Isaya 44
1 Sasa, sikiliza, Yakobo mtumishi wangu, na Isreli, Niliyekuchagua:
Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 Yahwe asema hivi, yeye aliyekufanya na kukuumba wewe katika tumbo na yeye aliye kusadia wewe: Usiogope, Yakobo mtumishi wangu; na wewe Yeshuruni, niliyekuchagua.
This is what the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: “Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 Maana nitashusha mvua kwenye aridhi yenye kiu, na mikondo ya maji kwenye ardhi kavu; Nitashusha roho yangu kwa watoto wako, na baraka zangu kwa watoto wako.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring;
4 Watakuwa miongoni mwa nyasi, kama mti pembeni ya mkondo wa maji.
and they will spring up amongst the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
5 Mmoja atasema, 'Mimi ni wa Yahwe; na mwingine ataita jina la Yakobo, na mwingine ataandika kwenye mkono wake 'Mimi ni wa Yahwe, na kujiita mwenyewe kwa jina la Israeli.''
One will say, ‘I am the LORD’s.’ Another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand ‘to the LORD,’ and honour the name of Israel.”
6 Yahwe asema hivi—Mfalme wa Israeli na Mkombozi wake, Yahwe wa majeshi: ''Mimi ni mwanzo na ni mwisho; na hakuna mungu ila mimi.
This is what the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of Armies, says: “I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
7 Ni nani aliye kama mimi? Na atangaze na anielezee matukio yaliyotokea tangu nilipoanzisha watu wangu wa kale, na waache watangaze matukio yajayo.
Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
8 Usiogope wala usifadhaike. Je si mimi niliyekutangazia toka zamani, na nikatangaza? ninyi ni mashaidi wangu: Je kuna Mungu mwingine zaidi yangu? Hakuna Mwamba mwingine zaidi yangu; Ninajua hakuna.''
Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”
9 Mitindo yote ya sanamu si kitu; vitu wanavyo vifurahia ndani havina maana; mashahidi wake hawawezi kuona au kujua chochote, na watapatwa katika aibu.
Everyone who makes a carved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.
10 Ni nani atengenezae miungu au sanamu zisizo na maana?
Who has fashioned a god, or moulds an image that is profitable for nothing?
11 Tazama, washirika wote watapatwa na aibu; mafundi ni watu tu. waache washikilie msimamao wao kwa pamoja; wataogopa na kuhaibishwa.
Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.
12 Mhunzi anafanya kazi kwa vyombo vyake, kutengeneza, kufanya kazi kwenye makaa ya mawe. Hurekebisha kwa kutumia nyundo na hufanya kazi kwa mkono wake wenye nguvu. Hupata njaa, na nguvu zake humuishia; Hajanywa maji na huzimia.
The blacksmith takes an axe, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.
13 Seremala hupima mbao kwa kamba na kuiweka alama kwa kitu kikali. Huichonga kwa vyombo vyake na kuweka alama kwa kutumia dira. Huichonga baada ya sanamu ya mtu, kama mtu anyevutia, ili iweze kukaa ndani ya nyumba.
The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
14 Huikata chini mierezi, huchagua miti ya miseprasi au miti ya mialoni. Huchukua mti yeye mwenyewe katika msitu. huotesha mvinje na mvua huifanya ikue.
He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one amongst the trees of the forest. He plants a cypress tree, and the rain nourishes it.
15 Basi mtu hutumia kwa moto na kujipatia joto. Ndio, huwasha moto kuwooka mkate. Halafu hutengeneza miungu ili ausujudie;
Then it will be for a man to burn; and he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he burns it and bakes bread. Yes, he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
16 Huchoma sehemu ya kuni kwa moto, na huchoma nyama yake juu yake. hula na kushiba. huota moto na kusema, ''Ah, Nimepata joto, nimeouna moto.''
He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”
17 Kwa kutumia mbao hutengeneza miungu, sanamu yake; huisujudu na kuhieshimu, huipa sifa na kusema, ''Niokoe mimi, maana wewe ni mungu wangu.''
The rest of it he makes into a god, even his engraved image. He bows down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
18 Hawajui, wala hawaelewi, maana macho yao yamepofuka na hawaoni, na mioyo yao haiwezi kufahamu.
They don’t know, neither do they consider, for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see, and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
19 Hakuna anayefikiria, wala kuelewa na kusema, ''Nimechoma sehemu ya mbao kwenye moto; na pia nimewooka mkate kwa kutumia makaa yake. Nimechoma nyama kwa makaa yake nikala. Sasa Je ninaweza kutengeneza kitu kinachochukiza kwa ajili ya kuabudia kwa sehemu ya mbao iliyobakia? Je ninaweza kusujudia sanamu ya mbao?''
No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burnt part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”
20 Ni kama anayejilisha majivu; moyo wke mdanganyifu unampoteza yeye. Huwezi kujiokoa mwenyewe, wala hawezi kusema, ''Hiki kitu katika mkono wangu wa kulia sio mungu wa kweli.''
He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
21 Fikiria kuhusu vitu hivi, Yakobo na Israeli, maana wewe ni mtumishi wangu: Nimekuumba wewe; wewe ni mtumishi wangu:
Remember these things, Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22 Nimeyafuta makosa yako, kama wingu zito, matendo yako mabaya, na wingu, ni kama dhambi zako; maana nimekukomboa wewe.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
23 Imba, enyi mbingu, maana Yahwe ameyafanya haya; piga kelele enyi mkaao katika nchi. Pazeni sauti enyi mlima milima, enyi misitu yenye miti ndani yake, ewe mlima, ewe msitu wenye kila aina ya mti ndani yak; Maana Yahwe amemkomboa Yakobo, na nitakuonyesha utukufu wake katika Israeli.
Sing, you heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
24 Yahwe asema hivi, Mkombozi wako, yeye aliyekuumba wewe kutoka tumboni: ''Mimi ni Yahwe, niliyefanya kila kitu, mimi mwenyewe nizinyooshae mbigu, mimi peke niitngenezae nchi.
The LORD, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: “I am the LORD, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
25 Mimi niliyezikata dalili za waongo na kuwaabisha wanaosoma dalili zake; Mimi niliyezigeuza busara za wenye hekima na kujeuza ushauri wao kuwa ujinga.
who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
26 Mimi, Yahwe, niliyethibitisha maneno ya mtumishi wake na kuutimiza utabiri wa mjumbe wake. Aliyezungumza kuhusu Yerusalemu, 'Atakuwa mwenyeji; na katika mji wa Yuda, 'Watatengeneza tena, na nitapatengeneza palipoharibika;
who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’
27 awezae kusema kwa bahari kubwa, 'Kauka,' na yanakauka mda huo.'
who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers,’
28 Yahwe ndiye amwambiye Koreshi, 'Ni mchungaji wangu, atafanya kila nilitakalo; atatoa amri kuhusu Yerusalemu, 'Utajengwa kwa upya, 'na kuhusu Hekalu, 'Basi na msingi wake uanzwe kuwekwa.''
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”
