< Isaya 57 >
1 Wenye waki watatoweka, lakini hakuna mtu atakayelitia maanani, na watu wa agano la kuaminika wamekusanyika mbali, lakini hakuna mtu anayefahamu kuwa wenye haki wamekusanyika mbali na maovu,
The righteous man perisheth, and no one layeth it to heart; And pious men are taken away, and none considereth That because of the evil the righteous man is taken away.
2 Wameingia katika amani; wamepumzika katika vitanda vyao, wale wanotembea katika haki.
He entereth into peace; He resteth in his bed, Every one that walketh in uprightness.
3 Lakini njooni hapa, enyi watoto wa wachawi, watoto wa wazinifu na mwanamke anayefanya ukahaba.
But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, Ye brood of the adulterer and the harlot!
4 Ni nani mnayemfanyia mzaha? dhidi ya wale wanofungua midomo yao na kutoa nje ndimi zao? Je ninyi sio watoto wa uaasi, watoto wa uongo?
Of whom do ye make your sport, And at whom do ye make wide the mouth, And draw out the tongue? Are ye not rebellious children, a treacherous brood?
5 Enyi unaowasha wenywe kwa kulala pamoja chini ya mualoni, kila chini ya mti mbichi, ewe unaeua watoto wako katika mabonde yaliyokauka, chini ya miamba inayoning'inia.
Burning with lust for idols Under every green tree, Slaying children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Miongoni mwa vitu vilaini katika bonde la mto ni mambo uliyopewa uyafanyie kazi. Ni vitu vya ibada yako. Umemwaga nje kinywaji chako kwao na kutoa sadaka ya mazao. Katika haya mambo Je ninaweza kuwa radhi na mambo haya?
With the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; These, these are thy lot; Here thou pourest out thy drink-offering, And presentest thy meat-offering; Can I see such things, and be at rest?
7 Umeandaa kitanda chako juu ya mlima mrefu; pia umeeda pale juu kutoa sadaka.
Upon a high and lofty mountain settest thou thy bed; Thither dost thou go up to offer sacrifice;
8 Nyuma ya mlango na mihimili ya milango umeweka ishara zako; umeniweka mimi furagha, umejifunua wewe mwenywe, na kwenda juu; umekifanya kitanda changu kuwa kikubwa. Umefanya agano na wao; ulipenda vitanda vyao; uliona sehemu zao za siri.
Behind the doors and the posts dost thou place thy memorial; Thou departest from me, and uncoverest, and ascendest, and enlargest thy bed. Thou makest an agreement with them; Thou desirest their bed; Thou choosest a place.
9 Ulienda kwa Moleki pamoja na mafuta; umeongeza marashi. Ulimtuma balozi wako mbali sana; Alikwenda chini kuzimu. (Sheol )
Thou goest to the king with oil, And takest much precious perfume; Thou sendest thine ambassadors afar, Yea, down to the under-world. (Sheol )
10 Ulichoka kwa safari yako ndefu, lakini haukusema, ''Haina matumaini.'' Umeyatafuta maisha katika mkono wako; Hivyo basi haukudhoofika.
In the length of thy journeys thou hast wearied thyself, But thou sayest not, “I will desist”; Thou yet findest life in thy hand, Therefore thou art not discouraged.
11 Ni uliyemuogopa? Ni nani uliye muhofia zaidi ambaye aliyekufanya wewe kutenda udanganyifu, kwa wingi namna hiyo ambapo hauwezi kunikumbuka mimi au kufikiria kuhusu mimi? Maana nilikuwa kimya kwa mda mrefu, hauniogopi mimi tena.
On account of whom art thou anxious, and of whom art thou afraid, that thou hast proved false, And hast not remembered me, nor laid it to heart? Behold, I have been silent a long time; Therefore thou fearest me not.
12 Nitatangaza matendo haki yako na nitawaambia kila kitu ulichokifanya, lakini hawatakusaidia.
But now I announce thy deliverance, And thy works do not profit thee.
13 Utakapolia nje, wacha sanamu ulizozikusnya zikusaidie wewe. Badala yake upepo utavipeperusha vyote, punzi itavipeperusha mbali. Lakini yeye anayenikimbilia mimi atairithi aridhi na atachukua umiliki katika mlima wangu mtakatifu.
When thou criest, let thy host of idols deliver thee! But the wind shall bear them all away; A breath shall take them off; But he that putteth his trust in me Shall possess the land, And shall inherit my holy mountain.
14 Atasema, 'Jenga, jenga! safisha njia! ondoeni vizuizi vyote katika njia ya watu wangu!''
Men shall say, Cast up, cast up, prepare the road; Remove every obstruction from the way of my people!
15 Maana yeye allye juu palipoinuka, anayeishi katika uzima wa milele, ambaye jina lake ni mtakatifu, asema hivi, ''Ninaishi mahali pa juu na mahali patakatifu pamoja na yeye pia aliyemnyenyekevu na moyo uliopondeka, ili kuzifufua roho za wanyenyekevu na kufufua mioyo ya wanaojutia.
For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place; With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit; To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
16 Maana sitawahukumu milele, wala sitakuwa na hasira milele, Kisha roho ya mtu itazimia mbele yangu, maisha niliyowafanyia.
For I will not contend forever, Nor will I be always angry; For life would fail before me, And the souls which I created.
17 Kwa sababu ya dhambi ya mapato ya vurugu zake, Nilipatwa na hasira, na nikamuadhibu yeye; niliuficha uso wangu, nilikuwa na hasira, lakini alirudi nyuma katika njia za moyo wake mwenyewe.
For the guilt of his covetousness I was angry; I smote him, I hid myself, and was angry; But yet he went on perversely in the way of his heart.
18 Nimeziona njia zake, lakini nitamoponya yeye. Nitamuongoza yeye na kumfariji na kuwashauri wale wanomliliia yeye,
I have seen his ways, yet will I heal him; I will guide him, and I will restore comfort To him and to his mourners;
19 na natengeneza tunda la midomo. Amani, amani, kwa wale walio mbali sana na wale walio karibu-asema Yahwe nitawaponya ninyi.
I create the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is nigh, Saith Jehovah; I will heal him.
20 Lakini waovu ni kama bahari iliyochafuka, haiwezi kutulia, na maji yake yametanda juu ya matope.
But the wicked is like the troubled sea, Which cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 Hakuna amani kwa wakosaji asema Mungu.''
There is no peace, saith my God, for the wicked.