Isaya 51
1 “Nisikilizeni, ninyi mnaofuatia haki na mnaomtafuta Bwana: Tazameni mwamba ambako mlichongwa, na mahali pa kuvunjia mawe ambako mlichimbwa;
[Yahweh says], “You people who desire to act righteously/justly, who want to do what I want you to do, listen to me! Think about Abraham! [It is as though] [MET] he was a huge rock cliff; and when you [people of Israel became a nation], [it was as though] [MET] you were cut from that rock [DOU].
2 mwangalieni Abrahamu, baba yenu, na Sara, ambaye aliwazaa. Wakati nilipomwita alikuwa mmoja tu, nami nikambariki na kumfanya kuwa wengi.
Think about your ancestor Abraham and [his wife] Sarah, of whom [all of] you are descendants. When I first spoke to Abraham, he had no children. But after I blessed him, he had a huge number of descendants.
3 Hakika Bwana ataifariji Sayuni, naye atayaangalia kwa huruma magofu yake yote; atayafanya majangwa yake yawe kama Edeni, nazo sehemu zake zisizolimika ziwe kama bustani ya Bwana. Shangwe na furaha zitakuwako ndani yake, shukrani na sauti za kuimba.
[Some day I], Yahweh, will encourage his descendants [again], and I will comfort all [the people who live in] the ruins [of Jerusalem]. The desert in that area will become like Eden, like the garden that I, Yahweh, [made/planted]. All the people there will be joyful and happy; they will thank me and sing.
4 “Nisikilizeni, watu wangu; nisikieni, taifa langu: Sheria itatoka kwangu; haki yangu itakuwa nuru kwa mataifa.
My people of Judah, listen carefully [DOU] to me, because [I want you to] proclaim my laws; the just/right things that I do will be [like] [MET] a light for the people of the nations.
5 Haki yangu inakaribia mbio, wokovu wangu unakuja, nao mkono wangu utaleta hukumu kwa mataifa. Visiwa vitanitegemea na kungojea mkono wangu kwa matumaini.
I will soon/quickly rescue you [DOU]; by my power [MTY] I will bring you back [from being exiled in Babylonia] [DOU]. The people who live on islands in the ocean will wait for me [to help them], confidently expecting for me to use my power [MTY].
6 Inueni macho yenu mbinguni, mkaitazame dunia chini; mbingu zitatoweka kama moshi, dunia itachakaa kama vazi, na wakazi wake kufa kama mainzi. Bali wokovu wangu utadumu milele, haki yangu haitakoma kamwe.
Look up at the sky, and look at the earth, [and see what they are like now], because [some day] the sky will disappear like [SIM] smoke, and the earth will wear out like [SIM] old clothes wear out, and people on the earth will die like gnats/flies. But I will rescue/save you, and you will remain free forever, and I will rule you righteously/fairly forever.
7 “Nisikieni, ninyi mnaojua lililo sawa, ninyi watu ambao mna sheria yangu mioyoni mwenu: Msiogope mashutumu ya wanadamu wala msitiwe hofu na matukano yao.
You people who know what things are right to do, and who know in your inner beings [what is written in] my laws, listen to me! Do not be afraid of people who taunt/insult you; do not be disturbed/upset when people revile you,
8 Kwa maana nondo atawala kama vazi, nao funza atawatafuna kama sufu. Lakini haki yangu itadumu milele, wokovu wangu kwa vizazi vyote.”
because [some day they will be destroyed] like [MET] clothing that is eaten by ([larvae of] moths/cockroaches), like wool garments that have been eaten by worms. I will save you people, and you will be saved forever.”
9 Amka, Amka! Jivike nguvu, ewe mkono wa Bwana, Amka, kama siku zilizopita, kama vile vizazi vya zamani. Si ni wewe uliyemkata Rahabu vipande vipande, uliyemchoma yule joka?
Yahweh, wake up [and do something for us]! Show your power! Do mighty things like you did long ago, when you stabbed [RHQ] that sea monster/dragon Rahab and cut it into pieces.
10 Si ni wewe uliyekausha bahari, maji ya kilindi kikuu, uliyefanya barabara katika vilindi vya bahari ili waliokombolewa wapate kuvuka?
Surely you are [RHQ] the one who caused the [Red] Sea to become dry and made a path through that deep water in order that your people could cross it!
11 Wale waliolipiwa fidia na Bwana watarudi. Wataingia Sayuni wakiimba; furaha ya milele itakuwa taji juu ya vichwa vyao. Furaha na shangwe zitawapata, huzuni na kulia kwa uchungu kutatoweka.
And those whom Yahweh will rescue [from being exiled in Babylonia] will [similarly] return to Jerusalem, singing. Their being joyful forever will be [like] [MET] a crown on their heads. They will not be sad or mourn any more; they will be [completely] joyful and happy.
