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.

Now, therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh—Creating thee, O Jacob, and Fashioning thee O Israel, —Do not fear, For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name. Mine, thou art!

2 Unapopita kwenye maji makuu, nitakuwa pamoja nawe, unapopita katika mito ya maji, hayatakugharikisha. Utakapopita katika moto, hutaungua, miali ya moto haitakuunguza.

When thou passest through the waters, with thee, I am, Or, through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee, —When thou walkest through fire, thou shall not be scorched, And, a flame, shall not kindle upon thee;

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,—Yahweh, am, Thy God, The Holy One of Israel Ready to save thee, —I have given, as thy ransom, Egypt, Ethiopia and Seba, in thy stead.

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 thou art precious in mine eyes, art honoured And, I, love thee, —And will give mankind, in thy stead, Yea, peoples, for thy life,

5 Usiogope, kwa kuwa mimi nipo pamoja nawe, nitawaleta watoto wako kutoka mashariki, na kukukusanya kutoka magharibi.

Do not fear for, with thee, I am, —From the East, will I bring in thy seed, And, from the West, will I gather thee:

6 Nitaiambia kaskazini, ‘Watoe!’ nayo kusini, ‘Usiwazuie.’ Walete wana wangu kutoka mbali, na binti zangu kutoka miisho ya dunia:

I will say to the North Give up! And to the South Do not withhold! Bring in My sons from far, and My daughters from the end of the earth;

7 kila mmoja ambaye ameitwa kwa Jina langu, niliyemuumba kwa utukufu wangu, niliyemhuluku na kumfanya.”

Every one who is called by my Name, Whom for mine own glory, I have created—formed—yea, made!

8 Uwaongoze wale wenye macho lakini hawaoni, wenye masikio lakini hawasikii.

Bring forth A blind people that have, eyes, and A deaf, that have, ears.

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.”

All the nations, are gathered together Yea there is an assembling of peoples, Who among them, can tell this, And things in advance, can let us hear? Let them set forth their witnesses that they may get their right, Or let them hear, and say Truth!

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.

Ye, are my witnesses Declareth Yahweh, And my Servant, whom I have chosen, —That ye may take note—and believe me, And perceive that, I, am He, Before me, was not formed a GOD, Nor after me, shall one come into being:

11 Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi Bwana, zaidi yangu hakuna mwokozi.

I—I, am Yahweh, —And there is none besides me ready to save:

12 Nimedhihirisha, kuokoa na kutangaza: Mimi, wala si mungu mgeni katikati yenu. Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu,” asema Bwana, “kwamba Mimi ndimi Mungu.

I, have told—and will save, and make known, That there is among you no strange one; And, ye, are my witnesses, Declareth Yahweh That, I, am GOD.

13 Naam, tangu siku za kale, Mimi ndiye. Hakuna hata mmoja awezaye kuokoa kutoka mkononi wangu. Mimi ninapotenda, ni nani awezaye kutangua?”

Even from To-day, I, am He, And none, out of my hand, can deliver, —I work and who reverseth?

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.

Thus saith Yahweh, Your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel, —For your sakes, have I sent into Babylon, And will bring down as fugitives, all of them, —Even the Chaldeans, in the ships which cause them loud outcry.

15 Mimi ndimi Bwana, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wako, Muumba wa Israeli, Mfalme wako.”

I—Yahweh, am Your Holy One, —The Creator of Israel, Your King.

16 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, yeye aliyefanya njia baharini, mahali pa kupita kwenye maji mengi,

Thus, saith Yahweh, —Who setteth in the sea, a way, —And in the mighty waters, a path;

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:

Who bringeth forth Chariot and horse, Force and strength, Together, shall they lie down They shall not arise, They are extinguished Like a wick, are they quenched!

18 “Msiyakumbuke mambo yaliyopita, wala msiyatafakari mambo ya zamani.

Do not keep in mind former things, —And things of old, do not consider:

19 Tazama, nitafanya jambo jipya! Sasa litachipuka, je, hamtalitambua? Nitafanya njia jangwani na vijito vya maji katika nchi kame.

Behold me! doing a new thing, Now, shall it spring forth, Will ye not take note thereof? Surely I will set In the desert, a way, In a desolate land, rivers:

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 beast of the field shall honour me, Jackals, and ostriches, Because I have given—In the desert, waters, Rivers in, desolate land, To give drink unto my people, my chosen:

21 watu wale niliowaumba kwa ajili yangu, ili wapate kutangaza sifa zangu.

A people which I have fashioned for myself, My praise, shall they record.

22 “Hata hivyo hukuniita mimi, ee Yakobo, hujajitaabisha kwa ajili yangu, ee Israeli.

Yet not upon me, hast thou called, O Jacob, —For thou hast been wearied of me O 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.

Thou hast not brought in to me small cattle as thine ascending-offerings, Nor, with thy sacrifices, hast thou honoured me, —I have not oppressed thee with meal-offerings, Nor have I wearied thee with frankincense;

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.

Thou hast not bought for me with silver, fragrant calamus, Nor with the fat of thy sacrifices, hast thou sated me, —Thou hast done nothing but oppress me with thy sins, Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

25 “Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi nizifutaye dhambi zako, kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe, wala sizikumbuki dhambi zako tena.

I—I, am he that is ready, To wipe out thy transgressions for mine own sake, —And, thy sins, not remember.

26 Tafakari mambo yaliyopita, njoo na tuhojiane, leta shauri lako uweze kupewa haki yako.

Put me in mind, Let us enter into judgment at once, —Recount, thou, that thou mayest be justified:

27 Baba yako wa kwanza alitenda dhambi, wasemaji wako wameasi dhidi yangu.

Thy chief father, hath sinned, And thine interpreters, have transgressed against me;

28 Kwa hiyo nitawaaibisha wakuu wa Hekalu lako, nami nitamtoa Yakobo aangamizwe, na Israeli adhihakiwe.

So then I must needs profane the rulers of the holy place, —And deliver Jacob to be devoted to destruction, and Israel, unto reviling!