< Isaya 30 >
1 Bwana asema, “Ole kwa watoto wakaidi, kwa wale wanaotimiza mipango ambayo si yangu, wakifanya makubaliano, lakini si kwa Roho wangu, wakilundika dhambi juu ya dhambi,
Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, Who form plans, and not from me, And make covenants without my spirit, That they may add sin to sin!
2 wale washukao kwenda Misri bila kutaka shauri langu, wanaotafuta msaada wa ulinzi wa Farao, watafutao kivuli cha Misri kwa ajili ya kimbilio.
Who go down into Egypt, Without inquiring at my mouth, To seek refuge in Pharaoh's protection, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Lakini ulinzi wa Farao utakuwa kwa aibu yenu, kivuli cha Misri kitawaletea fedheha.
The protection of Pharaoh shall be your shame; Your trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
4 Ingawa wana maafisa katika Soani na wajumbe wamewasili katika Hanesi,
For their princes are at Zoan, Their ambassadors have arrived at Hanes.
5 kila mmoja ataaibishwa kwa sababu ya taifa lisilowafaa kitu, ambalo haliwaletei msaada wala faida, bali aibu tu na fedheha.”
But they are all ashamed of a people that do not profit them; That are no help and no profit, But only a shame and a reproach.
6 Neno kuhusu wanyama wa Negebu: Katika nchi ya taabu na shida, ya simba za dume na jike, ya nyoka mwenye sumu kali na nyoka warukao, wajumbe huchukua utajiri wao juu ya migongo ya punda, hazina zao juu ya nundu za ngamia, kwa lile taifa lisilokuwa na faida,
The loaded beasts go southward. Through a land of anguish and distress, Whence come forth the lioness, and the fierce lion, The viper, and the flying fiery serpent; On the shoulders of young asses they carry their wealth, And on the bunches of camels their treasures, To a people that will not profit them!
7 kuvipeleka Misri, ambaye msaada wake haufai kabisa. Kwa hiyo nimemwita “Rahabu Asiyefanya Chochote.”
Vain and empty is the help of Egypt; Wherefore I call her, The Blusterer that sitteth still.
8 Nenda sasa, liandike neno hili juu ya kibao kwa ajili yao, liandike kwenye kitabu, ili liweze kuwa shahidi milele kwa ajili ya siku zijazo.
Go now, write this on a tablet before them; Note it down upon a book, That it may remain for future times, A testimony forever!
9 Hawa ni watu waasi, watoto wadanganyifu, watoto ambao hawataki kusikiliza mafundisho ya Bwana.
For this is a rebellious people, false children; Children who will not hear the law of Jehovah;
10 Wanawaambia waonaji, “Msione maono tena!” Nako kwa manabii wanasema, “Msiendelee kutupatia maono ambayo ni ya kweli! Tuambieni mambo ya kupendeza, tabirini mambo ya uongo.
Who say to the seers, “See not!” And to the prophets, “Prophesy not right things; Speak to us smooth things, Prophesy falsehood!
11 Acheni njia hii, ondokeni katika mapito haya, nanyi acheni kutukabili pamoja na yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli!”
Turn aside from the way, Depart from the path, Remove from our sight the Holy One of Israel!”
12 Kwa hiyo, hili ndilo asemalo yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli: “Kwa sababu mmekataa ujumbe huu, mkategemea uonevu na kutumainia udanganyifu,
Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Since ye despise this word, And trust in oppression and perverseness, And lean thereon,
13 dhambi hii itakuwa kwenu kama ukuta mrefu, wenye ufa na wenye kubetuka, ambao unaanguka ghafula, mara moja.
Therefore shall this iniquity be to you Like a breach ready to give way, That swelleth out in a high wall, Whose fall cometh suddenly, in an instant.
14 Utavunjika vipande vipande kama chombo cha udongo ukipasuka pasipo huruma ambapo katika vipande vyake hakuna kipande kitakachopatikana kwa kuukulia makaa kutoka jikoni au kuchotea maji kisimani.”
It is broken like a potter's vessel, Which is dashed in pieces and not spared, So that among its fragments not a sherd is found to take up fire from the hearth, Or to dip water from the cistern.
15 Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli, asemalo: “Katika kutubu na kupumzika ndio wokovu wenu, katika kutulia na kutumaini ndizo nguvu zenu, lakini hamkutaka.
For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel: By a return and by rest shall ye be saved; In quietness and confidence is your strength;
16 Mlisema, ‘Hapana, tutakimbia kwa farasi.’ Kwa hiyo mtakimbia! Mlisema, ‘Tutakimbia kwa farasi waendao kasi.’ Kwa hiyo wanaowafukuza watakwenda kasi!
But ye would not. Ye said, “No! we will bound along upon horses”; Truly ye shall bound along in flight. “We will ride upon swift coursers”; But they shall be swift that pursue you.
17 Watu 1,000 watakimbia kwa ajili ya kitisho cha mtu mmoja, kwa vitishio vya watu watano wote mtakimbia, hadi mtakapoachwa kama mlingoti wa bendera juu ya kilele cha mlima, kama bendera juu ya kilima.”
A thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one, And ten thousand at the rebuke of five, Till what remains of you shall be as a beacon on the top of a mountain, As a banner upon a hill.
18 Hata hivyo Bwana anatamani kutupatia neema, anainuka ili kuwaonyesha huruma. Kwa kuwa Bwana ni Mungu wa haki. Wamebarikiwa wote wanaomngojea yeye!
