Isaia 44
1 “No rĩrĩ, ta thikĩrĩria, wee Jakubu, ndungata yakwa, o we Isiraeli, ũrĩa niĩ thuurĩte.
But now, you people of Israel whom Yahweh has chosen to serve him, listen to me.
2 Jehova, ũrĩa wakũũmbire na agĩgũthondeka ũrĩ nda ya maitũguo, o ũrĩa ũrĩgũteithagia, ekuuga atĩrĩ: Tiga gwĩtigĩra, wee Jakubu, ndungata yakwa, o nawe Jeshuruni, ũrĩa niĩ thuurĩte.
Yahweh, the one who created you and helps you, says this: “You dear people of Israel whom I have chosen, you who serve me, do not be afraid.
3 Nĩgũkorwo bũrũri ũrĩa mũngʼaru nĩngaũitĩrĩria maaĩ, nakuo kũndũ kũrĩa kũmũ nĩgũgathereraga tũrũũĩ; naruo rũciaro rwaku nĩngarũitĩrĩria Roho wakwa, nacio njiaro cianyu ndĩciitĩrĩrie kĩrathimo gĩakwa.
I will pour water on your dry land and cause streams to flow. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants and greatly bless them.
4 Nĩmakaingĩha o ta nyeki ya gĩtuamba ĩkunũkĩte, o na kana ta mĩtĩ ya mĩribina ĩrĩa ĩkũraga hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia njũũĩ.
They will grow up like [SIM] grass grows along the water, like [SIM] willow/poplar [trees] grow well along a riverbank.
5 Mũndũ ũmwe nĩakoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndĩ wa Jehova’; nake ũrĩa ũngĩ akeĩtania na Jakubu; o nake ũngĩ eyandĩke guoko gwake atĩrĩ, ‘Ndĩ wa Jehova,’ na eetue rĩĩtwa rĩĩtanĩtio na Isiraeli.
Some of them will say, ‘I belong to Yahweh,’ and others will say, ‘We are descendants of Jacob,’ and others will write on their hands, ‘We belong to Yahweh,’ and others will say, ‘We are Israelis.’”
6 “Atĩrĩrĩ, Mũthamaki wa Isiraeli na Mũkũũri wao, o we Jehova-Mwene-Hinya-Wothe, ekuuga atĩrĩ: Nĩ niĩ wa mbere na nĩ niĩ wa kũrigĩrĩria, gũtirĩ Ngai ũngĩ tiga niĩ.
Yahweh, the King of Israel, the one who saves us, the Commander of the armies of angels, says this: “I am the one who begins everything and who ends everything; there is no other God.
7 Nũũ ũkĩhaana ta niĩ? Nĩarekwo oimbũre ũhoro ũcio. Nĩaheane ũhoro ũcio na oimbũre arĩ mbere yakwa, ũrĩa gwatariĩ kuuma rĩrĩa ndoombire andũ akwa a tene, na onanie ũrĩa gũgaikara thuutha-inĩ; ĩĩ, nĩakĩrathe ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa magooka.
If there is anyone like me [RHQ], he should proclaim it! He should speak and tell me [now]! He should tell what has happened since I caused my people [of Israel] to become a nation long ago, and he should also tell what things will happen; he should predict what will happen in the future.
8 Tigai kũinaina, o na kana mwĩtigĩre. Githĩ ndioimbũrire maũndũ maya, na ngĩratha ũhoro ũyũ kuuma o tene? Inyuĩ nĩ inyuĩ aira akwa. Nĩ kũrĩ Ngai ũngĩ tiga niĩ? Aca, gũtirĩ rwaro rũngĩ rwa Ihiga, niĩ ndirĩ ũngĩ njũũĩ.”
[My people], do not be afraid. Long ago I told you things that would happen [RHQ]; I predicted them, and you can testify that I did that. There certainly is not [RHQ] any other God. There is no other God who is able to protect you [MET]; I know that there is no other God!”
9 Andũ arĩa othe mathondekaga mĩhianano ya kũhooywo nĩ a tũhũ, na indo iria meriragĩria mũno itirĩ bata. Andũ arĩa mangĩaria ithenya rĩao nĩ atumumu; gũtirĩ ũndũ mamenyaga, ũguo nĩguo ũmaconorithagia.
All those who make idols are foolish, and the idols that they (think highly of/greatly respect) are worthless. And the people who worship those idols— [it is as though] they are blind, and they will be ashamed [for having worshiped those idols].
10 Nũũ wacũhagia mũhianano wa kũhooywo, o na ageturĩra mũhianano wa gũtwekio ũrĩa ũtangĩmũguna?
Only [foolish people] [RHQ] would make idols in a mold, idols that would never help them at all.
11 We na arĩa macihooyaga nĩmagaconorithio; mabundi o nao no andũ matarĩ kĩene. Othe nĩmongane hamwe na matue itua; nao nĩmakanyiitwo nĩ guoya mũnene na maconorithio.
