< Joeli 2 >
1 Pigeni tarumbeta katika Sayuni; pigeni mbiu katika mlima wangu mtakatifu. Wote waishio katika nchi na watetemeke, kwa kuwa siku ya Bwana inakuja. Iko karibu,
Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD comes, for it is close at hand:
2 siku ya giza na huzuni, siku ya mawingu na utusitusi. Kama mapambazuko yasambaavyo toka upande huu wa milima hata upande mwingine jeshi kubwa na lenye nguvu linakuja. Jambo kama hili halijakuwepo tangu zamani wala halitakuwepo tena kamwe kwa vizazi vijavyo.
A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.
3 Mbele yao moto unateketeza, nyuma yao miali ya moto inawaka kwa nguvu. Mbele yao nchi iko kama bustani ya Edeni, nyuma yao ni jangwa lisilofaa: hakuna kitu kinachowaepuka.
A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them.
4 Wanaonekana kama farasi; wanakwenda mbio kama askari wapanda farasi.
Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and they run as horsemen.
5 Wanatoa sauti kama magari ya vita, wanaporukaruka juu ya vilele vya milima, kama mlio wa miali ya moto ilayo mabua, kama jeshi kubwa lililojipanga kwa ajili ya vita.
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
6 Wanapoonekana, mataifa yanakuwa katika maumivu makuu; kila uso unabadilika rangi.
At their presence the peoples are in anguish. All faces have grown pale.
7 Wanashambulia kama wapiganaji wa vita; wanapanda kuta kama askari. Wote wanatembea katika safu, hawapotoshi safu zao.
They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they do not swerve off course.
8 Hakuna anayemsukuma mwenzake; kila mmoja anakwenda mbele moja kwa moja. Wanapita katika vizuizi bila kuharibu safu zao.
One does not jostle another. They each march in their own path. They burst through the defenses and do not break ranks.
9 Wanaenda kasi kuingia mjini; wanakimbia ukutani. Wanaingia ndani ya nyumba; kwa kuingilia madirishani kama wevi.
They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves.
10 Mbele yao dunia inatikisika, anga linatetemeka, jua na mwezi vinatiwa giza, na nyota hazitoi mwanga wake tena.
The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 Bwana anatoa mshindo wa ngurumo mbele ya jeshi lake; majeshi yake hayana idadi, ni wenye nguvu nyingi wale ambao hutii agizo lake. Siku ya Bwana ni kuu, ni ya kutisha. Ni nani anayeweza kuistahimili?
The LORD thunders his voice before his army, for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of the LORD is great and very awesome, and who can endure it?
12 “Hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “nirudieni kwa mioyo yenu yote, kwa kufunga, kwa kulia na kuomboleza.”
“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 Rarueni mioyo yenu na siyo mavazi yenu. Mrudieni Bwana, Mungu wenu, kwa maana yeye ndiye mwenye neema na mwingi wa huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira, ni mwingi wa upendo, huona huruma, hujizuia kuleta maafa.
Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to the LORD, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.
14 Ni nani ajuaye? Yeye aweza kugeuka na kuwa na huruma na kuacha baraka nyuma yake: sadaka za nafaka na sadaka za vinywaji kwa ajili ya Bwana Mungu wenu.
Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to the LORD, your God.
15 Pigeni tarumbeta katika Sayuni, tangazeni saumu takatifu, liiteni kusanyiko takatifu.
Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly.
16 Wakusanyeni watu, wekeni wakfu kusanyiko; waleteni pamoja wazee, wakusanyeni watoto, wale wanyonyao maziwa. Bwana arusi na atoke chumbani mwake na bibi arusi naye atoke katika chumba chake.
Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts. Let the bridegroom go out of his room, and the bride out of her chamber.
17 Makuhani, ambao wanahudumu mbele za Bwana, na walie katikati ya ukumbi wa Hekalu na madhabahu. Waseme, “Wahurumie watu wako, Ee Bwana. Usifanye urithi wako kitu cha kudharauliwa, neno la dhihaka kati ya mataifa. Kwa nini wasemezane miongoni mwao, ‘Yuko wapi Mungu wao?’”
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, LORD, and do not give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 Kisha Bwana atakuwa na wivu kwa ajili ya nchi yake na kuwa na huruma juu ya watu wake.
Then the LORD was jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
19 Bwana atawajibu: “Ninawapelekea nafaka, mvinyo mpya na mafuta, vya kuwatosha ninyi hadi mridhike kabisa; kamwe sitawafanya tena kitu cha kudharauliwa na mataifa.
The LORD answered his people, “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
20 “Nitafukuza jeshi la kaskazini likae mbali nanyi, nikilisukuma ndani ya jangwa, askari wa safu za mbele wakienda ndani ya bahari ya mashariki na wale wa safu za nyuma katika bahari ya magharibi. Uvundo wake utapaa juu; harufu yake itapanda juu.” Hakika ametenda mambo makubwa.
But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things.
21 Usiogope, ee nchi; furahi na kushangilia. Hakika Bwana ametenda mambo makubwa.
Land, do not be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things.
22 Msiogope, enyi wanyama pori, kwa kuwa mbuga za malisho yenu zinarudia ubichi. Miti nayo inazaa matunda, mtini na mzabibu inatoa utajiri wake.
Do not be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23 Furahini, enyi watu wa Sayuni, shangilieni katika Bwana Mungu wenu, kwa kuwa amewapa mvua za vuli kwa kipimo cha haki. Anawapelekea mvua nyingi, mvua ya vuli na ya masika, kama mwanzoni.
“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD, your God; for he gives you the early rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the early rain and the latter rain, as before.
24 Sakafu za kupuria zitajaa nafaka, mapipa yatafurika mvinyo mpya na mafuta.
The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “Nitawalipa kwa ajili ya miaka ile iliyoliwa na nzige: parare, madumadu na tunutu, jeshi langu kubwa ambalo nililituma katikati yenu.
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.
26 Mtakuwa na wingi wa vyakula mpaka mshibe, na mtalisifu jina la Bwana Mungu wenu, ambaye amefanya maajabu kwa ajili yenu; kamwe watu wangu hawataaibishwa tena.
You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and will praise the name of the LORD, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed.
27 Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba mimi niko katika Israeli kwamba mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu, na kwamba hakuna mwingine; kamwe watu wangu hawataaibika tena.
You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am the LORD, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed.
28 “Hata itakuwa, baada ya hayo, nitamimina Roho wangu juu ya wote wenye mwili. Wana wenu na binti zenu watatabiri, wazee wenu wataota ndoto, na vijana wenu wataona maono.
“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
29 Hata juu ya watumishi wangu, wanaume kwa wanawake, katika siku zile nitamimina Roho wangu.
And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.
30 Nami nitaonyesha maajabu katika mbingu na duniani: damu, moto na mawimbi ya moshi.
I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 Jua litageuzwa kuwa giza na mwezi kuwa mwekundu kama damu, kabla ya kuja siku ya Bwana ile kuu na ya kutisha.
The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
32 Na kila mtu atakayeliitia jina la Bwana ataokolewa. Kwa maana juu ya Mlima Sayuni na katika Yerusalemu kutakuwepo wokovu, kama Bwana alivyosema, miongoni mwa walionusurika ambao Bwana awaita.
It will happen that whoever will call on the LORD’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the remnant, those whom the LORD calls.