< Zechariah 2 >
1 And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a man, and in his hand a measuring line.
Kisha nikainua macho yangu na kuona mtu akiwa na timazi mkononi mwake.
2 And I say, 'Whither are thou going?' And he saith unto me, 'To measure Jerusalem, to see how much [is] its breadth, and how much its length.'
Nikamwuliza, “Unakwenda wapi?” Akaniambia, “Ninakwenda kuupima Yerusalemu ili kujua upana na urefu wake.”
3 And lo, the messenger who is speaking with me is going out, and another messenger is going out to meet him,
Ndipo malaika aliyekuwa anaongea nami akaondoka na malaika mwingine akaenda kukutana naye.
4 and he saith unto him, 'Run, speak unto this young man, saying: Unwalled villages inhabit doth Jerusalem, From the abundance of man and beast in her midst.
Malaika wa pili akamwambia, “Nenda uongee na yule kijana umwambie, 'Yerusalemu utakuwa bila kuta kwa sababu ya wingi wa watu na wanyama ndani yake.
5 And I — I am to her — an affirmation of Jehovah, A wall of fire round about, And for honour I am in her midst.
Kwa maana Yahwe asema, Nitakuwa ulinzi wake, na nitakuwa utukufu katikati yake.
6 Ho, ho, and flee from the land of the north, An affirmation of Jehovah, For, as the four winds of the heavens, I have spread you abroad, An affirmation of Jehovah.
Kimbieni! kimbieni! kimbieni kutoka nchi ya kaskazini - asema Yahwe - kwa maana nimewatawanya kama pepo nne za anga! - Asema Yahwe.
7 Ho, Zion, be delivered who art dwelling [with] the daughter of Babylon.
Kimbilieni Sayuni haraka! ninyi mnaokaa na binti Babeli!” Asema Yahwe.
8 For thus said Jehovah of Hosts: After honour He hath sent me unto the nations who are spoiling you, For he who is coming against you, Is coming against the daughter of His eye.
Kwa maana baada ya Yahwe wa majeshi kuniheshimu aliniweka kinyume na mataifa yaliyowateka - kwani awagusaye, agusa mboni ya jicho la Mungu! - baada ya Yahwe kutenda hivi, alisema,
9 For lo, I am waving my hand against them, And they have been a spoil to their servants. And ye have known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me.
“Mimi mwenyewe nitatikisa mkono wangu juu yao, nao watakuwa mateka kwa watumwa wao.” Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba Yahwe wa majeshi amenituma.
10 Singe, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, For lo, I am coming, and have dwelt in thy midst, An affirmation of Jehovah.
“Imba kwa furaha, binti Sayuni, kwa maana mimi mwenyewe nitakaa nawe! - asema Yahwe
11 And joined have been many nations unto Jehovah in that day, And they have been to Me for a people, And I have dwelt in thy midst, And thou hast known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me unto thee.
Mataifa makubwa yataungana na Yahwe siku hiyo. “Nanyi mtakuwa watu wangu; kwa kuwa nitakaa kati yenu,” nanyi mtajua kuwa Yahwe wa majeshi amenituma kwenu.
12 And Jehovah hath inherited Judah, His portion on the holy ground, And He hath fixed again on Jerusalem.
Kwa maana Yahwe ataimilki Yuda kama milki yake halali katika nchi takatifu na kwa mara nyingine tena atauchagua Yerusalema kwa ajili yake mwenyewe.
13 Hush, all flesh, because of Jehovah, For He hath been roused up from His holy habitation!'
Nyamazeni, mbele za Yahwe, ninyi wote wenye mwili, maana ameinuka kutoka mahali patakatifu pake!