< Isaya 1 >

1 Maono kuhusu Yuda na Yerusalemu ambayo Isaya mwana wa Amozi aliyaona wakati wa utawala wa Uzia, Yothamu, Ahazi na Hezekia, wafalme wa Yuda.
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Sikieni, enyi mbingu! Sikilizeni, enyi dunia! Kwa maana Bwana amesema: “Nimewalisha watoto na kuwalea, lakini wameniasi mimi.
Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me.
3 Ngʼombe anamjua bwana wake, naye punda anajua hori la mmiliki wake, lakini Israeli hajui, watu wangu hawaelewi.”
The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.”
4 Lo! Taifa lenye dhambi, watu waliolemewa na uovu, uzao wa watenda mabaya, watoto waliozoelea upotovu! Wamemwacha Bwana, Wamemkataa kwa dharau yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli na kumgeuzia kisogo.
Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward.
5 Kwa nini mzidi kupigwa? Kwa nini kudumu katika uasi? Kichwa chako chote kimejeruhiwa, moyo wako wote ni mgonjwa.
Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 Kutoka wayo wako wa mguu hadi kwenye utosi wa kichwa chako hakuna uzima: ni majeraha matupu na makovu na vidonda vitokavyo damu, havikusafishwa au kufungwa wala kulainishwa kwa mafuta.
From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.
7 Nchi yenu imekuwa ukiwa, miji yenu imeteketezwa kwa moto; nchi yenu imeachwa tupu na wageni mbele ya macho yenu, imeharibiwa kama vile imepinduliwa na wageni.
Your country is desolate. Your cities are burnt with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 Binti Sayuni ameachwa kama kipenu katika shamba la mizabibu, kama kibanda katika shamba la matikitimaji, kama mji uliohusuriwa.
The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city.
9 Kama Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote asingelituachia walionusurika, tungelikuwa kama Sodoma, tungelifanana na Gomora.
Unless the LORD of Hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.
10 Sikieni neno la Bwana, ninyi watawala wa Sodoma; sikilizeni sheria ya Mungu wetu, enyi watu wa Gomora!
Hear the LORD’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
11 Bwana anasema, “Wingi wa sadaka zenu, ni kitu gani kwangu? Ninazo sadaka za kuteketezwa nyingi kupita kiasi, za kondoo dume na mafuta ya wanyama walionona. Sipendezwi na damu za mafahali wala za wana-kondoo na mbuzi.
“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says the LORD. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.
12 Mnapokuja kujihudhurisha mbele zangu, ni nani aliyewataka ninyi mfanye hivyo, huku kuzikanyaga nyua zangu?
When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
13 Acheni kuniletea sadaka zisizokuwa na maana! Uvumba wenu ni chukizo kwangu. Miandamo ya Mwezi, Sabato na makusanyiko ya ibada: siwezi kuvumilia makusanyiko yenu maovu.
Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies.
14 Sikukuu zenu za Miandamo ya Mwezi, na sikukuu zenu zilizoamriwa: moyo wangu unazichukia. Zimekuwa mzigo kwangu, nimechoka kuzivumilia.
My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.
15 Mnaponyoosha mikono yenu katika maombi, nitaficha macho yangu nisiwaone; hata mkiomba maombi mengi sitasikiliza. Mikono yenu imejaa damu;
When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
16 jiosheni na mkajitakase. Yaondoeni matendo yenu maovu mbele zangu! Acheni kutenda mabaya,
Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
17 jifunzeni kutenda mema! Tafuteni haki, watieni moyo walioonewa. Teteeni shauri la yatima, wateteeni wajane.
Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
18 “Njooni basi tuhojiane,” asema Bwana. “Ingawa dhambi zenu ni kama rangi nyekundu, zitakuwa nyeupe kama theluji; ingawa ni nyekundu sana kama damu, zitakuwa nyeupe kama sufu.
“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 Kama mkikubali na kutii, mtakula mema ya nchi,
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land;
20 lakini kama mkikataa na kuasi, mtaangamizwa kwa upanga.” Kwa kuwa kinywa cha Bwana kimenena.
but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for the LORD’s mouth has spoken it.”
21 Tazama jinsi mji uliokuwa mwaminifu umekuwa kahaba! Mwanzoni ulikuwa umejaa unyofu, haki ilikuwa inakaa ndani yake, lakini sasa ni wauaji!
How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in her, but now there are murderers.
22 Fedha yenu imekuwa takataka, divai yenu nzuri imechanganywa na maji.
Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.
23 Watawala wenu ni waasi, rafiki wa wevi, wote wanapenda rushwa na kukimbilia hongo. Hawatetei yatima, shauri la mjane haliletwi mbele yao lisikilizwe.
Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
24 Kwa hiyo Bwana, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mwenye Nguvu wa Israeli, asema hivi: “Lo, nitapata faraja kutoka kwa adui zangu na kujilipizia kisasi juu ya watesi wangu.
Therefore the Lord, GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies.
25 Nitauelekeza mkono wangu dhidi yenu, nitawasafisha takataka zenu zote na kuwaondolea unajisi wenu wote.
I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.
26 Nitawarudishia waamuzi wenu kama ilivyokuwa siku za zamani, nao washauri wenu kama ilivyokuwa mwanzoni. Baadaye utaitwa, Mji wa Haki, Mji Mwaminifu.”
I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’
27 Sayuni itakombolewa kwa haki, wale waliomo ndani yake waliotubu kwa uaminifu.
Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.
28 Lakini waasi na wenye dhambi wote wataangamizwa, nao wanaomwacha Bwana wataangamia.
But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
29 “Mtaaibika kwa sababu ya hiyo mialoni ambayo mlifurahia, mtafadhaika kwa sababu ya bustani mlizozichagua.
For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen.
30 Mtakuwa kama mwaloni wenye majani yanayonyauka, kama bustani isiyokuwa na maji.
For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.
31 Mtu mwenye nguvu atatoweka kama majani makavu yawakayo moto, na kazi yake kama cheche ya moto; vyote vitaungua pamoja, wala hakuna wa kuuzima huo moto.”
The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”

< Isaya 1 >