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.
But the darkness shall not remain where now is distress; Of old he brought the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali into contempt; In future times shall he bring the land of the sea beyond Jordan, the circle of the gentiles, into honor.
2 Watu wanotembeakatika giza wameona wameona mwanga mkubwa; wale waishio katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, mwanga umewaka juu yao.
The people that walk in darkness behold a great light; They who dwell in the land of death-like shade, Upon them a light shineth.
3 Umeliongeza taifa; umeongeza furaha yao. Wamefurahia mbele yako kama furaha ya kipindi cha mavuno, kama watu wanavyofurahi kugawanya nyara.
Thou enlargest the nation; Thou increasest their joy; They rejoice before thee with the joy of harvest, With the joy of those who divide the spoil.
4 Maana nira ya mzigo wake, boriti katika mabega yake, fimbo ya mkandamizaji, umesambaratisha ndoto kama siku ya Midiamu.
For thou breakest their heavy yoke, And the rod that smote their backs, And the scourge of the taskmaster, As in the day of Midian.
5 Kila buti likanyagalo gasia na vazi limekwisha kwenye damu itachomwa, mafuta kwa moto.
For every greave of the warrior in battle, And the war-garment rolled in blood, Shall be burned; yea, it shall be food 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 to us a child is born, To us a son is given, And the government shall be upon his shoulder, And he shall be called Wonderful, counsellor, mighty potentate, 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 dominion shall be great, And peace without end shall be upon the throne of David and his kingdom, To fix and establish it Through justice and equity, Henceforth and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will do this.
8 Bwana alituma neno juu ya Yakobo, na ikaanguka juu ya Israeli,
The Lord sendeth a word against Jacob; It cometh down to Israel.
9 Watu wote watajua, Hata Samaria na wakazi wote wa Samaria, wanaongea kwa kiburi na moyo wenye kiburi,
His whole people shall feel it, Ephraim, and the inhabitants of Samaria, Who say in pride and arrogance of heart,
10 Matofali yameanguka, lakini tutajenga tena kwa jiwe la patasi; mkuyu umekatwa chini, lakini tutaotesha mierezi katika eneo lao.
“The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Hivyo basi Yahwe atamwinua juu yao Rezini, adui zake, atawakoroga adui zake,
Jehovah will raise up the enemies of Rezin against them, And will arm their adversaries;
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.
The Syrians before, the Philistines behind, Who shall devour Israel with wide jaws. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.
13 Lakini hawatageuka kwa yule anayewapiga wao, wala kumtafuta Yahwe wa majeshi.
The people turn not to him that smiteth them; Neither do they seek Jehovah of hosts.
14 Hivyo basi yao atakata kichwa nakiwiwili cha Israeli, kuti na nyasi, katika siku moja.
Therefore shall Jehovah cut off from Israel the head and the tail, The palm-branch and the rush, in one day.
15 Viongozi na watu wenye vyeo na manabii wanaofundisha kuwa uongo ni mkia.
[[The aged and the honorable are the head, And the prophet that speaketh falsehood is the tail.]]
16 Wale wanaowaongoza watu hawa wanawaongoza vibaya, na wale wanaongozwa wameangamia.
For the leaders of this people lead them astray, And they that are led by them go to destruction.
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 shall the Lord have no joy in their young men, And on their orphans and widows he shall have no compassion; For they are all profane, and evil-doers; Every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.
18 Matendo mabaya yataungua kama moto, moto hulao mbigili na miiba; itachoma hata vichaka vya mwitu, na safu ya moshi mkubwa upaa.
For wickedness burneth like a fire, It consumeth the briers and thorns, And it kindleth the thicket of the forest, So that it goeth up in columns of smoke.
19 Japo hasira ya Yahwe wa majeshi imeunguza, na watu ni kama mafuta kwenye moto. Hakuna mtu aliyemuacha ndugu yake.
Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burned, And the people are food for the fire; No one spareth another.
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 consume on the right hand, and yet are hungry; They devour on the left, and are not satisfied; Every one devoureth the flesh of his arm.
21 Manase; kwa pamoja watavamia Yuda. Mambo yote haya, hasira yake haitapungua; badala yake, amenyoosha mkono wake hata sasa.
Manasseh is against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh, And both together against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.
