Isaya 13
1 Tamko kuhusu Babeli, ambalo Isaya mtoto wa Amozi alipokea:
A prophecy concerning Babylon, which Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw.
2 Kwenye mlima wa wazi imewekwa bendera ya ishara, lia kwa sauti kwao, wapungie mikono waende kwenye lango la wenye vyeo.
Upon the bare mountain lift up a banner; Cry aloud to them, wave the hand, That they may enter the gates of the tyrants!
3 Nimewamuru watakatifu wangu, ndio, nimewaita watu wangu wenye nguvu kutekeleza asira yangu, na hata watu wangu wanojigmba na kujiinua wenyewe.
I have given orders to my consecrated ones, Yea, I have called upon my mighty ones to execute mine anger, My proud exulters!
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.
The noise of a multitude upon the mountains, like that of a great people! The tumultuous noise of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts mustereth his army for battle.
5 Wametoka katika nchi ya mbali, kutoka juu ya upeo wa macho. Ni Yahwe na silaha zake za hukumu, kuhiharibu nchi yetu.
They come from a distant country, From the end of Heaven, Jehovah and the instruments of his indignation. To lay waste the whole land.
6 Omboleza maana siku ya Yahwe imekaribia; itakuja na uharibifu kutoka kwa Mwenyenzi.
Howl ye, for the day of Jehovah is at hand! Like a destruction from the Almighty, it cometh;
7 Hivyo basi mikono ining'inizwe kama kiwete, na kila moyo ulioyeyuka.
Therefore shall all hands hang down, And every heart of man shall melt.
8 Itawatisha; maumivu na uchungu atawapa wao, kama mwanamke ambaye anajifungua. Watangalia kwa kushangaa kwa kila mmoja mmoja; nyuso zao zitakuwa kama moto.
They shall be in consternation; Distress and anguish shall lay hold of them; As a woman in travail shall they writhe; They shall look upon one another with amazement: Their faces shall glow like flames.
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 Jehovah cometh, Terrible, full of wrath and burning indignation, To make the land a waste, And to destroy the sinners out of it.
10 Nyota ya mbinguni na matangamano havitatoa nuru yake. Jua litakuwa giza na hata mwenzi hautaangaza.
For the stars of heaven, and the constellations thereof, Shall not give their light; The sun shall be darkened at his going forth, And the moon shall withhold her light.
11 Nitaihadhibu nchi kwa maovu yake na makosa ya uovu wao. Nitamaliza kiburi cha majivuno na nitawashusha wenye kiburi wasiwe makali.
For I will punish the world for its guilt, And the wicked for their iniquity. I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud, And I will bring down the haughtiness of the tyrants.
12 Nitawafanya watu kuwa nadra zaidi ya dhahabu nzuri na watu kuwa vigumu kupatikana zaidi ya dhahabu safi ya Ofiri.
I will make men scarcer than gold; Yea, men 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 shall be shaken out of her place, In the anger of Jehovah of hosts, In the day of his burning indignation.
14 Kama Paa anayewindwa au kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, kila mtu atageukia watu wake na kukimbia kwenye nchi yake.
Then shall they be like a chased doe; Like a flock, which no one gathereth together; Every one shall turn to his own people, And every one flee to his own land.
15 Kwa yeyote atakayeonekana atauliwa, na yeyote atakayekamatwa atauliwa kwa upanga.
Every one that is overtaken shall be thrust through, And every one that is caught shall fall by the sword.
16 Watoto wao watakatwa vipandevipande mbele ya macho yao. Nyumba zao zitavamiwa na wake zao watabakwa.
Their children shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses shall be plundered, and their wives ravished.
17 Tazama, ninakaribia kuwakoroga Wamede ili wawavamie wao, ambao hawaoni maana ya fedha wala furaha ya dhahabu.
Behold, I stir up against them the Medes, Who make no account of silver, And as to gold, they do not regard it.
18 Mishale yao itawachoma vijana wadogo. Hakutakuwa na shimo kwa watoto wao na hawatawacha watoto wao.
Their bows shall strike down the young men, And on the fruit of the womb they shall have no compassion; Their eye shall not pity the children.
19 Na Babali ufalme unaovutia zaidi, fahari ya mapambo ya wakaldyo, itaangamizwa na Mungu kama Sodoma na Gomora.
So shall Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The proud ornament of the Chaldeans, Be like Sodom and Gomorrah, which God overthrew,
20 Hapatakuwa na wenyeji wala wakazi kutoka kizazi kimoja hadi kizazi kingine. Mwarabu atapiga hema lake uko wala wachungaji hawatalaza mifugo yao pale.
It shall never more be inhabited; Nor shall it be dwelt in through all generations. Nor shall the Arabian pitch his tent there, Nor shall shepherds make their folds there.
21 Lakini wanyama pori wa jangwani watalala pale. Nyumba zao zitajaa bundi; na mbuni watakaa huko na mbuzi pori wataruka pale.
But there shall the wild beasts of the desert lodge, And owls shall fill their houses; And ostriches shall dwell there, And satyrs shall dance there.
22 Fisi watalia kwenye ngome yao, na mbeha katika maeneo yao mazuri. Mda wao umekaribia, na siku zao hazitachelewa.
Wolves shall howl in their palaces, And jackals in their pleasant edifices. Her time is near, And her days shall not be prolonged.
