Joeli 2
1 Piga tarumbeta katika Sayuni, na piga kelele juu ya mlima wangu mtakatifu! Wakazi wote wa nchi watetemeke kwa hofu; maana siku ya Bwana inakuja; Hakika iko karibu.
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—
2 Ni siku ya giza na weusi, siku ya mawingu na giza nene. Kama asubuhi inayoenea kwenye milima, jeshi kubwa na la nguvu linakaribia. Hakujawahi kuwako jeshi kama hilo, na hakutakuwa tena, hata baada ya vizazi vingi.
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.
3 Moto unatumia kila kitu mbele yake, na nyuma yake moto unawaka. Nchi hiyo ni kama bustani ya Edeni mbele yake, lakini nyuma yake kuna jangwa lililoharibika. Hakika hakuna chochote kitakayotoroka.
Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland— surely nothing will escape them.
4 Muonekano wa jeshi ni kama farasi, na wanakimbia kama wapanda farasi.
Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds.
5 Wanaruka kwa kelele kama ile ya magari juu ya vilele vya milima, kama kelele za muale wa moto ambao huangamiza majani, kama jeshi la nguvu lililo tayari kwa vita.
With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.
6 Mbele yao watu wako katika maumivu na nyuso zao zote zinakuwa za rangi.
Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale.
7 Wanakimbia kama wapiganaji wenye nguvu; wanapanda kuta kama askari; wanasonga, kila mmoja kwa hatua, na hawavunji safu zao.
They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course.
8 Wala hakuna mmoja anayemsukuma mwingine kando; wanasonga, kila mmoja katika njia yake; wao huvunja kwa njia ya ulinzi na si kuanguka nje ya mstari.
They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.
9 Wanakimbilia jiji, wanakimbia kwenye ukuta, wanapanda ndani ya nyumba, na hupita kupitia madirisha kama wezi.
They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves.
10 Nchi hutikisika mbele yao, mbingu hutetemeka, jua na mwezi ni giza, na nyota zinaacha kuangaza.
Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.
11 Bwana huinua sauti yake mbele ya jeshi lake; maana wapiganaji wake ni wengi sana; kwa maana wao ni wenye nguvu, wale wanaofanya amri zake. Kwa maana siku ya Bwana ni kubwa na ya kutisha sana. Nani anayeweza kuishi?
The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?
12 “Lakini hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “Nirudieni mimi kwa mioyo yenu yote. Haraka, lia na omboleza.”
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
13 Rarueni miyoyo yenu, si mavazi yenu tu, na kurudi kwa Bwana Mungu wenu. Kwa maana ni mwenye neema na mwenye huruma, si mwepesi wa hasira na wingi katika uaminifu wa agano, na angependa kugeuka kutokana na adhabu.
So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
14 Nani anajua? Labda angegeuka na kuwa na huruma, na kuacha baraka nyuma yake, sadaka ya unga na sadaka ya kinywaji kwa Bwana, Mungu wenu?
Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him— grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
15 Piga tarumbeta huko Sayuni, itisha kwa ajili ya funga takatifu, na itisheni kusanyiko takatifu.
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly.
16 Kusanyeni watu, wito kwa kusanyiko takatifu. Kusanya wazee, kukusanya watoto na watoto wachanga. Bwana arusi waweze kutoka nje ya vyumba vyao, na bibi arusi kutoka kwenye vyumba vyao.
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
17 Basi makuhani, watumishi wa Bwana, waliao kati ya patakatifu na madhabahu. Wawaambie, Waitie watu wako, Ee Bwana, wala usitoe urithi wako kwa aibu, ili mataifa watawawale juu yao. Kwa nini wanapaswa kusema kati ya mataifa, “Yuko wapi Mungu wao?”
Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 Ndipo Bwana alikuwa mwenye bidii kwa nchi yake na kuwahurumia watu wake.
Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people.
19 Bwana akawajibu watu wake, Tazama, nitawaletea nafaka, divai mpya, na mafuta. Utaridhishwa nao, wala sitawafanya kuwa aibu kati ya mataifa.
And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.
20 Nitawaondoa washambuliaji wa kaskazini mbali nanyi, na nitawapitisha katika nchi kavu na iliyoachwa. Sehemu ya mbele ya jeshi lao itaingia bahari ya mashariki, na sehemuya nyuma itaingia bahari ya magharibi. Uvundo wake utainuka juu, na harufu yake mbaya itainuka juu. Hakika, amefanya mambo makuu.
The northern army I will drive away from you, banishing it to a barren and desolate land, its front ranks into the Eastern Sea, and its rear guard into the Western Sea. And its stench will rise; its foul odor will ascend. For He has done great things.
21 Msiogope, nchi, shangilieni na kufurahi, kwa kuwa Bwana atafanya mambo makuu.
Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things.
22 Usiogope, wanyama wa kondeni, kwa kuwa malisho ya jangwa yatakua, miti itazaa matunda yake, na miti ya mizabibu na mizabibu itazaa mavuno yao yote.
Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best.
23 Furahini, enyi watu wa Sayuni, na kufurahi katika Bwana, Mungu wenu. Kwa maana atakupa mvua ya vuli kwa kiasi na kuleta mvua kwa ajili yenu, mvua ya vuli na mvua ya masika kama hapo awali.
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 Sakafu ya kupepetea zitajaa ngano, na vyombo vitafurika kwa divai mpya na mafuta.
The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “Nitawawezesha miaka ya mazao ambayo nzige walikula, Palale, nzige, na nzige wakuteketeza - jeshi langu lenye nguvu ambalo nimelituma kati yenu.
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts— the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — My great army that I sent against you.
26 Mutakula chakula tele na kushiba, na kulitukuza jina la Bwana, Mungu wenu, aliyefanya miujiza kati yenu, wala sitawaletea tena watu wangu.
You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame.
27 Utajua ya kwamba mimi niko kati ya Israeli, na kwamba mimi ni Bwana, Mungu wako, wala hakuna mwingine, wala sitawaletea aibu watu wangu.
Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.
28 Itakuwa baada ya hayo nitamimina Roho yangu juu ya wenye mwili yote, na wana wenu na binti zenu watatabiri. Wazee wenu wataota ndoto, vijana wenu wataona maono.
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Pia juu ya watumishi na watumishi wa kike, siku hizo nitaimimina Roho wangu.
Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 Nitaonyesha maajabu mbinguni na duniani, damu, moto na nguzo za moshi.
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 Jua litakuwa giza na mwezi kuwa damu, kabla ya siku kuu na ya kutisha ya Bwana itakapokuja.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
32 Itakuwa kwamba kila mtu anayeita jina la Yahweh ataokolewa. Kwa maana juu ya Mlima Sayuni na Yerusalemu watakuwa na wale waliokoka, kama Bwana alivyosema, na kati ya wale walisalia, wale ambao Bwana anawaita.
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.
