< 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 a declaration of Yahweh's word concerning the land of Hadrak and Damascus, its resting place; for the eyes of all humanity and all the tribes of Israel are toward Yahweh.
2 Azimio hili pia linaihusu Hamathi, inayopakana na Damesiki, na linahusu Tiro na Sidoni, japokuwa ni werevu sana.
This declaration also concerns Hamath, which borders on Damascus, and it concerns Tyre and Sidon, for they are very wise.
3 Tiro amejijengea ngome na kurundika fedha kama mavumbi na dhahabu safi kama matope mitaani.
Tyre has built herself a stronghold and heaped up silver like dust and refined gold like mud in the streets.
4 Tazama! Bwana atamnyang'anya na kuharibu nguvu zake juu ya bahari, kwa hiyo atateketezwa kwa moto.
Look! The Lord will dispossess her and destroy her strength on the sea, so she will be devoured by fire.
5 Ashikeloni ataona na kuogopa! Gaza pia atatemeka sana! Ekroni, tumanini lake litatikiswa! Mfalme ataangamizwa kuanzia Gaza, na Ashikeloni haitakuwa na watu tena!
Ashkelon will see and be afraid! Gaza also will tremble greatly! Ekron, her hopes will be disappointed! The king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall no longer be inhabited!
6 Wageni watafanya makao yao katika Ashidodi, nami nitakiondoa kiburi cha Wafilisiti.
Strangers will make their homes in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
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.
For I will remove their blood from their mouths and their abominations from between their teeth. Then they will become a remnant for our God like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will become like the Jebusites.
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 camp around my land against enemy armies, so no one can pass through or return, for no oppressor will overrun them, for now I see with my own eyes!
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.
Shout with great joy, daughter of Zion! Shout with happiness, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold! Your king is coming to you with righteousness and is rescuing you. He is humble and is riding on a donkey, on the colt of a 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!
Then I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow will be cut off from battle; for he will speak peace to the nations, and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of 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, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the pit where there is no water.
12 Rudini ngomeni, wafungwa wa matumaini! Hata leo natamka kwamba nitawarudishia mara mbili, kwani nimempinda Yuda kama upinde wangu.
Return to the stronghold, prisoners of hope! Even today I am declaring that I will return double to you,
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!
for I have bent Judah as my bow. I have filled my quiver with Ephraim. I have roused your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and have made you, Zion, like 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.
Yahweh will appear to them, and his arrows will shoot out like lightning! For my Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet and will advance with the storms from Teman.
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.
Yahweh of hosts will defend them, and they will devour them and defeat the stones of the slings. Then they will drink and shout like men drunk on wine, and they will be filled with wine like bowls, like 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.
So Yahweh their God will rescue them on that day, as the flock of his people. They are the jewels of a crown that will shine on his land.
17 Jinsi gani watakavyokuwa wazuri na warembo! vijana watastawi juu ya nafaka na bikra juu ya divai tamu!
How good and how beautiful they will be! The young men will flourish on grain and the virgins on sweet wine!”