1
Kisha nikaona mnyama akitoka katika bahari, mwenye pembe kumi, na vichwa saba, na juu ya pembe zake ana vilemba kumi, na juu ya vichwa vyake majina ya makufuru.
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
2
Na yule mnyama niliyemwona alikuwa mfano wa chui, na miguu yake ilikuwa kama miguu ya dubu, na kinywa chake kama kinywa cha simba, yule joka akampa nguvu zake na kiti chake cha enzi na uwezo mwingi.
The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
3
Nikaona kimoja cha vichwa vyake kana kwamba kimetiwa jeraha la mauti, na pigo lake la mauti likapona. Dunia yote ikamstaajabia mnyama yule.
One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.
4
Wakamsujudu yule joka kwa sababu alimpa huyo mnyama uwezo wake; nao wakamsujudu yule mnyama, wakisema, Ni nani afananaye na mnyama huyu? Tena ni nani awezaye kufanya vita naye?
They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”
5
Naye akapewa kinywa cha kunena maneno makuu, ya makufuru. Akapewa uwezo wa kufanya kazi yake miezi arobaini na miwili.
The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
6
Akafunua kinywa chake amtukane Mungu, na kulitukana jina lake, na maskani yake, nao wakaao mbinguni.
And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.
7
Tena akapewa kufanya vita na watakatifu na kuwashinda, akapewa uwezo juu ya kila kabila na jamaa na lugha na taifa.
Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
8
Na watu wote wakaao juu ya nchi watamsujudu, kila ambaye jina lake halikuandikwa katika kitabu cha uzima cha Mwana-Kondoo, aliyechinjwa tangu kuwekwa misingi ya dunia.
And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
9
Mtu akiwa na sikio na asikie.
He who has an ear, let him hear:
10
Mtu akichukua mateka, atachukuliwa mateka. Mtu akiua kwa upanga, atauawa kwa upanga. Hapa ndipo penye subira na imani ya watakatifu.
“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.
11
Kisha nikaona mnyama mwingine, akipanda juu kutoka katika nchi; naye alikuwa na pembe mbili mfano wa Mwana-Kondoo, akanena kama joka.
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.
12
Naye atumia uwezo wote wa mnyama yule wa kwanza mbele yake. Naye aifanya dunia na wote wakaao ndani yake wamsujudie mnyama wa kwanza, ambaye jeraha lake la mauti lilipona.
And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.
13
Naye afanya ishara kubwa, hata kufanya moto kushuka kutoka mbinguni uje juu ya nchi mbele ya wanadamu.
And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.
14
Naye awakosesha wale wakaao juu ya nchi, kwa ishara zile alizopewa kuzifanya mbele ya huyo mnyama, akiwaambia wakaao juu ya nchi kumfanyia sanamu yule mnyama, aliyekuwa na jeraha la upanga naye akaishi.
Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
15
Akapewa kutia pumzi katika ile sanamu ya mnyama, hata ile sanamu ya mnyama inene, na kuwafanya hao wote wasioisujudu sanamu ya mnyama wauawe.
The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.
16
Naye awafanya wote, wadogo kwa wakubwa, na matajiri kwa maskini, na walio huru kwa watumwa, watiwe chapa katika mkono wao wa kuume, au katika vipaji vya nyuso zao;
And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
17
tena kwamba mtu awaye yote asiweze kununua wala kuuza, isipokuwa ana chapa ile, yaani, jina la mnyama yule, au hesabu ya jina lake.
so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18
Hapa ndipo penye hekima. Yeye aliye na akili, na aihesabu hesabu ya mnyama huyo; maana ni hesabu ya kibinadamu. Na hesabu yake ni mia sita, sitini na sita.
Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.