12 “Mimi, naam mimi, ndimi niwafarijie ninyi. Ninyi ni nani hata kuwaogopa wanadamu wanaokufa, wanadamu ambao ni majani tu,
[Yahweh says], “I am the one who encourages you. So (why are you/you should not be) [RHQ] afraid of humans who will [wither and disappear like] [MET] grass.
13 kwamba mnamsahau Bwana Muumba wenu, aliyezitanda mbingu na kuiweka misingi ya dunia, kwamba mnaishi katika hofu siku zote kwa sababu ya ghadhabu ya mdhalimu, ambaye nia yake ni kuangamiza? Iko wapi basi ghadhabu ya mdhalimu?
(Why have you/You should not have) [RHQ] forgotten [me], Yahweh, the one who created your nation, the one who stretched out the sky and laid the foundations of the earth. (Why are you/You should not be) [RHQ] continually afraid of those who are angry with you and (oppress you/treat you cruelly) and want to get rid of you. [You should not be afraid of them now], because those angry people have now disappeared!
14 Wafungwa waliojikunyata kwa hofu watawekwa huru karibuni; hawatafia kwenye gereza lao, wala hawatakosa chakula.
Soon you people who have been caused to be slaves [in Babylonia] will be freed! You will not remain in prison, and you will not die of hunger,
15 Kwa maana Mimi ndimi Bwana, Mungu wako, ambaye huisukasuka bahari ili mawimbi yake yangurume: Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake.
because I am Yahweh, your God, the one who stirs up the sea and causes the waves to roar; I am the Commander of the armies of angels!
16 Nimeweka maneno yangu kinywani mwako na kukufunika kwa uvuli wa mkono wangu: Mimi niliyeweka mbingu mahali pake, niliyeweka misingi ya dunia, niwaambiaye Sayuni, ‘Ninyi ni watu wangu.’”
I have given you my message [MTY] to proclaim, and I have protected you with my hand [MTY]. I stretched out the sky and laid the foundation of the earth. And I am the one who says to you Israeli people, ‘You are my people!’”
17 Amka, amka! Simama, ee Yerusalemu, wewe uliyekunywa kutoka mkono wa Bwana kikombe cha ghadhabu yake, wewe uliyekunywa mpaka kufikia machujo yake, kikombe kile cha kunywea kiwafanyacho watu kuyumbayumba.
[You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, wake up [DOU]! You have experienced Yahweh severely punishing [MTY] you. Yahweh has caused you to suffer much, all that he wanted you to suffer, like [MET] someone who causes another person to suffer by forcing him to drink every drop of [MTY] a cupful of bitter liquid.
18 Kati ya wana wote aliowazaa hakuwepo hata mmoja wa kumwongoza, kati ya wana wote aliowalea hakuwepo hata mmoja wa kumshika mkono.
[Now] you do not have any children who are alive [DOU] and able to take your hand and guide you.
19 Majanga haya mawili yamekuja juu yako: ni nani awezaye kukufariji? Maangamizi, uharibifu, njaa na upanga: ni nani awezaye kukutuliza?
You have experienced several disasters: Your country has become desolate/deserted; [your cities have been] destroyed; [many people have] died from hunger; [many people have been] killed by your enemies’ swords. Now, there is no one [RHQ] left to console/comfort you and sympathize with you.
20 Wana wako wamezimia, wamelala kwenye mwanzo wa kila barabara, kama swala aliyenaswa kwenye wavu. Wamejazwa na ghadhabu ya Bwana na makaripio ya Mungu wako.
Your children have fainted and lie in the streets; they are [as helpless as] [SIM] an antelope [that has been caught] in a net. What has happened to them is because Yahweh has been very angry with them; he has rebuked them severely.
21 Kwa hiyo sikiliza hili, wewe uliyeteswa, uliyelewa, lakini si kwa mvinyo.
So now, you people who have suffered much, [you act as though] you are drunk, but it is not because you have drunk a lot of wine.
22 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana Mwenyezi wako, Mungu wako, yeye ambaye huwatetea watu wake: “Tazama, nimeondoa mkononi mwako kikombe kilichokufanya uyumbayumbe; kutoka kikombe hicho, kikombe cha kunywa cha ghadhabu yangu, kamwe hutakunywa tena.
Yahweh, your Lord and your God, the one who argues/pleads your case, says this: “Note this: [It is as though] [MET] I have taken that cup of bitter liquid from your hands; I will not be angry with you and cause you to suffer any more.
23 Nitakiweka mikononi mwa watesi wako, wale waliokuambia, ‘Anguka kifudifudi ili tuweze kutembea juu yako.’ Ukaufanya mgongo wako kama ardhi, kama njia yao ya kupita.”
Instead, I will cause those who have tormented you to suffer; [I will severely punish] those who said to you, ‘Prostrate yourselves in order that we may walk on you; [lie down on your stomachs] in order that your backs will be like [SIM] streets that we can walk on.’”
