Isaya 7
1 Wakati Ahazi mwana wa Yothamu, mwana wa Uzia, alipokuwa mfalme wa Yuda, Mfalme Resini wa Aramu, na Peka mwana wa Remalia mfalme wa Israeli walipanda kupigana dhidi ya Yerusalemu, lakini hawakuweza kuushinda.
It was during the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Aram, marched to attack Jerusalem. Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, joined in the attack, but they couldn't conquer the city.
2 Wakati huu nyumba ya Daudi iliambiwa, “Aramu wameungana na Efraimu.” Kwa hiyo mioyo ya Ahazi na watu wake ilitikiswa, kama miti ya msituni inavyotikiswa na upepo.
When the royal family of Judah was told, “Aram and Ephraim have an alliance,” Ahaz and his people were terrified and they shook like trees in the forest tossed about by the wind.
3 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Isaya, “Toka uende, wewe na mwanao Shear-Yashubu, mkutane na Ahazi huko mwisho wa mfereji wa Bwawa la Juu, kwenye barabara iendayo Shamba la Dobi.
Then the Lord told Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub with you and go and meet Ahaz. He'll be at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the laundry field.
4 Mwambie, ‘Uwe mwangalifu, utulie na usiogope. Usife moyo kwa ajili ya watu hawa wawili walio kama visiki vya kuni vifukavyo moshi, kwa ajili ya hasira kali ya Resini na Aramu na ya mwana wa Remalia.
Tell him, ‘Calm down and keep quiet. Don't be afraid or scared over a couple of smoldering bits of firewood, over the burning anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Remaliah's son.
5 Aramu, Efraimu na mwana wa Remalia wamepanga shauri baya ili wakuangamize, wakisema,
Aram has plotted to destroy you together with Ephraim and Remaliah's son saying,
6 “Tuishambulie Yuda, naam, tuirarue vipande vipande na kuigawa miongoni mwetu, na kumtawaza mwana wa Tabeeli awe mfalme juu yake.”
Let's go and attack Judah! We'll terrorize it and conquer it for ourselves, and make Tabeel's son its king.”
7 Lakini Bwana Mwenyezi asema hivi: “‘Jambo hili halitatendeka, halitatokea,
But this is what the Lord God says, “This plan won't materialize—it just won't happen!
8 kwa kuwa kichwa cha Aramu ni Dameski, na kichwa cha Dameski ni Resini peke yake. Katika muda wa miaka sitini na mitano, Efraimu atakuwa ameharibiwa kiasi kwamba hataweza tena kuwa taifa.
For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. In addition, within sixty-five years Israel as a nation will be destroyed.
9 Kichwa cha Efraimu ni Samaria, na kichwa cha Samaria ni mwana wa Remalia peke yake. Kama hamtasimama thabiti katika imani yenu, hamtaimarika kamwe.’”
The head of Israel is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you don't trust in me, then you won't survive.”
10 Bwana akasema na Ahazi tena,
Later the Lord sent another message to Ahaz,
11 “Mwombe Bwana Mungu wako ishara, iwe kwenye vina virefu sana, au kwenye vimo virefu sana.” (Sheol h7585)
“Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether as deep as where people are buried or as high as heaven.” (Sheol h7585)
12 Lakini Ahazi akasema, “Sitaomba; sitamjaribu Bwana.”
“No, I'm not going to ask,” Ahaz replied. “I refuse to put the Lord to the test.”
13 Ndipo Isaya akasema, “Sikia sasa, ewe nyumba ya Daudi! Je, haitoshi kujaribu uvumilivu wa wanadamu? Je, mtaujaribu uvumilivu wa Mungu wangu pia?
Then Isaiah said, “Listen, royal family of Judah! Isn't it enough for you to wear people out? Do you have to wear my God out too?
14 Kwa hiyo Bwana mwenyewe atawapa ishara: Bikira atachukua mimba, naye atamzaa mwana, na ataitwa Imanueli.
This is why the Lord himself is going to give you a sign. Look! The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel.
15 Atakula jibini na asali atakapokuwa ameweza kukataa mabaya na kuchagua mema.
He will eat curds and honey until the time he knows to refuse evil and choose the good.
16 Lakini kabla mtoto hajajua kukataa mabaya na kuchagua mema, nchi ya wafalme hao wawili unaowaogopa itafanywa ukiwa.
For before the boy knows to refuse evil and choose the good, the land of the two kings you're afraid of will be deserted.
17 Bwana ataleta juu yako, juu ya watu wako, na juu ya nyumba ya baba yako wakati ambao haujawahi kuwako tangu Efraimu alipojitenga na Yuda: yeye atawaleteeni mfalme wa Ashuru.”
The Lord will make you, your people, and the royal family experience a time unlike anything since the day Ephraim split from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria to attack you!”
18 Katika siku ile Bwana atawapigia filimbi mainzi kutoka vijito vya mbali vya Misri, na nyuki kutoka nchi ya Ashuru.
At that time the Lord will whistle to call flies from the distant rivers of Egypt and bees from the country of Assyria.
19 Wote watakuja na kukaa kwenye mabonde yenye miteremko, na kwenye nyufa za miamba, kwenye vichaka vyote vyenye miiba, na kwenye mashimo yote ya maji.
They will all come and descend on the steep valleys and rock crevices, on all the thorn bushes and waterholes.
20 Katika siku ile Bwana atatumia wembe ulioajiriwa kutoka ngʼambo ya Mto, yaani mfalme wa Ashuru, kunyoa nywele za kichwa chako na malaika ya miguu yako, na kuziondoa ndevu zako pia.
At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave you from head to toe, including your beards.
21 Katika siku ile, mtu atahifadhi hai ndama mmoja na kondoo wawili.
At that time a someone who manages to keep a young cow and two sheep alive
22 Kwa ajili ya wingi wa maziwa watakayotoa, atapata jibini ya kula. Wote watakaobakia katika nchi watakula jibini na asali.
will eat curds, because they produce so much milk—for everyone who survives in the land will eat curds and honey.
23 Katika siku ile, kila mahali palipokuwa na mizabibu elfu moja yenye thamani ya shekeli 1,000 za fedha, patakuwa na michongoma na miiba tu.
At that time everywhere that once had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will only have brambles and thorns.
24 Watu watakwenda huko wakiwa na upinde na mshale, kwa maana nchi itafunikwa na michongoma na miiba.
People will go hunting there with bows and arrows because the land will be covered with brambles and thorns.
25 Kuhusu vilima vyote vilivyokuwa vikilimwa kwa jembe, hamtakwenda huko tena kwa ajili ya hofu ya michongoma na miiba. Patakuwa mahali ambapo ngʼombe wataachiwa huru, na kondoo kukimbia kimbia.
In fact, all the hills that were once tilled by the hoe you won't want to go to because you'll worry about the brambles and thorns there. They'll just be where cattle are let loose and where sheep roam.
