1
Akaja mmoja wa wale malaika saba, wenye vile vitasa saba, akanena nami, akisema, Njoo huku, nitakuonyesha hukumu ya yule kahaba mkuu aketiye juu ya maji mengi;
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
2
ambaye wafalme wa nchi wamezini naye, nao wakaao katika nchi wamelevywa kwa mvinyo ya uasherati wake.
The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
3
Akanichukua katika Roho hata jangwani, nikaona mwanamke, ameketi juu ya mnyama mwekundu sana, mwenye kujaa majina ya makufuru, mwenye vichwa saba na pembe kumi.
And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
4
Na mwanamke yule alikuwa amevikwa nguo ya rangi ya zambarau, na nyekundu, amepambwa kwa dhahabu, na kito cha thamani, na lulu, naye alikuwa na kikombe cha dhahabu mkononi mwake, kilichojawa na machukizo, na machafu ya uasherati wake.
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
5
Na katika kipaji cha uso wake alikuwa na jina limeandikwa, la siri, BABELI MKUU, MAMA WA MAKAHABA NA MACHUKIZO YA NCHI.
And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6
Nikamwona yule mwanamke amelewa kwa damu ya watakatifu, na kwa damu ya mashahidi wa Yesu. Nami nilipomwona nikastaajabu ajabu kuu.
I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
7
Na yule malaika akaniambia, Kwani kustaajabu? Nitakuambia siri ya mwanamke huyu, na ya mnyama huyu amchukuaye, mwenye vile vichwa saba na zile pembe kumi.
“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
8
Yule mnyama uliyemwona alikuwako, naye hayuko, naye yu tayari kupanda kutoka kuzimu na kwenda kwenye uharibifu. Na hao wakaao juu ya nchi, wasioandikwa majina yao katika kitabu cha uzima tangu kuwekwa misingi ya ulimwengu, watastaajabu wamwonapo yule mnyama, ya kwamba alikuwako, naye hayuko, naye atakuwako.
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
9
Hapo ndipo penye akili zenye hekima. Vile vichwa saba ni milima saba anayokalia mwanamke huyo.
This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
10
Navyo ni wafalme saba. Watano wamekwisha kuanguka, na mmoja yupo, na mwingine hajaja bado. Naye atakapokuja imempasa kukaa muda mchache.
There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
11
Na yule mnyama aliyekuwako naye hayuko, yeye ndiye wa nane, naye ni mmoja wa wale saba, naye aenenda kwenye uharibifu.
The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.
12
Na zile pembe kumi ulizoziona ni wafalme kumi, ambao hawajapokea ufalme bado, lakini wapokea mamlaka kama wafalme muda wa saa moja pamoja na yule mnyama.
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.
13
Hawa wana shauri moja, nao wampa yule mnyama nguvu zao na mamlaka yao.
These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
14
Hawa watafanya vita na Mwana-Kondoo, na Mwana Kondoo atawashinda, kwa maana Yeye ni Bwana wa Mabwana, na Mfalme wa Wafalme, na hao walio pamoja naye ndio walioitwa, na wateule, na waaminifu.
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
15
Kisha akaniambia, Yale maji uliyoyaona, hapo aketipo yule kahaba, ni jamaa na makutano na mataifa na lugha.
Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
16
Na zile pembe kumi ulizoziona, na huyo mnyama, hao watamchukia yule kahaba, nao watamfanya kuwa mkiwa na uchi, watamla nyama yake, watamteketeza kabisa kwa moto.
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
17
Maana Mungu ametia mioyoni mwao kufanya shauri lake, na kufanya shauri moja, na kumpa yule mnyama ufalme wao hata maneno ya Mungu yatimizwe.
For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
18
Na yule mwanamke uliyemwona, ni mji ule mkubwa, wenye ufalme juu ya wafalme wa nchi.
And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”