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.
The prophecy concerning Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste; No house, no entrance is left! From the land of the Chittaeans were the tidings brought to them.
2 Nyamazeni kimya, enyi watu wa kisiwani, pia ninyi wafanyabiashara wa Sidoni, ambao mabaharia wamewatajirisha.
Be amazed, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast, Which the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, did crowd!
3 Kwenye maji makuu nafaka za Shihori zilikuja; mavuno ya Naili yalikuwa mapato ya Tiro, naye akawa soko la mataifa.
Upon the wide waters, the corn of the Nile, The harvest of the river, was her revenue; She was the mart 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 thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea hath spoken, The fortress of the sea hath spoken thus: “I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; I have not nourished youths, nor brought up virgins.”
5 Habari ifikapo Misri, watakuwa katika maumivu makuu kwa ajili ya taarifa kutoka Tiro.
When the tidings shall reach Egypt, They shall be filled with anguish at the tidings concerning Tyre.
6 Vukeni mpaka Tarshishi, ombolezeni, enyi watu wa kisiwani.
Pass ye over to Tarshish; Howl, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast!
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 joyous city, Whose antiquity is of ancient days? Now her own feet bear her To sojourn 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 hath purposed this against Tyre, The dispenser of crowns, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders the nobles of 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.
Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, To bring down the pride of all glory, To humble the nobles of the earth.
10 Ee Binti Tarshishi, pita katika nchi yako kama vile Mto Naili kwa kuwa huna tena bandari.
Go over thy land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish! Now thy bonds are broken.
11 Bwana amenyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari na kuzifanya falme zake zitetemeke. Ametoa amri kuhusu Kanaani kwamba ngome zake ziangamizwe.
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, He hath made the kingdoms tremble; Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan To destroy her strong holds.
12 Alisema, “Usizidi kufurahi, ee Bikira Binti Sidoni, sasa umepondwa! “Simama, vuka uende Kitimu; hata huko hutapata pumziko.”
He hath said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, Thou ravished virgin, daughter of Sidon! Arise, pass over to the Chittaeans; Yet even there shalt thou have 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.
Behold the land of the Chaldaeans, Who, not long ago, were not a people, —The Assyrian assigned it to the inhabitants of the wilderness, —They raise their watch-towers; They destroy her palaces; They make her a heap of ruins.
14 Ombolezeni, enyi meli za Tarshishi; ngome yenu imeangamizwa!
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For your stronghold is 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:
And it shall come to pass in that day, That Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, According to the days of one king; But at the end of seventy years It shall be with 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 thy lyre, go about the city, O harlot, long forgotten; Make sweet melody; sing many songs, That thou mayst again 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.
At the end of seventy years shall Jehovah show regard to Tyre, And she shall return to her hire, And play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world, That are upon 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.
But her gain and her hire shall be holy to Jehovah; It shall not be treasured, nor laid up in store; But it shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, For abundant food, and for splendid clothing.
