< 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, wail on my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land be stirred up. For the day of the Lord is on its way; for it is near:
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 gloom, a day of clouds and whirlwinds. Like the morning reaching over the mountains, they are a numerous and strong people. Nothing like them has existed since the beginning, nor will exist after them, even in the years of generation upon generation.
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.
Before their face is a devouring fire, and behind them is a burning flame. The land before them is like a lush garden, and behind them is a desolate desert, and there is no one who can escape them.
4 Wanaonekana kama farasi; wanakwenda mbio kama askari wapanda farasi.
Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and they will rush forward like 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 sound of a four-horse chariot, they will leap over the tops of the mountains. Like the sound of a burning flame devouring stubble, they are as a strong people prepared for battle.
6 Wanapoonekana, mataifa yanakuwa katika maumivu makuu; kila uso unabadilika rangi.
Before their face, the people will be tortured; each one’s appearance will retreat, as if into a jar.
7 Wanashambulia kama wapiganaji wa vita; wanapanda kuta kama askari. Wote wanatembea katika safu, hawapotoshi safu zao.
They will rush forward, as if they were strong. Like valiant warriors, they will ascend the wall. The men will advance, each one on his own way, and they will not turn aside from their path.
8 Hakuna anayemsukuma mwenzake; kila mmoja anakwenda mbele moja kwa moja. Wanapita katika vizuizi bila kuharibu safu zao.
And each one will not hem in his brother; every one will walk in his own rough path. Moreover, they will drop through the breach and not be harmed.
9 Wanaenda kasi kuingia mjini; wanakimbia ukutani. Wanaingia ndani ya nyumba; kwa kuingilia madirishani kama wevi.
They will advance into the city; they will rush through the wall. They will scale the houses; they will go in through the windows, like a thief.
10 Mbele yao dunia inatikisika, anga linatetemeka, jua na mwezi vinatiwa giza, na nyota hazitoi mwanga wake tena.
Before their face, the earth has trembled, the heavens have been moved. The sun and moon have been obscured, and the stars have retracted their splendor.
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?
And the Lord has bestowed his voice before the face of his army. For its military camps are very numerous; for they are strong and they carry out his word. For the day of the Lord is great and so very terrible, and who can withstand it?
12 “Hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “nirudieni kwa mioyo yenu yote, kwa kufunga, kwa kulia na kuomboleza.”
Now, therefore, the Lord says: “Be converted to me with your whole heart, in fasting and weeping and 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.
And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and convert to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and merciful, patient and full of compassion, and steadfast despite ill will.
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 if he might convert and forgive, and bequeath a blessing after him, a sacrifice and a libation 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 an 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 church, unite the elders, gather together the little ones and infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom depart from his bed, and the bride from her bridal 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?’”
Between the vestibule and the altar, the priests, the ministers of the Lord, will weep, and they will say: “Spare, O Lord, spare your people. And do not bequeath your inheritance into disgrace, so that the nations would 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.
The Lord has been zealous for his land, and he has spared 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.
And the Lord responded, and he said to his people: “Behold, I will send you grain and wine and oil, and you will again be filled with them. And I will no longer give you disgrace among the Gentiles.
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.
And he who is from the North, I will drive far from you. And I will expel him into an impassable land, and into the desert, with his face opposite the Eastern sea, and his furthest part towards the furthest sea. And his stench will ascend, and his rottenness will ascend, because he has acted arrogantly.
21 Usiogope, ee nchi; furahi na kushangilia. Hakika Bwana ametenda mambo makubwa.
Earth, do not be afraid. Exult and rejoice. For the Lord has great esteem for what he has done.
22 Msiogope, enyi wanyama pori, kwa kuwa mbuga za malisho yenu zinarudia ubichi. Miti nayo inazaa matunda, mtini na mzabibu inatoa utajiri wake.
Animals of the countryside, do not be afraid. For the beauty of the wilderness has sprung forth. For the tree has borne its fruit. The fig tree and the vine have bestowed their virtue.
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.
And you, sons of Zion, exult and rejoice in the Lord your God. For he has given you a teacher of justice, and he will make the early and the late rains descend to you, just as it was in the beginning.
24 Sakafu za kupuria zitajaa nafaka, mapipa yatafurika mvinyo mpya na mafuta.
And the threshing floors will be filled with grain, and the presses will overflow with wine and oil.
25 “Nitawalipa kwa ajili ya miaka ile iliyoliwa na nzige: parare, madumadu na tunutu, jeshi langu kubwa ambalo nililituma katikati yenu.
And I will repay you for the years which the locust, and the beetle, and the mildew, and the caterpillar consumed: my great strength which I sent upon 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.
And you will eat with enjoyment, and you will be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked miracles with you, and my people will not be confounded forever.
27 Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba mimi niko katika Israeli kwamba mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu, na kwamba hakuna mwingine; kamwe watu wangu hawataaibika tena.
And you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and I am the Lord your God, and there is no other, and my people will not be confounded forever.
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.
And after this, it will happen that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy; your elders will dream dreams, and your youths will see visions.
29 Hata juu ya watumishi wangu, wanaume kwa wanawake, katika siku zile nitamimina Roho wangu.
Moreover, in those days I will pour out my spirit upon my servants and handmaids.
30 Nami nitaonyesha maajabu katika mbingu na duniani: damu, moto na mawimbi ya moshi.
And I will grant wonders in the sky and on earth: blood and fire and the vapor 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 shall arrive.
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.
And it will happen that everyone who will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. For on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and in the remnant whom the Lord will call, there will be salvation, just as the Lord has said.

< Joeli 2 >