Isaaya 37
1 Awo kabaka Keezeekiya bwe yabiwulira n’ayuza engoye ze n’ayambala ebibukutu n’ayingira mu nnyumba ya Mukama.
When King Hezekiah heard what they reported, he tore his clothes and put on clothes made of rough sackcloth [because he was very distressed]. Then he went into the temple of Yahweh [and prayed].
2 N’atuma Eriyakimu eyali akulira olubiri ne Sebuna omuwandiisi ne bakabona abakulu, nga bambadde ebibukutu, eri nnabbi Isaaya mutabani wa Amozi.
Then he sent Eliakim, Shebna, and the (older/most important) priests, who were also wearing clothes made of rough sackcloth, to talk to me.
3 Ne bamugamba nti, “Keezeekiya atutumye okukugamba nti, Olunaku luno lunaku lwa kulabiramu nnaku era lwa kuvumirwamu era lwa kujoogebwa; kubanga abaana batuuse okuzaalibwa naye nga tewali maanyi ga kubazaala.
He said to them, “Tell this to Isaiah: ‘King Hezekiah says that this is a day when we are greatly distressed. Other nations are causing us to be insulted and disgraced. We are like [SIM] a woman who is about to give birth to a baby, but she does not have the strength that she needs to do it.
4 Oboolyawo Mukama Katonda wo anaawulira ebigambo bya Labusake eyatumibwa kabaka w’e Bwasuli mukama we okuvuma Katonda omulamu, Mukama Katonda wo n’amunenya olw’ebigambo by’awulidde: Kale waayo okusaba kwo wegayiririre ekitundu ekikyasigaddewo.”
[But] perhaps Yahweh our God has heard what the official from Assyria said. Perhaps he knows that his boss, the King of Assyria, sent him to insult the all-powerful God, and that Yahweh will punish the King of Assyria for what he said. And the king requests that you pray for the few of us who are still alive [here in Jerusalem].’”
5 Abaddu ba kabaka Keezeekiya bwe bajja eri Isaaya,
After those men gave me that message,
6 Isaaya n’abagamba nti, “Mutegeeze mukama wammwe nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, Ebigambo by’owulidde abaddu ba kabaka w’e Bwasuli bye banvumye, tebikutiisa.
I replied, “Tell the King, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “Those messengers from the King of Assyria have said evil things about me. But do not be disturbed by what they said.
7 Laba ndimusindikira omwoyo omubi, awulire olugambo addeyo mu nsi ye. Era eyo gye ndimuzikiririza afe ekitala.’”
Listen to this: I will cause Sennacherib to hear a rumor [that the armies of Babylon are about to attack his country], and that will worry him. So he will return to his own country, and there I will cause him to be assassinated by [men using] swords.”’”
8 Awo Labusake omuduumizi wa Bwasuli bwe yaddayo, n’asanga kabaka w’e ng’alwana ne Libuna: kubanga yawulira nti avudde e Lakisi.
The official from Assyria found out that the King of Assyria [and his army] had captured Lachish [city] and that they were attacking Libnah, [which is a nearby city]. So the official left Jerusalem and went to Libnah [to report to the king what had happened in Jerusalem].
9 Ate era kabaka Sennakeribu n’afuna obubaka nti Tiraaka kabaka w’e Kuusi azze okumulwanyisa. Bwe yakiwulira n’asindika ababaka eri Keezeekiya n’obubaka buno nti,
Soon after that, King [Sennacherib] received a report that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading his army to attack them. So before King Sennacherib left Libnah [with his army to fight against the army from Ethiopia], he sent other messengers to Hezekiah in Jerusalem with a letter. [In the letter he wrote this] to Hezekiah:
10 “Keezeekiya kabaka wa Yuda mumugambe nti, Katonda wo gwe weesiga takulimbanga ng’ayogera nti, ‘Yerusaalemi tekirigabulwa mu mukono gwa kabaka w’e Bwasuli.’
“Do not allow your god, on whom you are relying, to deceive you by promising you that Jerusalem will not be captured by my army.
11 Laba wawulira bakabaka b’e Bwasuli kye baakola amawanga gonna, ne bagazikiririza ddala. Mwe munaawona?
You have certainly heard what the armies of the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries; our armies have destroyed them completely. So, (do you think that you will escape?/do not think that your god will save you!) [RHQ]
12 Amawanga bakitange ge baasaanyaawo, Gozani, ne Kalani, ne Lezefu n’abantu ba Adeni abaabanga mu Terasali, bakatonda baago, baabayamba?
Did the gods of the nations that were about to be destroyed by the armies of the previous kings of Assyria rescue them? Did those gods rescue Gozan [region], and Haran and Rezeph [cities in northern Syria], and the people of Eden [region] who were forced to go to Tel-Assar [city]?
13 Ali ludda wa kabaka w’e Kamasi ne kabaka w’e Alupadi ne kabaka w’ekibuga Sefarayimu oba ow’e Keena, oba ow’e Yiva?”
What happened to the King of Hamath and the King of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah [cities]? [Did their gods rescue them] [RHQ]?”
