1
Piga kelele, usiache, Paza sauti yako kama tarumbeta; Uwahubiri watu wangu kosa lao, Na nyumba ya Yakobo dhambi zao.
“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2
Walakini wanitafuta kila siku; hupenda kujua njia zangu; kama vile taifa waliotenda haki, wasioacha sheria ya Mungu wao, hutaka kwangu amri za haki; hufurahi kumkaribia Mungu.
For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”
3
Husema, Mbona tumefunga, lakini huoni? Mbona tumejitaabisha nafsi zetu, lakini huangalii? Fahamuni, siku ya kufunga kwenu mnatafuta anasa zenu wenyewe, na kuwalemea wote watendao kazi kwenu.
“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
4
Tazama, ninyi mwafunga mpate kushindana na kugombana, na kupiga kwa ngumi ya uovu. Hamfungi siku hii ya leo hata kuisikizisha sauti yenu juu.
You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.
5
Je! Kufunga namna hii ni saumu niliyoichagua mimi? Je! Ni siku ya mtu kujitaabisha nafsi yake? Ni kuinama kichwa kama unyasi, na kutanda nguo za magunia na majivu chini yake? Je! Utasema ni siku ya kufunga, na ya kukubaliwa na Bwana?
Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6
Je! Saumu niliyoichagua, siyo ya namna hii? Kufungua vifungo vya uovu, kuzilegeza kamba za nira, kuwaacha huru walioonewa, na kwamba mvunje kila nira?
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?
7
Je! Siyo kuwagawia wenye njaa chakula chako, na kuwaleta maskini waliotupwa nje nyumbani kwako? Umwonapo mtu aliye uchi, umvike nguo; wala usijifiche na mtu mwenye damu moja nawe?
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8
Ndipo nuru yako itakapopambazuka kama asubuhi, na afya yako itatokea mara; na haki yako itakutangulia; utukufu wa Bwana utakufuata nyuma ukulinde.
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9
Ndipo utaita, na Bwana ataitika; utalia, naye atasema, Mimi hapa. Kama ukiiondoa nira; isiwepo kati yako, wala kunyosha kidole, wala kunena maovu;
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,
10
na kama ukimkunjulia mtu mwenye njaa nafsi yako, na kuishibisha nafsi iliyoteswa; ndipo nuru yako itakapopambazuka gizani; na kiwi chako kitakuwa kama adhuhuri.
and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.
11
Naye Bwana atakuongoza daima, ataishibisha nafsi yako mahali pasipokuwa na maji, na kuitia nguvu mifupa yako; nawe utakuwa kama bustani iliyotiwa maji, na kama chemchemi ambayo maji yake hayapungui.
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
12
Na watu wako watapajenga mahali palipokuwa ukiwa; utaiinua misingi ya vizazi vingi; nawe utaitwa, Mwenye kutengeneza mahali palipobomoka; na, Mwenye kurejeza njia za kukalia.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.
13
Kama ukigeuza mguu wako usihalifu sabato, usifanye anasa yako siku ya utakatifu wangu; ukiita sabato siku ya furaha, na siku takatifu ya Bwana yenye heshima; ukiitukuza, kwa kutokuzifanya njia zako mwenyewe, wala kuyatafuta yakupendezayo, wala kusema maneno yako mwenyewe;
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,
14
ndipo utakapojifurahisha katika Bwana; nami nitakupandisha mahali pa nchi palipoinuka; nitakulisha urithi wa Yakobo baba yako; kwa maana kinywa cha Bwana kimenena hayo.
then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.