Those who make idols and those who worship them will be ashamed. Those who make idols are only human beings, [but they claim that they are making gods]! They should stand in front of God in a court, and [when they hear what he says], they will be terrified, and they will all be disgraced.
12 Mũturi wa igera ooyaga kĩndũ kĩa wĩra, na agakĩrutĩra wĩra agagĩcina na makara; agathondeka ngai ya mũhianano na nyondo, akaũtura na hinya wa guoko gwake. Mũndũ ũcio ahũũtaga, akoorwo nĩ hinya; akaga kũnyua maaĩ, akaringĩka.
Metalworkers stand in front of hot coals in order to make idols. They pound them strongly with hammers, and shape them. Because they work very hard, they become hungry and weak; they become very thirsty and feel exhausted.
13 Mũtharamara aigaga rũrigi rwa kũrũngaria mũhari, agacooka agakurura na karamu; mũhianano ũcio egũthondeka akaũhũũra randa, ningĩ akaũthima gĩthiũrũrĩ, na agacooka kũwacũhia wega ũhaanane na mũhianĩre wa mũndũ, o ta mũndũ ũrĩ na riiri wake wothe, nĩgeetha ũtũũre ihooero-inĩ rĩaguo.
Then a woodcarver takes a big block/piece of wood and he measures it; then he marks it to show where he will cut it. He uses a chisel and other tools to carve it to resemble a human. He causes it to become a very beautiful [idol], and then he puts it in a shrine.
14 Mũndũ aatemire mĩtarakwa, na agĩĩthuurĩra mũkarakaba kana mũgandi. Akĩreka ũkũranĩre na mĩtĩ ĩrĩa ĩngĩ ya mũtitũ, kana akĩhaanda mũthengera, nayo mbura ĩkĩũkũria.
[Before he carves an idol from that block of wood], he has cut down a cedar tree, or he has selected a cypress tree or an oak tree and allowed it to grow tall in the forest. Or, he has planted a pine/evergreen tree and the rain has watered it [and caused it to grow tall].
15 Mũtĩ ũcio nĩ wa kuunwo ngũ; oyaga imwe agaakia mwaki, agoota, no iria ingĩ agaakia mwaki, akaruga mĩgate. Ningĩ gĩcunjĩ kĩmwe agethondekera ngai ya mũhianano, akamĩhooyaga. Ĩĩ ti-itherũ, athondekaga mũhianano mũicũhie akaũinamagĩrĩra.
[And after he uses part of the tree to make an idol], he uses the other part of the tree to make a fire, either to warm himself or to bake bread. But he uses [part of the same tree] to make for himself an idol to worship! He makes an idol and then he bows down to worship it.
16 Nuthu ya ngũ agaakia mwaki nacio; akarugĩra irio ciake ho, na akahĩhĩria nyama ciake ho, akarĩa, akahũũna. Ningĩ agoota mwaki, akoiga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ! Nĩndaigua ũrugarĩ; nĩndona mwaki.”
He burns part of the wood of the tree to cook his meat and eats the meat and his stomach becomes full, and he burns part of the wood to warm his body, and he says, “I feel warm while I am watching the flames in the fire.”
17 Ngũ iria ciatigara agathondeka ngai, mũhianano wake wa kũhooya; akaũinamĩrĩra na akaũturĩria maru. Akaũhooya, akoiga atĩrĩ, “Honokia; wee nĩwe ngai yakwa.”
Then he takes the rest of the wood and makes an idol which is his god. He bows down to it and worships it, and prays to it and says, “You are my god, so save me!”
18 Matirĩ ũndũ mooĩ, na matirĩ ũndũ mamenyaga; maitho mao nĩmahumbĩre, nĩ ũndũ ũcio matingĩona, na meciiria mao nĩmahingĩtwo makaaga kũmenya maũndũ.
Those people are very stupid and ignorant [SAR]. [It is as though] they are blind and cannot see, and their minds are closed and they cannot think well.
19 Gũtirĩ mũndũ ũkiraga ageciiria, gũtirĩ mũndũ ũrĩ na ũũgĩ kana ũmenyo oige atĩrĩ, “Nuthu ya ngũ ndahũthĩrire na gwakia mwaki; o na ngĩrugĩra mĩgate makara-inĩ macio, na ngĩcooka ngĩhĩhia nyama na ngĩrĩa. Ti-itherũ no ngĩthondeke kĩndũ kĩrĩ magigi kuuma kũrĩ ngũ iria itigaire? Ti-itherũ no nyinamĩrĩre gĩcunjĩ kĩa mũtĩ?”
They do not think about what they are doing, that they are taking a block of wood and burning half of it to warm themselves and using some of the rest to bake bread and roast some meat! [They do not say to themselves], “It is stupid [RHQ] to take the rest of the wood to make a detestable idol! It does not make sense to bow down to a block of wood!”
