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.”
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death; and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Hezekia akaelekeza uso wake ukutani, akamwomba Bwana:
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and made his supplication to Jehovah.
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.
And he said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thine eyes! And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Ndipo neno la Bwana likamjia Isaya, kusema:
Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah,
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.
Go in and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer; I have seen thy tears. Behold, I will add to thy life fifteen years.
6 Nami nitakuokoa wewe pamoja na mji huu mkononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru. Nitaulinda mji huu.
And I will deliver thee and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
7 “‘Hii ndiyo ishara ya Bwana kwako ya kwamba Bwana atafanya kile alichoahidi:
And this shall be the sign to thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do that which he hath spoken.
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 cause the shadow upon the dial, which hath gone down upon the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to go back ten degrees. So the sun went back ten degrees, which degrees it had gone down.
9 Maandiko ya Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda baada ya kuugua kwake na kupona:
The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had 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: “Now, in the quiet of my days, shall I go down to the gates of the under-world; I am deprived of the residue 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: “No more shall I see Jehovah, Jehovah in the land of the living. I shall behold man no more Among the inhabitants of stillness.
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 habitation is torn away and removed from me, Like a shepherd's tent; My life is rolled up as by the weaver; He cutteth me off from the thrum; Between morning and night wilt thou make an end of me!”
13 Nilingoja kwa uvumilivu hadi mapambazuko, lakini alivunja mifupa yangu yote kama simba. Mchana na usiku uliyakomesha maisha yangu.
I waited till morning, and like a lion Did he crush all my bones; “Between morning and night wilt thou make an end of me!”
14 Nililia kama mbayuwayu au korongo, niliomboleza kama hua aombolezaye. Macho yangu yalififia nilipotazama mbinguni. Ee Bwana, ninataabika, njoo unisaidie!”
Like a swallow or a crane, so did I twitter; I did mourn as a dove; Mine eyes failed with looking upward; “O Lord, I am in distress; O, deliver me!”
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.
What shall I say? He promised it, and he hath done it; I will walk humbly all my life On account of the bitterness of my soul.
16 Bwana, kwa mambo kama haya watu huishi, nayo roho yangu hupata uzima katika hayo pia. Uliniponya na kuniacha niishi.
Lord, it is thus that men live; From thee alone cometh the life of my spirit; Thou hast restored me, and caused me to 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.
Behold, my anguish is changed into ease; In love thou hast delivered me from the pit of destruction; Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
18 Kwa maana kaburi haliwezi kukusifu, mauti haiwezi kuimba sifa zako; wale washukao chini shimoni hawawezi kuutarajia uaminifu wako. (Sheol h7585)
For the under-world cannot praise thee; The realms of death cannot celebrate thee; They that go down to the pit cannot wait for thy faithfulness. (Sheol h7585)
19 Walio hai, walio hai: hao wanakusifu, kama ninavyofanya leo. Baba huwaambia watoto wao habari za uaminifu wako.
The living, the living praise thee, as I do this day; The father to the children shall make known thy faithfulness.
20 Bwana ataniokoa, nasi tutaimba kwa vyombo vya nyuzi siku zote za maisha yetu katika Hekalu la Bwana.
Jehovah hath saved me; Therefore will we sing our songs with stringed instruments, All the days of our life, In the house of Jehovah.
21 Isaya alikuwa amesema, “Tengenezeni dawa ya kubandika ya tini, mweke juu ya jipu, naye atapona.”
Now Isaiah had said, let them take a lump of figs, and bruise them, and lay them upon the ulcer, and he shall recover.
22 Hezekia alikuwa ameuliza, “Kutakuwa na ishara gani kwamba nitapanda kwenda Hekalu la Bwana?”
Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of Jehovah?
