Isaya 58

1 “Piga kelele, usizuie. Paza sauti yako kama tarumbeta. Watangazieni watu wangu uasi wao, na kwa nyumba ya Yakobo dhambi zao.

“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Kwa maana kila siku hunitafuta, wanaonekana kutaka kujua njia zangu, kana kwamba walikuwa taifa linalotenda lililo sawa, na ambalo halijaziacha amri za Mungu wake. Hutaka kwangu maamuzi ya haki, nao hutamani Mungu awakaribie.

For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”

3 Wao husema, ‘Mbona tumefunga, nawe hujaona? Mbona tumejinyenyekeza, nawe huangalii?’ “Lakini katika siku ya kufunga kwenu, mnafanya mnavyotaka na kuwadhulumu wafanyakazi wenu wote.

“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

4 Kufunga kwenu huishia kwenye magomvi na mapigano, na kupigana ninyi kwa ninyi kwa ngumi za uovu. Hamwezi kufunga kama mnavyofanya leo na kutazamia sauti zenu kusikiwa huko juu.

You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.

5 Je, hii ndiyo aina ya mfungo niliouchagua, siku moja tu ya mtu kujinyenyekeza? Je, ni kwa kuinamisha kichwa chini kama tete, na kwa kujilaza juu ya nguo ya gunia na majivu? Je, huo ndio mnaouita mfungo, siku iliyokubalika kwa Bwana?

Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?

6 “Je, hii si ndiyo aina ya mfungo niliyoichagua: kufungua minyororo ya udhalimu, na kufungua kamba za nira, kuwaweka huru walioonewa, na kuvunja kila nira?

Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

7 Je, sio kushirikiana chakula chako na wenye njaa na kuwapatia maskini wasiokuwa na makao hifadhi, unapomwona aliye uchi, umvike, wala si kumkimbia mtu wa nyama na damu yako mwenyewe?

Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Ndipo nuru yako itajitokeza kama mapambazuko na uponyaji wako utatokea upesi; ndipo haki yako itakapokutangulia mbele yako, na utukufu wa Bwana utakuwa mlinzi nyuma yako.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Ndipo utaita, naye Bwana atajibu, utalia kuomba msaada, naye atasema: Mimi hapa. “Kama ukiiondoa nira ya udhalimu, na kunyoosha kidole na kuzungumza maovu,

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,

10 nanyi kama mkimkunjulia mtu mwenye njaa nafsi zenu na kutosheleza mahitaji ya walioonewa, ndipo nuru yenu itakapongʼaa gizani, nao usiku wenu utakuwa kama adhuhuri.

and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

11 Bwana atakuongoza siku zote, atayatosheleza mahitaji yako katika nchi kame, naye ataitia nguvu mifupa yako. Utakuwa kama bustani iliyonyweshwa vizuri, kama chemchemi ambayo maji yake hayakauki kamwe.

The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Watu wako watajenga tena magofu ya zamani na kuinua misingi ya kale; utaitwa Mwenye Kukarabati Kuta Zilizobomoka, Mwenye Kurejeza Barabara za Makao.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

13 “Kama ukitunza miguu yako isivunje Sabato, na kutokufanya kama vile upendavyo katika siku yangu takatifu, kama ukiita Sabato siku ya furaha na siku takatifu ya Bwana ya kuheshimiwa, kama utaiheshimu kwa kutoenenda katika njia zako mwenyewe, na kutokufanya yakupendezayo au kusema maneno ya upuzi,

If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,

14 ndipo utakapojipatia furaha yako katika Bwana, nami nitakufanya upande juu ya miinuko ya nchi na kusherehekea urithi wa Yakobo baba yako.” Kinywa cha Bwana kimenena haya.

then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.”