Isaya 43
1 Lakini sasa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyekuumba, ee Yakobo, yeye aliyekuhuluku, ee Israeli: “Usiogope kwa maana nimekukomboa, nimekuita wewe kwa jina lako, wewe u wangu.
But now this is what the Lord says to Jacob, the one who created you; to Israel, the one who formed you: “Don't be afraid! I have saved you! I have called you by name; you are mine!
2 Unapopita kwenye maji makuu, nitakuwa pamoja nawe, unapopita katika mito ya maji, hayatakugharikisha. Utakapopita katika moto, hutaungua, miali ya moto haitakuunguza.
When you walk through the water, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they won't flood over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you on fire.
3 Kwa kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana, Mungu wako, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli, Mwokozi wako. Ninaitoa Misri kuwa fidia yako, Kushi na Seba badala yako.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for your freedom; I traded Ethiopia and Seba for you.
4 Kwa kuwa wewe ni wa thamani na wa kuheshimiwa machoni pangu, nami kwa kuwa ninakupenda, nitatoa watu badala yako na mataifa badala ya maisha yako.
Because you are so valuable to me, because I honor you, and because I love you, I give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your lives.
5 Usiogope, kwa kuwa mimi nipo pamoja nawe, nitawaleta watoto wako kutoka mashariki, na kukukusanya kutoka magharibi.
Don't be afraid, for I am with you! I will bring you and your children from the east and the west, and gather you together.
6 Nitaiambia kaskazini, ‘Watoe!’ nayo kusini, ‘Usiwazuie.’ Walete wana wangu kutoka mbali, na binti zangu kutoka miisho ya dunia:
I will tell the north, ‘Hand them over!’ and the south, ‘Don't stop them!’ Bring my sons back from far away and my daughters from distant lands.
7 kila mmoja ambaye ameitwa kwa Jina langu, niliyemuumba kwa utukufu wangu, niliyemhuluku na kumfanya.”
Bring back everyone who bears my name, those I created for my honor, those I formed and made.
8 Uwaongoze wale wenye macho lakini hawaoni, wenye masikio lakini hawasikii.
Bring back those who have eyes but are blind, those who have ears but are deaf.
9 Mataifa yote yanakutanika pamoja, na makabila yanakusanyika. Ni nani miongoni mwao aliyetangulia kutuambia haya, na kututangazia mambo yaliyopita? Walete mashahidi wao ili kuwathibitisha kuwa walikuwa sahihi, ili wengine waweze kusikia, waseme, “Ni kweli.”
Have all the nations gather together! Have all the peoples assemble! Who among them could have said this, and predict what was going to happen? Have them bring their witnesses to prove that they're right. Then have them listen, and say, ‘It's true!’
10 “Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu,” asema Bwana, “na mtumishi wangu niliyemchagua, ili mpate kunijua na kuniamini, na kutambua kwamba Mimi ndiye. Kabla yangu hakuna mungu aliyefanyizwa, wala hatakuwepo mwingine baada yangu.
However, you are my witnesses, the Lord declares, and my chosen servant, so that you can think about it, and believe me and understand that I am God. No god preceded me, and none will come after me.
11 Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi Bwana, zaidi yangu hakuna mwokozi.
I, yes I am the Lord, and there is no Savior apart from me.
12 Nimedhihirisha, kuokoa na kutangaza: Mimi, wala si mungu mgeni katikati yenu. Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu,” asema Bwana, “kwamba Mimi ndimi Mungu.
I predicted what was going to happen, then I saved you, then I announced it—there was no foreign god among you that did this. You are my witnesses that I am God, declares the Lord.
13 Naam, tangu siku za kale, Mimi ndiye. Hakuna hata mmoja awezaye kuokoa kutoka mkononi wangu. Mimi ninapotenda, ni nani awezaye kutangua?”
I am God from the beginning. No one can snatch anybody from my hand. No one can reverse what I do.
14 Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo, Mkombozi wako, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli: “Kwa ajili yenu nitatumana Babeli na kuwaleta Wakaldayo wote kama wakimbizi, katika meli walizozionea fahari.
This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: For your sake I will send attackers against Babylon and bring them down. All the Babylonians will be like fugitives, escaping in the ships they're so proud of.
15 Mimi ndimi Bwana, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wako, Muumba wa Israeli, Mfalme wako.”
I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, and your King.
16 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyefanya njia baharini, mahali pa kupita kwenye maji mengi,
This is what the Lord says, the one who makes a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters;
17 aliyeyakokota magari ya vita na farasi, jeshi pamoja na askari wa msaada, nao wakalala huko, wala hawatainuka tena kamwe, wakakomeshwa, na wakazimika kama utambi:
the one who brought out a great army with it horses and chariots and lay them down, never to rise again, snuffed out like a burning wick.
18 “Msiyakumbuke mambo yaliyopita, wala msiyatafakari mambo ya zamani.
But don't dwell on the past; don't concentrate on what happened back then.
19 Tazama, nitafanya jambo jipya! Sasa litachipuka, je, hamtalitambua? Nitafanya njia jangwani na vijito vya maji katika nchi kame.
Just look at something new I'm going to do now! In fact it's started already. Can't you see it? Yes, I'm making a way through the wilderness, rivers in the desert!
20 Wanyama wa mwituni wataniheshimu, mbweha na bundi, kwa sababu ninawapatia maji jangwani, na vijito katika nchi kame, ili kuwapa watu wangu maji, wale niliowachagua,
The wild animals will be grateful to me, the jackals and the owls, because I'm providing water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, so my people, my chosen people, can drink.
21 watu wale niliowaumba kwa ajili yangu, ili wapate kutangaza sifa zangu.
I made this people for myself so that through their praise for me they could make me known.
22 “Hata hivyo hukuniita mimi, ee Yakobo, hujajitaabisha kwa ajili yangu, ee Israeli.
But you haven't called on me for help, Jacob. You've grown tired of me, Israel.
23 Hujaniletea kondoo kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, wala kuniheshimu kwa dhabihu zako. Sikukulemea kwa sadaka za nafaka wala kukuchosha kwa kuhitaji uvumba.
You haven't brought me sheep for burnt offerings; you haven't honored me with your sacrifices. I haven't burdened you by asking for grain offerings; I haven't tired you out by demanding incense.
24 Hukuninunulia uvumba wowote wenye manukato, wala hukunipa kwa ukarimu mafuta ya wanyama wa dhabihu zako. Lakini umenilemea kwa dhambi zako, na kunitaabisha kwa makosa yako.
You haven't used your money to buy scented calamus; you have not pleased me with the fat of your sacrifices. Instead you have burdened me with your sins, and tired me out with your guilt.
25 “Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi nizifutaye dhambi zako, kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe, wala sizikumbuki dhambi zako tena.
I, yes I am the God who wipes out your sins because of who I am, and who doesn't remember your sins any more.
26 Tafakari mambo yaliyopita, njoo na tuhojiane, leta shauri lako uweze kupewa haki yako.
Remind me of the evidence so we can come to a decision together! Present your case to prove that you're right!
27 Baba yako wa kwanza alitenda dhambi, wasemaji wako wameasi dhidi yangu.
Your very first father sinned, and your leaders rebelled against me.
28 Kwa hiyo nitawaaibisha wakuu wa Hekalu lako, nami nitamtoa Yakobo aangamizwe, na Israeli adhihakiwe.
So I treated the priests of the sanctuary with contempt, and I handed Jacob over to be destroyed, and Israel to be scorned.”
