Isaya 38

1 Katika siku hizo Hezekia akaugua, naye akawa karibu kufa. Nabii Isaya mwana wa Amozi akaenda kwake na kumwambia, “Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Tengeneza mambo ya nyumba yako, kwa sababu utakufa, hutapona.”

And it came to pass at that time, [that] Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus says the Lord, Give orders concerning your house: for you shall die, and not live.

2 Hezekia akaelekeza uso wake ukutani, akamwomba Bwana:

And Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

3 “Ee Bwana, kumbuka jinsi nilivyoenenda mbele zako kwa uaminifu na kujitoa kwa moyo wangu wote, na kufanya yaliyo mema machoni pako.” Naye Hezekia akalia kwa uchungu.

Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in your sight. And Ezekias wept bitterly.

4 Ndipo neno la Bwana likamjia Isaya, kusema:

And the word of the Lord came to Esaias, saying, Go, and say to Ezekias,

5 “Nenda ukamwambie Hezekia, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa baba yako Daudi: Nimeyasikia maombi yako na nimeona machozi yako. Nitakuongezea miaka kumi na mitano katika maisha yako.

Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, and seen your tears: behold, I [will] add to your time fifteen years.

6 Nami nitakuokoa wewe pamoja na mji huu mkononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru. Nitaulinda mji huu.

And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians: and I will defend this city.

7 “‘Hii ndiyo ishara ya Bwana kwako ya kwamba Bwana atafanya kile alichoahidi:

And this [shall be] a sign to you from the Lord, that God will do this thing;

8 Nitafanya kivuli cha jua kwenye ngazi iliyojengwa na Ahazi kirudi nyuma madaraja kumi.’” Hivyo jua likarudi nyuma madaraja kumi ambayo lilikuwa limeshuka.

behold, I will turn back the shadow of the degrees [of the dial] by which ten degrees on the house of your father the sun has gone down—I will turn back the sun the ten degrees; so the sun went back the ten degrees by which the shadow had gone down.

9 Maandiko ya Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda baada ya kuugua kwake na kupona:

THE PRAYER OF EZEKIAS KING OF JUDEA, WHEN HE HAD BEEN SICK, AND WAS RECOVERED FROM HIS SICKNESS.

10 Nilisema, “Katika ustawi wa maisha yangu, je, ni lazima nipite katika malango ya mauti, na kupokonywa miaka yangu iliyobaki?” (Sheol h7585)

I said in the end of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I shall part with the remainder of my years. (Sheol h7585)

11 Nilisema, “Sitamwona tena Bwana, Bwana katika nchi ya walio hai, wala sitamtazama tena mwanadamu, wala kuwa na wale ambao sasa wanakaa katika ulimwengu huu.

I said, I shall no more at all see the salvation of God in the land of the living: I shall no more at all see the salvation of Israel on the earth: I shall no more at all see man.

12 Kama hema la mchunga mifugo, nyumba yangu imebomolewa na kutwaliwa kutoka kwangu. Kama mfumaji nimevingirisha maisha yangu, naye amenikatilia mbali kutoka kitanda cha mfumi. Mchana na usiku uliyakomesha maisha yangu.

[My life] has failed from among my kindred: I have parted with the remainder of my life: it has gone forth and departed from me, as one that having pitched a tent takes it down [again]: my breath was with me as a weaver's web, when she that weaves draws near to cut off [the] thread.

13 Nilingoja kwa uvumilivu hadi mapambazuko, lakini alivunja mifupa yangu yote kama simba. Mchana na usiku uliyakomesha maisha yangu.

In that day I was given up as to a lion until the morning: so has he broken all my bones: for I was so given up from day [even] to night.

14 Nililia kama mbayuwayu au korongo, niliomboleza kama hua aombolezaye. Macho yangu yalififia nilipotazama mbinguni. Ee Bwana, ninataabika, njoo unisaidie!”

As a swallow, so will I cry, and as a dove, so do I mourn: for mine eyes have failed with looking to the height of heaven to the Lord, who has delivered me, and removed the sorrow of my soul.

15 Lakini niseme nini? Amesema nami, naye yeye mwenyewe amelitenda hili. Nitatembea kwa unyenyekevu katika miaka yangu yote kwa sababu ya haya maumivu makali ya nafsi yangu.

16 Bwana, kwa mambo kama haya watu huishi, nayo roho yangu hupata uzima katika hayo pia. Uliniponya na kuniacha niishi.

[Yes], O Lord, for it was told you concerning this; and you have revived my breath; and I am comforted, and live.

17 Hakika ilikuwa ya faida yangu ndiyo maana nikapata maumivu makali. Katika upendo wako ukaniokoa kutoka shimo la uharibifu; umeziweka dhambi zangu zote nyuma yako.

For you have chosen my soul, that it should not perish: and you have cast all [my] sins behind me.

18 Kwa maana kaburi haliwezi kukusifu, mauti haiwezi kuimba sifa zako; wale washukao chini shimoni hawawezi kuutarajia uaminifu wako. (Sheol h7585)

For they that are in the grave shall not praise you, neither shall the dead bless you, neither shall they that are in Hades hope for your mercy. (Sheol h7585)

19 Walio hai, walio hai: hao wanakusifu, kama ninavyofanya leo. Baba huwaambia watoto wao habari za uaminifu wako.

The living shall bless you, as I also [do]: for from this day shall I beget children, who shall declare your righteousness,

20 Bwana ataniokoa, nasi tutaimba kwa vyombo vya nyuzi siku zote za maisha yetu katika Hekalu la Bwana.

O God of my salvation; and I will not cease blessing you with the lute all the days of my life before the house of God.

21 Isaya alikuwa amesema, “Tengenezeni dawa ya kubandika ya tini, mweke juu ya jipu, naye atapona.”

Now Esaias had said to Ezekias; Take a cake of figs, and mash them, and apply them as a plaster, and you shall be well.

22 Hezekia alikuwa ameuliza, “Kutakuwa na ishara gani kwamba nitapanda kwenda Hekalu la Bwana?”

And Ezekias said, This is a sign to Ezekias, that I shall go up to the house of God.