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.
A declaration about the desert by the sea. Like stormwinds sweeping through the Negev it comes passing through from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
2 Nimeonyeshwa maono ya kutisha: Msaliti anasaliti, mteka nyara anateka nyara. Elamu, shambulia! Umedi, izunguke kwa jeshi! Nitakomesha huzuni zote alizosababisha.
A distressing vision has been given to me: the treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up and attack, Elam; besiege, Media; I will stop all her groaning.
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.
Therefore my loins are filled with pain; pains like the pains of a woman in labor have taken hold of me; I am bowed down by what I heard; I am disturbed by what I saw.
4 Moyo wangu unababaika, woga unanifanya nitetemeke, gizagiza la jioni nililolitamani sana, limekuwa hofu kuu kwangu.
My heart pounds; I shake with fear. Twilight was my desire, but it brought me terror.
5 Wanaandaa meza, wanatandaza mazulia, wanakula, wanakunywa! Amkeni, enyi maafisa, zitieni ngao mafuta!
They prepare the table, they spread rugs and eat and drink; arise, princes, anoint your shields with oil.
6 Hili ndilo Bwana analoniambia: “Nenda, weka mlinzi, na atoe taarifa ya kile anachokiona.
For this is what the Lord said to me, “Go, post a watchman; he must report what he sees.
7 Anapoona magari ya vita pamoja na kundi la farasi, wapanda punda au wapanda ngamia, na awe macho, awe macho kikamilifu.”
When he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen, riders on donkeys, and riders on camels, then he must pay attention and be very alert.”
8 Naye mlinzi alipaza sauti, “Mchana baada ya mchana, bwana wangu, ninasimama katika mnara wa ulinzi, kila usiku ninakaa mahali pangu nilipoamriwa.
The watchman cries out, “Lord, on the watchtower I stand all day, every day, and at my post I stand all night long.”
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!’”
Here comes a chariot with a man and a pair of horsemen. He calls out, “Babylon has fallen, fallen, and all the carved figures of its gods are broken to the ground.”
10 Ee watu wangu, mliopondwa kwenye sakafu ya kupuria, ninawaambia kile nilichokisikia kutoka kwa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, kutoka kwa Mungu wa Israeli.
My threshed and winnowed ones, children of my threshing floor! What I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11 Neno kuhusu Duma: Mtu fulani ananiita kutoka Seiri, “Mlinzi, usiku utaisha lini? Mlinzi, usiku utaisha lini?”
A declaration about Dumah. One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 Mlinzi anajibu, “Asubuhi inakuja, lakini pia usiku. Kama ungeliuliza, basi uliza; bado na urudi tena.”
The watchman said, “The morning comes and also the night. If you want to ask, then ask; and come back again.”
13 Neno kuhusu Arabia: Enyi misafara ya Wadedani, mnaopiga kambi katika vichaka vya Arabia,
A declaration about Arabia. In the wilderness of Arabia you spend the night, you caravans of Dedanites.
14 leteni maji kwa wenye kiu, ninyi mnaoishi Tema, leteni chakula kwa ajili ya wakimbizi.
Bring water for the thirsty; inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitives with bread.
15 Wanaukimbia upanga, kutoka upanga uliochomolewa alani, kutoka upinde uliopindwa, na kutoka kwenye joto la vita.
For they have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the weight 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 this is what the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a laborer hired for a year would see it, all the glory of Kedar will end.
17 Wanaume wavutao pinde walionusurika, mashujaa wa Kedari, watakuwa wachache.” Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, amesema.
Only a few of the archers, the warriors of Kedar will remain,” for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.
