1
Jinsi dhahabu ilivyoacha kung'aa, Na dhahabu iliyo safi ilivyobadilika! Mawe ya patakatifu yametupwa Mwanzo wa kila njia.
How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
2
Wana wa Sayuni wenye thamani, Walinganao na dhahabu safi, Jinsi wanavyodhaniwa kuwa vyombo vya udongo, Kazi ya mikono ya mfinyanzi!
How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
3
Hata mbwa-mwitu hutoa matiti, Huwanyonyesha watoto wao; Binti ya watu wangu amekuwa mkali, Mfano wa mbuni jangwani.
Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.
4
Ulimi wa mtoto anyonyaye Wagandamana na kaakaa lake kwa kiu; Watoto wachanga waomba chakula, Wala hakuna hata mmoja awamegeaye.
The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.
5
Wale waliokula vitu vya anasa Wameachwa peke yao njiani; Wale waliokuzwa kuvaa nguo nyekundu Wakumbatia jaa.
Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
6
Maana uovu wa binti ya watu wangu ni mkubwa Kuliko dhambi ya Sodoma, Uliopinduliwa kama katika dakika moja, Wala mikono haikuwekwa juu yake.
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.
7
Wakuu wake walikuwa safi kuliko theluji, Walikuwa weupe kuliko maziwa; Miili yao, walikuwa wekundu kuliko marijani, Na umbo lao kama yakuti samawi.
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
8
Nyuso zao ni nyeusi kuliko makaa; Hawajulikani katika njia kuu; Ngozi yao yagandamana na mifupa yao Imekauka, imekuwa kama mti.
But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
9
Heri wale waliouawa kwa upanga Kuliko wao waliouawa kwa njaa; Maana hao husinyaa, wakichomwa Kwa kukosa matunda ya mashamba.
Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
10
Mikono ya wanawake wenye huruma Imewatokosa watoto wao wenyewe; Walikuwa ndio chakula chao Katika uharibifu wa binti ya watu wangu.
The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
Bwana ameitimiza kani yake, Ameimimina hasira yake kali; Naye amewasha moto katika Sayuni Ulioiteketeza misingi yake.
The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.
12
Wafalme wa dunia hawakusadiki, Wala wote wakaao duniani, Ya kwamba mtesi na adui wangeingia Katika malango ya Yerusalemu.
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13
Ni kwa sababu ya dhambi za manabii wake Na maovu ya makuhani wake, Walioimwaga damu ya wenye haki Katikati yake.
But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
14
Hutanga-tanga njiani kama vipofu, Wametiwa unajisi kwa damu; Hata ikawa watu wasiweze Kuyagusa mavazi yao.
They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
15
Watu waliwapigia kelele, Ondokeni, Uchafu, Ondokeni, ondokeni, msiguse; Walipokimbia na kutanga-tanga, watu walisema kati ya mataifa, Hawatakaa hapa tena.
“Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”
16
Hasira ya Bwana imewatenga, Yeye hatawaangalia tena; Hawakujali nafsi za wale makuhani, Hawakuwaheshimu wazee wao.
The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.
17
Macho yetu yamechoka Kwa kuutazamia bure msaada wetu; Katika kungoja kwetu tumengojea taifa Lisiloweza kutuokoa.
All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.
18
Wanatuvizia hatua zetu, Hata hatuwezi kwenda katika njia zetu; Mwisho wetu umekaribia, siku zetu zimetimia; Maana mwisho wetu umefika.
They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!
19
Waliotufuatia ni wepesi Kuliko tai za mbinguni; Hao walitufuatia milimani, Nao walituotea jangwani.
Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
20
Pumzi ya mianzi ya pua zetu, masihi wa BWANA, Alikamatwa katika marima yao;Ambaye kwa habari zake tulisema,Chini ya kivuli chake tukakaa kati ya mataifa.
The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
21
Furahi, ushangilie, Ee binti Edomu, Ukaaye katika nchi ya Usi; Hata kwako kikombe kitapita, Utalewa, na kujifanya uchi.
So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.
22
Uovu wako umetimia, Ee binti Sayuni; Hatakuhamisha tena; Atapatiliza uovu wako, Ee binti Edomu; Atazivumbua dhambi zako.
O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.