His Watchtower
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
Mimi nitasimama katika zamu yangu, nitajiweka juu ya mnara, nitaangalia ili nione atakaloniambia, na jinsi nitakavyojibu katika habari ya kulalamika kwangu.
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Bwana akanijibu, akasema, Iandike njozi ukaifanye iwe wazi sana katika vibao, ili aisomaye apate kuisoma kama maji.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Maana njozi hii bado ni kwa wakati ulioamriwa, inafanya haraka ili kuufikilia mwisho wake, wala haitasema uongo; ijapokawia, ingojee; kwa kuwa haina budi kuja, haitakawia.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Tazama, roho yake hujivuna, haina unyofu ndani yake; lakini mwenye haki ataishi kwa imani yake.
5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
Naam, pamoja na hayo, divai ni mchumi mdanganyifu, mtu wa kiburi asiyekaa nyumbani mwake; huongeza tamaa yake kama kuzimu, naye huwa kama mauti, hawezi kushibishwa; bali hujikusanyia mataifa yote; hujiwekea kabila zote chungu chungu.
6 shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
Je! Hawa wote hawatapiga mfano juu yake, na mithali ya kusimanga juu yake, wakisema, Ole wake yeye aongezaye kisicho mali yake! Hata lini? Na ole wake yeye ajitwikaye mzigo wa rehani!
7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
Je! Hawatainuka ghafula wao watakaokuuma, hawataamka wao watakaokusumbua, nawe utakuwa mateka kwao?
8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Kwa sababu umeteka nyara mataifa mengi, mabaki yote ya kabila watakuteka wewe; kwa sababu ya damu ya watu, na kwa sababu ya udhalimu iliotendwa nchi hii, na mji huu, na watu wote wanaokaa ndani yake.
9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
Ole wake yeye aipatiaye nyumba yake mapato mabaya, ili apate kukiweka kioto chake juu, apate kujiepusha na mkono wa uovu!
10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
Wewe umeifanyia nyumba yako kusudi la aibu, kwa kukatilia mbali watu wengi, nawe umetenda dhambi juu ya roho yako.
11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
Kwa maana jiwe litapiga kelele katika ukuta, nayo boriti katika miti italijibu.
12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Ole wake yeye ajengaye mji kwa damu, awekaye imara mji mkubwa kwa uovu!
13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Angalieni; je! Jambo hili halikutoka kwa Bwana wa majeshi, kwamba watu wajishughulikie moto, na mataifa wajisumbue kwa ajili ya ubatili?
14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Kwa maana dunia itajazwa maarifa ya utukufu wa Bwana, kama maji yaifunikavyo bahari.
15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him , and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
Ole wake yeye ampaye jirani yake kileo, wewe utiaye sumu yako, na kumlevya pia, ili kuutazama uchi wao!
16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
Umejaa aibu badala ya utukufu; unywe nawe, uwe kama mtu asiyetahiriwa; kikombe cha mkono wa kuume wa Bwana kitageuzwa ukipokee, na aibu kuu itakuwa juu ya utukufu wako.
17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Kwa maana udhalimu uliotendwa juu ya Lebanoni utakufunikiza, na kuangamizwa kwao wanyama kutakutia hofu; kwa sababu ya damu ya watu, na kwa sababu ya udhalimu iliotendwa nchi hii, na mji huu, na watu wote wanaokaa ndani yake.
18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Sanamu ya kuchora yafaa nini, hata yeye aliyeifanya ameichora? Sanamu ya kuyeyuka, nayo ni mwalimu wa uongo, yafaa nini, hata yeye aliyeifanya aiwekee tumaini lake, na kufanya sanamu zisizoweza kusema?
19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Ole wake yeye auambiaye mti, Amka; aliambiaye jiwe lisiloweza kusema, Ondoka! Je! Kitu hicho kitafundisha? Tazama, kimefunikwa kwa dhahabu na fedha, wala hamna pumzi ndani yake kabisa.
20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Lakini Bwana yumo ndani ya hekalu lake takatifu; dunia yote na inyamaze kimya mbele zake.