And yet will Jehovah wait to be gracious to you, And yet will he arise to have mercy upon you; For Jehovah is a righteous God; Happy are all they who wait for him!
19 Enyi watu wa Sayuni, mnaoishi Yerusalemu, hamtalia tena. Tazameni jinsi atakavyokuwa na huruma mtakapolia kwa kumwomba msaada! Mara asikiapo, atawajibu.
For, O people of Zion, that dwellest in Jerusalem, Thou shalt not always weep! He will be very gracious to thee at the voice of thy cry; No sooner shall he hear it, than he will answer thee.
20 Ingawa Bwana huwapa chakula cha shida na maji ya taabu, walimu wenu hawatafichwa tena, kwa macho yenu wenyewe mtawaona.
Though Jehovah hath given thee the bread of distress, and the water of affliction, Yet shall thy teachers be hidden from thee no more; But thine eyes shall see thy teachers.
21 Mkigeuka kuume au kushoto, masikio yenu yatasikia sauti nyuma yenu ikisema, “Hii ndiyo njia, ifuateni.”
And thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, Saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it!” When ye turn aside to the right hand, or to the left.
22 Kisha mtanajisi sanamu zenu zilizofunikwa kwa fedha, na vinyago vyenu vilivyofunikwa kwa dhahabu. Mtazitupilia mbali kama vitambaa vya wakati wa hedhi na kuziambia, “Haya, tokeni hapa!”
Ye shall treat as defiled the silver coverings of your graven images, And the golden clothing of your molten images, Ye shall cast them away as an unclean thing; Away! shall ye say to them.
23 Pia atawapa mvua kwa ajili ya mbegu mnazootesha ardhini, chakula kinachotoka ardhini kitakuwa kizuri sana, tena tele. Katika siku ile, ngʼombe wenu watalisha katika shamba pana la majani.
Then will he give rain for thy seed, With which thou shalt sow the ground, And the bread-corn, the produce of the land, shall be rich and nourishing; Then shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
24 Maksai na punda walimao watakula majani makavu na vyakula vilivyotengenezwa, vinavyotandazwa kwa uma na sepeto.
The oxen also, and the young asses, that till the ground, Shall eat well-seasoned provender, Which hath been winnowed with the shovel and the fan.
25 Katika siku ile ya mauaji makuu, wakati minara itakapoanguka, vijito vya maji vitatiririka juu ya kila mlima mrefu na kila kilima kilichoinuka sana.
And on every lofty mountain, And on every high hill, Shall be brooks and streams of water, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall.
26 Mwezi utaangaza kama jua, nao mwanga wa jua utangʼaa mara saba zaidi, kama nuru ya siku saba, wakati Bwana atakapoyafunga majeraha ya watu wake na kuwaponya vidonda alivyowatia.
Then shall the light of the moon be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, [[As the light of seven days, ]] When Jehovah bindeth up the bruises of his people, And healeth the wound which they have received.
27 Tazama, Jina la Bwana linakuja kutoka mbali, likiwa na hasira kali inayowaka pamoja na wingu zito la moshi, midomo yake imejaa ghadhabu na ulimi wake ni moto ulao.
Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from afar, His anger burneth, and violent is the flame, His lips are full of indignation, And his tongue like a devouring fire.
28 Pumzi yake ni kama mkondo wa maji yaendayo kasi, yakipanda hadi shingoni. Hutikisa mataifa katika chekecheke ya uharibifu, huweka lijamu katika mataya ya mataifa ambayo huwaongoza upotevuni.
His breath is like an overflowing torrent, That reacheth even to the neck; He will toss the nation with the winnowing-fan of destruction; He will put a bridle upon the jaws of the people, that shall lead them astray.
29 Nanyi mtaimba kama usiku ule mnaadhimisha sikukuu takatifu. Mioyo yenu itashangilia kama vile watu wanapokwea na filimbi kwenye mlima wa Bwana, kwa Mwamba wa Israeli.
But ye shall then sing as in the night of a solemn festival; Your heart shall be glad, like his who marcheth with the sound of the pipe To the mountain of Jehovah, to the rock of Israel.
30 Bwana atawasababisha watu waisikie sauti yake ya utukufu, naye atawafanya wauone mkono wake ukishuka pamoja na hasira yake kali na moto ulao, kukiwa na tufani ya mvua, ngurumo za radi na mvua ya mawe.
Jehovah will cause his glorious voice to be heard, And the blow of his arm to be seen, With furious anger, and flames of devouring fire; With flood, and storm, and hailstones.
31 Sauti ya Bwana itaivunjavunja Ashuru, kwa fimbo yake ya utawala atawapiga.
For by the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be beaten down; He will smite him with the rod.
32 Kila pigo Bwana atakaloliweka juu yao kwa fimbo yake ya kuadhibu, litakuwa kwa wimbo wa matari na vinubi, anapopigana nao katika vita kwa mapigo ya mkono wake.
And as often as the appointed rod shall strike, Which Jehovah shall lay heavily upon him, It shall be accompanied with tabrets and harps; And with fierce battles will he fight against him.
33 Tofethi imeandaliwa toka zamani, imewekwa tayari kwa ajili ya mfalme. Shimo lake la moto limetengenezwa kwa kina kirefu na kwa upana mkubwa, likiwa na moto na kuni tele; pumzi ya Bwana, kama kijito cha kiberiti, huuwasha moto.
For long hath the burning place been prepared; Yea, for the king hath it been made ready; The pile is made deep and broad; There is fire and wood in abundance; The breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, kindle it.