Isaya 21
1 Tamko kuhusu jangwa pembezoni mwa bahari. Kama dhuruba yenye upepo inayotokea kupita Negevi kuelekea jangwani, kutoka kwenye aridhi ya kutisha.
The oracle of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negev sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.
2 Nimepewa maono ya kusikitisha: Wasaliti wamepanga hila, na waharibifu kuharibu. Nenda juu na uvamie, Elamu; zingira Media; Mimi nitasimamisha maumivu yao yote.
A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack. I have stopped all of Media's sighing.
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.
Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have taken hold on me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can't hear. I so am dismayed that I can't see.
4 Moyo wangu unajinga, nimetitishika kwa hofu. Mapema jioni, mda wangu mzuri kwa siku, imeniletea hofu.
My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.
5 Wameandaa meza, wametawanya vitambaa, na wanakula na kunjwa; tokea, mkuu, pakeni ngao yenu kwa mafuta.
They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield.
6 Hiili ndilo Bwana aliloniambia, ''Nenda, baada ya mlinzi; lazima atoe taarifa kwa kile atakacho kiona.
For the LORD said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare 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.''
When he sees chariots, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."
8 Mlinzi analia nje, ''Bwana, ninasimama juu ya mnara siku zote, kila siku, na kwa nguzo yangu nitasimama usiku wote.''
Then the lookout shouted: "Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.
9 Tazama gari linakuja na wakiwa wawili wawili. anaita, ''Babeli umeanguka, umeanguka, na sanamu za kuchonga za miungu yao zimevunjika chini.''
Look, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs." He answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.
10 Watu wangu niliwapururu na kuwapepeta, watoto niliyewatoa kwenye sakafu yangu mwenyeweNilichokisikia kutoka kwa Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, Nimekutangazia wewe.
You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor." That which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11 Tamko kuhusu Duma. Mtu mmoja amenita mimi kutoka Seiri, ''Mlinzi, ni kitu gani kilichobakizwa usiku?
The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"
12 Mlinzi akasema, ''Asubuhi itafika na vilevile usiku. Ikiwa unataka kuuliza basi uliza; na urudi tena.''
The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again."
13 Tamko kuhusu Arabia. Katika jangwa la Arabia mmeutumia usiku, enyi misafara ya Dedanite.
The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
14 Leteni maji kwa wenye kiu; wenyeji wa nchi ya Tema, waoneni watuhumiwa kwa mikate.
They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.
15 Maana wameukimbia upanga, kutoka upanga unaotolewa, kutoka kwenye upinde ulopinda, na kutokana na uzito wa vita.
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
16 Maana hili ndilo Bwana alichosema na mimi, ''Ndani ya mwaka mmoja, kama mtu aliyeajiriwa kwa mwaka ataona, utukufu wa Kedari utakwisha.
For the LORD said to me, "Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, the glory of Kedar will fail,
17 Ni baadhi ya ya wavuta upinde, mashujaa wa Kader watabakia,'' maana Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, amesema.
and the residue of the number of the archers, the warriors of the people of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken it."
