Isaya 52
1 Amka, amka, vaa nguvu zako, Sayuni; vaa vazi lako zuri, mji mtakatifu; maana hakuna tena kutotahiriwa wala wasio safi kuingia kwako.
[You people who live in the] holy city of Jerusalem [APO], wake up! Be strong again! Show that [MTY] your city is beautiful and glorious; foreigners who do not believe in God will not enter your city again [to attack you].
2 Jikung'ute mwenyewe kutoka mavumbini; nyanyuka na ukae, ewe Yerusalemu; ondoa shanga katika shingo yako, wafungwa, binti ya Sayuni.
People of Jerusalem, get up from [humbly] sitting in the dust and sit in places where people are honored! You people who have returned from being exiled, take off from your neck the chains which were fastened around you [as slaves in Babylonia],
3 Maana Yahwe asema hivi, umeuzwa bure, na utakombolewa pasipo pesa.''
because this is what Yahweh says: “[When you were taken to Babylonia], no one paid me for doing that. So now I will bring you back without [being required to] pay for you!”
4 Maana Bwana Yahwe asema hivi, ''Hapo mwanzo watu wangu walishuka chini Misri kuishi kwa muda mfupi; Waasiria waliwanyanyasa wao hivi karibuni.
Yahweh [our] Lord [also] says this: “Long ago, my people went to Egypt to live there. [Later] they were being (oppressed/treated cruelly) by [the soldiers of] Assyria.
5 Sasa ni kitu gani nilicho nacho hapa- Hili ni tamko Yahwe- aonae kwamba watu wake wanachukuliwa bure tu? Wale wanowaongoza wao wanafanya mzaha-Hili ni tamko la Yahwe- jina langu linakashifiwa mchan kutwa.
But now think about what is happening: My people are being forced to be slaves again, this time by the [people of Babylonia]. And [those who have conquered them this time have also] paid me nothing, and they despise me [MTY] continually [DOU].
6 Hivyo basi watu wangu watalijua jina langu; watajua kwamba siku hiyo kwamba mimi ndiye ninayesema ''Ndiyo, Ni Mimi!''
But my people will then have a close relationship with [MTY] me, and when that happens, they will know that I am the one who predicted/promised [that it would happen]. It is I, [Yahweh, who will do it].”
7 Ni kwa uzuri gani juu miliima ni miguu ya mjumbe aliyeleta habari njema, atangazae amani, aliyebeba uzuri wa ukuu, aliyetangaza wokovu, anayesema kwa Sayuni, ''Mungu wako anatawala!''
It is a wonderful thing when messengers [MTY] arrive on the mountains/hills, bringing good news, the news about [God giving us] peace and saving us, the news that the God to whom we [Israeli people] belong is now ruling/king!
8 Sikiliza enyi walinzi nyanyueni sauti zenu, kwa pamoja pigeni kelele kwa furaha, maana mtamuona, kwa kila jicho lenu, kurejea kwa Yahwe Sayuni.
The watchmen [who are guarding the city] will shout and sing joyfully, because while they are watching they will see Yahweh returning to Jerusalem.
9 Pazeni sauti kwa kuimba kwa furaha, enyi mateka wa Yerusalemu; maana Yahwe amefariji watu wake; ameikomboa Yerusalemu.
Jerusalem has been ruined, but the people who are there now should start to sing joyfully, because Yahweh will encourage his people; he will set his people free and bring them back to Jerusalem.
10 Yahwe amewaonyesha kwamba mkono wake mtakatifu katika macho ya mataifa yote; nchi yote itauona wokovu wa Mungu wetu.
Yahweh will show all the nations that he is holy and powerful. People in the most remote/distant places on earth will know that he has rescued his people.
11 Ondokeni, ondokeni, enendeni mbali na hapa; msiguse kitu chochote ambacho ni najisi; au kuishi katikati yake; jitakase mwenyewe, enyi mliobeba vyombo vya Yahwe.
So, leave [the places where you were taken to when you were captured], where [everything is] unacceptable to God. You men who carry the items used for the worship of Yahweh, leave there [and return to Jerusalem], and purify yourselves [in order to be acceptable to worship God].
12 Maana hautakwenda nje kwa kukimbia, wala hautaondoka kwa hofu; Maana Yahwe atakuwa mbele yako; na Mungu wa Israeli atakuwa mlinzi wako nyuma.
But it will not [be necessary] for you to leave suddenly, to flee in panic, because Yahweh will (go in front of/lead) you; and he will [also] protect you [from being attacked] at the rear [while you travel].
13 Tazameni, mtumishi wangu atafanya hekima; atakuwa juu na atanyanyuliwa juu, na atapandishwa juu.
[Yahweh says], “Listen carefully! My servant will act wisely (OR, do the right things to accomplish what he wants to), and I will highly exalt him.”
14 Na wengi watamstajabia yeye- muonekano wake umekunjamana nje ya muonekano wa mwanadamu, hivyo basi upande wake ulikuwa mbali na kitu chochote ambacho ni binadamu-
But many people will be appalled when they see what has happened to him. [Because of his being beaten very badly], his appearance will be changed; people will hardly recognize that he is a human.
15 Na hivyo, mtumishi wangu atanyunyizia mataifa mengi na wafme watafunga midomo yao kwa sababu yake. Kana kwamba hawajawahi kuambiwa, wataona, kana kwamba hawakusikia, wataelewa.
But he will cause [people of] many nations to be surprised; [even] kings will be silent when they stand in front of him, because they will see someone that no one had told them about [previously], and they will understand things that they had not heard about [before].
