ʻIsaia 10

1 ‌ʻE malaʻia ʻakinautolu ʻoku fokotuʻu ʻae fono taʻemāʻoniʻoni, pea ʻoku tohi ʻae mamahi ʻaia kuo nau tuʻutuʻuni;

Terrible things will happen to you judges who are unjust and who make unfair laws.

2 Ke fakaafe ʻae masiva mei he fakamaau, pea faʻao ʻae totonu mei he masiva ʻo hoku kakai, ke nau kākaaʻi ʻae kau fefine kuo mate honau husepāniti, pea ke nau kaihaʻa mei he tamai mate!

You refuse to help poor people, and you do not allow them to get the things that they should get. You [allow people to] steal things from widows and do unfair things to orphans.

3 Pea ko e hā te mou fai ʻi he ʻaho ʻoe ʻaʻahi, pea ʻi he fakaʻauha ʻaia ʻe haʻu mei he mamaʻo? Te mou kumi ʻae tokoni meia hai? Pea te mou tuku ʻi fē ʻa homou nāunau?

When I punish you by sending people from distant lands to cause you to experience disasters, (to whom will you run to get help?/there will be no one who can help you.) [RHQ] Your valuable possessions will certainly [not be safe] [RHQ] anywhere.

4 ‌ʻI he taʻemaʻu au te nau hoko ko e pōpula ki he pōpula, pea moʻulaloa kiate kinautolu kuo fakamoʻulaloa. Pea neongo ʻae meʻa ni kotoa pē ʻoku ʻikai taʻofi hono houhau, ka ʻoku kei mafao hono nima.

You will be able only to stumble along as you are taken away with other prisoners, or [else] your corpses will lie on the ground with others who have been killed. But even after that happens, Yahweh will still be very angry with you. He will still be ready to strike you again with his fist.

5 ʻE malaʻia ʻae tangata ʻo ʻAsilia, ko e meʻa tā ʻo ʻeku tuputāmaki, pea ko e tokotoko ʻi honau nima ko hoku houhau ia.

[Yahweh says], “Terrible things will happen to Assyria. [It is true that their army] is like a rod/club [DOU] with which I [punish other nations] because I am very angry with those nations [DOU].

6 Te u fekau ia ki he puleʻanga mālualoi, pea ki he kakai ʻoku ou houhau ki ai te u tuku kiate ia ha fekau, ke ʻave ʻae koloa, pea ʻave mo e meʻakai, pea ke molomoloki ʻakinautolu ʻo hangē ko e pelepela ʻoe ngaahi hala.

[Sometimes] I send the armies of Assyria to attack a godless nation, to fight against [other] people who have caused me to be angry. I send them to capture people and to seize and take away their possessions, and to trample them like [SIM] people walk on mud in the streets.

7 Ka ko eni, ʻoku ʻikai ko hono loto ia, pea ʻoku ʻikai ke mahalo pehē ʻa hono loto; ka ʻoku ʻi hono loto ke tuʻusi mo fakaʻauha ʻae ngaahi puleʻanga lahi.

But the [king of Assyria] does not understand, he does not realize [that he is only like a weapon in my hand]. He wants [only] to destroy people, to get rid of many nations.

8 He ʻoku ne pehē, “ʻIkai ko e ngaahi tuʻi moʻoni ʻae ngaahi ʻeiki ʻoku ʻiate au?

He says, ‘All of my army commanders will soon be kings [of these nations that I conquer]!

9 ‌ʻIkai ʻoku tatau ʻa Kalino mo Kalikimisi? ʻIkai ʻoku tatau ʻa Hamate mo ʻApati? ʻIkai ʻoku tatau ʻa Samēlia mo Tamasikusi?

We destroyed Calno [city] like we destroyed Carchemish [city], We destroyed Hamath [city] like we destroyed Arpad [city]; we destroyed Samaria just like we destroyed Damascus.

10 ‌ʻO hangē ko e ʻilo ʻa hoku nima ʻae ngaahi puleʻanga ʻoe kau tamapua, ʻaia naʻe lahi hake ki Selūsalema mo Samēlia ʻenau ngaahi tamapua;

We were able to destroy [all] those kingdoms [that were full] of idols, kingdoms whose idols were greater than the idols in Jerusalem and Samaria.

11 ‌ʻO hangē ko ia kuo u fai ki Samēlia mo ʻene ngaahi tamapua, ʻikai te u fai pehē foki ki Selūsalema mo ʻene ngaahi tamapua?”

So we will defeat Jerusalem and destroy the idols that are there, just like we destroyed Samaria and the idols that were there!’

12 Ko ia ʻe hoko ʻo pehē, “ʻOka fakakakato ʻe he ʻEiki ʻa ʻene ngāue kotoa ʻi he moʻunga ko Saione pea mo Selūsalema, te u tautea ʻae futa ʻoe loto mālohi ʻoe tuʻi ʻo ʻAsilia, pea mo e hihiki ʻo hono mata fielahi.”

