1
Katika mwezi wa nane, mwaka wa pili wa Dario, neno la Bwana lilimjia Zekaria, mwana wa Berekia, mwana wa Ido, nabii, kusema,
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying:
2
Bwana amewakasirikia sana baba zenu.
“The LORD was very angry with your fathers.
3
Basi, uwaambie, Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Nirudieni mimi, asema Bwana wa majeshi, nami nitawarudia ninyi, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’
4
Msiwe ninyi kama baba zenu, ambao manabii wa zamani waliwalilia, wakisema, Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Rudini sasa, na kuziacha njia zenu mbovu, na matendo yenu maovu; lakini hawakusikia, wala kunisikiliza, asema Bwana.
Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD.
5
Je! Baba zenu wako wapi? Nao manabii je! Waishi milele?
Where are your fathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6
Lakini maneno yangu, na amri zangu nilizowaagiza hao manabii, watumishi wangu, je! Hazikuwapata baba zenu? Nao wakageuka na kusema, Vile vile kama Bwana wa majeshi alivyoazimia kututenda, sawasawa na njia zetu, na sawasawa na matendo yetu, ndivyo alivyotutenda.
But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? They repented and said, ‘Just as the LORD of Hosts purposed to do to us according to our ways and deeds, so He has done to us.’”
7
Siku ya ishirini na nne ya mwezi wa kumi na moja, yaani, mwezi uitwao Shebati, katika mwaka wa pili wa Dario, neno la Bwana lilimjia Zekaria, mwana wa Berekia, mwana wa Ido, nabii, kusema,
On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo.
8
Naliona wakati wa usiku, na tazama, mtu amepanda farasi mwekundu, akasimama kati ya mihadasi iliyokuwa mahali penye uvuli; na nyuma yake walikuwapo farasi wengine wekundu, na wa rangi ya kijivujivu, na weupe.
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
9
Ndipo nikasema, Ee Bwana wangu, ni nini hawa? Basi yule malaika aliyesema nami akaniambia, Nitakuonyesha ni nini hawa.
“What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.”
10
Na yule mtu aliyesimama kati ya mihadasi akajibu, akasema, Hawa ndio Bwana aliowatuma, waende huko na huko duniani.
Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”
11
Nao wakamjibu yule malaika wa Bwana aliyesimama kati ya mihadasi, wakasema, Tumekwenda huko na huko duniani, na tazama, dunia yote inatulia, nayo imestarehe.
And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.”
12
Ndipo yule malaika wa Bwana akajibu, akasema, Ee Bwana wa majeshi, hata lini utakataa kuurehemu Yerusalemu, na miji ya Yuda uliyoikasirikia miaka hii sabini?
Then the angel of the LORD said, “How long, O LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been angry these seventy years?”
13
Naye Bwana akamjibu yule malaika aliyesema nami kwa maneno mazuri, maneno yenye faraja.
So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.
14
Basi yule malaika aliyesema nami akaniambia, Haya, piga kelele na kusema, Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Naona wivu kwa ajili ya Yerusalemu, na kwa ajili ya Sayuni; naona wivu mkuu sana.
Then the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,
15
Nami ninawakasirikia sana mataifa wanaokaa hali ya raha; kwa maana mimi sikukasirika ila kidogo tu, na wao waliyahimiza mateso.
but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’
16
Kwa sababu hiyo Bwana asema hivi, Ninaurudia Yerusalemu kwa rehema nyingi; nyumba yangu itajengwa ndani yake, asema Bwana wa majeshi, na kamba itanyoshwa juu ya Yerusalemu.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt, declares the LORD of Hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’
17
Piga kelele tena, na kusema, Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Miji yangu kwa kufanikiwa itaenezwa huko na huko tena; naye Bwana ataufariji Sayuni tena, atauchagua Yerusalemu tena.
Proclaim further that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
18
Nami nikainua macho yangu, nikaona, na tazama, pembe nne.
Then I looked up and saw four horns.
19
Nami nikamwuliza yule malaika aliyesema nami, Nini hizi? Naye akanijibu, Hizi ndizo pembe zilizowatawanya watu wa Yuda, na Israeli, na Yerusalemu.
So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
20
Kisha Bwana akanionyesha wafua chuma wanne.
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.
21
Ndipo nikauliza Hawa wanakuja kufanya nini? Akasema kwamba, Hizi ndizo pembe zilizowatawanya watu wa Yuda, hata ikawa hakuna mtu aliyeinua kichwa chake; lakini hawa wamekuja kuzifukuza, kuziangusha pembe za mataifa, walioinua pembe yao juu ya nchi ya Yuda, ili kuwatawanya watu wake.
“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”