Sefania 3
1 Ole mji wa wadhalimu, waasi na waliotiwa unajisi!
Woe to her that is rebellious and corrupted, to the oppressing city!
2 Hautii mtu yeyote, haukubali maonyo. Haumtumaini Bwana, haukaribii karibu na Mungu wake.
She hearkened not to the voice; she received not correction; she confided not in Jehovah; she drew not near her God.
3 Maafisa wake ni simba wangurumao, watawala wake ni mbwa mwitu wa jioni, ambao hawabakizi chochote kwa ajili ya asubuhi.
Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, that leave nothing for the morning.
4 Manabii wake ni wenye kiburi, ni wadanganyifu. Makuhani wake hunajisi patakatifu na kuihalifu sheria.
Her prophets are vain-glorious, treacherous persons; her priests profane the sanctuary, they do violence to the law.
5 Bwana aliye ndani yake ni mwenye haki, hafanyi kosa. Asubuhi kwa asubuhi hutoa haki yake, kila kukipambazuka huitimiza, bali mtu dhalimu hana aibu.
The righteous Jehovah is in the midst of her: he doeth no wrong. Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light; it faileth not: but the unrighteous knoweth no shame.
6 “Nimeyafutilia mbali mataifa, ngome zao zimebomolewa. Nimeziacha barabara ukiwa, hakuna anayepita humo. Miji yao imeharibiwa; hakuna mmoja atakayeachwa: hakuna hata mmoja.
I have cut off nations: their battlements are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
7 Niliuambia huo mji, ‘Hakika utaniogopa na kukubali maonyo!’ Ndipo makao yake hayatafutiliwa mbali, wala adhabu zangu zote hazitakuja juu yake. Lakini walikuwa bado na shauku kutenda kwa upotovu katika yote waliyofanya.”
I said, Only fear me, receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, howsoever I may punish her. But they rose early, they corrupted all their doings.
8 Bwana anasema, “Kwa hiyo ningojee mimi, siku nitakayosimama kuteka nyara. Nimeamua kukusanya mataifa, kukusanya falme na kumimina ghadhabu yangu juu yao, hasira yangu kali yote. Dunia yote itateketezwa kwa moto wa wivu wa hasira yangu.
Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to assemble the nations, that I may gather the kingdoms together, to pour upon them mine indignation, — all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 “Ndipo nitatakasa midomo ya mataifa, kwamba wote waweze kuliitia jina la Bwana na kumtumikia kwa pamoja.
For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.
10 Kutoka ngʼambo ya mito ya Kushi watu wangu wanaoniabudu, watu wangu waliotawanyika, wataniletea sadaka.
From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine oblation.
11 Siku hiyo hutaaibishwa kwa ajili ya makosa yote ulionitendea, kwa sababu nitawaondoa kutoka mji huu wale wote wanaoshangilia katika kiburi chao. Kamwe hutajivuna tena katika kilima changu kitakatifu.
In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that exult in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
12 Lakini nitakuachia ndani yako wapole na wanyenyekevu, ambao wanatumaini jina la Bwana.
And I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of Jehovah.
13 Mabaki ya Israeli hayatafanya kosa; hawatasema uongo, wala udanganyifu hautakuwa katika vinywa vyao. Watakula na kulala wala hakuna yeyote atakayewaogopesha.”
The remnant of Israel shall not work unrighteousness, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: but they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14 Imba, ee Binti Sayuni; paza sauti, ee Israeli! Furahi na kushangilia kwa moyo wako wote, ee Binti Yerusalemu!
Exult, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; rejoice and be glad with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem:
15 Bwana amekuondolea adhabu yako, amewarudisha nyuma adui zako. Bwana, Mfalme wa Israeli, yu pamoja nawe; kamwe hutaogopa tena madhara yoyote.
Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy; the King of Israel, Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more.
16 Katika siku hiyo watauambia Yerusalemu, “Usiogope, ee Sayuni; usiiache mikono yako ilegee.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
17 Bwana Mungu wako yu pamoja nawe, yeye ni mwenye nguvu kuokoa. Atakufurahia kwa furaha kubwa, atakutuliza kwa pendo lake, atakufurahia kwa kuimba.”
Jehovah thy God is in thy midst, a mighty one that will save: he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will exult over thee with singing.
18 “Huzuni katika sikukuu zilizoamriwa nitaziondoa kwenu; hizo ni mzigo na fedheha kwenu.
I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assemblies, who were of thee: the reproach of it was a burden [unto them].
19 Wakati huo nitawashughulikia wote waliokudhulumu; nitaokoa vilema na kukusanya wale ambao wametawanywa. Nitawapa sifa na heshima katika kila nchi ambayo waliaibishwa.
Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save her that halted, and gather her that was driven out; and I will make them a praise and a name in all the lands where they have been put to shame.
20 Wakati huo nitawakusanya; wakati huo nitawaleta nyumbani. Nitawapa sifa na heshima miongoni mwa mataifa yote ya dunia wakati nitakapowarudishia mateka yenu mbele ya macho yenu hasa,” asema Bwana.
At that time will I bring you, yea, at the time that I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise, among all the peoples of the earth, when I shall turn again your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.
