Zekaria 9
1 Hili ni tamko la neno la Yahwe kuhusu nchi ya Hadraki na Damesiki. Kwa maana jicho la Yahwe liko juu ya wanadamu wote, na juu ya kabila zote za Israeli pia.
[This is another] message [that I received] from Yahweh. [Yahweh said, ] “I watch [MTY] everyone, especially the tribes of Israel; [so] I will [punish the people in] the Hadrach [region] and in Damascus [city] [because of what they did to the people of Israel].
2 Azimio hili pia linaihusu Hamathi, inayopakana na Damesiki, na linahusu Tiro na Sidoni, japokuwa ni werevu sana.
[I will also punish the people in] nearby Hamath [city]. I will also [punish the people in] Tyre and Sidon [cities], even though they are [considered to be] [IRO] very wise.
3 Tiro amejijengea ngome na kurundika fedha kama mavumbi na dhahabu safi kama matope mitaani.
[The people in] Tyre built a high wall [around their city]. They piled up [huge amounts of] silver and gold as though they were [piles of] dirt in the streets.
4 Tazama! Bwana atamnyang'anya na kuharibu nguvu zake juu ya bahari, kwa hiyo atateketezwa kwa moto.
But [I], Yahweh, will cause their precious possessions to be taken away and all their ships to be destroyed, and their city will be destroyed by a fire.
5 Ashikeloni ataona na kuogopa! Gaza pia atatemeka sana! Ekroni, tumanini lake litatikiswa! Mfalme ataangamizwa kuanzia Gaza, na Ashikeloni haitakuwa na watu tena!
[The people in Ashkelon city] will see that [happen], and they will become very afraid. [The people in] Gaza [city] will shake because of being terrified, and [the people in Ekron city] will shake too, because they will no longer expect [to prosper]. The king of [the city of] Gaza will be killed, and [the city of] Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 Wageni watafanya makao yao katika Ashidodi, nami nitakiondoa kiburi cha Wafilisiti.
Foreigners will occupy Ashdod [city]. I will cause the [people in all those cities of] Philistia to no longer be proud.
7 Kwani nitaondoa damu yao katika vinywa vyao na machukizo yao kutoka kati ya meno yao. Ndipo watakapokuwa masalia kwa Mungu wetu kama ukoo katika Yuda, na Ekironi atakuwa kama Wayebusi.
I will no longer allow them to eat [MTY] meat that still has blood in it, and I will forbid them to eat [MTY] food that I [MTY] have not allowed them to eat [because it was offered to idols]. [At that time, ] the people [in Philistia] who survive will worship me, and they will become [my people, like] the people of Judah are. The Philistine people of Ekron will also become my people like [SIM] the people of Jebus did [when they were conquered].
8 Nitaweka kambi kuzunguka nchi yangu kinyume cha majeshi ya adui hata hakuna atakayeweza kupita ndani yake tena, kwani hakuna mtesaji atakayeipita tena. Kwa kuwa sasa nitaangalia nchi yangu kwa macho yangu mwenyewe!
I will protect my temple, and I will not allow any [enemy soldiers] to enter it. No [enemies] will harm my people again, because I will be watching [over my people] carefully.
9 Piga kelele kwa furaha, ewe binti Sayuni! Piga kelele kwa shangwe, ewe binti Yerusalem! Tazama! Mfalme wako anakuja kwako pamoja na uadilifu na anakuokoa. Ni mnyenyekevu, amepanda punda, mwanapunda.
Rejoice very much, [you people of] Jerusalem [APO, DOU] and shout joyfully, because your king will be coming to you. He is righteous and victorious; [but he will be] gentle, and [he will be] riding on a donkey, on a young female donkey.
10 Ndipo nitakapoondoa kibandawazi kutoka Efraimu na farasi kutoka Yerusalemu, na upinde utaondolewa katika vita; kwani atasema amani kwa mataifa, na utawala wake utakuwa kutoka bahari hata bahari, na kutoka katika mto hadi miisho ya dunia!
I will get rid of the chariots in the Ephraim [region that are used in battles] and [all] the war horses in Jerusalem. [All] the bows used in wars will be broken. [Your king] will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully in the nations. He will rule [the area] from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Dead] Sea, and from the [Euphrates] River to the most distant places on the earth.
11 Lakini kwenu, kwa sababu ya damu ya agano langu nanyi, nitawaweka wafungwa wenu huru kutoka shimoni pasipo na maji.
As for you [my people of Jerusalem], because of the blood [of the animals that were sacrificed to make] my agreement with you, I will free your people who were forced to go to other countries where [it was as though they were kept] in a waterless pit.
12 Rudini ngomeni, wafungwa wa matumaini! Hata leo natamka kwamba nitawarudishia mara mbili, kwani nimempinda Yuda kama upinde wangu.
[You people who were] prisoners [in those countries] who [still] confidently expect [God to help you], return to [Judah], where you will be safe. This day I declare that I will give you two blessings for [each of the troubles that you have experienced].
13 Hata nimelijaza podo langu pamoja na Efraimu. Nimewainua wana wenu, Sayuni, kinyume cha wana wenu, Ugiriki, na amekufanya wewe, Sayuni, kama upanga wa shujaa!
I will cause Judah to be like [MET] my bow, and I will cause Israel to be [like] [MET] my arrow. I will enable you young men of Jerusalem to fight against the soldiers of Greece; you will be like [SIM] a warrior’s sword.”
14 Yahwe atawatokea, na mishale yake itapiga kama radi! Kwa maana Yahwe Bwana wangu atapiga tarumbeta naye ataendelea pamoja na dhoruba kutoka Temani.
[Some day] Yahweh will appear [in the sky] above his people, and the arrows that he shoots will be like [SIM] lightning. Yahweh [our] Lord will blow his trumpet, and he will march [fiercely] like [MET] the storms from the south.
15 Yahwe wa majeshi atawatetea, nao watawararua na kuyashinda mawe ya kombeo. Ndipo watakapo kunywa na kupiga kelele kama mtu aliyelewa kwa mvunyo, nao watajazwa na mvinyo kama mabakuri, kama pembe za madhabahu.
The Commander of the armies of angels will protect [his people]; [the soldiers of Judah] will attack and defeat [their enemies who attack them] using slingshots. [Those soldiers of Judah] will drink and celebrate and shout like [SIM] people who are drunk; they will be as full [of wine] as the bowl that holds [the blood of the animals that are sacrificed] and [which is then] sprinkled on the corners of the altar.
16 Hivyo Yahwe Mungu wao atawaokoa siku hiyo; watakuwa kama kundi la kondoo lililo na watu wake, kwani watakuwa mapambo ya taji, yaliyoinuliwa juu ya nchi yake.
On that day, Yahweh our God will save his people [like a shepherd saves] his flock [of sheep from danger]. In their land, they will be like [SIM] jewels that sparkle on a crown.
17 Jinsi gani watakavyokuwa wazuri na warembo! vijana watastawi juu ya nafaka na bikra juu ya divai tamu!
They will be delightful and beautiful. The young men will become strong from [eating] grain, and the young women will [become strong] from [drinking] new wine.
