani, akamwomba Bwana:
3 “Yahweh, do not forget that I have always served you very faithfully, and I have done things that pleased you!” Then Hezekiah [started to] cry loudly.
“Ee Bwana, kumbuka jinsi nilivyoenenda mbele zako kwa uaminifu na kujitoa kwa moyo wangu wote, na kufanya yaliyo mema machoni pako.” Naye Hezekia akalia kwa uchungu.
4 [I left his room, but] Yahweh gave me this message:
Ndipo neno la Bwana likamjia Isaya, kusema:
5 “Go [back] to Hezekiah and tell him that this is what I, the God to whom your ancestor King David belonged, say: ‘I have heard what you prayed, and I have seen you crying. So listen: I will enable you to live 15 years more.
“Nenda ukamwambie Hezekia, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa baba yako Daudi: Nimeyasikia maombi yako na nimeona machozi yako. Nitakuongezea miaka kumi na mitano katika maisha yako.
6 And, I will rescue you and this city from the power [MTY] of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city.
Nami nitakuokoa wewe pamoja na mji huu mkononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru. Nitaulinda mji huu.
7 And this is what I will do to prove that I will do what I have just now promised. I will cause the shadow of the sun to move ten steps backward on the sundial that was built by King Ahaz.’”
“‘Hii ndiyo ishara ya Bwana kwako ya kwamba Bwana atafanya kile alichoahidi:
8 So the shadow of the sun on the sundial moved backward ten steps.
Nitafanya kivuli cha jua kwenye ngazi iliyojengwa na Ahazi kirudi nyuma madaraja kumi.’” Hivyo jua likarudi nyuma madaraja kumi ambayo lilikuwa limeshuka.
9 When King Hezekiah was almost well again, he wrote this:
Maandiko ya Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda baada ya kuugua kwake na kupona:
10 I thought to myself, “Is it necessary for me to die and go to the place where the dead people are during this time of my life when I am still strong? Is Yahweh going to rob me of the remaining years that I [should live]?” (Sheol h7585)
Nilisema, “Katika ustawi wa maisha yangu, je, ni lazima nipite katika malango ya mauti, na kupokonywa miaka yangu iliyobaki?” (Sheol h7585)
11 I said, “I will not see Yahweh [again] in this world where people are alive. I will not see my friends again, or be with others who [now] are alive in this world.
Nilisema, “Sitamwona tena Bwana, Bwana katika nchi ya walio hai, wala sitamtazama tena mwanadamu, wala kuwa na wale ambao sasa wanakaa katika ulimwengu huu.
12 [It is as if] my life has been taken away like [SIM] a tent [whose pegs] have been pulled up by a shepherd and taken away. My time to live has been cut short, like a piece of cloth that a weaver [cuts and] rolls up [after he has finished weaving a cloth].” Suddenly, [it seemed that] my life was ending.
Kama hema la mchunga mifugo, nyumba yangu imebomolewa na kutwaliwa kutoka kwangu. Kama mfumaji nimevingirisha maisha yangu, naye amenikatilia mbali kutoka kitanda cha mfumi. Mchana na usiku uliyakomesha maisha yangu.
13 I waited patiently all during the night, but [my pain was as though] [MET] I was being torn apart by lions. [It seemed that] my life was finished.
Nilingoja kwa uvumilivu hadi mapambazuko, lakini alivunja mifupa yangu yote kama simba. Mchana na usiku uliyakomesha maisha yangu.
14 [I was delirious, and] I chirped like a swift or a swallow, and moaned like a dove. My eyes became tired looking up [toward heaven] for help. I cried out, Lord, help me, [because] I am distressed!’
Nililia kama mbayuwayu au korongo, niliomboleza kama hua aombolezaye. Macho yangu yalififia nilipotazama mbinguni. Ee Bwana, ninataabika, njoo unisaidie!”
15 But there was really nothing [RHQ] that I could say and ask him to reply to me, because it was Yahweh who sent this illness. [So now] I will live humbly during my [remaining] years because I am very anguished.
Lakini niseme nini? Amesema nami, naye yeye mwenyewe amelitenda hili. Nitatembea kwa unyenyekevu katika miaka yangu yote kwa sababu ya haya maumivu makali ya nafsi yangu.
16 Yahweh, the sufferings (OR, the promises) that you give are good, [because] what you do and what you say bring [new] life and health to us. And you restore/heal me and allow me [to continue] to live!
Bwana, kwa mambo kama haya watu huishi, nayo roho yangu hupata uzima katika hayo pia. Uliniponya na kuniacha niishi.
17 Truly, my suffering was good for me; you loved me, and as a result you have rescued me from dying and have also forgiven all my sins.
Hakika ilikuwa ya faida yangu ndiyo maana nikapata maumivu makali. Katika upendo wako ukaniokoa kutoka shimo la uharibifu; umeziweka dhambi zangu zote nyuma yako.
18 Dead people [MTY] cannot praise you; they cannot sing to praise you. Those who have descended to their graves cannot confidently expect you to faithfully [do things for them]. (Sheol h7585)
Kwa maana kaburi haliwezi kukusifu, mauti haiwezi kuimba sifa zako; wale washukao chini shimoni hawawezi kuutarajia uaminifu wako. (Sheol h7585)
19 Only people who are still alive, like I am, can praise you. Fathers tell their children how you are faithful, [and if I remain alive, I will do the same thing].
Walio hai, walio hai: hao wanakusifu, kama ninavyofanya leo. Baba huwaambia watoto wao habari za uaminifu wako.
20 [I know that] Yahweh will fully heal me, [so] I will sing to praise him while others praise him playing musical instruments; I will do that every day of my life, in the temple of Yahweh.”
Bwana ataniokoa, nasi tutaimba kwa vyombo vya nyuzi siku zote za maisha yetu katika Hekalu la Bwana.
21 I had [previously] said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Prepare an ointment from [mashed] figs, and spread it on his boil, and then he will recover.” [So they did that, and Hezekiah recovered].
Isaya alikuwa amesema, “Tengenezeni dawa ya kubandika ya tini, mweke juu ya jipu, naye atapona.”
22 And Hezekiah had [previously] asked, “What will Yahweh do to prove that I will [recover and be able to] go to his temple?”
Hezekia alikuwa ameuliza, “Kutakuwa na ishara gani kwamba nitapanda kwenda Hekalu la Bwana?”
