Isaya 49
1 Ndinzwei, imi zviwi; inzwai izvi, imi ndudzi dziri kure; Jehovha akandidana ndisati ndaberekwa; kubva pakuzvarwa kwangu akataura zita rangu.
Listen to me, you people of the islands! Pay attention, you who live far away! The Lord called me before I was born; he gave me my name while I was still in my mother's womb.
2 Akaita muromo wangu somunondo unopinza, akandiviga mumumvuri wechanza chake; akandiita museve unopenya, akandiviga mugomba rake.
The words he gave me to speak are like a sharp sword. He has protected me by covering me with his hand. He put me in his quiver like a sharp arrow, keeping me safe there.
3 Akati kwandiri, “Ndiwe muranda wangu, Israeri, wandicharatidza kubwinya kwangu maari.”
He told me, “You are my servant, Israel, and I will reveal my glory through you.”
4 Asi ndakati, “Ndakashandira pasina, ndapedza simba rangu pane zvisina maturo uye pasina. Nyamba zvakandifanira ini zviri muruoko rwaJehovha, uye mubayiro wangu uri kuna Mwari.”
But I replied, “I've worked for nothing! I've exhausted myself, and for what? Even so, I leave it with the Lord to do what's right, and my reward is with my God.”
5 Zvino Jehovha anoti, iye akandiumba ndiri muchizvaro kuti ndive muranda wake, kuti ndidzorere Jakobho kwaari uye kuti Israeri vaunganidzwezve kwaari, nokuti ndinokudzwa pamberi paJehovha, uye Mwari wangu ndiye anga ari simba rangu,
Now my Lord is going to speak, the one who formed me in the womb as his servant to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to himself. I am honored in the Lord's sight, and my God has given me strength.
6 iye anoti: “Chinhu chiduku kwazvo kuti iwe uve muranda wangu, anomutsazve marudzi aJakobho uye achadzosa avo vaIsraeri vandakachengeta. Uyezve ndichakuita chiedza chevedzimwe ndudzi, kuti uuyise ruponeso rwangu kumigumo yenyika.”
He says, “It's nothing much for you to be my servant to bring back the tribes of Jacob, those people of Israel that I've preserved. I'm also going to make you a light for the foreigners so that my salvation may reach everybody.”
7 Zvanzi naJehovha, Mudzikinuri noMutsvene waIsraeri, kuna iye akanga azvidzwa uye akasemwa norudzi, kumuranda wavatongi: “Madzimambo achakuona agosimuka, machinda achaona agokotamira pasi, nokuda kwaJehovha akatendeka, Mutsvene waIsraeri, akakusarudza.”
This is what the Lord says, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to the one who was despised and detested by the nation, to the one who is the servant of rulers: Kings will see you and stand up, and princes will bow down to you, because the Lord, who is trustworthy, the Holy One of Israel, has chosen you.
8 Zvanzi naJehovha: “Munguva yangu yakafanira, ndichakupindura, uye pazuva roruponeso ndichakubatsira; ndichakuchengeta uye ndichakuita kuti uve sungano yavanhu, kuti uvandudze nyika uye uvagarise patsva nhaka yakaparara,
This is what the Lord says: I will answer you at the proper time; I will help you on the day of salvation. I will take care of you, and I will give you to the people as my agreement with them, to restore the land and to reassign the parts that have been abandoned.
9 kuti uti kunhapwa, ‘Budai,’ nokuna avo vari murima, ‘Uyai muchiedza!’ “Vachadya zvokudya parutivi rwenzira, uye vachawana mafuro pazvikomo zvose zvisina zvibereko.
Tell the prisoners, “Come out!” Tell those living in darkness, “Come into the light!” Like sheep they will feed along the roads and in the pastures on hills that once were barren.
10 Havangavi nenzara kana nyota, havangabayiwi nokupisa kwegwenga, kana nokupisa kwezuva. Iye anovanzwira tsitsi achavatungamirira, uye achavafambisa napazvitubu zvemvura.
They won't be hungry or thirsty, and they won't get hot in the sun, for the one who loves them will lead them to springs, and guide them to water.
11 Ndichashandura makomo angu ose kuti ave migwagwa, uye migwagwa yangu mikuru ichasimudzirwa.
I will turn all my mountains into a road; my highways will be really high!
12 Tarirai vachauya vachibva kure: vamwe vachibva nechokumusoro, vamwe nechokumavirazuva, vamwe nokurutivi rweAsiwani.”
Look at these people coming from far away! Look at these people coming from the north, and from the west, and from Upper Egypt.