14 Keezeekiya n’aggya ebbaluwa mu mukono gw’ababaka n’agisoma: Keezeekiya n’ayambuka mu nnyumba ya Mukama n’agyanjuluza mu maaso ga Mukama.
Hezekiah received the letter that the messengers gave him, and he read it. Then he went up to the temple and spread out the letter in front of Yahweh.
15 N’asaba ne yeegayirira Mukama nga agamba nti,
And [then] Hezekiah prayed this:
16 “Ayi Mukama ow’Eggye, Katonda wa Isirayiri, atuula wakati mu bakerubbi, ggwe Katonda wekka afuga obwakabaka bwonna obw’omu nsi, ggwe wakola eggulu n’ensi.
“O Yahweh, Commander of the armies of angels, the God to whom [we] Israelis belong, you are seated on your throne above the statues of the creatures with wings, [above the Sacred Chest]. Only you are [truly] God. You rule all the kingdoms on this earth. You are the one who created everything on the earth and in the sky.
17 Otege okutu kwo Ayi Mukama owulire, ozibule amaaso go, Ayi Mukama, olabe: owulire ebigambo byonna ebya Sennakeribu by’aweerezza okuvuma Katonda omulamu.
[So], Yahweh, [please] listen to what I am saying, and look at [what is happening]! And listen to what Sennacherib has said to insult you, the all-powerful God!
18 “Mazima ddala Mukama, bakabaka b’e Bwasuli baazisa amawanga gonna n’ensi zaago,
Yahweh, it is true that [the armies of] the kings of Assyria have completely destroyed many nations and ruined their land.
19 ne basuula bakatonda baabwe mu muliro: kubanga tebaali bakatonda, naye mulimu gwa ngalo z’abantu, miti na mayinja; kyebaava babazikiriza.
And they have thrown all the idols of those nations into fires and burned them. But they were not [really] gods. They were only idols made of wood and stone, [and that is why they were destroyed easily].
20 Kale nno, ayi Mukama Katonda waffe, tulokole mu mukono gwa Sennakeribu, obwakabaka bwonna obw’ensi butegeere nga ggwe wekka ggwe Mukama.”
So now, Yahweh our God, [please] rescue us from the power [MTY] of [the King of Assyria], in order that [the people in] all the kingdoms of the world will know that you, Yahweh, are the only one who is [truly] God.”
21 Awo Isaaya mutabani wa Amozi n’atumira Keezeekiya ng’ayogera nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri nti, Kubanga onneegayiridde ku bya Sennakeribu kabaka w’e Bwasuli,
Then I sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what Yahweh, the God to whom [we] Israelis belong, says: Because you prayed about what King Sennacherib of Assyria [said],
22 kino kye kigambo kye mmwogeddeko: “‘Omuwala wa Sayuuni embeerera akunyooma era akusekerera. Omuwala wa Yerusaalemi akunyeenyeza omutwe gwe nga bw’odduka.
this is what I say to him: ‘The people of Jerusalem despise you and make fun of you. They will wag/shake their heads to mock you while you flee from here.
23 Ani gw’ovumye gw’ovodde? Era ani gw’oyimuyisirizzaako eddoboozi lyo n’okanulira n’amaaso? Omutukuvu wa Isirayiri!
Whom do you think you have been despising and ridiculing? Whom do you think you were shouting at? Whom do you think you were looking at [very] proudly/arrogantly? [It was I], the Holy One whom the Israelis worship!
24 Okozesezza abaddu bo okuvuma Mukama n’oyogera nti, Nyambuse n’amagaali gange amangi ku ntikko y’olusozi, ntuuse ku njuyi ez’omunda eza Lebanooni; era ntemedde ddala emivule gyakwo emiwanvu, n’enfugo zaakwo ezisinga obulungi, era natuuka ne ku lusozi lwakwo olukomererayo, ekibira kyayo ekisinga obunene.
The messengers whom you sent made fun of me. You said, “With my many chariots I have gone to the highest mountains, [even] to the highest mountains in Lebanon. We have cut down its tallest cedar [trees] and its nicest pine/cypress [trees]. We have been to the most distant/remote peaks and to its densest forests.
25 Waduula nti wasima enzizi era n’onywa n’amazzi mu mawanga era nti ebigere by’abajaasi bo byakaliza amazzi g’omugga Kiyira mu Misiri.’
We have dug wells [in many countries] and drunk water [from them]. And by marching through [MTY] the streams of Egypt, we dried them all up [HYP]!”
26 “Tewawulira nga nakisalawo dda? Nakiteekateeka dda. Mu biro eby’edda nakiteekateeka; era kaakano nkituukirizza, olyoke ofuule ebibuga ebiriko bbugwe okuba ng’entuumo y’amayinja.
