< Isaya 56 >
1 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Dumisheni haki na mkatende lile lililo sawa, kwa maana wokovu wangu u karibu na haki yangu itafunuliwa upesi.
This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
2 Amebarikiwa mtu yule atendaye hili, mtu yule alishikaye kwa uthabiti, yeye ashikaye Sabato bila kuinajisi, auzuiaye mkono wake usifanye uovu wowote.”
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Usimwache mgeni aambatanaye na Bwana aseme, “Hakika Bwana atanitenga na watu wake.” Usimwache towashi yeyote alalamike akisema, “Mimi ni mti mkavu tu.”
Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”
4 Kwa kuwa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Kwa matowashi washikao Sabato zangu, ambao huchagua kile kinachonipendeza na kulishika sana agano langu:
For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—
5 hao nitawapa ndani ya Hekalu langu na kuta zake kumbukumbu na jina bora kuliko kuwa na watoto wa kiume na wa kike: nitawapa jina lidumulo milele, ambalo halitakatiliwa mbali.
I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
6 Wageni wanaoambatana na Bwana ili kumtumikia, kulipenda jina la Bwana, na kumwabudu yeye, wote washikao Sabato bila kuinajisi na ambao hushika sana agano langu:
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants— all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—
7 hawa nitawaleta kwenye mlima wangu mtakatifu na kuwapa furaha ndani ya nyumba yangu ya sala. Sadaka zao za kuteketeza na dhabihu zao zitakubalika juu ya madhabahu yangu; kwa maana nyumba yangu itaitwa nyumba ya sala kwa mataifa yote.”
I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”
8 Bwana Mwenyezi asema, yeye awakusanyaye Waisraeli waliohamishwa: “Bado nitawakusanya wengine kwao zaidi ya hao ambao wamekusanywa tayari.”
Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”
9 Njooni, enyi wanyama wote wa kondeni, njooni mle, ninyi wanyama wote wa mwituni!
Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.
10 Walinzi wa Israeli ni vipofu, wote wamepungukiwa na maarifa; wote ni mbwa walio bubu, hawawezi kubweka; hulala na kuota ndoto, hupenda kulala.
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
11 Ni mbwa wenye tamaa kubwa, kamwe hawatosheki. Wao ni wachungaji waliopungukiwa na ufahamu; wote wamegeukia njia yao wenyewe, kila mmoja hutafuta faida yake mwenyewe.
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
12 Kila mmoja hulia, “Njooni, tupate mvinyo! Tunywe kileo sana! Kesho itakuwa kama leo, au hata bora zaidi.”
“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”