Isaya 38
1 Siku zile Hezekia alikuwa anaumwa karibia na kufa. Hivyo Isaya mtoto wa Amozi, nabii alikuja kwake na kumwambia, ''Yahwe amesema, 'panga mambo yako maana utakufa, hautaishi.'
In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. So Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, 'Set your house in order; for you will die, not live.'”
2 'Halafu Hezekia akaugeukia ukuta na akamuomba Yahwe.
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh.
3 Na akasema, ''samahani Yahwe, kumbuka jinsi nilivyoenenda kwa uaminifu mbele zako kwa moyo wangu wote, na jinsi nilivyofanya matendo mema katika macho yako.'' Na Hezekia akalia kwa sauti.
He said, “Please, Yahweh, call to mind how I have faithfully walked before you with my whole heart, and how I have done what was good in your sight.” Then Hezekiah wept loudly.
4 Basi neno la Yawe likamjia Isaya, na kusema,
Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying,
5 ''Nenda ukamwambie Hezekia, kiongozi wa watu wangu, ''Hivi ndivyo Yahwe, Mungu wa Daudi babu yenu, amesema: Nimeyasikiliza maombi yako, na nimeyaona machozi yako. Ona ninakaribia kuongeza miaka kumi na tano katika maisha yako.
“Go and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor, says: I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. See, I am about to add fifteen years to your life.
6 Na nitakukomboa wewe pamoja mji huu kutoka kwenye mkono wamfalme wa Asiria, na nitaulinda huu mji.
Then I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
7 Na hii itakuwa alama kwako kutoka kwangu, Yahwe, kwamba nitafanya nilichokisema:
This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that I will do what I have promised.
8 Angalia, nitasababisha kimvuli katika nyumba ya Ahazi kwenda nyuma hautua kumi.'' hivvyo basi kivuli kilirudi nyuma hatua kumi juu ya nyumba iliyopanda juu.
Look, I will cause the shadow on the stairs of Ahaz to go back ten steps.'” So the shadow went back ten steps of the stairs on which it had advanced.
9 Haya ndiyo maandishi ya maombi ya Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda, alipokuwa anaumwa halafu akapona:
This was the written prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and then recovered:
10 ''Nimesema kwamba nusu ya maisha yangu nitapita katika mlango wa kuzimu; Nilitumwa pale miaka yangu yote. (Sheol h7585)
“I said that halfway through my life I will go through the gates of Sheol; I am sent there for the rest of my years. (Sheol h7585)
11 Nikasema sitamuona tena Yahwe, Yahwe kaika nchi ninayoishi; sitaangalia watu tena au wenyeji wa dunia hii.
I said that I will no longer see Yahweh, Yahweh in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind or the inhabitants of the world.
12 Maisha yangu yameondolea na kupelekwa mbali na mimi kama hema la mchungaji; Niliyakunja maisha yangu juu kama mfumaji; ameniondoa katika kifungo; kati ya mchana na usiku ameyakomesha maisha yangu.
My life is removed and carried away from me like a shepherd's tent; I have rolled up my life like a weaver; you are cutting me off from the loom; between day and night you are ending my life.
13 Nililia mpaka asubuhi; kama simba anaivunja mifupa yangu. Kati ya usiku na mchana ameyakomesha maisha yangu.
I cried out until the morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones. Between day and night you are ending my life.
14 Kama mbayuwayu ndivyo nilivyolia; nililia kama njiwa; macho yangu yalichoka kuangalia juu. Bwana ninateseka; nisaidie mimi.
Like a swallow I chirp; I coo like a dove; my eyes grow tired with looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; help me.
15 Niseme nini? wote wameongea na mimi na amefanya hivyo; Nitatembea taratibu miaka yangu yote maana ninayashinda kwa huzuni.
What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and has done it; I will walk slowly all my years because I am overcome with grief.
16 Bwana, mateso uliyoyatuma ni mazuri kwangu; ikiwezekana nirudishiwe tena maisha yangu; umeyahifadhi maisha maisha yangu na afya yangu.
Lord, the sufferings you send are good for me; may my life be given back to me; you have restored my life and health.
17 Ni kwa faida yangu kwamba nimwpitia huzuni kama hii. Umenikomboa kutoka kwenye shimo la uharibifu; maana umetupa dhambi zangu nyuma yako.
It was for my benefit that I experienced such grief. You have rescued me from the pit of destruction; for you have thrown all my sins behind your back.
18 Maana kuzimu hapata kushukuru wewe; kifo hakikusifu wewe; wale wote waendao ndani ya shimo hawana matumaini ya uaminifu wako. (Sheol h7585)
For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down into the pit do not hope in your trustworthiness. (Sheol h7585)
19 Mtu anayeishi, mtu anayeishi, ndiye anayekushukuru wewe, kama ninavyofanya leo; baba atawjulisha watoto uaminifu wako.
The living person, the living person, he is the one who gives you thanks, as I do this day; a father makes known to children your trustworthiness.
20 Yahwe anakarbia kunikomboa mimi, na tutasherekea kwa mziki siku zote za maisha yetu katika nyumba ya Yahwe.''
Yahweh is about to save me, and we will celebrate with music all the days of our lives in the house of Yahweh.”
21 Sasa Isaya alisema, ''Waacheni wachukue donge mitini na kuliweka kweye jipu naye atapona.
Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs and put it on the boil, and he will recover.”
22 ''Hezekia pia alisema, ''Je ni ishara gan ya kwamba nitaiende juu katika nyumba ya Yahwe?''
Hezekiah also had said, “What will be the sign that I should go up to the house of Yahweh?”
