The Prince of Peace
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Lakini yeye aliyekuwa katika dhiki hatakosa changamko. Hapo kwanza aliiingiza nchi ya Zabuloni na nchi ya Naftali katika hali ya kudharauliwa, lakini zamani za mwisho ameifanya kuwa tukufu, karibu na njia ya bahari; ng'ambo ya Yordani, Galilaya ya mataifa.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Watu wale waliokwenda katika giza Wameona nuru kuu; Wale waliokaa katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, Nuru imewaangaza.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Umeliongeza taifa, umezidisha furaha yao; Wanafurahi mbele zako, Kama furaha ya wakati wa mavuno, Kama watu wafurahivyo wagawanyapo nyara.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
Kwa maana umeivunja nira ya mzigo wake, na gongo la bega lake, na fimbo yake yeye aliyemwonea, kama katika siku ya Midiani.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
Maana silaha zote za mtu mwenye silaha wakati wa mshindo, na mavazi yaliyofingirishwa katika damu, yatakuwa tayari kuteketezwa, yatakuwa kuni za kutiwa motoni.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Maana kwa ajili yetu mtoto amezaliwa, Tumepewa mtoto mwanamume; Na uweza wa kifalme utakuwa begani mwake; Naye ataitwa jina lake, Mshauri wa ajabu, Mungu mwenye nguvu, Baba wa milele, Mfalme wa amani.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Maongeo ya enzi yake na amani Hayatakuwa na mwisho kamwe, Katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi na ufalme wake; Kuuthibitisha na kuutegemeza Kwa hukumu na kwa haki, Tangu sasa na hata milele. Wivu wa Bwana wa majeshi ndio utakaotenda hayo.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
Bwana alimpelekea Yakobo neno, likamfikilia Israeli.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
Nao watu wote watajua, yaani, Efraimu na yeye akaaye Samaria, wasemao kwa kiburi na kwa kujisifu nafsi zao,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
Matofali yameanguka, lakini sisi tutajenga kwa mawe yaliyochongwa; mikuyu imekatwa lakini sisi tutaweka mierezi badala yake.
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
Kwa sababu hiyo Bwana atawainua adui wa Resini juu yake, naye atawachochea adui zake;
12 the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Waashuri upande wa mbele, na Wafilisti upande wa nyuma, nao watamla Israeli kwa kinywa kilicho wazi. Pamoja na hayo yote hasira yake haikugeukia mbali, lakini mkono wake umenyoshwa hata sasa.
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
Lakini watu hao hawakumwelekea yeye aliyewapiga, wala kumtafuta Bwana wa majeshi.
14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
Kwa sababu hiyo Bwana atakata katika Israeli kichwa na mkia, kuti na nyasi, katika siku moja.
15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
Mzee mwenye kuheshimiwa ndiye kichwa, na nabii afundishaye uongo ndiye mkia.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Kwa maana wawaongozao watu hawa ndio wawakoseshao, na hao walioongozwa na watu hao wameangamia.
17 Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Kwa sababu hiyo Bwana hatawafurahia vijana wao, wala hatawahurumia yatima zao wala wajane wao; maana kila mtu ni mnajisi, dhalimu, na kila ulimi hunena upumbavu. Pamoja na hayo yote hasira yake haikugeukia mbali, lakini mkono wake umenyoshwa hata sasa.
18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
Kwa maana uovu huteketeza kama moto; huila mibigili na miiba, naam, huwaka katika vichaka vya mwitu, nao hupaa juu katika mawingu mazito ya moshi.
19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
Kwa sababu ya hasira ya Bwana wa majeshi nchi hii inateketea kabisa; watu hawa nao ni kama kuni zitiwazo motoni; hapana mtu amhurumiaye ndugu yake.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
Hupokonya upande wa mkono wa kuume, nao huona njaa! Hula upande wa mkono wa kushoto, wala hawashibi! Watakula kila mtu nyama ya mkono wake mwenyewe.
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Manase anamla Efraimu, naye Efraimu anamla Manase; nao wawili pamoja watakuwa juu ya Yuda. Pamoja na hayo yote hasira yake haikugeukia mbali, lakini mkono wake umenyoshwa hata sasa.
