Isaya 21
1 Tamko kuhusu jangwa pembezoni mwa bahari. Kama dhuruba yenye upepo inayotokea kupita Negevi kuelekea jangwani, kutoka kwenye aridhi ya kutisha.
[I received] this message [from Yahweh about Babylonia], [a land that is] near the [Persian] Gulf [but which will soon be] a desert. [An army] will soon come from the desert to invade that land; it is an army that causes its enemies to be terrified, an army that will come like a whirlwind from the south.
2 Nimepewa maono ya kusikitisha: Wasaliti wamepanga hila, na waharibifu kuharibu. Nenda juu na uvamie, Elamu; zingira Media; Mimi nitasimamisha maumivu yao yote.
Yahweh showed me a terrifying vision. [In the vision I saw an army] that will betray/deceive people and steal their possessions [after they conquer them]. [Yahweh said], “You armies from Elam and Media, surround [Babylon] and prepare to attack it! I will cause the groaning [and suffering] that Babylon caused to cease!”
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.
Because of that, my body is full of pain; my pain is like the pain that women who are giving birth experience. When I hear about and see [what God is planning to do], I am shocked.
4 Moyo wangu unajinga, nimetitishika kwa hofu. Mapema jioni, mda wangu mzuri kwa siku, imeniletea hofu.
I cannot think straight/correctly, and I tremble. I was eager for it to be nighttime, but now it is night, and I am horrified.
5 Wameandaa meza, wametawanya vitambaa, na wanakula na kunjwa; tokea, mkuu, pakeni ngao yenu kwa mafuta.
[In the vision I saw that the leaders of Babylonia] were preparing a great feast. They had spread rugs [for people to sit on]; everyone was eating and drinking. [But] they should get up and prepare their shields, [because they are about to be attacked]!
6 Hiili ndilo Bwana aliloniambia, ''Nenda, baada ya mlinzi; lazima atoe taarifa kwa kile atakacho kiona.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim 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.''
Tell him to watch for chariots pulled by pairs of horses, and [men riding] camels and donkeys, [coming from Babylon]. Tell the watchman to watch and listen carefully!”
8 Mlinzi analia nje, ''Bwana, ninasimama juu ya mnara siku zote, kila siku, na kwa nguzo yangu nitasimama usiku wote.''
[So I did that], and one day the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on this watchtower, and I have continued to watch during the day and during the night.
9 Tazama gari linakuja na wakiwa wawili wawili. anaita, ''Babeli umeanguka, umeanguka, na sanamu za kuchonga za miungu yao zimevunjika chini.''
Now, I saw a man riding in a chariot pulled by two horses. [I called out to him], and he answered/shouted, ‘Babylon has been destroyed! All the idols in Babylon lie in pieces on the ground!’”
10 Watu wangu niliwapururu na kuwapepeta, watoto niliyewatoa kwenye sakafu yangu mwenyeweNilichokisikia kutoka kwa Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, Nimekutangazia wewe.
My people [in Judah], [the army of Babylon has caused] you to suffer greatly [as though] [MET] you were grain that was threshed and (winnowed/thrown up into the air for the wind to blow away the chaff). [But now] I have told you what the Commander of the armies of angels the God whom we Israelis [worship], told me [about Babylon].
11 Tamko kuhusu Duma. Mtu mmoja amenita mimi kutoka Seiri, ''Mlinzi, ni kitu gani kilichobakizwa usiku?
[I received] this message [from Yahweh] about Edom: Someone from Edom has been calling/shouting to me saying, “Watchman, how long will it be before the night is ended? [DOU]”
12 Mlinzi akasema, ''Asubuhi itafika na vilevile usiku. Ikiwa unataka kuuliza basi uliza; na urudi tena.''
[I], the watchman, replied, “It will [soon] be morning, but after that, it will [soon] be night again. If you want to inquire [again about what will happen in our country], come back and inquire again.”
13 Tamko kuhusu Arabia. Katika jangwa la Arabia mmeutumia usiku, enyi misafara ya Dedanite.
[I received] this message about Arabia: Give this message to people traveling in caravans from Dedan [town in northwest Arabia], who camp in the scrub there. Tell them to bring water for those who are thirsty.
14 Leteni maji kwa wenye kiu; wenyeji wa nchi ya Tema, waoneni watuhumiwa kwa mikate.
And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).
15 Maana wameukimbia upanga, kutoka upanga unaotolewa, kutoka kwenye upinde ulopinda, na kutokana na uzito wa vita.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Maana hili ndilo Bwana alichosema na mimi, ''Ndani ya mwaka mmoja, kama mtu aliyeajiriwa kwa mwaka ataona, utukufu wa Kedari utakwisha.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Ni baadhi ya ya wavuta upinde, mashujaa wa Kader watabakia,'' maana Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, amesema.
Only a few of their soldiers who know well how to shoot arrows will remain alive. [That will surely happen] because [I], Yahweh, have said it.”
