1
Ole wa taji ya kiburi ya walevi wa Efraimu, na ua la uzuri wa fahari yake linalonyauka, lililo kichwani mwa bonde linalositawi, la hao walioshindwa na divai!
Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.
2
Tazama, Bwana ana mmoja aliye hodari, mwenye nguvu; kama dhoruba ya mvua ya mawe, tufani iharibuyo, kama dhoruba ya maji mengi yafurikayo, ndivyo atakavyotupa chini kwa mkono.
Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.
3
Taji ya kiburi ya walevi wa Efraimu itakanyagwa kwa miguu;
The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.
4
na ua la uzuri wa fahari yake linalonyauka, lililo kichwani mwa bonde linalositawi, litakuwa kama tini iliyotangulia kuiva kabla ya wakati wa hari, ambayo, aionapo yeye aiangaliaye, huila mara anapoishika mkononi mwake.
The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.
5
Katika siku ile Bwana wa majeshi atakuwa ni taji ya fahari, na kilemba cha uzuri, kwa mabaki ya watu wake.
On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,
6
Naye atakuwa roho ya hukumu kwake yeye aketiye ili ahukumu; naye atakuwa nguvu kwao wageuzao nyuma vita langoni.
a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
7
Lakini hawa nao wamekosa kwa divai, wamepotea kwa kileo; kuhani na nabii wamekosa kwa kileo, wamemezwa kwa divai, wamepotea kwa kileo; hukosa katika maono, hujikwaa katika hukumu.
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
8
Maana meza zote zimejaa matapiko na uchafu, hapana mahali palipo safi.
For all their tables are covered with vomit; there is not a place without filth.
9
Atamfundisha nani maarifa? Atamfahamisha nani habari hii? Je! Ni wale walioachishwa maziwa, walioondolewa matitini?
Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast?
10
Kwa maana ni amri juu ya amri, amri juu ya amri; kanuni juu ya kanuni, kanuni juu ya kanuni; huku kidogo na huku kidogo.
For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”
11
La, bali kwa midomo ya watu wageni, na kwa lugha nyingine atasema na watu hawa;
Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people
12
ambao aliwaambia, Hii ndiyo raha yenu, mpeni raha yeye aliyechoka; huku ndiko kuburudika; lakini hawakutaka kusikia.
to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.
13
Kwa sababu hiyo neno la Bwana kwao litakuwa hivi, amri juu ya amri, amri juu ya amri; kanuni juu ya kanuni, kanuni juu ya kanuni; huku kidogo na huku kidogo; ili waende na kuanguka nyuma, na kuvunjwa, na kunaswa, na kuchukuliwa.
Then the word of the LORD to them will become: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there,” so that they will go stumbling backward and will be injured, ensnared, and captured.
14
Basi, lisikieni neno la Bwana, enyi watu wenye dharau, mnaowatawala watu hawa walio ndani ya Yerusalemu.
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15
Kwa sababu mmesema, Tumefanya agano na mauti, tumepatana na kuzimu; pigo lifurikalo litakapopita, halitatufikia sisi; kwa maana tumefanya maneno ya uongo kuwa kimbilio letu, tumejificha chini ya maneno yasiyo kweli;
For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”
16
kwa ajili ya hayo Bwana, MUNGU, asema hivi, Tazama, naweka jiwe katika Sayuni, liwe msingi, jiwe lililojaribiwa, jiwe la pembeni lenye thamani, msingi ulio imara; yeye aaminiye hatafanya haraka.
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
17
Nami nitafanya hukumu kuwa ndiyo kanuni, na haki kuwa ndiyo timazi; na mvua ya mawe itachukulia mbali hilo kimbilio la maneno ya uongo, na maji yatapagharikisha mahali pa kujisitiri.
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
18
Na agano lenu mliloagana na mauti litabatilika, tena mapatano yenu mliyopatana na kuzimu hayatasimama; pigo lifurikalo litakapopita, ndipo ninyi mtakapokanyagwa nalo.
Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it.
19
Kila wakati litakapopita litawachukueni. Maana litapita asubuhi baada ya asubuhi, wakati wa mchana na wakati wa usiku; na kuifahamu habari ile kutakuwa kitisho tu.
As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
20
Maana kitanda kile ni kifupi asiweze mtu kujinyosha juu yake, na nguo ile ya kujifunika ni nyembamba asipate mtu kujizingisha.
Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too small to wrap around you.
21
Maana Bwana ataondoka kama vile katika mlima Perasimu, ataghadhibika kama vile katika bonde la Gibeoni; apate kufanya kazi yake, kazi yake ya ajabu; na kulitimiza tendo lake, tendo lake la ajabu.
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.
22
Basi sasa msiwe watu wenye kudharau, vifungo vyenu msije vikakazwa; maana nimesikia kwa Bwana, Bwana wa majeshi, habari ya hukumu itakayotimizwa, nayo imekusudiwa, itakayoipata dunia yote pia.
So now, do not mock, or your shackles will become heavier. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts a decree of destruction against the whole land.
23
Tegeni masikio, sikieni sauti yangu, sikilizeni mkasikie neno langu.
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.
24
Je! Mwenye kulima alima daima, ili apande? Afunua daima madongoa ya nchi yake, na kuyavunja?
Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil?
25
Akiisha kuulainisha uso wa nchi yake, je! Hamwagi huko na huko kunde, na kutupa-tupa jira, na kuitia ngano safu safu, na shayiri mahali pake palipochaguliwa, na kusemethi karibu na mipaka yake?
When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, and rye within its border.
26
Kwa maana Mungu wake anamwagiza vizuri na kumfundisha.
For his God instructs and teaches him properly.
27
Kwa maana kunde zile hazipurwi kwa chombo kikali, wala gurudumu la gari halipitishwi huko na huko juu ya jira ile, bali kunde zile hupurwa kwa fimbo, na jira ile kwa ufito.
Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge, and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin. But caraway is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod.
28
Ngano ya mkate husagwa; kwa maana haipuri siku zote bila kukoma; na ingawa gurudumu la gari lake na farasi wake huitawanya ngano ile, haisagi.
Grain for bread must be ground, but it is not endlessly threshed. Though the wheels of the cart roll over it, the horses do not crush it.
29
Hayo nayo yatoka kwa Bwana wa majeshi, mwenye shauri la ajabu, apitaye wote kwa hekima yake.
This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.