Sefania 3
1 Ole mji wa wadhalimu, waasi na waliotiwa unajisi!
What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!
2 Hautii mtu yeyote, haukubali maonyo. Haumtumaini Bwana, haukaribii karibu na Mungu wake.
You don't listen to anybody, you don't accept correction, you don't trust in the Lord, you don't ask for God's help.
3 Maafisa wake ni simba wangurumao, watawala wake ni mbwa mwitu wa jioni, ambao hawabakizi chochote kwa ajili ya asubuhi.
Your leaders are as greedy as roaring lions; your judges are ravenous wolves that leave nothing behind by morning.
4 Manabii wake ni wenye kiburi, ni wadanganyifu. Makuhani wake hunajisi patakatifu na kuihalifu sheria.
Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break 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.
But the Lord who does right is still among you, he does no wrong. Every morning he gives his judgment, every day without fail. But those who act unjustly have 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 destroyed nations. Their fortresses are deserted; their streets are empty; their cities are destroyed—there are no survivors, not one.
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 told myself, “Surely they will respect me now and accept my correction. Then their homes would not be destroyed to teach them a lesson.” But instead you're just as eager to go on doing evil.
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.
You just wait, declares the Lord. The day is coming when I will rise to give evidence. For I have decided to gather together all the nations and kingdoms and to pour out on them my anger, my fury and my rage. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealous anger.
9 “Ndipo nitatakasa midomo ya mataifa, kwamba wote waweze kuliitia jina la Bwana na kumtumikia kwa pamoja.
For then I will give the nations pure speech so they can all pray and worship the Lord together.
10 Kutoka ngʼambo ya mito ya Kushi watu wangu wanaoniabudu, watu wangu waliotawanyika, wataniletea sadaka.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my scattered people, my worshipers, will come to bring their offerings to me.
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.
On that day you won't be ashamed because of what you did in rebelling against me, for I will remove from among you those who are proud and boastful. Never again will you be conceited on my holy mountain.
12 Lakini nitakuachia ndani yako wapole na wanyenyekevu, ambao wanatumaini jina la Bwana.
I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 Mabaki ya Israeli hayatafanya kosa; hawatasema uongo, wala udanganyifu hautakuwa katika vinywa vyao. Watakula na kulala wala hakuna yeyote atakayewaogopesha.”
The people of Israel who remain will not act wickedly nor will they tell lies. They will not deceive one another. They will be able to eat in peace and sleep in safety for there will be nothing to frighten them.
14 Imba, ee Binti Sayuni; paza sauti, ee Israeli! Furahi na kushangilia kwa moyo wako wote, ee Binti Yerusalemu!
Sing out, Jerusalem! Shout aloud, Israel! Jerusalem, be happy and celebrate with all your heart!
15 Bwana amekuondolea adhabu yako, amewarudisha nyuma adui zako. Bwana, Mfalme wa Israeli, yu pamoja nawe; kamwe hutaogopa tena madhara yoyote.
For the Lord has turned aside from punishing you, and he has turned back your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you, and you will never again have to fear disaster.
16 Katika siku hiyo watauambia Yerusalemu, “Usiogope, ee Sayuni; usiiache mikono yako ilegee.
On that day the message to the people of Jerusalem will be, “Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged!”
17 Bwana Mungu wako yu pamoja nawe, yeye ni mwenye nguvu kuokoa. Atakufurahia kwa furaha kubwa, atakutuliza kwa pendo lake, atakufurahia kwa kuimba.”
The Lord your God is among you as a mighty warrior who saves. He will be so happy with you. He will renew his love for you. He will celebrate over you with loud singing.
18 “Huzuni katika sikukuu zilizoamriwa nitaziondoa kwenu; hizo ni mzigo na fedheha kwenu.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the religious festivals—you will no longer have to bear the disgrace.
19 Wakati huo nitawashughulikia wote waliokudhulumu; nitaokoa vilema na kukusanya wale ambao wametawanywa. Nitawapa sifa na heshima katika kila nchi ambayo waliaibishwa.
Look at what I am going to do! At that time I am going to deal with all those who have oppressed you. I will save those who are helpless and bring back those who were scattered, and I will turn their shame into praise, and all the world will respect them.
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 I will bring you home, gathering you together. I will give you a good reputation, and you will be praised by all the peoples of the earth when I restore your status before your very eyes, says the Lord.
