Maombolezo 4
1 Dhahabu imechakaa; jinsi gani dhahabu safi imebadilika! Mawe matakatifu yamezagaa katika kila njia ya mtaa.
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
2 Wana wa dhamani wa Sayuni walikuwa na dhamani ya uzito wa dhahabu safi, lakini sasa hawana dhamani zaidi ya majagi ya udogo, kazi ya mikono ya mfinyazi!
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Ata mbwa wa mitaani wanatoa maziwa yao kuwanyonyesha watoto wao, lakini binti wa watu wangu amekuwa katili, kama mbuni katika jangwa.
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 Ulimi wa mtoto mchanga anaye nyonya unagota juu mdomo wake kwa kiu; watoto wanaomba chakula, lakini hakuna kwa ajili yao.
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
5 Wao walizoea kula chakula cha gharama sasa wana shinda njaa mitaani; wao walio lelewa kwa kuvaa nguo za zambarau, sasa wamelala katika majalala.
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6 Hukumu ya binti wa watu wangu ni kubwa kuliko hiyo ya Sodoma, na ilipinduliwa kwa dakika na hakuna aliye yanyua mkono kumsaidia.
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
7 Viongozi wake walikuwa wasafi kuliko theluji, weupe kuliko maziwa; miili yao ilikuwa imara kuliko jiwe, mwili wao ulikuwa kama yakuti samawi.
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
8 Muonekano wao umekuwa mweusi kama giza; hawatambuliki mitaani. Ngozi zao zimesinya kwenye mifupa yao; imekuwa kavu kama kuni.
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9 Hao walio uawa kwa upanga walikuwa na furaha zaidi kuliko hao walio kufa kwa njaa, walio potea, wakatobolewa kwa ukosefu wa mavuno shambani.
They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
10 Mikono ya wanawake wenye huruma imewachemsha watoto wao; wamekuwa chakula chao wakati ambapo binti wa watu wangu alipo kuwa akiharibiwa.
The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 Yahweh alionyesha gadhabu yake yote; alimwaga hasira yake kali. Aliwasha moto Sayuni uliteketeza misingi yake.
YHWH hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12 Wafalme wa dunia hawaku amini, wala wakazi wa dunia, kwamba maadui au wapinzani waliweza kuingia malangoni ya Yerusalemu.
The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
13 Haya yalitokea kwasababu ya dhambi za manabii na na maasi ya makuhani walio mwaga damu ya wenye haki mbele zake.
For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
14 Walitanga, kwa upofu, mitaani. Walikuwa wamejitia unajisi kwa damu hiyo ambapo hakuna aliye ruhusiwa kushika nguo zao.
They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
15 “Kaa mbali! Wewe mnajisi!” Watu waliwapazia sauti. “Kaa mbali! Kaa mbali! Usiguse!” Hivyo wakatanga; watu walisema miongoni mwa mataifa, “Hawawezi kukaa hapa tena.”
They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.
16 Yahweh mwenyewe akawatawanyisha; hawatazami tena. Hawa waheshimu makuhani, na hawaonyeshi upendeleo kwa wazee.
The anger of YHWH hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
17 Macho yetu yalikwama, yakitazama bure kwa msaada; kutoka minara yetu ya ulinzi tulitazama taifa lisilo weza tuokoa.
As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.
18 Walifuata hatua zetu, hatukuweza kutembea mitaani mwetu. Mwisho wetu ulikuwa karibu na siku zetu zilihesabiwa, mwisho wetu ulifika.
They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19 Walio tukimbiza walikuwa wepesi kuliko tai wa aangani. Walitukimbiza kwenye milima na kutuwinda nyikani.
Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20 Pumzi katika pua zetu - mpakwa mafuta wa Yahweh - ndiye aliye kamatwa katika shimo; ambaye ndiye aliye semewa, “Chini ya kivuli chake tutaishi miongoni mwa mataifa.”
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of YHWH, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.
21 Shangilia na ufurahi, binti wa Edomu, wewe unaye ishi nchi ya Uzi. Lakini kwako pia kikombe kitapitishwa; utalewa na kuvua nguo.
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
22 Binti wa Sayuni, hukumu yako itafika mwisho, hataongeza mateka yako lakini binti wa Edomu, ata muhadhibu; ata funua dhambi zako.
The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
