Isaaya 18

1 Zikusanze, ggwe ensi ey’ebiwaawaatiro ebikwakwaya, eri emitala w’emigga gya Kuusi,

Tragedy is coming to the land of whirring wings that lies along the rivers of Ethiopia,

2 etuma ababaka ne bagendera mu maato ag’ebitoogo ku nnyanja. Mugende mmwe ababaka abangu, eri abantu abawanvu ab’emibiri emiweweevu, eri abantu abatiibwa abeewala n’ab’okumpi, eggwanga ery’amaanyi eryogera olulimi olutamanyiddwa, ensi eyawulwamu emigga.

They send messengers downriver in papyrus boats. Swift messengers, go and take a message to a tall and smooth-skinned people, to a people feared by everyone, to a very powerful nation of conquerors, whose land is washed away by rivers.

3 Mmwe mwenna abantu abali mu nsi, mmwe ababeera ku nsi, bendera lweriwanikibwa ku nsozi, muligiraba, era ekkondeere bwe lirifuuyibwa, muliriwulira.

All you people of the world, everyone who lives on earth—you will see when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will hear when a trumpet sounds.

4 Kubanga bw’atyo Mukama bw’aŋŋambye nti, “Ndyesirikira ntunule nga nsinziira ewange, ng’olubugumu olutemagana mu musana, ng’ekire ky’omusulo mu lubugumu olw’omu biro eby’amakungula.”

For this is what the Lord has told me: I will watch quietly from where I live, quiet as heat haze in sunlight, quiet as a mistcloud in the heat of harvest.

5 Kubanga okukungula kuliba tekunatuuka, okumulisa nga kuwedde, n’ekimuli nga kifuuka zabbibu eyengedde, aliwawaagula obutabi n’ebiwabyo, n’amatabi agalanda aligasalira.

For before the harvest, after the flower is gone and becomes an unripe grape, he prunes the vine with a knife to take out the shoots and branches.

6 Gonna galirekerwa ennyonyi ez’oku nsozi ezirya ebiramu n’ensolo ez’ensi. Era ennyonyi ezirya ebiramu zirye okwo mu biseera by’ekyeya, n’ensolo zonna ez’omu nsiko zirye okwo mu biseera by’obunnyogovu.

They will all be left as carrion for the birds of prey of the mountains, and for the wild animals. The birds will eat them in summer, and all the wild animals in winter.

7 Mu kiseera ekyo Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye balimuleetera ebirabo, ensi ey’abantu abawanvu ab’emibiri emiweweevu, abantu abatiibwa abeewala n’abookumpi, ensi ey’eryanyi, eyawulwamu emigga, ku lusozi Sayuuni ekifo ky’erinnya lya Mukama Ayinzabyonna.

At that time a gift will be brought to the Lord Almighty from a tall and smooth-skinned people, from a people feared by everyone, from a very powerful nation of conquerors, whose land is washed away by rivers. It will be brought to Mount Zion, the place identified with the Lord Almighty.