< Isaya 3 >

1 Tarirai zvino, Ishe Jehovha Wamasimba Ose ava kuda kutora zvose rutsigiro nomudonzvo, kubva kuJerusarema neJudha; rutsigiro rwose rwezvokudya norutsigiro rwose rwemvura,
The Commander of the armies of angels is about to take away from Jerusalem and [other places in] Judea everything that you depend on— all your food and water.
2 mhare nomurwi, mutongi nomuprofita, muvuki nomukuru,
He will take away your heroes and your [other] soldiers, your judges and your prophets, people who do rituals to find out what will happen in the future and the elders,
3 mukuru wamakumi mashanu nomunhu anokudzwa, gurukota nomurume weumhizha, nomuvuki anoziva.
army officers and [other] officials, advisors and skilled craftsmen and those who perform rituals to predict the future.
4 Ndichaita kuti majaya ave vabati vavo; vana vadiki ndivo vachavatonga.
He will appoint boys to be your leaders; your children will rule you.
5 Vanhu vachadzvinyirirana, munhu nomunhu, muvakidzani nomuvakidzani. Vadiki vachamukira vakuru, nounozvidza achamukira anokudzwa.
People will treat each other cruelly: people will fight against their neighbors. Young people will insult older people, and vulgar/dishonorable people will sneer at people who should be honored.
6 Murume achabata mumwe wavanunʼuna vake paimba yababa vake achiti, “Ndiwe une nguo, chiva mutungamiri wedu; iva mutariri wedutu roungwandangwanda uhu!”
At that time, someone will grab one of his brothers in his father’s house and say to him, “You have a coat, [which shows that you are respected]. [So] you be our leader! You rule this [city, which is now] a pile of ruins!”
7 Asi pazuva iro achadanidzira achiti, “Handigoni kugadzirisa zvinhu. Handina chokudya kana chokufuka mumba mangu; musandiita mutungamiri wavanhu.”
[But] his brother will reply, “[No], I cannot help you, [because] I do not have [any extra] food or clothes in this house. [So] do not appoint me to be your leader!”
8 Jerusarema rozungunuka, Judha riri kuwa; mashoko avo nezviito zvavo zvinopesana naJehovha, vachizvidza kuvapo kwake kunobwinya.
Jerusalem and [the other towns in] Judah will be destroyed, because [everything] that the people do and say there opposes Yahweh, who is powerful and glorious, and they refuse to obey him. They rebel against him.
9 Zvinoonekwa pazviso zvavo zvinovapupurira; vanoburitsa chivi chavo pachena seSodhomu; havambochivanzi. Vane nhamo! Vanouyisa njodzi pamusoro pavo.
They even show on their faces that [they oppose Yahweh]. They are proud of their sins, like [the people of] Sodom were [long ago]; they do not try to hide their sins. [Because of their sins], terrible things will happen to them, [but] they will bring those disasters on themselves.
10 Udzai vakarurama kuti zvichavanakira, nokuti vachanakirwa nezvibereko zvamabasa avo.
[Yahweh told me to] tell the righteous people that good things will happen to them; they will enjoy the blessings that they will receive for their good deeds.
11 Vane nhamo vakaipa! Njodzi yava kuda kuvawira! Vacharipirwa zvakabatwa namaoko avo.
[But] terrible things will happen to wicked people; they will be (paid back/punished) for [the evil things that] [MTY] they have done.
12 Vadiki vanomanikidza vanhu vangu, vakadzi vanovatonga. Haiwa, vanhu vangu, vatungamiri venyu vanokutsausai; vanokubvisai munzira.
[Now], youths [who have become leaders] treat my people cruelly, and women rule over my people. My people, your leaders are misleading you; they are causing you to go down the wrong road [MET].
13 Jehovha anotora nzvimbo yake muimba yokutonga; anosimuka kuti atonge vanhu.
[It is as though] Yahweh has sat in his place in a courtroom and is ready to judge his people.
14 Jehovha anopinda mukutonga vakuru navatungamiri vavanhu vake achiti, “Ndimi makaparadza munda wangu womuzambiringa; zvakapambwa zvinobva kuvarombo zviri mudzimba dzenyu.
He will stand up to declare why the elders and rulers of his people should be punished: [he says], “The people of Israel are [like] [MET] a vineyard that I planted, but you have ruined it! Your houses are full of things that you have stolen from poor people.
15 Munoreveiko zvamunopwanya vanhu vangu, uye muchikuya zviso zvavarombo?” ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha Wamasimba Ose.
You should stop [RHQ] crushing my people! [It is as though] you are pushing the faces of poor people into the dirt!” [That is what] the Commander of the armies of angels says.
16 Jehovha anoti, “Vakadzi veZioni vanozvikudza, vanofamba vakamisa mitsipa yavo. Vachichonya nameso avo, uye vanofamba vachinzenzeta, vaine zvishongo zvinorira muzviziso zvamakumbo avo.
Yahweh says this: “The women of Jerusalem are haughty/proud; they walk around sticking their chins out, and flirting [with men] with their eyes. They walk with tiny steps with bracelets on their ankles that jingle.
17 Naizvozvo Jehovha achauyisa maronda pamisoro yavakadzi veZioni; Jehovha achaitisa misoro yavo mhanza.”
So I, Yahweh, will cause sores to be on their heads, and I will cause those beautiful women in Jerusalem to become bald.”
18 Pazuva iro Jehovha achabvisa pazviziso zvamakumbo avo: mabhenguro, nezvishongo zvomusoro, neungetani hwomutsipa hunonʼaima,
At the time [that Yahweh does that], he will strip away everything that the women of Jerusalem wear to make themselves beautiful—the ornaments on their ankles and their headbands, their crescent necklaces,
19 nemhete dzenzeve, nezvingetani zvomumaoko, namavhoiri
their earrings and bracelets and veils,
20 nezvishongo zvebvudzi, nezvingetani zvomuzviziso zvamakumbo, nemasikavha, namabhodhoro amafuta anonhuhwira, namazango,
their scarves and ankle bracelets and sashes, their perfumes and (charms/little things that they wear thinking that those things will protect them from evil),
21 nemhete, noukomba hwemhino,
their signet rings and nose rings,
22 nenguo dzakanaka dzomutambo, nezvijasi, namakepesi namajasi nezvikwama,
their nice robes and capes and cloaks and purses,
23 nezvionioni, nenguo dzomucheka wakaisvonaka, nezvishongo namashaweri.
their mirrors and nice linen clothes and shawls.
24 Pachinzvimbo chezvinonhuhwira, pachava nokunhuhwa; pachinzvimbo chesikavha, pachava netambo; pachinzvimbo chebvudzi rakashongedzwa zvakanaka, pachava nemhanza; pachinzvimbo chembatya dzakaisvonaka, pachava nechipfeko chesaga; pachinzvimbo chorunako, pachava nokupiswa.
Instead of their having a nice smell from perfume, they will stink; instead of nice sashes, they will have ropes [around their waists because they will be captives]. Instead of having fancy hairdos, they will be bald. Instead of fancy/beautiful robes, they will wear rough sackcloth, and instead of being beautiful, they will be branded.
25 Varume venyu vachafa nomunondo, varwi venyu vachafa muhondo.
Their husbands will be killed by [their enemies’] swords, and their soldiers [will also die] in battles.
26 Masuo eZioni achachema uye achaungudza; nokutambura kwaro, richagara pasi.
People [PRS] will mourn and cry at the gates [of the city]. The city will [be like] [MET] a woman who sits on the ground because everything that she owned is gone.

< Isaya 3 >