< Isaya 43 >
1 Lakini sasa haya ndio Yahwe asemayo, yeye aliyekuumba ewe, Yakobo, na yeye aliyekuumba ewe, Israeli: ''Usiogope, kwa maana nimekukomboa wewe; nmeikuita kwa jina lako, wewe ni wangu.
But now thus says the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: "Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.
2 Utakapopita katika maji, Nitakuwa pamoja na wewe; na katika mito, hayatakuzuru wewe. Utakapotembea katika moto hautaungua, na moto hautakuharibu wewe.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not scorch you.
3 Maana mimi Yahwe Mungu wako, Mtakatifu wa Israeli Mkombozi wenu. Nimewapa Misri kama fidia yenu, Ethiopia na Seba watabadilishana kwako.
For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Kwa maana ulikuwa wa thamani na maalumu katika macho yangu, Ninakupenda; kwa sababu hiyo Nitatoa watu kwa ajili yako, na watu wengine kwa ajili ya maisha yako.
Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you; therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.
5 Usiogope, maana Mimi niko pamoja na wewe; Nitawarudisha watoto wako kutoka mashariki, na kuwakusanya nyie kutoka magharibi.
Do not be afraid; for I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west.
6 Nitasema na kaskazini, 'Wakabidhini wao; na kwa kusini, Usiangalie ya nyuma; Leteni vijana wangu kutoka mbali na binti zangu kutoka vijiji vya mikoani katika nchi,
I will tell the north, 'Give them up.' and tell the south, 'Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the farthest parts of the earth—
7 yeyote aitwe kw jina langu, niliyemuumba kwa utukufu wangu mwenyewe, Niliyemuumba, ndio, Mimi niliyemfanya.
everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.'"
8 Waleteni nje watu ambao ni vipofu, hata kama wana macho, na viziwi, hata kama wana masikio.
Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.
9 Mataifa yote yatakusanyika kwa pamoja na watu watakusanyika. Ni nani miongoni mwenu atakaye tamka na kutangaza kutumia mambo ya mwanzo? Waache walete mashahidi kuwashuhudia wao kama wako sahihi, waache wasikilize na kuthibitisha, 'kama ni kweli'.
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, "That is true."
10 Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu, ametangaza Yahwe, ''na watumishi wangu niliowachagua, ili uweze kujua na kuniamini mimi, na kuelewa kwamba mimi ndiye. Kabla yangu hapana mungu mwingine aliyeumbwa, na wala hatatoke baada yangu.
"You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.
11 Mimi, Mimi Yahwe, na hakuna Mkombozi zaidi yangu.
I, I am the LORD; and besides me there is no savior.
12 Nimetangaza, nimeokoa, na kutangaza, na hakuna Mungu mwingine miongoni mwenu, Ninyi ni mashahidi wangu asema Yahwe, ''Mimi ni Mungu.
I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses," says the LORD, "and I am God.
13 Kuanzia leo na kuendelea mimi ndiye, na hakuna hata mmoja atakayewakomboa kwenye mkono wangu. Nitafanya, na nani awezae kunizuia?''
Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?"
14 Yahwe asema hivi, Mkombozi wenu, yeye Mtakatifu wa Israeli: ''Kwa niaba yenu nimemtuma mjumbe kwenda Babeli na kuwaongoza wao wote chini kama watuhumiwa, kubadilisha kelele za furaha za watu wa Babeli' kuwa wimbo wa maombolezo.
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
15 Mimi ni Yahwe, niliye Mtakatifu, Muumbaji wa Israeli, Mfalme wenu.
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."
16 Yahwe asema hivi, Ni nani aliyefungua njia katika bahari, na njia katika maji yenye nguvu,
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17 ni nani anayeongoza gari na farasi, majeshi na jeshi kuu. Walianguka chini kwa pamoja; hawakunyanyuka tena; wamezimwa, kama utambi unaoungua.
who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick):
18 Msifikirie hayo mambo yaliyopita, wala kuyafikiria mambo ya zamani.
"Do not remember the former things, and do not consider the things of old.
19 Tazama ninakaribia kufanya mambo mapya; sasa yanakaribia kutokea; Je humyajui haya? Nitafanya njia jangani na na mikondo ya maji katika jangwa
Look, I will do a new thing. It springs forth now. Do you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20 Wanyama pori wa shambani wataniheshimu mimi, Mbweha na mbuni, kwa sababu ninatoa maji jangwani, na mito jangwani, ili watu wangu niliowachuga wapate kunjwa,
The animals of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 Watu hawa niliowaumba mwenyewe, kwamba wahesabu tena sifa zangu.
the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.
22 Lakini hamjanita mimi, Yakobo; umechoka na mimi, Israeli.
Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.
23 Haujaniletea hata kondoo wako kama sadaka ya kuteketeza; na wala haujaniheshimu mimi kwa sadaka yako Sijakutumisha wewe kwa sadaka ya mazao, wala sijawachosha kwa sadaka yenu ya ubani.
You have not brought me of your sheep for burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
24 Hamkuninunulia mimi manukato mazuri kwa fedha, hakumwagia mimi mafuta ya sadaka zenu; Lakini mnanichosha mimi na dhambi zenu na mnanichosha mimi kwa matendo yenu mabaya.
You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities.
25 Mimi, ndio, Mimi, ndiye niliyafaye maovu yenu kwa niaba yangu mmi mwenyewe; na Sitawaita na kuwakumbusha dhambi zenu tena.
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
26 Nikumbusheni mimi kilichotokea. Njooni tusemezane pamoja; leta hoja zako, ili kusudi uthibitishe kuwa hauna hatia.
Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified.
27 Baba yako wa kwanza alitenda dhambi, na viongozi wenu walitenda dhambi dhidi yangu.
Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28 Hivyo basi Nitawatia unajisi viongozi watakatifu; Nitamkabidhi Yakobo kuwaharibu kabisa, na Israeli kulaani udhalilishaji.
Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling."