< Isaya 9 >
1 Viza itaondolewa kwa yeyote ambaye yuko kwenye dhiki. Katika kipindi cha awali aliifedhehesha nchi ya Zebuluni na nchi ya Naftali, lakini kipindi cha baadae ataifanya itukuke, njia ya kuelekea baharini, mbele ya Yordani na mataifa ya Galilaya.
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
2 Watu wanotembeakatika giza wameona wameona mwanga mkubwa; wale waishio katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, mwanga umewaka juu yao.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
3 Umeliongeza taifa; umeongeza furaha yao. Wamefurahia mbele yako kama furaha ya kipindi cha mavuno, kama watu wanavyofurahi kugawanya nyara.
You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.
4 Maana nira ya mzigo wake, boriti katika mabega yake, fimbo ya mkandamizaji, umesambaratisha ndoto kama siku ya Midiamu.
For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
5 Kila buti likanyagalo gasia na vazi limekwisha kwenye damu itachomwa, mafuta kwa moto.
For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 Kwetu mtoto amezaliwa, kwetu mtoto ametoka; na mtawala atakuwa kwenye mabega yake; na jina lake ataitwa mshauri wa ajabu, Mungu mwenye nguvu, Baba wa milele, Mfalme wa Amani.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Enzi yake na amani yake haitakuwa na mwisho, maana anatawala katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi, na juu ya ufalme wake, ataanzisha hukumu ya haki, tangu sasa na hata milele. Bidii ya Yahwenwa majeshi itafanya haya.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
8 Bwana alituma neno juu ya Yakobo, na ikaanguka juu ya Israeli,
The Lord has sent a message against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel.
9 Watu wote watajua, Hata Samaria na wakazi wote wa Samaria, wanaongea kwa kiburi na moyo wenye kiburi,
All the people will know it— Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say:
10 Matofali yameanguka, lakini tutajenga tena kwa jiwe la patasi; mkuyu umekatwa chini, lakini tutaotesha mierezi katika eneo lao.
“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Hivyo basi Yahwe atamwinua juu yao Rezini, adui zake, atawakoroga adui zake,
The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together.
12 Waaramea upande wa mashariki, na wafilisti upande wa magharibi. Nao watamla Israeli kwa mdomo uliowazi. katika mambo yote haya hasira yake haijapungua; badala yake ameunyosha mkono wake nje.
Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
13 Lakini hawatageuka kwa yule anayewapiga wao, wala kumtafuta Yahwe wa majeshi.
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
14 Hivyo basi yao atakata kichwa nakiwiwili cha Israeli, kuti na nyasi, katika siku moja.
So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.
15 Viongozi na watu wenye vyeo na manabii wanaofundisha kuwa uongo ni mkia.
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
16 Wale wanaowaongoza watu hawa wanawaongoza vibaya, na wale wanaongozwa wameangamia.
For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
17 Hivyo basi Bwana atafurahia juu ya vijana wadogo wala hatakuwa na huruma kwa yatima na wajane, maana kila mmoja hana Mungu na ni watenda dhambi, na kila mdomo unazungumza matendo mabaya. Mambo yote haya, hasira yake haijapungua; badala yake mkono wake umenyooka hata sasa.
Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
18 Matendo mabaya yataungua kama moto, moto hulao mbigili na miiba; itachoma hata vichaka vya mwitu, na safu ya moshi mkubwa upaa.
For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets which roll upward in billows of smoke.
19 Japo hasira ya Yahwe wa majeshi imeunguza, na watu ni kama mafuta kwenye moto. Hakuna mtu aliyemuacha ndugu yake.
By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.
20 Watanyakuwa chakula katika mkono kulia lakini bado watasikia njaa; watakula chakula kwa mkono wa kushoto lakini hawataridhika. Kila mmoja atakula nyama ya mkono wake mwenyewe.
They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.
21 Manase; kwa pamoja watavamia Yuda. Mambo yote haya, hasira yake haitapungua; badala yake, amenyoosha mkono wake hata sasa.
Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.