< Mika 5 >
1 Panga majeshi yako, ee mji wa majeshi, kwa kuwa kuzingirwa kumepangwa dhidi yetu. Watampiga mtawala wa Israeli shavuni kwa fimbo.
“But now, [you people of Jerusalem, gather your troops together, ] [because even though] you have a wall [around your city to protect it], [enemy soldiers] are surrounding the city. And [soon] they will strike your leader on his face, with a rod.”
2 “Lakini wewe, Bethlehemu Efrathi, ingawa u mdogo miongoni mwa koo za Yuda, kutoka kwako atatokea kwa ajili yangu yeye atakayekuwa mtawala katika Israeli, ambaye asili yake ni kutoka zamani, kutoka milele.”
But you [people of] [APO] Bethlehem in Ephrathah [district need to know that] even though your [town] is a very small one among all the towns in Judah, someone who will rule Israel will be born in your town. [He will be] someone whose family has existed a very long time ago [DOU].
3 Kwa hiyo Israeli utaachwa mpaka wakati mwanamke aliye na utungu atakapozaa na ndugu zake wengine warudi kujiunga na Waisraeli.
[But now] you people of Israel will be conquered by your enemies; [but it will be for only a short time], like [MET] [the short time that] women have great pain while their babies are being born. After that, your fellow-countrymen who were (exiled/forced to go to other countries) will return to their own country.
4 Atasimama na kulichunga kundi lake katika nguvu ya Bwana, katika utukufu wa jina la Bwana Mungu wake. Nao wataishi kwa usalama, kwa kuwa wakati huo ukuu wake utaenea hadi miisho ya dunia.
And that man who will be ruling [there in Jerusalem] will stand and lead his people well, because Yahweh, his God, will cause him to be strong and greatly honored. Then the people whom he rules will live [in Jerusalem] safely; he will be greatly honored by people all over the earth, [so no one will dare to attack Jerusalem].
5 Naye atakuwa amani yao. Wakati Mwashuru atakapovamia nchi yetu na kupita katika ngome zetu, tutawainua wachungaji saba dhidi yake, hata viongozi wanane wa watu.
And he will cause things to go well [for his people]. When [the army of] Assyria attacks our country and breaks though our fortresses, we will appoint (seven or eight/several) leaders [to lead our army] to fight against them.
6 Wataitawala nchi ya Ashuru kwa upanga, nchi ya Nimrodi kwa upanga. Atatuokoa kutoka kwa Mwashuru atakapoivamia nchi yetu na kuingia katika mipaka yetu.
With their swords [our army] will defeat the [army of] Assyria, [whose capital was founded by] Nimrod [long ago]. So our army will rescue us from the Assyrian [army] when they invade our country [DOU].
7 Mabaki ya Yakobo yatakuwa katikati ya mataifa mengi kama umande kutoka kwa Bwana, kama manyunyu juu ya majani, ambayo hayamngoji mtu wala kukawia kwa mwanadamu.
The (descendants of Jacob/Israelis) who survive will be [a blessing] to the people of other nations, like [SIM] dew and rain sent by Yahweh do good to the grass. The Israelis will not trust in humans [to help them]; instead, they will rely on Yahweh.
8 Mabaki ya Yakobo yatakuwa miongoni mwa mataifa, katikati ya mataifa mengi, kama simba miongoni mwa wanyama wa msituni, kama mwana simba miongoni mwa makundi ya kondoo, ambaye anaumiza vibaya na kuwararua kila anapopita katikati yao, wala hakuna awezaye kuokoa.
In the midst of [their enemies in] many people-groups [DOU], the descendants of Jacob who remain alive will be like [SIM] a lion among the [other] wild beasts of the forest, like [SIM] a young lion who goes among a flock of sheep and pounces [on one] and (mauls it/tears it to pieces), and no one will be able to rescue [that sheep].
9 Mkono wako utainuliwa juu kwa ushindi juu ya watesi wako, nao adui zako wote wataangamizwa.
You Israelis will defeat [MTY] all your enemies and completely destroy them.
10 “Katika siku ile,” asema Bwana, “nitaangamiza farasi zenu katikati yenu na kubomoa magari yenu ya vita.
Yahweh says, “At that time, I will destroy [you Israeli people’s] horses [that your soldiers use in war] and your chariots.
11 Nitaiangamiza miji ya nchi yenu na kuziangusha chini ngome zenu zote.
I will tear down your city [walls] and destroy all your fortified cities.
12 Nitaangamiza uchawi wenu na hamtapiga tena ramli.
I will get rid of all those among you who practice magic and the (fortune-tellers/those who say that they can predict what will happen in the future).
13 Nitaangamiza vinyago vyenu vya kuchonga na mawe yenu ya ibada yatoke katikati yenu; hamtasujudia tena kazi ya mikono yenu.
I will destroy [all] your idols and [sacred stone] pillars, and then you will no longer bow down [and worship] things that you yourselves [SYN] have made.
14 Nitangʼoa nguzo za Ashera katikati yenu na kubomoa miji yenu.
I will get rid of your poles [that represent the goddess] Asherah, and [I will also] destroy all your idols.
15 Nitalipiza kisasi kwa hasira na ghadhabu juu ya mataifa ambayo hayajanitii.”
And because I will be very angry, I will [also] punish [the people of] all the nations who have not obeyed [me].”