< Isaya 3 >

1 Tazama sasa, Bwana, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, yu karibu kuwaondolea Yerusalemu na Yuda upatikanaji wa mahitaji na misaada, upatikanaji wote wa chakula na tegemeo lote la maji,
For, behold, the Lord, GOD of Hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
2 shujaa na mtu wa vita, mwamuzi na nabii, mwaguzi na mzee,
the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,
3 jemadari wa kikosi cha watu hamsini na mtu mwenye cheo, mshauri, fundi stadi na mlozi mjanja.
the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.
4 Nitawafanya wavulana wawe maafisa wao, watoto ndio watakaowatawala.
I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.
5 Watu wataoneana wao kwa wao: mtu dhidi ya mtu, na jirani dhidi ya jirani yake. Kijana atainuka dhidi ya mzee, mtu mnyonge dhidi ya mtu mwenye heshima.
The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the wicked against the honorable.
6 Mtu atamkamata mmoja wa ndugu zake katika nyumba ya baba yake na kusema, “Unalo joho, sasa uwe kiongozi wetu, tawala lundo hili la magofu!”
Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand.”
7 Lakini siku hiyo atapiga kelele akisema, “Sina uponyaji. Sina chakula wala mavazi katika nyumba yangu, msinifanye niwe kiongozi wa watu.”
In that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.”
8 Yerusalemu inapepesuka, Yuda inaanguka; maneno yao na matendo yao ni kinyume na Bwana, wakiudharau uwepo wake uliotukuka.
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
9 Nyuso zao zinavyoonekana zinashuhudia dhidi yao, hujivunia dhambi yao kama Sodoma, wala hawaifichi. Ole wao! Wamejiletea maafa juu yao wenyewe.
The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10 Waambie wanyofu itakuwa heri kwao, kwa kuwa watafurahia tunda la matendo yao.
Tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.
11 Ole kwa watu waovu! Maafa yapo juu yao! Watalipwa kwa ajili ya yale mikono yao iliyotenda.
Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.
12 Vijana wanawatesa watu wangu, wanawake wanawatawala. Enyi watu wangu, viongozi wenu wanawapotosha, wanawapoteza njia.
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
13 Bwana anachukua nafasi yake mahakamani, anasimama kuhukumu watu.
The LORD stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.
14 Bwana anaingia katika hukumu dhidi ya wazee na viongozi wa watu wake: “Ninyi ndio mlioharibu shamba langu la mizabibu, mali zilizonyangʼanywa maskini zimo nyumbani mwenu.
The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of his people and their leaders: “It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 Mnamaanisha nini kuwaponda watu wangu na kuzisaga nyuso za maskini?” asema Bwana, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, GOD of Hosts.
16 Bwana asema, “Wanawake wa Sayuni wana kiburi, wanatembea na shingo ndefu, wakikonyeza kwa macho yao, wanatembea kwa hatua za madaha, wakiwa na mapambo ya njuga kwenye vifundo vya miguu yao.
Moreover the LORD said, “Because the daughters of Zion are arrogant, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking daintily as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;
17 Kwa hiyo Bwana ataleta majipu kwenye vichwa vya wanawake wa Sayuni; Bwana atazifanya ngozi za vichwa vyao kuwa vipara.”
therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and the LORD will make their scalps bald.”
18 Katika siku ile Bwana atawanyangʼanya uzuri wao: bangili, tepe za kichwani, mikufu yenye alama za mwezi mwandamo,
In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
19 vipuli, vikuku, shela,
the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
20 vilemba, mikufu ya vifundo vya miguu, mshipi, chupa za manukato na hirizi,
the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume containers, the charms,
21 pete zenye muhuri, pete za puani,
the signet rings, the nose rings,
22 majoho mazuri, mitandio, mavazi, kifuko cha kutilia fedha,
the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,
23 vioo, mavazi ya kitani, taji na shali.
the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.
24 Badala ya harufu ya manukato kutakuwa na uvundo; badala ya mishipi, ni kamba; badala ya nywele zilizotengenezwa vizuri, ni upara; badala ya mavazi mazuri, ni nguo za magunia; badala ya uzuri, ni alama ya aibu kwa chuma cha moto.
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
25 Wanaume wako watauawa kwa upanga, nao mashujaa wako watauawa vitani.
Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.
26 Malango ya Sayuni yataomboleza na kulia, ataketi mavumbini akiwa fukara.
Her gates shall lament and mourn. She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.

< Isaya 3 >