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 trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble in fear, for the day of Yahweh 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.
It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like the dawn that spreads on the mountains, a large and mighty army is approaching. There has never been an army like it, and there never will be again, even after many generations.
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.
A fire is consuming everything in front of it, and behind it a flame is burning. The land is like the garden of Eden in front of it, but behind it there is a ruined wilderness. Indeed, nothing will escape from it.
4 Muonekano wa jeshi ni kama farasi, na wanakimbia kama wapanda farasi.
The army's appearance is like horses, and they run like horsemen.
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.
They jump with a noise like that of chariots on the tops of the mountains, like the noise of fiery flames that devour the stubble, like a mighty army ready for battle.
6 Mbele yao watu wako katika maumivu na nyuso zao zote zinakuwa za rangi.
At their presence people are in anguish and all their faces become pale.
7 Wanakimbia kama wapiganaji wenye nguvu; wanapanda kuta kama askari; wanasonga, kila mmoja kwa hatua, na hawavunji safu zao.
They run like mighty warriors; they climb the walls like soldiers; they march, every one in step, and do not break 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.
Neither does one thrust another aside; they march, each in his path; they break through the defenses and do not fall out of line.
9 Wanakimbilia jiji, wanakimbia kwenye ukuta, wanapanda ndani ya nyumba, na hupita kupitia madirisha kama wezi.
They rush on the city, they run on the wall, they climb in the houses, and they go through the windows like thieves.
10 Nchi hutikisika mbele yao, mbingu hutetemeka, jua na mwezi ni giza, na nyota zinaacha kuangaza.
The earth shakes in front of them, the heavens tremble, the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars stop 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?
Yahweh raises his voice in front of his army, for his warriors are very numerous; for they are strong, those who carry out his commands. For the day of Yahweh is great and very terrible. Who can survive it?
12 “Lakini hata sasa,” asema Bwana, “Nirudieni mimi kwa mioyo yenu yote. Haraka, lia na omboleza.”
“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “Return to me with all your heart. Fast, weep, and mourn.”
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.
Tear your heart and not only your garments, and return to Yahweh your God. For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in covenant faithfulness, and he would like to turn from inflicting punishment.
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? Will he perhaps turn and have compassion, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for Yahweh your God?
15 Piga tarumbeta huko Sayuni, itisha kwa ajili ya funga takatifu, na itisheni kusanyiko takatifu.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, call for a holy fast, and call a holy 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, call for the holy assembly. Assemble the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegrooms come out of their rooms, and the brides out of their bridal chambers.
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, the servants of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and do not make your inheritance into an object of scorn, that the nations mock them. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where is their God?'”
18 Ndipo Bwana alikuwa mwenye bidii kwa nchi yake na kuwahurumia watu wake.
Then Yahweh was zealous for his land and had pity on his people.
19 Bwana akawajibu watu wake, Tazama, nitawaletea nafaka, divai mpya, na mafuta. Utaridhishwa nao, wala sitawafanya kuwa aibu kati ya mataifa.
Yahweh answered his people, “Look, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil. You will be satisfied with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace 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 the northern attackers far from you, and will drive them into a dry and abandoned land. The front of their army will go into the eastern sea, and the rear into the western sea. Its stench will rise, and its bad smell will rise.” Indeed, he has done great things.
21 Msiogope, nchi, shangilieni na kufurahi, kwa kuwa Bwana atafanya mambo makuu.
Do not fear, land, be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh will do 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 fear, beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness will sprout, the trees will bear their fruit, and the fig trees and the vines will yield their 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, people of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh your God. For he will give you the autumn rain in due course and bring down showers for you, the autumn rain and the spring rain as before.
24 Sakafu ya kupepetea zitajaa ngano, na vyombo vitafurika kwa divai mpya na mafuta.
The threshing floors will be full of wheat, 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 restore to you the years of crops that the swarming locust has eaten —the great locust, the devouring locust, and the destroying locust— my mighty army that I sent among 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 eat plentifully and be full, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has done wonders among you, and I will never again bring shame on my people.
27 Utajua ya kwamba mimi niko kati ya Israeli, na kwamba mimi ni Bwana, Mungu wako, wala hakuna mwingine, wala sitawaletea aibu watu wangu.
You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Yahweh your God, and there is none else, and I will never bring shame on my people.
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.
It will come about afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and 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.
Also on servants and female servants, in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 Nitaonyesha maajabu mbinguni na duniani, damu, moto na nguzo za moshi.
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood, 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 turn into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
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.
It will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the survivors, those whom Yahweh calls.