[But I, Yahweh, reply], “Have you never heard that long ago I determined [those things]; I planned them long ago, and now I have been causing those things to occur. I planned that your army would destroy cities and cause them to become piles of rubble.
27 Abantu baamu kyebaavanga baggwaamu amaanyi, ne baterebuka ne bakeŋŋentererwa ne baba ng’essubi mu nnimiro, ng’omuddo omuto, ng’omuddo ogumera ku nnyumba ogwokebwa ne gufa nga tegunnakula.
The people in those cities have no power, and as a result they are dismayed and discouraged. They are [as frail as] [MET] grass and plants in the fields, as frail as grass that grows on the roofs of houses and is scorched by the hot east wind.
28 “Naye mmanyi obutuuliro bwo era mmanyi okufuluma kwo n’okuyingira kwo n’obuswandi bw’ondaga.
[But] I know [everything about you]; I know when you are [in your house and] when you go outside; I also know that you are (raging/speaking very angrily) against me.
29 Kubanga oneereegeddeko, okwepanka kw’okoze nkutuuseeko. Era kaakano ntuuse okuteeka eddobo mu nnyindo zo, n’oluuma ndufumite mu mimwa gyo, nkuzzeeyo ng’opaala mu kkubo lye wajjiramu.”
[So], because you have raged against me and because I have heard you speak very proudly/arrogantly, [it will be as though] I will put a hook in your nose and I will put an iron (bit/metal bar) in your mouth [in order that I can lead you where I want you to go], and I will force you to return [to your own country], on the same road on which you came [here, without conquering Jerusalem].”’
30 Awo Isaaya n’agamba Keezeekiya nti, “Kano ke kabonero akanaakuweebwa: Omwaka guno mugenda kulya eŋŋaano eyeemeza yokka. Eno gye muliryako n’omwaka ogwokubiri. Mu mwaka ogwokusatu mulirya ku birime byammwe bye musize era ne mukungula mu nnimiro zammwe ez’emizabbibu.
[Then I said to Hezekiah], ‘This will prove to you [that what I said will happen]: “This year, you(pl) will eat [only the crops] that grow by themselves, and next year the same thing will happen. But in the third year you will plant [crops] and harvest them; you will take care of your vineyards and eat the grapes.
31 Abantu ba Yuda abalifikkawo baliba ng’ebisimbe emirandira gyabyo nga gikka wansi ate nga bigimuka ne bibala.
And [you] people who are still [here] in Judah, will be strong and prosper again [MET].
32 Mu Yerusaalemi walibaawo abalisigalawo ne ku Lusozi Sayuuni walibeerawo abaliwona, kubanga Mukama Ayinzabyonna mu bumalirivu bwe, yeewaddeyo okukikola.
A small number of my people will survive, and they will spread out from Jerusalem [DOU].” That will happen because [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, am desiring very much to accomplish it.’
33 “Noolwekyo bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama ku bikwata ku Kabaka w’e Bwasuli nti, “Kabaka oyo taliyingira mu kibuga kino wadde okulasayo akasaale. Talikisemberera n’engabo newaakubadde okutuumako ekifunvu ng’akitaayiza.
And this is what [I], Yahweh, say about the King of Assyria: ‘His [armies] will not enter Jerusalem; they will not [even] shoot arrows into it. His soldiers will not [march outside] the city gates holding their shields, and they will not build high mounds of dirt against the walls of the city [to enable them to attack the city].
34 Ekkubo lye yajjiramu lye limu ly’anaakwata okuddayo. Tajja kuyingira mu kibuga kino,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
And their king will return [to his own country] on the same road on which he came [here]. He will not enter this city!’ [That will happen because I], Yahweh, have said it!
35 “Ndirwanirira ekibuga kino nkirokole.”
For the sake of my own reputation and because of what I promised King David, who served me [well], I will defend this city and prevent it from being destroyed.”
36 Awo malayika wa Mukama n’afuluma n’atta mu lusiisira olw’Abasuli abantu emitwalo kkumi na munaana mu enkumi ttaano. Abaasigalawo bagenda okuzuukuka enkya nga wonna wajjudde mirambo.
[That night], an angel from Yahweh went out to where the army of Assyria had set up their tents and killed 185,000 of their soldiers. When [the rest of the soldiers] woke up the next morning, they saw that there were corpses everywhere.
37 Awo Sennakeribu kabaka w’e Bwasuli n’avaayo n’addayo n’abeera e Nineeve.
Then King Sennacherib left and returned home to Nineveh [in Assyria], and stayed there.
38 Lumu bwe yali ng’asinziza mu ssabo lya Nisuloki katonda we, Adulammereki, ne Salezeri batabani be ne bamusalira olukwe ne bamutta: ne baddukira mu nsi ya Alalati. Esaludooni mutabani we n’amusikira.
[One day], when he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his two sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords. Then they escaped and went to the Ararat [region northwest of Nineveh]. And another of Sennacherib’s sons, Esarhaddon, became the King of Assyria.
