Isaya 23
1 Tamko kuhusu Tiro, Ombolezeni, enyi kondoo wa Tarishishi;
A message about Tyre. Howl, people on the ships of Tarshish! Tyre has been destroyed—nothing is left of the houses and the harbor. They heard the news from the people of Cyprus.
2 maana hakuna nyumba wala bandari; kutoka katika nchi ya Kyprusi wamefunuliwa hilo.
Stay shocked into silence, people of the coastlands, merchants of Sidon, and sailors.
3 Na juu ya maji mengi ni nafaka za shiho, mazao ya Nile, na uzalishaji wao; mlikuwa wafanya biashara wa kimataifa.
Egyptian grain came across the wide oceans. The Nile's harvest was what made Tyre money; she was the merchant to the nations.
4 Kuwa na aibu, Sidoni; maana bahari imenena, mkuu wa bahari. Amesema, ''Sijafanya kazi wala kuzaa wala kukuza vijana wadogo wala kuwalea mabinti.
Feel the shame, Sidon! For the fortress of the sea says, “I have no children, having never been in labor or given birth. I have not brought up young men or brought up young women.”
5 ''Pale taarifa ilipofika Misri, watauzunika kuhusu Tire.
When the news about Tyre reaches Egypt they will be in agony.
6 Katiza juu ya Tarshishi; Ole wenu, enyi wakazi wa pwani.
Sail across to Tarshish! Howl, people of the coastlands!
7 Je hili limeshawahi kuwatokea, mji wenye furaha, ambao kwa asili yake umetoka katika kipindi cha kale. Ambapo miguu yake imempeleka mbali kuishi kwenye maeneo ya ugenini?
Is this really your triumphant city, whose beginnings are from the distant past, who has sent out people to colonize faraway places?
8 Ni nani aliyepanga haya dhidi ya Tire, mtoa mataji, ambao wafanyabiashara wake ni wakuu, ambao wafanyabiashara ni watu wa kuheshimika duniani?
Who planned this attack on Tyre? Tyre, who created kingdoms, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were honored around the world!
9 Yahwe wa majeshi amepanga kuharibu kiburi chake na utukufu wake, na kuwahaibisha waheshimiwa wote wa dunia.
The Lord Almighty planned it, to humble its pride in all its glory, and to bring down all who receive worldly honor.
10 Lima katika shamba lako, kama mtu alimavyo Nile, ewe binti Tarishishi. Maana hakuna tena eneo la soko huko Tite.
Work your land, people of Tarshish, as they do beside the Nile, for you don't have a harbor anymore.
11 Yahwe amenyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari, na ametingisha falme; na amepewa amri juu ya Fonensia, kuziharibu ngome.
The Lord held his hand out over the sea and shook kingdoms. He has condemned Phoenicia, giving the order to destroy their fortresses.
12 Amesema, ''Hamtofurahia tena, binti bikira wa Sidoni uliyenyanyasika; nyanyuka, pitia Kyprusi; lakini wala hapatakuwa na punziko.''
He said, “Don't celebrate any more, mistreated virgin daughter of Sidon. Go and sail over to Cyprus—however, even there you won't find rest.”
13 Tazama nchi ya Wakaldayo. Hawa watu wamesitisha kuishi pale; Waasiria wamelifanya jangwa la wanyama pori. Wameizingira minara; wameliharibu eneo lao; wamelifanya kuwa chungu cha uharibifu.
Look at the country of the Babylonians, this people that are not as they used to be! The Assyrians have turned it into a place for desert animals. They set up their siege towers, they demolished the fortresses, and ruined the country.
14 Omboleza ewe kondoo wa Tarishishi; maana kimbilio lako limeharibiwa.
Howl, people on the ships of Tarshish because your fortress is destroyed!
15 Katika siku hiyo, Tire itasaulika kwa miaka sabini, kama siku za mfalme. Baada ya miaka sabini kuisha huko Tire kutatokea kitu kama wimbo wa malaya.
At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, a king's lifetime, as it were. But at the end of these seventy years, Tyre will be like the song about a prostitute,
16 Chukua kinubi, nenda zunguka mji, mmewasahau malaya; cheza kinubi vizuri, imba nyimbo nyingi, ili uweze kukumbuka.
“Take a lyre and walk around the city, forgotten prostitute! Play and sing so people will remember you!”
17 Itatokea baada ya miaka sabini, Yahwe ataisaidia Tire, na wataanza kututafuta pesa tena kwa kufanya kazi ya umalaya, na atafanya utumishi wake katika falme za dunia.
After seventy years, the Lord will restore Tyre. But then she will go back to hiring herself out as a prostitute, selling herself to all the kingdoms of the world.
18 Faida yake na mapato yake yatatengwa kwa ajili ya Yahwe. Hayatahifadhiwa wala hayatakuwa na hazina, maana faida yao watapewa wale wanoishi mdhebauni mwa Yahwe na yatatumika kuwasambazia chakula cha kutosha na kupata mavazi yenye viwango bora.
However, her profits and what she earns will consecrated to the Lord. They won't be kept or saved up, for her business earnings will go to those who worship the Lord, to provide them with plenty of food and good clothes.
