< Zekaria 2 >
1 Kisha nikainua macho yangu na kuona mtu akiwa na timazi mkononi mwake.
I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Nikamwuliza, “Unakwenda wapi?” Akaniambia, “Ninakwenda kuupima Yerusalemu ili kujua upana na urefu wake.”
Then I asked, “Where are you going?” He said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”
3 Ndipo malaika aliyekuwa anaongea nami akaondoka na malaika mwingine akaenda kukutana naye.
Behold, the angel who talked with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 Malaika wa pili akamwambia, “Nenda uongee na yule kijana umwambie, 'Yerusalemu utakuwa bila kuta kwa sababu ya wingi wa watu na wanyama ndani yake.
and said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
5 Kwa maana Yahwe asema, Nitakuwa ulinzi wake, na nitakuwa utukufu katikati yake.
For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her.
6 Kimbieni! kimbieni! kimbieni kutoka nchi ya kaskazini - asema Yahwe - kwa maana nimewatawanya kama pepo nne za anga! - Asema Yahwe.
Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,’ says the LORD; ‘for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,’ says the LORD.
7 Kimbilieni Sayuni haraka! ninyi mnaokaa na binti Babeli!” Asema Yahwe.
‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’
8 Kwa maana baada ya Yahwe wa majeshi kuniheshimu aliniweka kinyume na mataifa yaliyowateka - kwani awagusaye, agusa mboni ya jicho la Mungu! - baada ya Yahwe kutenda hivi, alisema,
For the LORD of Armies says: ‘For honour he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.
9 “Mimi mwenyewe nitatikisa mkono wangu juu yao, nao watakuwa mateka kwa watumwa wao.” Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba Yahwe wa majeshi amenituma.
For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a plunder to those who served them; and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me.
10 “Imba kwa furaha, binti Sayuni, kwa maana mimi mwenyewe nitakaa nawe! - asema Yahwe
Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion! For behold, I come and I will dwell within you,’ says the LORD.
11 Mataifa makubwa yataungana na Yahwe siku hiyo. “Nanyi mtakuwa watu wangu; kwa kuwa nitakaa kati yenu,” nanyi mtajua kuwa Yahwe wa majeshi amenituma kwenu.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell amongst you, and you shall know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.
12 Kwa maana Yahwe ataimilki Yuda kama milki yake halali katika nchi takatifu na kwa mara nyingine tena atauchagua Yerusalema kwa ajili yake mwenyewe.
The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
13 Nyamazeni, mbele za Yahwe, ninyi wote wenye mwili, maana ameinuka kutoka mahali patakatifu pake!
Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”