Isaya 23
1 Neno kuhusu Tiro: Ombolezeni, enyi meli za Tarshishi! Kwa kuwa Tiro imeangamizwa, imeachwa bila nyumba wala bandari. Kuanzia nchi ya Kitimu neno limewajia.
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
2 Nyamazeni kimya, enyi watu wa kisiwani, pia ninyi wafanyabiashara wa Sidoni, ambao mabaharia wamewatajirisha.
Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea.
3 Kwenye maji makuu nafaka za Shihori zilikuja; mavuno ya Naili yalikuwa mapato ya Tiro, naye akawa soko la mataifa.
On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations.
4 Uaibishwe ee Sidoni, nawe ee ngome la bahari, kwa kuwa bahari imesema: “Sijapata kuwa na uchungu wa kuzaa wala sijapata kuzaa, wala sijapata kulea wana wala kutunza mabinti.”
Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women.”
5 Habari ifikapo Misri, watakuwa katika maumivu makuu kwa ajili ya taarifa kutoka Tiro.
When the report reaches Egypt, they will writhe in agony over the news of Tyre.
6 Vukeni mpaka Tarshishi, ombolezeni, enyi watu wa kisiwani.
Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!
7 Je, huu ndio mji wenu uliojaa sherehe, mji wa zamani, zamani kabisa ambao miguu yake imeuchukua kufanya makao nchi za mbali sana?
Is this your jubilant city, whose origin is from antiquity, whose feet have taken her to settle far away?
8 Ni nani amepanga hili dhidi ya Tiro, mji utoao mataji, ambao wafanyabiashara wake ni wana wa mfalme na wachuuzi wake ni watu mashuhuri wa dunia?
Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth?
9 Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndiye alipanga jambo hili, ili kukishusha kiburi cha utukufu wote na kuwanyenyekesha wale wote ambao ni mashuhuri duniani.
The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
10 Ee Binti Tarshishi, pita katika nchi yako kama vile Mto Naili kwa kuwa huna tena bandari.
Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor.
11 Bwana amenyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari na kuzifanya falme zake zitetemeke. Ametoa amri kuhusu Kanaani kwamba ngome zake ziangamizwe.
The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.
12 Alisema, “Usizidi kufurahi, ee Bikira Binti Sidoni, sasa umepondwa! “Simama, vuka uende Kitimu; hata huko hutapata pumziko.”
He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus— even there you will find no rest.”
13 Tazama katika nchi ya Wakaldayo, watu hawa ambao sasa hawaonekani kama wapo! Waashuru wameifanya nchi hiyo kuwa mahali pa viumbe wa jangwani. Wamesimamisha minara yao ya vita kuuzunguka, wameziteka ngome zake na kuziacha tupu na kuufanya kuwa magofu.
Look at the land of the Chaldeans — a people now of no account. The Assyrians destined it for the desert creatures; they set up their siege towers and stripped its palaces. They brought it to ruin.
14 Ombolezeni, enyi meli za Tarshishi; ngome yenu imeangamizwa!
Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!
15 Wakati huo Tiro utasahauliwa kwa miaka sabini, muda wa maisha ya mfalme. Lakini mwisho wa miaka hiyo sabini, itakuwa kwa Tiro kama ilivyo katika wimbo wa kahaba:
At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:
16 “Twaa kinubi, tembea mjini kote, ewe kahaba uliyesahauliwa; piga kinubi vizuri, imba nyimbo nyingi, ili upate kukumbukwa.”
“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”
17 Mwishoni mwa miaka sabini, Bwana atashughulika na Tiro. Naye atarudia ajira yake ya ukahaba, na atafanya biashara yake na falme zote juu ya uso wa dunia.
And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.
18 Lakini faida na mapato yake yatawekwa wakfu kwa Bwana; hayatahifadhiwa wala kufichwa. Faida zake zitakwenda kwa wale wakaao mbele za Bwana kwa ajili ya chakula tele na mavazi mazuri.
Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.
