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 a horn in Zion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord comes, for near is
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.
the day of darkness and gloom, the day of cloud and thick darkness! Like the light of dawn scattered over the mountains, a people great and powerful; its like has not been from of old, neither will be any more after it, even to the years of coming ages.
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 the fire devours, and behind them a flame burns; like the garden of Eden is the land before them, and after them it is a desolate desert, nothing escapes them.
4 Muonekano wa jeshi ni kama farasi, na wanakimbia kama wapanda farasi.
Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and like horsemen they charge.
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.
Like the sound of chariots on the tops of the mountains they leap, like the crackle of flames devouring stubble, like a mighty people preparing for battle.
6 Mbele yao watu wako katika maumivu na nyuso zao zote zinakuwa za rangi.
Peoples are in anguish before them, all faces grow pale.
7 Wanakimbia kama wapiganaji wenye nguvu; wanapanda kuta kama askari; wanasonga, kila mmoja kwa hatua, na hawavunji safu zao.
Like mighty men they run, like warriors they mount up a wall, they march each by himself, they break not their ranks,
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.
none jostles the other. They march each in his path. They fall upon the weapons without breaking.
9 Wanakimbilia jiji, wanakimbia kwenye ukuta, wanapanda ndani ya nyumba, na hupita kupitia madirisha kama wezi.
They scour the city, they run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. Like a thief they enter the windows.
10 Nchi hutikisika mbele yao, mbingu hutetemeka, jua na mwezi ni giza, na nyota zinaacha kuangaza.
Earth trembles before them, the sky quakes, the sun and moon become dark, and the stars withdraw their shining;
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?
and the Lord utters his voice before his army, for his host is exceedingly great. Mighty is he who performs his word. For great is the day of the Lord, it is terrible, who can endure it?
12 “Lakini hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “Nirudieni mimi kwa mioyo yenu yote. Haraka, lia na omboleza.”
But now this is the message of the Lord: Turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting and 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.
rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for he indeed is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and plenteous in love, and relents of the evil.
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 but he will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal and drink-offering for the Lord your God.
15 Piga tarumbeta huko Sayuni, itisha kwa ajili ya funga takatifu, na itisheni kusanyiko takatifu.
Blow a horn in Zion, sanctify a fast, summon an 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, make holy the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and the infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom come forth from his chamber, and the bride from her bridal tent.
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?”
Between the porch and the altar, let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep aloud, let them say: Spare, the Lord, your people. Make not your heritage an object of reproach, for the heathen to mock them. Why should it be said among the nations, ‘Where is their God?’
18 Ndipo Bwana alikuwa mwenye bidii kwa nchi yake na kuwahurumia watu wake.
Then the Lord became deeply concerned for his land, and took pity upon 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 and said to his people: I will send you grain, wine, and oil. You will be satisfied. I will not make you again an object of scorn 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.
I will remove far from you the northern foe, and I will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its front into the eastern sea, and its rear to the western sea. And from it a stench will arise. He has done great things!
21 Msiogope, nchi, shangilieni na kufurahi, kwa kuwa Bwana atafanya mambo makuu.
Fear not, land, exult. Rejoice 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.
Fear not, animals of the field. For the pastures of the wilderness are putting forth new grass, for the trees bear their fruit, fig tree and vine yield full harvest.
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, then, children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the early rain in just measure, and poured down upon you the winter rain, and sent the latter rain 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 which the swarming locust has eaten. The hopping, the destroying, and the cutting locusts, my great army which I sent among you, and my people will never again be put to shame.
26 Mutakula chakula tele na kushiba, na kulitukuza jina la Bwana, Mungu wenu, aliyefanya miujiza kati yenu, wala sitawaletea tena watu wangu.
You will eat your food and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt so wonderfully by you,
27 Utajua ya kwamba mimi niko kati ya Israeli, na kwamba mimi ni Bwana, Mungu wako, wala hakuna mwingine, wala sitawaletea aibu watu wangu.
and you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, that I am the Lord your God and none else, and 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.
Afterwards, I will pour out my spirit on everyone. Your sons and your 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.
and even on your male and female slaves in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
30 Nitaonyesha maajabu mbinguni na duniani, damu, moto na nguzo za moshi.
And I will show signs in the sky and on earth: Blood and fire and pillars 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 into darkness, and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and terrible 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.
But whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, even as the Lord has said, and among the fugitives those whom the Lord calls.
