1
Sasa utajikusanya vikosi vikosi, Ee binti wa vikosi; yeye amemhusuru; watampiga mwamuzi wa Israeli shavuni mwake kwa fimbo.
Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
2
Bali wewe, Bethlehemu Efrata, uliye mdogo kuwa miongoni mwa elfu za Yuda; kutoka kwako wewe atanitokea mmoja atakayekuwa mtawala katika Israeli; ambaye matokeo yake yamekuwa tangu zamani za kale, tangu milele.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
3
Kwa sababu hiyo atawatoa, hata wakati wa kuzaa kwake aliye na utungu; ndipo hayo mabaki ya nduguze watawarudia wana wa Israeli.
Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel.
4
Naye atasimama, na kulisha kundi lake kwa nguvu za Bwana, kwa enzi ya jina la Bwana, Mungu wake; nao watakaa; maana sasa atakuwa mkuu hata miisho ya dunia.
He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.
5
Na mtu huyu atakuwa amani yetu; wakati Mwashuri atakapoingia katika nchi yetu, na kuyakanyaga majumba yetu, hapo mtaondokesha wachungaji saba juu yake, na wakuu wanane.
And He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and tramples our citadels. We will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.
6
Nao wataiharibu nchi ya Ashuru kwa upanga, na nchi ya Nimrodi katika malango yake; naye atatuokoa na Mwashuri, atakapoingia katika nchi yetu, na kukanyaga ndani ya mipaka yetu.
And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn. So He will deliver us when Assyria invades our land and marches into our borders.
7
Na hayo mabaki ya Yakobo yatakuwa kati ya kabila nyingi mfano wa umande utokao kwa Bwana, mfano wa manyunyu katika manyasi; yasiyomngojea mtu, wala kuwakawilia wanadamu.
Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.
8
Na hayo mabaki ya Yakobo yatakuwa kati ya mataifa, kati ya kabila nyingi, mfano wa simba kati ya wanyama wa msituni, kama mwana-simba kati ya makundi ya kondoo, ambaye, akiwa anapita katikati, hukanyaga-kanyaga na kurarua-rarua, wala hakuna wa kuokoa.
Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them.
9
Mkono wako na uinuliwe juu ya adui zako, na adui zako wote wakauliwe mbali.
Your hand will be lifted over your foes, and all your enemies will be cut off.
10
Kisha itakuwa katika siku hiyo, asema Bwana, nitawakatilia mbali farasi zako watoke kati yako, nami nitayaharibu magari yako ya vita;
“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will remove your horses from among you and wreck your chariots.
11
nami nitaikatilia mbali miji ya nchi yako, na ngome zako zote nitaziangusha;
I will remove the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.
12
nami nitakatilia mbali uchawi, usiwe mkononi mwako; wala hutakuwa tena na watu wenye kutabana;
I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers.
13
nami nitakatilia mbali sanamu zako na nguzo zako, zitoke kati yako; wala hutaiabudu tena kazi ya mikono yako.
I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands.
14
Nami nitayang'oa maashera yenu, yasiwe kati yako; nami nitaiangamiza miji yako.
I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities.
15
Nami nitajilipiza kisasi katika hasira na ghadhabu juu ya mataifa wasiosikiliza.
I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed Me.”