< 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, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and 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.
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to 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, [say they], and thou seest not? [why] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors.
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.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to 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 it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? [is it] to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day 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?
[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break 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?
[Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou shouldst bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou shouldst cover him; and that thou shouldst not hide thyself from thy own flesh?
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 shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rear-ward.
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 shalt thou call, and the LORD will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I [am]. If thou shalt take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
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] thou shalt draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noon day:
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.
And the LORD will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drouth, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 Watu wako watajenga tena magofu ya zamani na kuinua misingi ya kale; utaitwa Mwenye Kukarabati Kuta Zilizobomoka, Mwenye Kurejeza Barabara za Makao.
And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
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 thou shalt turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thy own ways, nor finding thy own pleasure, nor speaking [thy own] 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 shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].