Isaya 61
1 Roho ya Bwana Yahwe i juu yangu, maana Yahwe amenipaka mafuta mimi kuhiubiri habari njema kwa wenye taabu. Amenituma mimi kuwaponywa waliopondeka mioyo, kutangaza uhuru kwa wafungwa, na kufungua gereza ili waliofungwa waweze kutoka.
The Spirit of Yahweh [our] Lord is on me; he has appointed [MTY] me to bring good news to those who are oppressed, to comfort those who are discouraged, to free [all] those who are [as though they are chained/tied] [DOU] [by the wrong things that they continually do].
2 Amenituma mimi kuutangaza mwaka wa Yahwe uliokubalika, siku ya kisasi cha Mungu wetu, na kuwafariji wale wote wanaomboleza.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn [about the members of their families who died] (OR, [who are still in Babylonia)] that now is the time when Yahweh will act kindly [toward his people]; now is the time when our God will (get revenge on/punish) [their enemies].
3 Amenituma mimi - kuwapa wale waoombolezao katika Sayuni -kuwapa wao kilemba cha majivu, mafuta ya furaha badala ya kuomboleza, vazi la kusifu katika eneo la roho ya ubutu, kuwaita mialoni ya haki, iliyooteshwa na Yahwe, ili aweze kutukuzwa.
To [all] those in Jerusalem who mourn, he will give flower necklaces [to wear]; instead of ashes [that they put on their heads to show that they are sad]; he will cause them to rejoice [MTY] instead of being sad; he will enable them to be [MET] happy instead of being discouraged. They will be called “people who continually do what is right, people who are [like tall/strong] oak [trees] that Yahweh has planted” to show others that he is very great.
4 Wataijenga tena mahali pa kale palipohaibiwa; wataparejesha mahali palipokuwa na ukiwa. Watairejesha miji iliyoharibiwa, Mahali penye ukiwa kutoka vizazi vingi vilivyopita.
[Those who return from Babylon] will rebuild the cities that [the soldiers from Babylon] tore down. [Even though] those cities have been destroyed and abandoned for many years, they will be restored/rebuilt.
5 Wageni watasimama na kulisha makumdi yako, na watoto wa wageni watafanya kazi kwenye mashamba yako na mizabu.
Foreigners will be the ones who will take care of your flocks [of sheep and goats], and plow your fields and take care of your grapevines.
6 Mtaitwa makuhani wa Yahwe; watawaita watumishi wa Mungu wetu. Mtakula utajiri wa mataifa, na utajivuinia katika utajiri wake.
But you [are the ones who] will be like the priests to serve Yahweh, to work for God. You will enjoy valuable goods [that are brought] from other nations, and you will be happy that those things have become yours.
7 Badala yake aibu yenu itaongezeka; na badala ya fedhea walifurahia juu ya sehemu yao. Hivyo basi sehemu yao itaongezeka mara mbili katika nchi na furaha ya milele itakuwa yao.
Previously you were shamed and disgraced, but now you will have great blessings; previously [your enemies] humbled you, but now you will have many good things; you will be happy because of being in your land again, and you will rejoice forever.
8 Maana Mimi, Yahwe, ninapenda haki, na ninachukia wizi na vurugu zisizo za haki. Nitawalipa wao kataka haki na Nitafanya agano la milele na wao.
“I, Yahweh, am very pleased with those/judges who decide matters fairly; I hate [those who illegally] take things from other people. I will surely repay my people (for/because of) all that they have suffered [in the past]. And I will make an everlasting agreement with them.
9 Uzao wao utajulikana miongoni mwa mataifa, na watoto wao miongoni mwa watu. Wote watakaowaona watawakubali wao, kwamba ni watu wangu ambao Yahwe amewabariki.
Their descendants will be honored by people of other nations [DOU]. Everyone who sees them will know that they are a nation that [I], Yahweh, have blessed.”
10 Nitafurahia sana katika Yahwe; Katika Mungu nitafurahia. Maana amenivika mimi kwa vazi la wokovu; amenivika mimi kwa vazi la haki, kama bwana harusi aliyejipamba mwenywe kwa kilemba, na kama bibi harusi aliyejipamba kwa vito.
I greatly rejoice because of what Yahweh [has done]! I am happy, because he has saved me and declared that I am righteous; [those blessings are like] [MET] a robe that he has put on me. I am [as happy as] [SIM] a bridegroom in his wedding suit, or a bride wearing jewels.
11 Maana kama nchi inavyozalisha miti inayochipukia na kama bustani inavyofanya miti yake ikuie, hivyo Bwana atasasbabisha haki na sifa kuchipukia mbele ya mataifa yote.
Just as [seeds sown in] a garden sprout from the soil and grow [DOU], Yahweh [our] God will cause [people of] all nations to act righteously, with the result that they will praise him for doing that.