[But, I, Yahweh, say that] after I [have used Assyria to] finish what I want to do to punish the people in Jerusalem [DOU], I will punish the king of Assyria because he has been very proud and arrogant/boastful [DOU].

13 He ʻoku ne pehē, “ʻI he mālohi ʻo hoku nima kuo u fai eni, pea ʻi heʻeku poto; he ʻoku ou fai fakapotopoto: pea kuo u toʻo ʻae ngaahi fakangatangata ʻoe kakai, pea kaihaʻasia mo ʻenau koloa, pea kuo u fakamoʻulaloa ʻae kakai ʻo hangē ko ia ʻoku taau mo e tangata toʻa:

He says, ‘By my own great power [MTY] I have done these things. I have been able to do them because I am very wise and very intelligent. My army removed the barriers [at the borders] of nations and carried away all their valuable things. My army has knocked down their kings like [SIM] a ferocious bull would.

14 Pea kuo ʻilo ʻe hoku nima ʻae koloa ʻae kakai ʻo hangē ko ha pununga: pea hangē ko ha taha ʻoku tānaki ʻae ngaahi foʻi manu ʻoku pehē ʻa ʻeku tānaki ʻa māmani kotoa pē; pea naʻe ʻikai ha taha te ne ueʻi ʻae kapakau, pe fakamanga ʻae ngutu, pe fakaʻasi.”

Like [MET] a farmer reaches into a bird’s nest [to take away the eggs], we have taken away the treasures of other countries [DOU]. The people were not like birds that would flap their wings or chirp loudly [to protest about their eggs being stolen]; the people did not object at all [to their treasures being stolen].’

15 ‌ʻE fielahi ʻae toki kiate ia ʻoku ne tā ʻaki ia? Pe fielahi ʻae kili kiate ia ʻoku ne fetohoaki ia? ʻO hangē ka tā mai ʻae ʻakau kiate ia ʻoku ne toʻo ia, pea hangē ka hiki hake ʻe he tokotoko kiate ia ʻoku ne toʻo ia.

[But I, Yahweh, say that] an axe certainly cannot [RHQ] boast about being stronger than the person who uses it, and a saw is not greater than the person who uses it. A rod cannot control the one who holds it [RHQ], and a wooden club cannot lift up a person [RHQ]. [So the king of Assyria should not boast that he has done these things with his own wisdom and strength].

16 Ko ia ʻe fekau atu ʻe Sihova, ko e ʻEiki ʻoe ngaahi kautau, ʻae tutue ki honau kakai sino; pea te ne tutu ke vela ʻa hono nāunau ʻo hangē ko e kakaha ʻae afi.

And [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, will send a plague among the proud soldiers of Assyria; it will be like [MET] a fire that will kill them and get rid of their glory/wealth.

17 Pea ko e maama ʻo ʻIsileli ʻe hoko ia ko e afi, pea ko hono tokotaha māʻoniʻoni ko e ulo afi, pea ʻe kakaha ia pea fakaʻauha ʻi he ʻaho pe taha hono ngaahi ʻakau talatala mo e talatalaʻāmoa;

[I], Yahweh, who am like [MET] a light for the people of Israel, will be the fire; [I], the Holy One, will be like a flame. [The soldiers of Assyria are like] [MET] thorns and briers, and I will burn them up in one night.

18 Pea ʻe fakaʻauha ʻae lelei ʻoe vao lahi ʻo ia, pea mo ʻene ngoue ʻoku fua, ʻae laumālie mo e sino fakatouʻosi; pea te nau hangē ko e tangata toʻo fuka kuo pongia.

There are glorious forests and fertile farmlands in Assyria, but I will completely destroy them; they will be like [SIM] a [very] sick person who shrivels up and then dies.

19 Pea ko hono toe ʻoe ʻakau ʻoe vao lahi ko ia te nau tokosiʻi, ko ia ʻe faʻa tohi ia ʻe ha tamasiʻi.

There will be very few trees left in those forests; even a child will be able to count them.”

20 Pea ʻe hoko ʻi he ʻaho ko ia ʻo pehē, ko hono toe ʻo ʻIsileli, pea mo kinautolu kuo hao ʻi he fale ʻo Sēkope, ʻe ʻikai te nau toe falala kiate ia naʻe taaʻi ʻakinautolu; ka e falala moʻoni kia Sihova, ko e tokotaha māʻoniʻoni ʻo ʻIsileli.

In the future there will be only a few people left in Israel; not many descendants of Jacob will still be alive. [But] they will no longer rely on [the king of Assyria], [the king of the nation] that tried to destroy them. Instead, they will faithfully/sincerely trust in Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel.

21 ‌ʻE foki mai hono toe, ʻio, ʻae toe ʻo Sēkope, ki he ʻOtua Māfimafi.

Those Israelis will return to their mighty God.

22 He neongo ʻae tatau ʻa hoʻo kakai, ʻE ʻIsileli, mo e ʻoneʻone ʻoe tahi, ka e foki mai pe hono toe: kuo pau ke hoko ʻae fakaʻauha ʻe fonu mahua ʻi he fai totonu.