13 Imbai, imi matenga, pembera iwe nyika; imbai rwiyo imi makomo! Nokuti Jehovha anonyaradza vanhu vake, uye achava netsitsi navanhu vake vanotambudzika.
Heavens, shout for joy! Earth, celebrate! Mountains, sing out in happiness! The Lord has come to care for his people, and he will treat his suffering people kindly.
14 Asi Zioni rakati, “Jehovha akandisiya, Jehovha akandikanganwa.”
But Zion said, “The Lord has given up on me; the Lord has forgotten about me.”
15 “Ko, mai vangakanganwa mucheche anonwa ari pachipfuva chavo, uye vangasanzwira tsitsi mwana wavakazvara here? Kunyange hazvo ivo vakakanganwa, ini handizokukanganwi!
Really? Can a mother forget her nursing baby? Can she forget to be kind to the child she carried in her womb? Even if she could forget, I will never forget you!
16 Tarira, ndakakunyora pazvanza zvamaoko angu; madziro ako anogara ari mberi kwangu.
Look at your names I've written on the palms of my hands! I'm always thinking about your walls.
17 Vanakomana vako vanokurumidza kudzoka shure, uye vose vaikuparadza vachabva kwauri.
Soon your children will come running back. Your destroyers, those that devastated your land, will be gone.
18 Simudza meso ako utarise kwose kwose; vanakomana vako vose vanoungana vachiuya kwauri. Zvirokwazvo noupenyu hwangu,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha, “uchavafuka vose sezvishongo: uchavapfeka, somwenga.
Take a look around. See all your children gathering and coming back to you. As I live, declares the Lord, you will wear them all as jewelry, proudly putting them on like a bride.
19 “Kunyange wakaparadzwa ukaitwa dongo, uye nyika yako yakasiyiwa yava dongo, zvino vanhu vako havachakwani mauri, uye vose vaikumedza vachava kure.
Your ruined towns and abandoned places and devastated lands will be crowded with people, while those who took over your country will be long gone.
20 Vana vakaberekwa panguva yokufirwa kwako vachatizve munzeve dzako, ‘Nzvimbo iyi yava diki kwatiri: tipeiwo nzvimbo yakatambanuka yatingagara.’
The children born during your time of mourning in exile will say, “This place is too crowded for me! Make room so I have a place to live!”
21 Ipapo uchati mumwoyo mako, ‘Ndianiko akandiberekera ava? Ndakanga ndafirwa uye ndisina mwana; ndakanga ndadzingwa uye ndarambwa. Ndianiko akarera ava? Ndakasiyiwa ndiri ndoga, asi ava, vabvepiko?’”
Then you will say to yourself, “Who gave birth to all these children for me? My children were killed and I was unable to have more; I was exiled and thrown aside—so who brought these children up? Look, I was abandoned, so where did they come from?”
22 Zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, “Tarira ndichasimudza ruoko rwangu kune veDzimwe Ndudzi, ndichasimudzira mureza wangu kumarudzi; vachauya navanakomana vako vari mumaoko avo, uye vachatakura vanasikana vako pamapfudzi avo.
This is what the Lord God says, Watch as I give the signal to the nations, as I raise my flag to let everyone know. They will bring them back, carrying your sons in their arms, and lifting your daughters onto their shoulders.
23 Madzimambo achava madzibaba anokurerai, uye vanamambokadzi vavo vachava vanamai vanokurerai. Vachakupfugamirai uso hwavo hwakatsikitsira pasi, vachananzva guruva patsoka dzenyu. Ipapo muchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha; vanovimba neni havachazonyadziswi.”
Kings will be your child-minders; queens will be your nurses. They will bow low before you, and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, and that those who put their trust in me will never be ashamed.
24 Ko, mhare ingapambwa here, kana vatapwa vanganunurwa kubva kune anotyisa here?
Can loot be taken from a warrior? Can prisoners be rescued from a dictator?
25 Asi zvanzi naJehovha, “Hongu vatapwa vachatorwa kubva kumhare, uye zvakapambwa kubva kune anotyisa; ndicharwa nevanorwa newe, uye vana vako ndichavaponesa.
But this is what the Lord says: Even the prisoners of warriors will be won back; even loot will be recovered from a dictator. I will fight with your enemies, and I will rescue your children.
26 Ndichaita kuti vamanikidzi vako vadye nyama yavo; vachadhakwa neropa ravo, sevadhakwa newaini. Ipapo vanhu vose vachaziva kuti ini Jehovha, ndini Muponesi wako, Mudzikinuri wako, Wamasimba Ose waJakobho.”
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh and drink their own blood like wine. Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
