< Isaya 66 >
1 Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, “Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, nayo dunia ni mahali pa kuweka miguu yangu. Iko wapi nyumba mtakayoijenga kwa ajili yangu? Mahali pangu pa kupumzikia patakuwa wapi?
This is what Yahweh says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I may rest?
2 Je, mkono wangu haukufanya vitu hivi vyote, hivyo vikapata kuwepo?” asema Bwana. “Mtu huyu ndiye ninayemthamini: yeye ambaye ni mnyenyekevu na mwenye roho yenye toba, atetemekaye asikiapo neno langu.
My hand has made all these things; that is how these things came to be—this is Yahweh's declaration. This is the man of whom I approve, the broken and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my word.
3 Lakini yeyote atoaye dhabihu ya fahali ni kama yeye auaye mtu, na yeyote atoaye sadaka ya mwana-kondoo, ni kama yule avunjaye shingo ya mbwa. Yeyote atoaye sadaka ya nafaka, ni kama yule aletaye damu ya nguruwe, na yeyote afukizaye uvumba wa kumbukumbu, ni kama yule aabuduye sanamu. Wamejichagulia njia zao wenyewe, nazo nafsi zao zinafurahia machukizo yao.
He who slaughters an ox also murders a man; he who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog's neck; he who offers a grain offering offers swine's blood; he who offers a memorial of incense also blesses wickedness. They have chosen their own ways, and they take pleasure in their abominations.
4 Hivyo, mimi pia nitawachagulia mapigo makali, nami nitaleta juu yao kile wanachokiogopa. Kwa maana nilipoita, hakuna yeyote aliyejibu, niliposema, hakuna yeyote aliyesikiliza. Walifanya maovu machoni pangu na kuchagua lile linalonichukiza.”
In the same way I will choose their own punishment; I will bring on them what they fear, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, no one listened. They did what was evil in my sight, and chose to do what displeases me.”
5 Sikieni neno la Bwana, ninyi mtetemekao kwa neno lake: “Ndugu zenu wanaowachukia ninyi na kuwatenga ninyi kwa sababu ya Jina langu, wamesema, ‘Bwana na atukuzwe, ili tupate kuona furaha yenu!’ Hata sasa wataaibika.
Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word, “Your brothers who hate and exclude you for my name's sake have said, 'May Yahweh be glorified, then we will see your joy,' but they will be put to shame.
6 Sikieni hizo ghasia kutoka mjini, sikieni hizo kelele kutoka hekaluni! Ni sauti ya Bwana ikiwalipa adui zake yote wanayostahili.
A sound of battle tumult comes from the city, a sound from the temple, the sound of Yahweh paying back his enemies.
7 “Kabla hajasikia utungu, alizaa; kabla hajapata maumivu, alizaa mtoto mwanaume.
Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before pain is upon her, she gave birth to a son.
8 Ni nani amepata kusikia jambo kama hili? Ni nani amepata kuona mambo kama haya? Je, nchi yaweza kuzaliwa kwa siku moja, au taifa laweza kutokea mara? Mara Sayuni alipoona utungu, alizaa watoto wake.
Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will a land be born in one day? Can a nation be established in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor, she gives birth to her children.
9 Je, nilete mwana hadi wakati wa kuzaliwa na nisizalishe?” asema Bwana. “Je, nifunge tumbo la uzazi wakati mimi ndiye nizalishaye?” asema Mungu wako.
Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and not permit the child to be born?—asks Yahweh. Or do I bring a child to moment of delivery and then hold it back?—asks your God.”
10 “Shangilieni pamoja na Yerusalemu na mfurahi kwa ajili yake, ninyi nyote mnaompenda, shangilieni kwa nguvu pamoja naye, ninyi nyote mnaoomboleza juu yake.
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her, all you who mourned over her!
11 Kwa kuwa mtanyonya na kutosheka katika faraja ya matiti yake; mtakunywa sana, na kuufurahia wingi wa mafuriko ya ustawi wake.”
For you will nurse and be satisfied; with her breasts you will be comforted; for you will drink them to the full and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 Kwa kuwa hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: “Nitamwongezea amani kama mto, nao utajiri wa mataifa kama kijito kifurikacho; utanyonya na kuchukuliwa mikononi mwake na kubembelezwa magotini pake.
