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 proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, To the fading flower, his glorious beauty, At the head of the rich valley of a people stupefied with 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 a strong, a mighty one from the Lord Like a storm of hail, like a destructive tempest, Like a flood of mighty, overflowing waters, With violence shall dash it to the ground.
3 Taji ya kiburi ya walevi wa Efraimu lililoko chini ya paa.
It shall be trodden under foot, The proud crown 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, their glorious beauty, At the head of the rich valley, Shall be as the early fig before the time of harvest, Which whoso seeth plucketh immediately, And swalloweth as soon as it is in his hand.
5 Katika siku hiyo Yahwe wa majeshi atakuwa taji nzuri na taji ya uzuri kwa watu wake waliobakia,
In that day shall Jehovah of hosts Be a glorious crown, and a beautiful diadem to the residue of his people;
6 roho ya haki kwa yeye aliyekaa katika hukumu, nguvu kwa wale waliobadilisha adui zao katika malango yao.
A spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, And of strength to them that drive back the enemy to their gates.
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 even these stagger through wine, And reel through strong drink; The priest and the prophet stagger through strong drink; They are overpowered with wine; They stumble through strong drink; They reel in vision, They stagger in judgment.
8 Hakika, meza zote zimejaa matapishi. Hivyo basi hakuna sehemu iliyosafi.
For all their tables are full of filthy vomit, So that there is no place clean.
9 Ni nani atakaye tufundisha maarifa, na nani atayetuelezea ujumbe? Kwa walioachishwa maziwa au kwa wanonyonya?
“Whom,” say they, “will he teach knowledge, And to whom will he impart instruction? To the weaned from the milk? To those just taken from the breast?
10 Maana ni amri juu ya amri, utawala juu ya utawala; na hapa kidogo na pale kidogo.
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Command upon command, command upon command, A little here, and a little there.”
11 Kweli, kwa mdomo wa dharau na lugha za kigeni atazungumza na watu wake.
Yea, with stammering lips and a strange tongue He shall indeed speak to this people;
12 Wakati uliopita aliwambia, '''Hawa ni wengine, wape punziko walio choka; maana huku ni kujifurahisha,'' lakini hawakusikiliza.
He that said to them, “This is the way of rest, give rest to the weary; This is the way of safety”; 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.
Then shall the word of Jehovah be indeed to them “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Command upon command, command upon command, A little here, and a little there,” So that they shall go on, and fall backwards, and be broken, And be snared and caught.
14 Hivyo basi sikiliza neno la Yahwe, yeyote afaanyae maskhara, wewe unaowaongoza watu hawa ambao wako Yerusalemu.
Wherefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, Ye scoffers, who rule this 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)
Since ye say, “We have entered into a covenant with death, And with the under-world have we made an agreement, The overflowing scourge, when it passeth through, shall not reach us; For we have made falsehood our refuge, And in deceit we have hidden ourselves.” (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 saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have laid in Zion as a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation; He that trusteth shall not flee away.
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 a line, And righteousness a plummet, And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of falsehood, And the waters shall overwhelm its hiding-place;
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 broken, And your agreement with the under-world shall not stand; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, By it shall ye be beaten down. (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 through, it shall bear you away; For every morning shall it pass through, By day and by night; Even to hear the rumor of it shall be terrible.
20 Maana kitanda ni kifupi kwa mtu kunyoosha mkono wake nje, na blangeti ni jembamba kwa yeye kujizungushia ndani''
Yea, the bed is too short for one to stretch himself on it, And the covering too narrow for one to wrap himself in it.
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 Jehovah will rise up, as in mount Perazim; He will be moved with anger, as in the valley of Gibeon, To perform his act, his strange act, And to execute his work, his strange work.
22 Hivyo sasa msifanye maskhara, dhamana yako itakazwa, Nimesikia kutoka kwa Bwana, Yahwe wa majeshi, amri ya kuiharibu nchi.
Now, therefore, be ye no longer scoffers, Lest your bands become stronger; For destruction and punishment have been revealed to me From Jehovah of hosts concerning the whole land!
23 Kuwa tayari na sikiliza saut yangu; kuwa makini na sikiliza maneno yangu.
Give ear, and listen to my voice, Attend, and hearken to my words!
24 Je mkulima anayelima siku zote kwa ajili ya kupanda, analima tu kwenye aridhi? Je anaendelea kulima shamba lake pasipo kupanda?
Is the ploughman always ploughing in order to sow? Is he always opening and harrowing his field?
25 Pindi anapolindaa shamba lake, Je hatawanji jira ya mbegu, anapanda jira, anaweka ngano katika mstari, shairi katika mahali pake, na yameandikw sehemu mbili?
When he hath made the face thereof even, Doth he not then scatter the dill, and cast abroad the cumin, And sow the wheat in rows, And the barley in its appointed place, And the spelt in his border?
26 Mungu wake amemuelekeza; anamfuundisha yeye kwa busara.
Thus his God rightly instructeth him, And giveth him knowledge.
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.
The dill is not beaten out with the thrashing-sledge, Nor is the wheel of the wain rolled over the cumin; But the dill is beaten out with a staff, And the cumin with a rod.
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 beaten out, Yet doth not the husbandman thrash it without limit. He driveth over it the wheels of the wain, And the horses, yet doth he not utterly crush it.
29 Haya yanatoka kwa Yahwe wa majeshi, yeye aliye mshauri wa ajabu na na mwenye ubara wa hekima.
This also proceedeth from Jehovah of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel, Excellent in wisdom.
