Isaya 21
1 Tamko kuhusu jangwa pembezoni mwa bahari. Kama dhuruba yenye upepo inayotokea kupita Negevi kuelekea jangwani, kutoka kwenye aridhi ya kutisha.
The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
2 Nimepewa maono ya kusikitisha: Wasaliti wamepanga hila, na waharibifu kuharibu. Nenda juu na uvamie, Elamu; zingira Media; Mimi nitasimamisha maumivu yao yote.
A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
3 Hivyo basi simba wangu wamejawa na maumivu; ni kama mwanamke anayejifungua kwa uchungu yamenipata mimi; Nimeina chini kwa kile nilichokisikia; nimesumbuliwa kwa kile nilichokiona.
For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.
4 Moyo wangu unajinga, nimetitishika kwa hofu. Mapema jioni, mda wangu mzuri kwa siku, imeniletea hofu.
My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
5 Wameandaa meza, wametawanya vitambaa, na wanakula na kunjwa; tokea, mkuu, pakeni ngao yenu kwa mafuta.
They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
6 Hiili ndilo Bwana aliloniambia, ''Nenda, baada ya mlinzi; lazima atoe taarifa kwa kile atakacho kiona.
For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
7 Kama ataona gari, jozi ya farasi, farasi juu ya punda na farasi juu ya ngamia, hivyo basi anatakiwa kuwa makini na kuwa macho.''
And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
8 Mlinzi analia nje, ''Bwana, ninasimama juu ya mnara siku zote, kila siku, na kwa nguzo yangu nitasimama usiku wote.''
And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
9 Tazama gari linakuja na wakiwa wawili wawili. anaita, ''Babeli umeanguka, umeanguka, na sanamu za kuchonga za miungu yao zimevunjika chini.''
See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
10 Watu wangu niliwapururu na kuwapepeta, watoto niliyewatoa kwenye sakafu yangu mwenyeweNilichokisikia kutoka kwa Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, Nimekutangazia wewe.
O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
11 Tamko kuhusu Duma. Mtu mmoja amenita mimi kutoka Seiri, ''Mlinzi, ni kitu gani kilichobakizwa usiku?
The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
12 Mlinzi akasema, ''Asubuhi itafika na vilevile usiku. Ikiwa unataka kuuliza basi uliza; na urudi tena.''
The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.
13 Tamko kuhusu Arabia. Katika jangwa la Arabia mmeutumia usiku, enyi misafara ya Dedanite.
The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
14 Leteni maji kwa wenye kiu; wenyeji wa nchi ya Tema, waoneni watuhumiwa kwa mikate.
Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
15 Maana wameukimbia upanga, kutoka upanga unaotolewa, kutoka kwenye upinde ulopinda, na kutokana na uzito wa vita.
For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
16 Maana hili ndilo Bwana alichosema na mimi, ''Ndani ya mwaka mmoja, kama mtu aliyeajiriwa kwa mwaka ataona, utukufu wa Kedari utakwisha.
For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
17 Ni baadhi ya ya wavuta upinde, mashujaa wa Kader watabakia,'' maana Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, amesema.
And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.