This is what Yahweh says, “I am about to spread prosperity over her like a river, and the riches of the nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse at her side, be carried in her arms, and be dandled on her knees.
13 Kama mama anavyomfariji mtoto wake, ndivyo nitakavyokufariji wewe, nawe utafarijiwa huko Yerusalemu.”
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 Wakati mtakapoona jambo hili, mioyo yenu itashangilia, nanyi mtastawi kama majani; mkono wa Bwana utajulikana kwa watumishi wake, bali ghadhabu yake kali itaonyeshwa kwa adui zake.
You will see this, and your heart will rejoice, and your bones will sprout like the tender grass. The hand of Yahweh will be made known to his servants, but he will show his anger against his enemies.
15 Tazama, Bwana anakuja na moto, magari yake ya vita ni kama upepo wa kisulisuli, atateremsha hasira yake kwa ghadhabu kali, na karipio lake pamoja na miali ya moto.
For look, Yahweh is coming with fire, and his chariots are coming like the windstorm to bring the heat of his anger and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 Kwa maana kwa moto na kwa upanga wake Bwana atatekeleza hukumu juu ya watu wote, nao wengi watakuwa ni wale waliouawa na Bwana.
For Yahweh executes judgment on mankind by fire and with his sword. Those killed by Yahweh will be many.
17 “Watu wote wanaojiweka wakfu na kujitakasa wenyewe ili kwenda bustanini, wakimfuata aliye katikati ya wale ambao hula nyama za nguruwe na panya pamoja na vitu vingine vilivyo machukizo, watafikia mwisho wao pamoja,” asema Bwana.
They consecrate themselves and make themselves pure, so they may enter the gardens, following the one in the middle of those who eat the flesh of pig and abominable things like mice. “They will come to an end—this is Yahweh's declaration.
18 “Nami, kwa sababu ya matendo yao na mawazo yao, niko karibu kuja na kukusanya mataifa yote na lugha zote, nao watakuja na kuuona utukufu wangu.
For I know their deeds and their thoughts. The time is coming when I will gather all nations and languages. They will come and will see my glory.
19 “Nitaweka ishara katikati yao, nami nitapeleka baadhi ya hao walionusurika kwa mataifa, hadi Tarshishi, kwa Puli na Waludi (wanaojulikana kama wapiga upinde), kwa Tubali na Uyunani, hadi visiwa vya mbali ambavyo havijasikia juu ya sifa zangu au kuuona utukufu wangu. Watatangaza utukufu wangu miongoni mwa mataifa.
I will set a mighty sign among them. Then I will send survivors from them to the nations: To Tarshish, Put, and Lud, archers who draw their bows, to Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands where they have not heard about me nor seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.
20 Nao watawaleta ndugu zenu wote, kutoka mataifa yote, mpaka kwenye mlima wangu mtakatifu katika Yerusalemu kama sadaka kwa Bwana, juu ya farasi, katika magari ya vita na magari makubwa, juu ya nyumbu na ngamia,” asema Bwana. “Watawaleta, kama Waisraeli waletavyo sadaka zao za nafaka, katika Hekalu la Bwana, katika vyombo safi kwa kufuata desturi za ibada.
They will bring back all your brothers out of all the nations, as an offering to Yahweh. They will come on horses, and in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem—says Yahweh. For the people of Israel will bring a grain offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.
21 Nami nitachagua baadhi yao pia wawe makuhani na Walawi,” asema Bwana.
Some of these I will even choose as priests and Levites—says Yahweh.
22 “Kama vile mbingu mpya na nchi mpya ninazozifanya zitakavyodumu mbele zangu,” asema Bwana, “ndivyo jina lenu na wazao wenu watakavyodumu.
For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I will make will remain before me—this is Yahweh's declaration—so your descendants will remain, and your name will remain.
23 Kutoka Mwezi Mpya hata mwingine, na kutoka Sabato hadi nyingine, wanadamu wote watakuja na kusujudu mbele zangu,” asema Bwana.
From one month to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to bow down to me—says Yahweh.
24 “Nao watatoka nje na kuona maiti za wale walioniasi mimi. Funza wao hawatakufa, wala moto wao hautazimika, nao watakuwa kitu cha kuchukiza sana kwa wanadamu wote.”
They will go out and see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me, for the worms that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not be quenched; and it will be an abhorrence to all flesh.”