Isaya 21
1 Neno kuhusu Jangwa kando ya Bahari: Kama upepo wa kisulisuli unaopita katika nchi hadi kusini, mshambuliaji anakuja kutoka jangwani, kutoka nchi inayotisha.
The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
2 Nimeonyeshwa maono ya kutisha: Msaliti anasaliti, mteka nyara anateka nyara. Elamu, shambulia! Umedi, izunguke kwa jeshi! Nitakomesha huzuni zote alizosababisha.
A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
3 Katika hili mwili wangu umeteswa na maumivu, maumivu makali ya ghafula yamenishika, kama yale ya mwanamke mwenye utungu wa kuzaa. Nimeduwazwa na lile ninalolisikia, nimeshangazwa na lile ninaloliona.
For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.
4 Moyo wangu unababaika, woga unanifanya nitetemeke, gizagiza la jioni nililolitamani sana, limekuwa hofu kuu kwangu.
My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
5 Wanaandaa meza, wanatandaza mazulia, wanakula, wanakunywa! Amkeni, enyi maafisa, zitieni ngao mafuta!
They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
6 Hili ndilo Bwana analoniambia: “Nenda, weka mlinzi, na atoe taarifa ya kile anachokiona.
For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
7 Anapoona magari ya vita pamoja na kundi la farasi, wapanda punda au wapanda ngamia, na awe macho, awe macho kikamilifu.”
And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
8 Naye mlinzi alipaza sauti, “Mchana baada ya mchana, bwana wangu, ninasimama katika mnara wa ulinzi, kila usiku ninakaa mahali pangu nilipoamriwa.
And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
9 Tazama, yuaja mtu anayepanda gari la vita pamoja na kundi la farasi. Naye anajibu: ‘Babeli umeanguka, umeanguka! Vinyago vyote vya miungu yake vimelala chini vikiwa vimevunjwa!’”
See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
10 Ee watu wangu, mliopondwa kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, ninawaambia kile nilichokisikia kutoka kwa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, kutoka kwa Mungu wa Israeli.
O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
11 Neno kuhusu Duma: Mtu fulani ananiita kutoka Seiri, “Mlinzi, usiku utaisha lini? Mlinzi, usiku utaisha lini?”
The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
12 Mlinzi anajibu, “Asubuhi inakuja, lakini pia usiku. Kama ungeliuliza, basi uliza; bado na urudi tena.”
The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.
13 Neno kuhusu Arabia: Enyi misafara ya Wadedani, mnaopiga kambi katika vichaka vya Arabia,
The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
14 leteni maji kwa wenye kiu, ninyi mnaoishi Tema, leteni chakula kwa ajili ya wakimbizi.
Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
15 Wanaukimbia upanga, kutoka upanga uliochomolewa alani, kutoka upinde uliopindwa, na kutoka kwenye joto la vita.
For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
16 Hili ndilo Bwana analoniambia: “Katika muda wa mwaka mmoja, kama vile mtumishi aliyefungwa na mkataba angeihesabu, majivuno yote ya Kedari yatafikia mwisho.
For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
17 Wanaume wavutao pinde walionusurika, mashujaa wa Kedari, watakuwa wachache.” Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, amesema.
And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.
