Isaya 13
1 Tamko kuhusu Babeli, ambalo Isaya mtoto wa Amozi alipokea:
This is the message Isaiah, son of Amoz, received about Babylon.
2 Kwenye mlima wa wazi imewekwa bendera ya ishara, lia kwa sauti kwao, wapungie mikono waende kwenye lango la wenye vyeo.
Set up a banner on a bare hilltop; shout out to them; wave your hand to encourage them to enter the palaces of princes.
3 Nimewamuru watakatifu wangu, ndio, nimewaita watu wangu wenye nguvu kutekeleza asira yangu, na hata watu wangu wanojigmba na kujiinua wenyewe.
I have ordered the ones I have chosen to attack; I have called my warriors to execute my furious judgment and to celebrate 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.
A noise comes from the mountains, sounding like that of a huge crowd! It's the roaring sound from the kingdoms, from nations gathering together! The Lord Almighty is calling up 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 distant lands, from beyond the far horizons—the Lord and the weapons of his fury—coming to destroy the whole country.
6 Omboleza maana siku ya Yahwe imekaribia; itakuja na uharibifu kutoka kwa Mwenyenzi.
Howl in fear, for the day of the Lord is approaching—the time when the Almighty destroys.
7 Hivyo basi mikono ining'inizwe kama kiwete, na kila moyo ulioyeyuka.
Everyone's hands will fall limp, and everyone will lose their minds in panic.
8 Itawatisha; maumivu na uchungu atawapa wao, kama mwanamke ambaye anajifungua. Watangalia kwa kushangaa kwa kila mmoja mmoja; nyuso zao zitakuwa kama moto.
They will be terrified; pain and anguish will seize them; they will suffer like a woman giving birth. They will look in shock at each other, their faces burning in fear.
9 Tazama, siku za Yahwe zinakuja na laana kali wingi wa hasira, kuifanya nchi yenye ukiwa na kuharibu wenye dhambi katika nchi.
Look! The day of the Lord is coming—cruel, with fury and fierce anger—to devastate the land and to wipe out its sinners.
10 Nyota ya mbinguni na matangamano havitatoa nuru yake. Jua litakuwa giza na hata mwenzi hautaangaza.
The stars in the constellations of heaven above will not shine. When the sun rises it will stay dark. The moon will give no 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 sin, says the Lord. I will put an end to the conceit of the arrogant, and I will humiliate tyrants and their pride.
12 Nitawafanya watu kuwa nadra zaidi ya dhahabu nzuri na watu kuwa vigumu kupatikana zaidi ya dhahabu safi ya Ofiri.
I will make people scarcer than pure gold, 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.
So I will shake the heavens and make the earth jump out of its place because of the fury of the Lord Almighty, at the time when his anger burns.
14 Kama Paa anayewindwa au kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, kila mtu atageukia watu wake na kukimbia kwenye nchi yake.
Like a gazelle being hunted, or like sheep without a shepherd, the Babylonians will return to their own people, they will run away to their own land.
15 Kwa yeyote atakayeonekana atauliwa, na yeyote atakayekamatwa atauliwa kwa upanga.
Anyone who is captured will be stabbed to death; anyone who is caught will be killed by the sword.
16 Watoto wao watakatwa vipandevipande mbele ya macho yao. Nyumba zao zitavamiwa na wake zao watabakwa.
Their little children will be dashed to pieces as they watch, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be raped.
17 Tazama, ninakaribia kuwakoroga Wamede ili wawavamie wao, ambao hawaoni maana ya fedha wala furaha ya dhahabu.
I'm going to get the Medes to attack them, people who don't care about silver or gold.
18 Mishale yao itawachoma vijana wadogo. Hakutakuwa na shimo kwa watoto wao na hawatawacha watoto wao.
Their bows will slaughter their young men; they will show no mercy to babies; they will have no pity on children.
19 Na Babali ufalme unaovutia zaidi, fahari ya mapambo ya wakaldyo, itaangamizwa na Mungu kama Sodoma na Gomora.
Babylon, the most marvelous city of any kingdom, the greatest pride of the Babylonian people, will be demolished 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.
No one will ever live in Babylon again. It will be deserted—no desert nomad will set up a tent there, no shepherd will bring a flock to rest there.
21 Lakini wanyama pori wa jangwani watalala pale. Nyumba zao zitajaa bundi; na mbuni watakaa huko na mbuzi pori wataruka pale.
Only desert animals will make their homes there, and the ruined houses will be inhabited by wild dogs. Owls will live there, and wild goats will leap around.
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 lavish palaces. Babylon's time is coming soon—they will not last much longer.
