Isaya 28
1 Ole kwa taji la kiburi ambalo huvaliwa na kila mlevi wa Efraimu, na ua linalofifia la utukufu wa uzuri wake, ua lililowekwa kichwani mwa bonde linalostawi na hao wanoshindwa na nvinyo!
Tragedy is coming to the city of Samaria, the crowning glory of Ephraim's drunks, to the fading flower of wonderful beauty, sitting above a fertile valley, and beloved by those hammered by wine.
2 Tazama Bwana anamtuma aliye hodari na nguvu; kama dhoruba ya mvua ya mawe na upepo mkali unaoharibu, na atatupa kila taji la ua chini kwenye aridhi.
Watch out, for the Lord has someone who is strong and powerful! He is going to smash it to the ground like a hailstorm and a tornado, like a torrential rain and an overwhelming flood.
3 Taji ya kiburi ya walevi wa Efraimu lililoko chini ya paa.
That crowning glory of Ephraim's drunks will be trampled underfoot.
4 Ua lililofifia la utukufu wa uzuri wake, juu ya kichwa cha bonde la utajiri, itakuwa kama tunda lililoiva mtini kabla ya maji yake, kwamba, wakati mtu anapoliona tunda, wakati likiwa bado mikononi mwake, analigugumia chini.
That fading flower of wonderful beauty, sitting above a fertile valley, will be like figs ripe before the summer harvest—as soon as people discover them, they grab and eat them.
5 Katika siku hiyo Yahwe wa majeshi atakuwa taji nzuri na taji ya uzuri kwa watu wake waliobakia,
At that time the Lord Almighty will be a beautiful, glorious crown that brings pride to those of his people who are left.
6 roho ya haki kwa yeye aliyekaa katika hukumu, nguvu kwa wale waliobadilisha adui zao katika malango yao.
He will be an inspiration to the judges to do what's right, and he will encourage those who fight off the attacks on the gate.
7 Lakini wale wanaoyumbayumba kwa ajili ya mvinyo, na wanojikongoja kwa ajili ya pombe kali. Kuhani na nabii watayumbayuma kwa ajili ya pombe kali, na watamezwa na mvinjo. Watajikongoja kwa ajili ya pombe kali, Kujikongoja katika maono na kuyumbayuma katika maamuzi.
But these people also drink so much wine and beer that they sway from side to side and stumble over. Even priests and prophets stagger along, their minds muddled by beer and wine. Because of the drink they are confused about visions and make mistakes when they give decisions.
8 Hakika, meza zote zimejaa matapishi. Hivyo basi hakuna sehemu iliyosafi.
All their tables are full of vomit—filth is everywhere.
9 Ni nani atakaye tufundisha maarifa, na nani atayetuelezea ujumbe? Kwa walioachishwa maziwa au kwa wanonyonya?
“Just who is he trying to teach knowledge to?” they ask. “Who is he explaining his message to? To children just weaned from milk, to babies just removed from the breast?
10 Maana ni amri juu ya amri, utawala juu ya utawala; na hapa kidogo na pale kidogo.
He tells us this blah and that blah, blah upon blah, and again blah and blah, and even more blah and blah! It's a bit here and a bit there.”
11 Kweli, kwa mdomo wa dharau na lugha za kigeni atazungumza na watu wake.
Fine—so now the Lord will talk to this people in foreign languages that sound strange to them!
12 Wakati uliopita aliwambia, '''Hawa ni wengine, wape punziko walio choka; maana huku ni kujifurahisha,'' lakini hawakusikiliza.
He had told them, “You can rest here. Let those who are tired rest. This is the place where you can safely relax.” But they refused to listen.
13 Hivyo basi neno la Yahwe litakuwa kwao amri juu ya amri, amri juu ya amri, utawala juu ya utawala; na kidogo hapa na kidogo pale, ili waende na kuanguka nyuma, na kuvunjwa, kutegwa, na kukamatwa.
Therefore the Lord's message to them will become, “This blah and that blah, blah upon blah, and again blah and blah, and even more blah and blah, a bit here and a bit there,” so that they'll fall over backwards, and they'll be wounded, trapped, and captured.
14 Hivyo basi sikiliza neno la Yahwe, yeyote afaanyae maskhara, wewe unaowaongoza watu hawa ambao wako Yerusalemu.
So pay attention to the Lord's message, you scornful rulers who lead these people in Jerusalem.
