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!
Woe to the crown of pride, of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious ornament, which is on the eminence of the fat valley of those who are struck down 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.
Behold, [it cometh] mighty and strong from the Lord, as a tempest of hail, a storm of destruction; as a tempest of mighty overflowing waters, will he cast it down to the earth with force.
3 Taji ya kiburi ya walevi wa Efraimu lililoko chini ya paa.
Under feet shall be trodden the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim:
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.
And the fading flower of his glorious ornament, which is on the eminence of the fat valley, shall be as its early ripe fruit before the summer; which one, when he just seeth it, while it is scarcely in his hand, hastily devoureth.
5 Katika siku hiyo Yahwe wa majeshi atakuwa taji nzuri na taji ya uzuri kwa watu wake waliobakia,
On that day will the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
6 roho ya haki kwa yeye aliyekaa katika hukumu, nguvu kwa wale waliobadilisha adui zao katika malango yao.
And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to those that drive back the battle to the gate [of the enemy].
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 also are now stumbling through wine, and reeling through strong drink: priest and prophet are stumbling through strong drink, they are overpowered with wine, they reel through strong drink; they stumble in [divine] vision, they are unsteady in giving judgment.
8 Hakika, meza zote zimejaa matapishi. Hivyo basi hakuna sehemu iliyosafi.
For all tables are full of vomit of filthiness, there is no place [clean].
9 Ni nani atakaye tufundisha maarifa, na nani atayetuelezea ujumbe? Kwa walioachishwa maziwa au kwa wanonyonya?
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he give to understand doctrine? those that are weaned from the milk, those that are taken from the breasts.
10 Maana ni amri juu ya amri, utawala juu ya utawala; na hapa kidogo na pale kidogo.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.
11 Kweli, kwa mdomo wa dharau na lugha za kigeni atazungumza na watu wake.
For [as] with stammering lips and a foreign tongue will he speak to this people;
12 Wakati uliopita aliwambia, '''Hawa ni wengine, wape punziko walio choka; maana huku ni kujifurahisha,'' lakini hawakusikiliza.
When he said unto them, This is the rest, cause ye the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing; but they would not hear.
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 shall be unto them the word of the Lord, precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; in order that they may go, and stumble backward, and be broken, and snared, and caught.
14 Hivyo basi sikiliza neno la Yahwe, yeyote afaanyae maskhara, wewe unaowaongoza watu hawa ambao wako Yerusalemu.
Therefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, who rule this people that is 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)
Because ye have said, “We have entered into a covenant with death, and with the nether world have we made an agreement; the overflowing scourge, when it passeth by, shall not come at us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we sought a hiding-place.” (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.
Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I have laid in Zion as a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a costly corner-stone, well founded: he that believeth will not make haste.
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.
And I will make of justice a measuring line, and of righteousness a plummet: and the hail shall sweep off the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place against the waters shall these flood away.
18 Agano lako na kifo litafutwa, na makubaliano yako na kuzimu hayatasimama. Pindi mafuriko makali yatapta, yatawazomba njie. (Sheol h7585)
And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with the nether world shall not have permanence; the overflowing scourge, when it passeth by—then shall ye be trodden down by it. (Sheol h7585)
19 Maana pindi yatakopita, yatawazomba nyie yatapita asubuhi na asubuhi, na yatapita tena mchana na usiku utafika. Pale ujumbe utakapofika utasababisha hofu.
As often as it passeth by shall it take you; for morning by morning shall it pass by, by day and by night; and the mere understanding of the report shall cause terror.
20 Maana kitanda ni kifupi kwa mtu kunyoosha mkono wake nje, na blangeti ni jembamba kwa yeye kujizungushia ndani''
For the bed shall be too short for [a man] to stretch himself out [on it]: and the covering too narrow to wrap himself in.
21 Yahwe atanyanyuka kama mlima Perazimu; Atawahimiza yeye mwenye kufanya kazi yake katika bonde la Gibeoni, kazi ya ajabu, na kufanya matendo ya ajabu.
For as on mount Perazim will the Lord rise up, as in the valley of Gib'on will he be wroth, that he may do his work, his singular work; and to accomplish his labor, his strange labor.
22 Hivyo sasa msifanye maskhara, dhamana yako itakazwa, Nimesikia kutoka kwa Bwana, Yahwe wa majeshi, amri ya kuiharibu nchi.
And now be ye no longer scornful, lest your bonds be made strong; for as completed and fully decreed have I heard it from the Lord Eternal of hosts over all the earth.
23 Kuwa tayari na sikiliza saut yangu; kuwa makini na sikiliza maneno yangu.
Give ye ear, and hear my voice; listen, and hear my speech.
24 Je mkulima anayelima siku zote kwa ajili ya kupanda, analima tu kwenye aridhi? Je anaendelea kulima shamba lake pasipo kupanda?
Doth the ploughman plough all the time to sow? doth he open and harrow his ground [continually]?
25 Pindi anapolindaa shamba lake, Je hatawanji jira ya mbegu, anapanda jira, anaweka ngano katika mstari, shairi katika mahali pake, na yameandikw sehemu mbili?
Is it not so? that, when he hath made level its surface he scattereth fennel, and streweth about cumin, and planteth the wheat in rows, and barley on its assigned [place], and millet on its proper spot?
26 Mungu wake amemuelekeza; anamfuundisha yeye kwa busara.
For his God instructed him rightly, taught him [so 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.
Truly not with a threshing instrument is fennel threshed, and a wagon-wheel is not turned about upon cumin; but fennel is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a stick.
28 Nafaka ni mwanzo mkate lakini ni laini sana, japo gurudumu la gari lake na farasi wamezitawanya, na farasi wake hawajaiponda ponda.
Bread-corn is crushed; but not for ever doth [man] keep threshing it; and though he drive over it the wheel of his wagon and his horses, he will not [thereby] crush it.
29 Haya yanatoka kwa Yahwe wa majeshi, yeye aliye mshauri wa ajabu na na mwenye ubara wa hekima.
This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts; wonderful is he in counsel, and excellent in [his] wise deeds.
