True Righteousness
1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
Ikawa katika mwaka wa nne wa mfalme Dario, neno la Bwana lilimjia Zekaria, siku ya nne ya mwezi wa kenda, yaani, Kisleu.
2 when they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
Basi watu wa Betheli walikuwa wamewatuma Shareza na Regem-meleki, na watu wao, ili kuomba fadhili za Bwana,
3 and to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
na kusema na makuhani wa nyumba ya Bwana wa majeshi, na hao manabii, ya kwamba, Je! Yanipasa kulia katika mwezi wa tano, na kujitenga na watu, kama nilivyofanya miaka hii mingi iliyopita?
4 Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,
Ndipo neno la Bwana wa majeshi likanijia, kusema,
5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month , even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
Waambie watu wote wa nchi, na hao makuhani, ukisema, Hapo mlipofunga na kuomboleza katika mwezi wa tano na mwezi wa saba, katika miaka hiyo sabini, je! Mlinifungia mimi kwa lo lote; mlinifungia mimi?
6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves , and drink for yourselves?
Na wakati mlapo chakula na kunywa, je! Hamli kwa ajili ya nafsi zenu, na kunywa kwa ajili ya nafsi zenu?
7 Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
Je! Hayo siyo maneno aliyoyasema Bwana kwa vinywa vya manabii wa zamani, wakati Yerusalemu ulipokaliwa na watu na kufanikiwa, na miji yake iliyokuwa ikiuzunguka; na wakati ule ambao nchi ya Negebu na Shefela ilipokuwa ikikaliwa na watu?
8 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
Kisha neno la Bwana likamjia Zekaria, kusema,
9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Bwana wa majeshi amesema hivi, ya kwamba, Fanyeni hukumu za kweli, kila mtu na amwonee ndugu yake rehema na huruma;
10 and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
tena msimdhulumu mjane, wala yatima, wala mgeni, wala maskini; wala mtu awaye yote miongoni mwenu asiwaze mabaya juu ya ndugu yake moyoni mwake.
11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Lakini hao walikataa kusikiliza, wakageuza bega lao, wakaziba masikio yao ili wasisikie.
12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
Naam, walifanya mioyo yao kuwa kama jiwe gumu, wasije wakaisikia sheria na maneno ya Bwana wa majeshi, aliyoyapeleka kwa roho yake kwa mkono wa manabii wa kwanza; kwa sababu hiyo ghadhabu kuu ikatoka kwa Bwana wa majeshi.
13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
Ikawa kwa sababu alilia, wao wasitake kusikiliza; basi, wao nao watalia, wala mimi sitasikiliza, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
14 but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
Lakini nitawatawanya kwa upepo wa kisulisuli, katikati ya mataifa yote wasiowajua. Basi hivyo ndivyo ilivyokuwa ukiwa nchi baada yao, hata hapakuwa na mtu aliyepita kati yake, wala aliyerudi; maana waliifanya nchi iliyopendeza sana kuwa ukiwa.