[Now], the people of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, but only a few of them will return [from the countries to which they were exiled]. Yahweh has decided to destroy [most of the Israelis] and that is what [he must do because he is completely] just/righteous.

23 He ko Sihova ko e ʻEiki ʻoe ngaahi kautau te ne fai ʻae fakaʻauha kuo kotofa, ʻi he lotolotonga ʻoe fonua kotoa pē.

[Yes, ] the Commander of the armies of angels has [already] decided to destroy the entire land [of Israel].

24 Ko ia ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ko e ʻEiki ʻoe ngaahi kautau, “ʻE hoku kakai ʻaia ʻoku nofo ʻi Saione, ʻoua ʻe manavahē ki he tangata ʻAsilia: te ne taaʻi koe ʻaki ʻae meʻa tā, pea hiki hake hono tokotoko kiate koe, ka ʻe hangē ko ia naʻe fai ʻi ʻIsipite.

This is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: “My people in Jerusalem, do not be afraid of the army of Assyria when they beat you with rods and clubs, like the men of Egypt did [to your ancestors long ago].

25 Koeʻuhi ʻe toetoe siʻi pea ʻe ngata ʻa hoku tuputāmaki, pea mo hoku houhau, ka te u fakaʻauha ʻakinautolu.

Soon I will no longer be angry with you, and [then] I will be angry with the people of Assyria and destroy them!”

26 Pea ʻe hiki hake ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau ʻae meʻa tautea ʻo hangē ko e fakaʻauha ʻa Mitiane ʻi he maka ko Olepi: pea tatau mo ʻene tokotoko naʻe ai ki he tahi, ʻe pehē ʻa ʻene hiki hake ia ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe fai ki ʻIsipite.

The Commander of the armies of angels will whip them. He will do to them like he did when he helped Gideon [and his 300 soldiers] to defeat the [army of the] Midian people-group, and like he did when he showed his mighty power [MTY] [by causing the army of Egypt to drown] in the [Red] Sea.

27 Pea ʻe hoko pehē, ʻi he ʻaho ko ia, ʻe toʻo ʻene kavenga mei ho uma, mo ʻene haʻamonga mei ho kia, pea ʻe maumauʻi ʻae haʻamonga mei homou uma.”

Some day, Yahweh will cause the army of Assyria to stop oppressing you, [his people]; he will end your suffering and your being slaves of the people of Assyria [MET]; he will take away the load that you people of Judah have been carrying, and cause things to go well for you.

28 Kuo haʻu ia ki ʻAiata, kuo ʻalu atu ia ki Mikiloni; kuo ne tānaki ʻene ngaahi saliote ʻi Mikimasi:

[The army of Assyria will enter northern Judah] near Aiath [town], they will go through Migron [town] and store their supplies at Micmash [town north of Jerusalem].

29 Kuo nau laka ʻi he potu fāsiʻi: kuo nau nofo ʻi Kepa; ʻoku manavahē ʻa Lama; pea kuo hola ʻa Kipea ʻo Saula.

They will cross through a mountain pass and set up their tents at Geba [town]. [People in] Ramah [town] will tremble [because of being afraid]. [The people of] Gibeah [town], where King Saul [was born], will [all] run away.

30 ‌ʻE ʻofefine ʻo Kalimi, hiki hake ho leʻo: fai ke ongo atu ia ki Leisi, ʻE ʻAnatoti masiva.

You people of Gallim [town] will cry out [for help]. You will shout to [the people of] Laish [city near Jerusalem] to warn them! [The people of] Anathoth [town] will suffer a lot.

31 Kuo ʻave ʻa Matemena; ʻoku fakataha ʻakinautolu ʻe he kakai ʻe Kepime ke nau hola.

[The people of] Madmenah [town north of Jerusalem will all] be running away, and [the people of] Gebim [town close to Jerusalem] will be trying to hide.

32 Te ne nofo pe ia ʻi he ʻaho ni ʻi Nope: te ne lulululu hono nima ki he moʻunga ʻoe ʻofefine ʻo Saione, ʻae moʻunga ʻo Selūsalema.

The soldiers of Assyria will stop at Nob [city outside Jerusalem]. They will shake their fists [as they threaten the people] on Zion Hill in Jerusalem.

33 Vakai, ko e ʻEiki, ko Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau, te ne tuʻusi ʻae vaʻa ʻaki ʻae manavahē lahi: pea ko kinautolu ʻoku māʻolunga ʻe tā hifo, pea ko e fielahi ʻe fakavaivaiʻi.

But listen to this! The Commander of the armies of angels with his great power will destroy [MET] the mighty army of Assyria. [It is as though they are] a huge tree [MET] that he will cut down.

34 Pea te ne tuʻusi ki lalo ʻae ngaahi potu ʻakau matolu ʻoe vao lahi ʻaki ʻae ukamea, pea ʻe tō ki lalo ʻa Lepanoni ʻi ha taha mālohi.

He will destroy the [soldiers of Assyria] like men use big axes to cut down the tall trees in the forests of Lebanon.