Isaya 46
1 Beli huaguka chini, Nebo husujudu; miungu yao imebebwa na wanyama na mzigo wa mnyama. Sanamu hizi mlizobeba ni mzigo mzito kwa wanyama kuchoka.
[It is as though] Bel and Nebo, the statues of the gods [of Babylonia], are bowing down as those statues are put on animals and carried away! The statues are heavy burdens and will cause the animals to become tired [SAR]!
2 Kwa pamoja wanashuka chini; hawawezi kuziokoa sanamu zao, na wao wenyewe wameenda uhamishoni.
[It seems like] both gods are bowing down; not only can they not save themselves, but they themselves are being (exiled/taken to another country)!
3 Nisikilizeni mimi, nyumba ya Yakobo, wote mliobaki kwenye nyumba ya Israeli mliochukuliwa na mimi kutoka kabla amjazaliwa, mlichukuliwa mkiwa tumboni.
[Yahweh says], “You descendants of Jacob who were exiled, [I am not like the gods of Babylonia that must be carried]; [instead, it is as though] I have carried you since you first became a nation [MET]. I carried you [even] before you became a nation.
4 Hata kwa njie wazee Mimi ndiye, mpaka mmeshapata mvi nitawachukua. Nimewaumba ninyi na nitawabeba ninyi; Nitwachukua nyie na nitawakomboa nyie.
I will be your God, and I will carry you for many years, until [it is as though] [MET] your nation is an old man with gray hair. I caused [you to become a nation], and I will sustain you and rescue you.
5 Je utanifananisha mimi na nani? na mimi nimefanana na nani, ili utulinganishe?
There is certainly [RHQ] no one to whom I can be compared. There is [RHQ] no one who is equal to me [DOU].
6 Watu humwaga dhahabu kutoka kwenye mabegi yao na uzito wa fedha kwenye uzani. Humuajiri mfua dhahabu, na hutengeneza kuwa dhahabu; na huinama chini na kuzisuju.
[So it is stupid/ridiculous that] some people pour out gold and silver from their bags and weigh it on a scale. [Then] they hire a man who makes things from gold to make an idol from it. [After he makes an idol], they bow down and worship it!
7 Wanazinyanyua juu ya mabega yao na kuzibeba; wanaziweka katika sehemu yake, na itasimama katika eneo lake na alitasogea kutoka pale, hulilia, lakini haiwezi kujibu wala kumuokoa yeyote kwenye matatizo.
They lift it up and carry it on their shoulders. They put it in a [special] place, and it stays there. It cannot move! And when someone prays to it, it does not answer. So [obviously] it cannot rescue anyone from his troubles!
8 Tafakari kuhusu hivi vitu; katu usivipuuzie, enyi waasi!
[You people of Judah], do not forget this; keep thinking about it, you sinful people!
9 Tafakari kuhusu vitu vya awali, nyakati zile zilizopita, Maana mimi ni Mungu, na hakuna mwingine, Mimi ni Mungu na hakuna kama mimi.
Think about the things [that I did] long ago. Only I am God; I am God, and there is no one like me.
10 Mimi ninatangaza mwisho kutoka mwanzo, na kabla ya kitu ambacho hakijatokea; Ninasema, ''Mpango wangu utatokea na nitafanya kama ninavyotamani.''
Only I can tell what will happen in the future before it occurs; I tell it long before it happens. I will accomplish everything that I plan to accomplish, and I will do everything that I want to do.
11 Nitamuita ndege wa mawindo kutoka mashariki, Mtu ambaye ni chaguo langu kutoka nchi ya mbali; Ndio nimesema; na pia nitayatimiza haya, nimekusudia, na pia nitafanya hivyo.
So I will summon [someone to come] from the east [like a swift and powerful] eagle; he will come from a distant country. He will accomplish what I want him to. [He is the one who] will do what I have said that I want him to do, what I have planned.
12 Nisikilize mimi, enyi watu makaidi, ambao mko mbali na kutenda mema.
You stubborn people [of Israel], [you think that] it will be a long time before you are allowed to return to your own country.
13 Ninaileta haki yangu karibu; na wala sio mbali, na wokovu wangu hausubiri; na nitatoa wokovu wangu kwa Sayuni na uzuri wangu kwa Israeli.
But I will rescue you, and it will not be a long time [before that happens]. I will do it soon. I will rescue Jerusalem and show to you Israeli [people] that I am glorious.”
