< Isaya 31 >
1 Ole wao wale washukao Misri kwa ajili ya msaada, wale wategemeao farasi, wanaoweka tumaini katika wingi wa magari yao ya vita, na katika nguvu nyingi za wapanda farasi, lakini hawamwangalii yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli, wala hawatafuti msaada kwa Bwana.
Cursed are those who go down to Egypt for help, and who put their faith in horses; looking to war-carriages for salvation, because of their numbers; and to horsemen, because they are very strong; but they are not looking to the Holy One of Israel, or turning their hearts to the Lord;
2 Hata hivyo yeye pia ana hekima na anaweza kuleta maafa, wala hayatangui maneno yake. Yeye atainuka dhidi ya nyumba ya mwovu, dhidi ya wale ambao huwasaidia watenda mabaya.
Though he is wise, and able to send evil, and his purpose will not be changed; but he will go against the house of the evil-doers, and against those to whom they are looking for help.
3 Lakini Wamisri ni wanadamu, wala si Mungu, farasi wao ni nyama, wala si roho. Wakati Bwana atakaponyoosha Mkono wake, yeye anayesaidia atajikwaa, naye anayesaidiwa ataanguka, wote wawili wataangamia pamoja.
For the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit: and when the Lord's hand is stretched out, the helper and he who is helped will come down together.
4 Hili ndilo Bwana analoniambia: “Kama vile simba angurumavyo, simba mkubwa juu ya mawindo yake: hata ingawa kundi lote la wachunga mifugo huitwa pamoja dhidi yake, hatiwi hofu na kelele zao wala kusumbuliwa na ghasia zao; ndivyo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote atakavyoshuka kufanya vita juu ya Mlima Sayuni na juu ya vilele vyake.
For the Lord has said to me, As a lion, or a young lion, makes an angry noise over his food, and if a band of herdsmen come out against him, he will not be in fear of their voices, or give up his food for their noise: so the Lord of armies will come down to make war against Mount Zion and its hill.
5 Kama ndege warukao, Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ataukinga Yerusalemu; ataukinga na kuuokoa, atapita juu yake na kuufanya salama.”
Like birds with outstretched wings, so will the Lord of armies be a cover to Jerusalem; he will be a cover and salvation for it, going over it he will keep it from danger.
6 Mrudieni yeye ambaye nyumba ya Israeli imemwasi sana.
Come back to him who has been so deeply sinned against by the children of Israel.
7 Kwa kuwa katika siku ile kila mmoja wenu atazikataa sanamu za fedha na za dhahabu zilizotengenezwa kwa mikono yenu yenye dhambi.
For in that day they will all give up their images of silver and of gold, the sin which they made for themselves.
8 “Ashuru itaanguka kwa upanga ambao si wa mwanadamu; upanga usio wa kibinadamu utawaangamiza. Watakimbia mbele ya upanga na vijana wao wa kiume watafanyizwa kazi kwa lazima.
Then the Assyrian will come down by the sword, but not of man; the sword, not of men, will be the cause of his destruction: and he will go in flight from the sword, and his young men will be put to forced work.
9 Ngome zao zitaanguka kwa sababu ya hofu; kwa kuona bendera ya vita, majemadari wao watashikwa na hofu ya ghafula,” asema Bwana, ambaye moto wake uko Sayuni, nayo tanuru yake iko Yerusalemu.
And his rock will come to nothing because of fear, and his chiefs will go in flight from the flag, says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his altar in Jerusalem.