Zekaria 3

1 Kisha Yahwe akanionesha Yoshua kuhani mkuu amesimama mbele za malaika wa Yahwe na Shetani amesimama mkono wake wa kushoto kumshitaki kwa ajili ya dhambi.

Then [Yahweh] showed me Joshua, the Supreme Priest, [who was] standing in front of the angel that Yahweh had sent. And Satan was standing at Joshua’s right side, [ready] to accuse him.

2 Malaika wa Yahwe akamwambia Shetani, “Yahwe na akukemee, Yahwe, aliyeuchagua Yerusalemu, akukemee! Je hiki si kinga kilichotolewa motoni”

But Yahweh said to Satan, “Satan, I am rebuking you! I [am the one] who has chosen Jerusalem [to be my special city, and I] am rebuking you! This [man, Joshua], [has been brought back from Babylonia]; he is surely [like] [MET, RHQ] a burning stick that has been snatched from a fire.”

3 Yoshua alikuwa na mavazi machafu aliposimama mbele ya malaika.

Joshua was wearing filthy clothes while he was standing in front of the angel.

4 Malaika akawaambia waliosimama mbele yake, “Mvulisheni hayo mavazi machafu.” Kisha akamwambia Yoshua, “Tazama! nimeuondoa uovu wako na nitakuvika mavazi safi.”

The angel said to those [other angels] who were standing in front of him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” [After they did that, ] the angel said to Joshua, “Look! I have taken away [the guilt of] your sins, and I will put beautiful clothes on you.”

5 Haya wamvike kilemba safi kichwani!” Hivyo wakaweka kilemba safi kichwani pa Yoshua na wakamvika mavazi safi wakati malaika wa Yahwe amesimama kando.

Then I said to them, “Put a clean turban on his head!” So they put a clean turban on his head and put [new] on him, while the angel sent by Yahweh was standing there.

6 Kisha malaika wa Yahwe akamwagiza Yoshua na kusema,

Then the angel said [this] to Joshua:

7 Yahwe wa majeshi asema hivi: “Ikiwa utatembea katika njia zangu, na kutunza amri zangu, ndipo utakapoisimamia nyumba yangu na kulinda nyua zangu, kwa maana nitakuruhusu kwenda na kutoka kati ya wasimamao mbele zangu.

“The Commander of the armies of angels says that if you do what I want you to do [IDM], and obey my instructions, you will (be in charge of/have authority over) [what is done in] my temple and its courtyard. And I will allow you to speak at any time to the angels who are standing near to me.

8 WeweYoshua kuhani mkuu na wenzako wanaoishi nawe! Sikilizeni. Watu hawa ni ishara, kwa kuwa mimi mwenyewe nitamwinua mtumishi wangu aitwaye Tawi.

Joshua, [you are] the Supreme Priest, and your (associates/fellow priests) are sitting in front of you. They symbolize/represent things that will happen in the future. [Some day] I am going to bring someone who will work for me, someone who will be called the Branch.

9 Tazameni jiwe nililoliweka mbele ya Yoshua. Kuna macho saba juu ya jiwe hili moja, nami nitaandika maneno juu yake - asema Yahwe wa majeshi - nami nitaondoa dhambi katika nchi hii kwa siku moja.

Look at the stone that I have put in front of Joshua. There are seven sides on the stone. I will engrave a message on that stone, and in one day I will remove the guilt of [all the people of] this country.

10 Katika siku hiyo kila mtu atamwalika jirani yake kukaa chini ya mzabibu na mtini wake.” asema Yahwe wa majeshi.

At that time, each of you will invite his friends [to come and sit] under his grapevine and under his fig tree. [That is what] the Commander of the armies of angels declares.”