Isaya 13
1 Tamko kuhusu Babeli, ambalo Isaya mtoto wa Amozi alipokea:
This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:
2 Kwenye mlima wa wazi imewekwa bendera ya ishara, lia kwa sauti kwao, wapungie mikono waende kwenye lango la wenye vyeo.
Raise a banner on a barren hilltop; call aloud to them. Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.
3 Nimewamuru watakatifu wangu, ndio, nimewaita watu wangu wenye nguvu kutekeleza asira yangu, na hata watu wangu wanojigmba na kujiinua wenyewe.
I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have even summoned My warriors to execute My wrath and exult in My triumph.
4 Kelele za umati wa watu kwenye milima, za watu wengi! Kelele za ghasiaza ufalme kama mataifa mengi yamekusanyika pamoja! Yahwe wa majeshi anapanga jeshi kwa vita.
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war.
5 Wametoka katika nchi ya mbali, kutoka juu ya upeo wa macho. Ni Yahwe na silaha zake za hukumu, kuhiharibu nchi yetu.
They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of His wrath— to destroy the whole country.
6 Omboleza maana siku ya Yahwe imekaribia; itakuja na uharibifu kutoka kwa Mwenyenzi.
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
7 Hivyo basi mikono ining'inizwe kama kiwete, na kila moyo ulioyeyuka.
Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.
8 Itawatisha; maumivu na uchungu atawapa wao, kama mwanamke ambaye anajifungua. Watangalia kwa kushangaa kwa kila mmoja mmoja; nyuso zao zitakuwa kama moto.
Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.
9 Tazama, siku za Yahwe zinakuja na laana kali wingi wa hasira, kuifanya nchi yenye ukiwa na kuharibu wenye dhambi katika nchi.
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming— cruel, with fury and burning anger— to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it.
10 Nyota ya mbinguni na matangamano havitatoa nuru yake. Jua litakuwa giza na hata mwenzi hautaangaza.
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
11 Nitaihadhibu nchi kwa maovu yake na makosa ya uovu wao. Nitamaliza kiburi cha majivuno na nitawashusha wenye kiburi wasiwe makali.
I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
12 Nitawafanya watu kuwa nadra zaidi ya dhahabu nzuri na watu kuwa vigumu kupatikana zaidi ya dhahabu safi ya Ofiri.
I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.
13 Hivyo basi nitazifanya mbingu kutingishika, na dunia itayumba kutoka sehemu iliyoko, Kwa hasira ya Yahwe wa majeshi, na siku ya hasira yake.
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger.
14 Kama Paa anayewindwa au kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, kila mtu atageukia watu wake na kukimbia kwenye nchi yake.
Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.
15 Kwa yeyote atakayeonekana atauliwa, na yeyote atakayekamatwa atauliwa kwa upanga.
Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword.
16 Watoto wao watakatwa vipandevipande mbele ya macho yao. Nyumba zao zitavamiwa na wake zao watabakwa.
Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.
17 Tazama, ninakaribia kuwakoroga Wamede ili wawavamie wao, ambao hawaoni maana ya fedha wala furaha ya dhahabu.
Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold.
18 Mishale yao itawachoma vijana wadogo. Hakutakuwa na shimo kwa watoto wao na hawatawacha watoto wao.
Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.
19 Na Babali ufalme unaovutia zaidi, fahari ya mapambo ya wakaldyo, itaangamizwa na Mungu kama Sodoma na Gomora.
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 Hapatakuwa na wenyeji wala wakazi kutoka kizazi kimoja hadi kizazi kingine. Mwarabu atapiga hema lake uko wala wachungaji hawatalaza mifugo yao pale.
She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there.
21 Lakini wanyama pori wa jangwani watalala pale. Nyumba zao zitajaa bundi; na mbuni watakaa huko na mbuzi pori wataruka pale.
But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.
22 Fisi watalia kwenye ngome yao, na mbeha katika maeneo yao mazuri. Mda wao umekaribia, na siku zao hazitachelewa.
Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.
