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 Burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For it hath been destroyed, Without house, without entrance, From the land of Chittim it was revealed to them.
2 Nyamazeni kimya, enyi watu wa kisiwani, pia ninyi wafanyabiashara wa Sidoni, ambao mabaharia wamewatajirisha.
Be silent, ye inhabitants of the isle, Trader of Zidon, passing the sea, they filled thee.
3 Kwenye maji makuu nafaka za Shihori zilikuja; mavuno ya Naili yalikuwa mapato ya Tiro, naye akawa soko la mataifa.
And in many waters [is] the seed of Sihor, The harvest of the brook [is] her increase, And she is a mart of 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 Zidon; for the sea spake, The strength of the sea, saying: 'I have not been pained, nor have I brought forth, Nor have I nourished young men, [nor] brought up virgins.'
5 Habari ifikapo Misri, watakuwa katika maumivu makuu kwa ajili ya taarifa kutoka Tiro.
As [at] the report of Egypt they are pained, So [at] the report of Tyre.
6 Vukeni mpaka Tarshishi, ombolezeni, enyi watu wa kisiwani.
Pass over to Tarshish, howl, ye inhabitants of the isle,
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 exulting one? From the days of old [is] her antiquity, Carry her do her own feet afar off to sojourn.
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 counselled this against Tyre, The crowning one, whose traders [are] princes, Her merchants the honoured of 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 counselled it, To pollute the excellency of all beauty, To make light all the honoured of earth.
10 Ee Binti Tarshishi, pita katika nchi yako kama vile Mto Naili kwa kuwa huna tena bandari.
Pass through thy land as a brook, Daughter of Tarshish, there is no more a girdle.
11 Bwana amenyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari na kuzifanya falme zake zitetemeke. Ametoa amri kuhusu Kanaani kwamba ngome zake ziangamizwe.
His hand He hath stretched out over the sea, He hath caused kingdoms to tremble, Jehovah hath charged concerning the merchant one, To destroy her strong places.
12 Alisema, “Usizidi kufurahi, ee Bikira Binti Sidoni, sasa umepondwa! “Simama, vuka uende Kitimu; hata huko hutapata pumziko.”
And He saith, 'Thou dost not add any more to exult, O oppressed one, virgin daughter of Zidon, To Chittim arise, pass over, Even there — there is no rest for thee.'
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.
Lo, the land of the Chaldeans — this people was not, Asshur founded it for the Ziim, They raised its watch-towers, They lifted up her palaces, — He hath appointed her for a ruin!
14 Ombolezeni, enyi meli za Tarshishi; ngome yenu imeangamizwa!
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For your strength hath 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:
And it hath come to pass, in that day, That forgotten is Tyre seventy years, According to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years there is to Tyre as the song of the harlot.
16 “Twaa kinubi, tembea mjini kote, ewe kahaba uliyesahauliwa; piga kinubi vizuri, imba nyimbo nyingi, ili upate kukumbukwa.”
Take a harp, go round the city, O forgotten harlot, play well, Multiply song that thou mayest 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 it hath come to pass, At the end of seventy years Jehovah inspecteth Tyre, And she hath repented of her gift, That she committed fornication With all kingdoms of the earth on the face of the ground.
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.
And her merchandise and her gift have been holy to Jehovah, Not treasured up nor stored, For to those sitting before Jehovah is her merchandise, To eat to satiety, and for a lasting covering!
