< 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 ye 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 cometh, for [it is] nigh 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 of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [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 devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; and nothing shall escape them.
4 Wanaonekana kama farasi; wanakwenda mbio kama askari wapanda farasi.
The appearance of them [is] as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
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 mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Wanapoonekana, mataifa yanakuwa katika maumivu makuu; kila uso unabadilika rangi.
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 Wanashambulia kama wapiganaji wa vita; wanapanda kuta kama askari. Wote wanatembea katika safu, hawapotoshi safu zao.
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Hakuna anayemsukuma mwenzake; kila mmoja anakwenda mbele moja kwa moja. Wanapita katika vizuizi bila kuharibu safu zao.
Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and [when] they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 Wanaenda kasi kuingia mjini; wanakimbia ukutani. Wanaingia ndani ya nyumba; kwa kuingilia madirishani kama wevi.
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 Mbele yao dunia inatikisika, anga linatetemeka, jua na mwezi vinatiwa giza, na nyota hazitoi mwanga wake tena.
The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall 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?
And the LORD will utter his voice before his army: for his camp [is] very great: for [he is] strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD [is] great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12 “Hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “nirudieni kwa mioyo yenu yote, kwa kufunga, kwa kulia na kuomboleza.”
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even 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.
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth of the evil.
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 knoweth [if] he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; [even] a meat-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 congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
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 thy people, O LORD, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: why should they say among the people, Where [is] their God?
18 Kisha Bwana atakuwa na wivu kwa ajili ya nchi yake na kuwa na huruma juu ya watu wake.
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity 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 will answer and say to his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied with it; and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
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 far from you the northern [army], and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face towards the east sea, and his hinder part towards the utmost sea, and his odious scent shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up, because he hath done great things.
21 Usiogope, ee nchi; furahi na kushangilia. Hakika Bwana ametenda mambo makubwa.
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do 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.
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do 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, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].
24 Sakafu za kupuria zitajaa nafaka, mapipa yatafurika mvinyo mpya na mafuta.
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall 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 restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, 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.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba mimi niko katika Israeli kwamba mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu, na kwamba hakuna mwingine; kamwe watu wangu hawataaibika tena.
And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
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 it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 Hata juu ya watumishi wangu, wanaume kwa wanawake, katika siku zile nitamimina Roho wangu.
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 Nami nitaonyesha maajabu katika mbingu na duniani: damu, moto na mawimbi ya moshi.
And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood, and 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 shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD shall come.
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 shall come to pass, [that] whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.