20 Arĩĩaga mũhu, ahĩtithĩtio nĩ ngoro ĩrĩa ĩheenekete; ndangĩhota kwĩhonokia, kana oige atĩrĩ, “Githĩ kĩndũ gĩkĩ kĩrĩ guoko gwakwa kwa ũrĩo ti maheeni?”
They are very stupid to [worship something that if you burn it, it becomes] ashes! They trust in something that cannot save them; they do not admit, “In my hand I hold something that is not really a god! [RHQ]”
21 “Ririkana maũndũ maya, wee Jakubu, o wee Isiraeli, tondũ ũrĩ ndungata yakwa. Nĩ niĩ ndakũũmbire, wee ũrĩ ndungata yakwa; atĩrĩ, wee Isiraeli, ndikaariganĩrwo nĩwe.
[Yahweh says, “You descendants of] [MTY] Jacob, you people of Israel who should be serving me, I created you, and I will not forget you.
22 Nĩnjeheretie mahĩtia maku magathira biũ, o ta ũrĩa itu rĩa mbura rĩthiraga, mehia maku ngamaniina ta kĩbii kĩa rũciinĩ. Njookerera tondũ nĩngũkũũrĩte.”
I have gotten rid of your sins like [SIM] [the wind blows away] a cloud. [It is as though] your transgressions were a morning mist [SIM] that I have blown away. Return to me because I have rescued you.”
23 Wee igũrũ ina nĩ gũkena, nĩgũkorwo nĩ Jehova wĩkĩte ũndũ ũcio; nawe thĩ ũrĩ rungu rwa igũrũ-rĩ, anĩrĩra. Na inyuĩ irĩma-rĩ, inai rwĩmbo, o na inyuĩ mĩtitũ na mĩtĩ yanyu yothe inai, nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩakũũrĩte Jakubu, na akoonania riiri wake kũu Isiraeli.
[The sun and moon and stars] in the sky should sing, and all the things that are beneath the ground should shout joyfully! All the mountains and forests, and all you trees, should sing loudly, because Yahweh has rescued [the descendants of] [MTY] Jacob; [the people of] Israel will praise/honor him.
24 “Jehova, Mũkũũri waku, ũrĩa wakũũmbĩire nda ya maitũguo, ekuuga atĩrĩ: “Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova ũrĩa wombire indo ciothe, ũrĩa watambũrũkirie igũrũ ndĩ nyiki, ũrĩa waaraganirie thĩ ndĩ nyiki,
Yahweh, who saved you and created you, says this: “I am Yahweh, the one who created everything. I am the only one who stretched out the sky. There was [RHQ] no one who (was with/helped) me when I created the earth.
25 nĩ niĩ ngiragĩrĩria ciama cia anabii a maheeni, nao aragũri ngamatua irimũ, ningĩ ngagarũra ũũgĩ wa arĩa oogĩ, ngaũtua ũrimũ mũtheri.
I show that the false prophets are liars, and I show that those who perform rituals to predict the future are fools. Some people who [falsely think that they] are [IRO] wise [say that they] know a lot, but I show that they are foolish.
26 Nĩ niĩ njĩkagĩra ciugo cia ndungata ciakwa hinya, na ngahingia ũrathi wa atũmwo akwa, na ha ũhoro wa Jerusalemu ngoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩrĩgatũũrwo,’ na ha ũhoro wa matũũra ma Juda ngoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩmagaakwo,’ o na kũndũ gwakuo kũrĩa kwanangĩtwo ngoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩngagũcookereria.’
But I always cause to happen what my prophets predict [DOU]. [I tell them to] say to [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem, ‘[Some day] people will live here again.’ [And I tell them to] say to [the people in other] towns in Judah [that Yahweh says], ‘Your towns will be rebuilt; I will cause the places that are only ruins to be rebuilt.’
27 Nĩ niĩ njĩĩraga maaĩ ma kũrĩa kũriku atĩrĩ, ‘Hũai, na nĩngahũithia tũrũũĩ twanyu.’
When I say to the rivers, ‘Dry up!’, they will become dry.
28 Nĩ niĩ njugaga ũhoro wa Mũthamaki Kurusu atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩwe mũrĩithi wa mbũri ciakwa, na nĩwe ũkaahingia ũrĩa wothe nyendaga wĩkwo; Nĩakoiga ũhoro wa Jerusalemu atĩrĩ, “Nĩrĩakwo,” na ha ũhoro wa hekarũ oige atĩrĩ, “Mĩthingi yayo nĩyakwo.”’”
When I say about King Cyrus, ‘He will [take care of my people like] [MET] a shepherd [takes care of his sheep], he will do what I want him to do,’ he will say about Jerusalem, ‘We must rebuild it!’, and he will also say, ‘We must rebuild the temple!’”
