< Isaya 55 >
1 “Njooni, ninyi nyote wenye kiu, njooni kwenye maji; nanyi ambao hamna fedha, njooni, nunueni na mle! Njooni, nunueni divai na maziwa bila fedha na bila gharama.
All you who thirst, come to the waters. And you who have no money: hurry, buy and eat. Approach, buy wine and milk, without money and without barter.
2 Kwa nini kutumia fedha kwa kitu ambacho si chakula, na kutaabikia kitu kisichoshibisha? Sikilizeni, nisikilizeni mimi na mle kilicho kizuri, nazo nafsi zenu zitafurahia utajiri wa unono.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and expend your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen very closely to me, and eat what is good, and then your soul will be delighted by a full measure.
3 Tegeni sikio mje kwangu, nisikieni mimi, ili nafsi zenu zipate kuishi. Nitafanya agano la milele nanyi, pendo la uaminifu nililomwahidi Daudi.
Incline your ear and draw near to me. Listen, and your soul will live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, by the faithful mercies of David.
4 Tazama, nimemfanya kuwa shahidi wa mataifa, kiongozi na jemadari wa mataifa.
Behold, I have presented him as a witness to the people, as a commander and instructor to the nations.
5 Hakika utaita mataifa usiyoyajua, nayo mataifa yale yasiyokujua yataharakisha kukujia, kwa sababu ya Bwana Mungu wako, yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli, kwa maana amekutukuza.”
Behold, you will call to a nation that you did not know. And nations that did not know you will rush to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. For he has glorified you.
6 Mtafuteni Bwana maadamu anapatikana; mwiteni maadamu yu karibu.
Seek the Lord, while he is able to be found. Call upon him, while he is near.
7 Mtu mwovu na aiache njia yake, na mtu mbaya na ayaache mawazo yake. Yeye na amrudie Bwana, naye atamrehemu, arudi kwa Mungu wetu, kwa kuwa atamsamehe bure kabisa.
Let the impious one abandon his way, and the iniquitous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will take pity on him, and to our God, for he is great in forgiveness.
8 “Kwa kuwa mawazo yangu si mawazo yenu, wala njia zenu si njia zangu,” asema Bwana.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says the Lord.
9 “Kama vile mbingu zilivyo juu kuliko dunia, ndivyo njia zangu zilivyo juu kuliko njia zenu na mawazo yangu kuliko mawazo yenu.
For just as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so also are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
10 Kama vile mvua na theluji ishukavyo kutoka mbinguni, nayo hairudi tena huko bila kunywesha dunia na kuichipusha na kuistawisha, hivyo hutoa mbegu kwa mpanzi na mkate kwa mlaji,
And in the same manner as rain and snow descend from heaven, and no longer return there, but soak the earth, and water it, and cause it to bloom and to provide seed to the sower and bread to the hungry,
11 ndivyo lilivyo neno langu lile litokalo kinywani mwangu: Halitanirudia tupu, bali litatimiliza lile nililokusudia na litafanikiwa katika kusudi lile nililolituma.
so also will my word be, which will go forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish whatever I will, and it will prosper in the tasks for which I sent it.
12 Mtatoka nje kwa furaha na kuongozwa kwa amani; milima na vilima vitapaza sauti kwa nyimbo mbele yenu, nayo miti yote ya shambani itapiga makofi.
For you will go forth rejoicing, and you will be led forward in peace. The mountains and the hills will sing praise before you, and all the trees of the countryside will clap their hands.
13 Badala ya kichaka cha miiba itaota miti ya misunobari, na badala ya michongoma utaota mhadasi. Hili litakuwa jambo la kumpatia Bwana jina, kwa ajili ya ishara ya milele, ambayo haitaharibiwa.”
In place of the shrub, the pine tree will arise, and in place of the nettle, the myrtle tree will grow. And the Lord will be named with an eternal sign, which will not be taken away.