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.
Even so, there will be no more darkness for those who suffered. In the past he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will bring honor to Galilee of the foreigners that is on the route that leads from Jordan to the sea.
2 Watu wanotembeakatika giza wameona wameona mwanga mkubwa; wale waishio katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, mwanga umewaka juu yao.
People walking in the dark will see a bright light; a light will shine on those living in a land of total darkness.
3 Umeliongeza taifa; umeongeza furaha yao. Wamefurahia mbele yako kama furaha ya kipindi cha mavuno, kama watu wanavyofurahi kugawanya nyara.
You will make the nation grow enormously, and will make it extremely happy. The people will celebrate before you as people celebrate at harvest time, as soldiers celebrate when dividing up what has been looted.
4 Maana nira ya mzigo wake, boriti katika mabega yake, fimbo ya mkandamizaji, umesambaratisha ndoto kama siku ya Midiamu.
For you will smash the yoke that burdens them down, the bar across their shoulders, and the oppressors' rod used to beat them just as you did when you defeated the Midianite army.
5 Kila buti likanyagalo gasia na vazi limekwisha kwenye damu itachomwa, mafuta kwa moto.
For every army boot that noisily trampled people down, and every uniform soaked in blood—they are going to be burned, 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 a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us. He will bear the responsibility to rule. 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.
His rule and the peace he brings know no limits and will never come to an end. He will sit on David's throne and rule his kingdom, making it secure. He will operate from principles of justice and goodness, from the time he begins his rule and for all eternity. The Lord Almighty is determined to make this happen.
8 Bwana alituma neno juu ya Yakobo, na ikaanguka juu ya Israeli,
The Lord has sent a message directed against Jacob, and its consequences will fall upon Israel.
9 Watu wote watajua, Hata Samaria na wakazi wote wa Samaria, wanaongea kwa kiburi na moyo wenye kiburi,
All the people will soon realize it—Ephraim and the people who live in Samaria. Proudly and arrogantly they say,
10 Matofali yameanguka, lakini tutajenga tena kwa jiwe la patasi; mkuyu umekatwa chini, lakini tutaotesha mierezi katika eneo lao.
“The brick buildings have collapsed, but we will rebuild them with dressed stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Hivyo basi Yahwe atamwinua juu yao Rezini, adui zake, atawakoroga adui zake,
But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's enemies against Israel and has encouraged them.
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.
Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have greedily eaten swallowed Israel up. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
13 Lakini hawatageuka kwa yule anayewapiga wao, wala kumtafuta Yahwe wa majeshi.
But the people didn't return to the one who punished them; they didn't come to worship the Lord Almighty.
14 Hivyo basi yao atakata kichwa nakiwiwili cha Israeli, kuti na nyasi, katika siku moja.
So in just a single day the Lord will chop off Israel's head and tail, palm branch and reed.
15 Viongozi na watu wenye vyeo na manabii wanaofundisha kuwa uongo ni mkia.
Elders and honorable people are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16 Wale wanaowaongoza watu hawa wanawaongoza vibaya, na wale wanaongozwa wameangamia.
The people's leaders have misled them; those who were guided by them are confused.
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.
As a result the Lord isn't pleased with their young men, he has no compassion for their orphans and widows, because all of them are hypocrites and do what's evil—they all talk stupidly. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
18 Matendo mabaya yataungua kama moto, moto hulao mbigili na miiba; itachoma hata vichaka vya mwitu, na safu ya moshi mkubwa upaa.
For wickedness blazes like a fire, burning up brambles and thorns, setting the forest on fire, sending a column of smoke swirling upwards.
19 Japo hasira ya Yahwe wa majeshi imeunguza, na watu ni kama mafuta kwenye moto. Hakuna mtu aliyemuacha ndugu yake.
The anger of the Lord Almighty burns the land. People are like fuel for the fire, and nobody tries to help anyone else.
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.
People destroy others on the right, yet they're still hungry for more; people destroy others on the left, but they're still not satisfied. In the end they even destroy themselves!
21 Manase; kwa pamoja watavamia Yuda. Mambo yote haya, hasira yake haitapungua; badala yake, amenyoosha mkono wake hata sasa.
Manasseh destroys Ephraim, and Ephraim destroys Manasseh. Together they turn to destroy Judah. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