15 Hii itatokea kwa sababu umesema, '' Tumefannya magano na kifo; maana kuzimu wameyafikia makubaliano. Hivyo basi hukumu itakapopitishwa kwa wingi, haitatufika sisi, maana tumefanya maneno ya uongo kuwa kimbilio letu, na uongo kuwa makazi yetu. (Sheol h7585)
You claim, “We've made an agreement with death; we've got a contract with the grave. When the terrible disaster rushes by, it won't affect us, because our lies protect us and we hide in our own deceptions.” (Sheol h7585)
16 Hivyo basi Bwana Yahwe asema hivi, ''Ona: Nitaiwekea Sayuni msingi wa mawe, jiwe la kujaribu, jiwe la pembeni lenye samani, msingi wa uhakika. Na yeyote atayeuamini ataaibika kamwe.
Consequently, listen to what the Lord God says, Look! I'm laying a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a strong, well-tested stone. It's a valuable cornerstone that provides a firm foundation. Anyone who trusts in it won't be shaken loose.
17 Nitafanya haki kuwa fimbo ya usawa, na kuwa haki pima maji. Atasafishia mbali kimbilio la waongo, na mafuriko yatajaa balaa katika mahali pa siri.
I will make justice as straight as a measuring line, and doing what's right the standard rule. Hail will destroy the protection of your lies, and water will flood the place where you're hiding.
18 Agano lako na kifo litafutwa, na makubaliano yako na kuzimu hayatasimama. Pindi mafuriko makali yatapta, yatawazomba njie. (Sheol h7585)
Your agreement with death will be canceled; your contract with the grave will be revoked. When the terrible disaster rushes by, it will trample you underfoot. (Sheol h7585)
19 Maana pindi yatakopita, yatawazomba nyie yatapita asubuhi na asubuhi, na yatapita tena mchana na usiku utafika. Pale ujumbe utakapofika utasababisha hofu.
It will rush by time after time, dragging you away morning upon morning, day and night, rushing on and on. Once you understand this message you will be absolutely terrified.
20 Maana kitanda ni kifupi kwa mtu kunyoosha mkono wake nje, na blangeti ni jembamba kwa yeye kujizungushia ndani''
The bed is too short so you can't stretch out; the blanket is too narrow so you can't cover yourself.
21 Yahwe atanyanyuka kama mlima Perazimu; Atawahimiza yeye mwenye kufanya kazi yake katika bonde la Gibeoni, kazi ya ajabu, na kufanya matendo ya ajabu.
The Lord will come on the attack like he did to the Philistines at Mount Perazim, like he shook them in the Valley of Gibeon, coming to do what he has to do, his strange work; coming to act as he must, his unusual action.
22 Hivyo sasa msifanye maskhara, dhamana yako itakazwa, Nimesikia kutoka kwa Bwana, Yahwe wa majeshi, amri ya kuiharibu nchi.
So don't mock, or your imprisonment will be even worse, for the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has explained to me his decision to destroy the whole country.
23 Kuwa tayari na sikiliza saut yangu; kuwa makini na sikiliza maneno yangu.
Listen to what I'm saying! Listen and pay attention! Hear what I have to say!
24 Je mkulima anayelima siku zote kwa ajili ya kupanda, analima tu kwenye aridhi? Je anaendelea kulima shamba lake pasipo kupanda?
Does the farmer spend all his time ploughing? Does he spend all his time preparing the soil?
25 Pindi anapolindaa shamba lake, Je hatawanji jira ya mbegu, anapanda jira, anaweka ngano katika mstari, shairi katika mahali pake, na yameandikw sehemu mbili?
Once he has everything ready doesn't he sow seeds like dill and cumin, doesn't he plant wheat and barley in rows, with spelt grain as a border?
26 Mungu wake amemuelekeza; anamfuundisha yeye kwa busara.
His God gives him instructions and teaches him the right thing to do.
27 Zaidi ya hayo, jira zile hazipuruliwi kwa chombo kikali; wala gurudumu la kukatia linalozunguka juu ya jira; lakini jira linapigwa kwa fimbo, na jira kwa fimbo.
You don't use a heavy tool to thresh dill! You don't use the wheel of a cart to thresh cumin! Instead you use a stick to beat out the dill, and a rod to beat out the cumin.
28 Nafaka ni mwanzo mkate lakini ni laini sana, japo gurudumu la gari lake na farasi wamezitawanya, na farasi wake hawajaiponda ponda.
Grain used for bread is easily damaged so you don't thresh it forever. When you drive your cart wheels over it with your horses, you don't crush it.
29 Haya yanatoka kwa Yahwe wa majeshi, yeye aliye mshauri wa ajabu na na mwenye ubara wa hekima.
This is also from the Lord Almighty who is very wise and gives great advice.
