Isaya 9
1 Hata hivyo, hapatakuwepo huzuni tena kwa wale waliokuwa katika dhiki. Wakati uliopita aliidhili nchi ya Zabuloni na nchi ya Naftali, lakini katika siku zijazo ataiheshimu Galilaya ya Mataifa, karibu na njia ya bahari, kando ya Yordani:
Even so, there will be no more darkness for those who suffered. In the past he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will bring honor to Galilee of the foreigners that is on the route that leads from Jordan to the sea.
2 Watu wanaotembea katika giza wameona nuru kuu, wale wanaoishi katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, nuru imewazukia.
People walking in the dark will see a bright light; a light will shine on those living in a land of total darkness.
3 Umelikuza taifa, na kuzidisha furaha yao, wanafurahia mbele zako, kama watu wanavyofurahia wakati wa mavuno, kama watu wafurahivyo wagawanyapo nyara.
You will make the nation grow enormously, and will make it extremely happy. The people will celebrate before you as people celebrate at harvest time, as soldiers celebrate when dividing up what has been looted.
4 Kama vile siku ya kushindwa kwa Wamidiani, umevunja nira iliyowalemea, ile gongo mabegani mwao na fimbo yake yeye aliyewaonea.
For you will smash the yoke that burdens them down, the bar across their shoulders, and the oppressors' rod used to beat them just as you did when you defeated the Midianite army.
5 Kila kiatu cha askari kilichotumiwa vitani, na kila vazi lililovingirishwa katika damu vitawekwa kwa ajili ya kuchomwa, vitakuwa kuni za kuwasha moto.
For every army boot that noisily trampled people down, and every uniform soaked in blood—they are going to be burned, fuel for the fire.
6 Kwa maana, kwa ajili yetu mtoto amezaliwa, tumepewa mtoto mwanaume, nao utawala utakuwa mabegani mwake. Naye ataitwa Mshauri wa Ajabu, Mungu Mwenye Nguvu, Baba wa Milele, Mfalme wa Amani.
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us. He will bear the responsibility to rule. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Kuongezeka kwa utawala wake na amani hakutakuwa na mwisho. Atatawala katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi na juu ya ufalme wake, akiuthibitisha na kuutegemeza kwa haki na kwa adili, tangu wakati huo na hata milele. Wivu wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote utatimiza haya.
His rule and the peace he brings know no limits and will never come to an end. He will sit on David's throne and rule his kingdom, making it secure. He will operate from principles of justice and goodness, from the time he begins his rule and for all eternity. The Lord Almighty is determined to make this happen.
8 Bwana ametuma ujumbe dhidi ya Yakobo, utamwangukia Israeli.
The Lord has sent a message directed against Jacob, and its consequences will fall upon Israel.
9 Watu wote watajua hili: Efraimu na wakazi wa Samaria, wanaosema kwa kiburi na majivuno ya mioyo,
All the people will soon realize it—Ephraim and the people who live in Samaria. Proudly and arrogantly they say,
10 “Matofali yameanguka chini, lakini tutajenga tena kwa mawe yaliyochongwa, mitini imeangushwa, lakini tutapanda mierezi badala yake.”
“The brick buildings have collapsed, but we will rebuild them with dressed stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Lakini Bwana amemtia nguvu adui wa Resini dhidi yao na kuchochea watesi wao.
But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's enemies against Israel and has encouraged them.
12 Waashuru kutoka upande wa mashariki na Wafilisti kutoka upande wa magharibi wameila Israeli kwa kinywa kilichopanuliwa. Hata kwa haya yote, hasira yake haijageukia mbali, mkono wake bado umeinuliwa juu.
Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have greedily eaten swallowed Israel up. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
13 Lakini watu hawajamrudia yeye aliyewapiga, wala hawajamtafuta Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
But the people didn't return to the one who punished them; they didn't come to worship the Lord Almighty.
14 Kwa hiyo Bwana atakatilia mbali kutoka Israeli kichwa na mkia, tawi la mtende na tete katika siku moja.
So in just a single day the Lord will chop off Israel's head and tail, palm branch and reed.
15 Wazee na watu mashuhuri ndio vichwa, nao manabii wanaofundisha uongo ndio mkia.
Elders and honorable people are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16 Wale wanaowaongoza watu hawa wanawapotosha, nao wale wanaoongozwa wamepotoka.
The people's leaders have misled them; those who were guided by them are confused.
17 Kwa hiyo Bwana hatawafurahia vijana, wala hatawahurumia yatima na wajane, kwa kuwa kila mmoja wao hamchi Mungu, nao ni waovu, na kila kinywa kinanena upotovu. Hata kwa haya yote, hasira yake haijageukia mbali, mkono wake bado umeinuliwa juu.
As a result the Lord isn't pleased with their young men, he has no compassion for their orphans and widows, because all of them are hypocrites and do what's evil—they all talk stupidly. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
18 Hakika uovu huwaka kama moto; huteketeza michongoma na miiba, huwasha moto vichaka vya msituni, hujiviringisha kuelekea juu kama nguzo ya moshi.
For wickedness blazes like a fire, burning up brambles and thorns, setting the forest on fire, sending a column of smoke swirling upwards.
19 Kwa hasira ya Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote nchi itachomwa kwa moto, nao watu watakuwa kuni za kuchochea moto. Hakuna mtu atakayemhurumia ndugu yake.
The anger of the Lord Almighty burns the land. People are like fuel for the fire, and nobody tries to help anyone else.
20 Upande wa kuume watakuwa wakitafuna, lakini bado wataona njaa; upande wa kushoto watakuwa wakila, lakini hawatashiba. Kila mmoja atajilisha kwa nyama ya mtoto wake mwenyewe:
People destroy others on the right, yet they're still hungry for more; people destroy others on the left, but they're still not satisfied. In the end they even destroy themselves!
21 Manase atamla Efraimu, naye Efraimu atamla Manase; nao pamoja watakuwa kinyume na Yuda. Hata kwa haya yote, hasira yake haijageukia mbali, mkono wake bado umeinuliwa juu.
Manasseh destroys Ephraim, and Ephraim destroys Manasseh. Together they turn to destroy Judah. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
