< Habakkuk 1 >
1 This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:
Ujumbe ambao habakuki nabii alipokea,
2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?
Yahwe, kwa muda gani nitalilia msaada, na hutasikia? Nimekulilia wewe katika kitisho, 'vurugu' lakini hutaniokoa.
3 Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
Kwanini unanifanya nione mabaya na kuangalia matendo mabaya. Uharibifu na vurugu uko mbele yangu; kuna mapambano, na ushindani unainuka.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Walakini sheria ni dhaifu, na haki haiishi kwa wakati wowote. Sababu uovu umezunguka haki; walakini haki ya uongo inatoweka. “Yahwe” anamjibu habakuki
5 “Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
“Angalia mataifa na uwajaribu; stajaabishwa na shangazwa! Sababu nina uhakika kuhusu kufanya kitu katika siku zako kwamba hutaamini itakapotaarifiwa kwenu.
6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
Sababu angalia! nakaribia kuwainua Wakaldayo - taifa katili na lenye kishindo - wanatembea kupitia upana wa nchi kuteka nyumba zisizo za kwao.
7 They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
Wanahofu na kuogopa; hukumu yao na uzuri kutoka kwao unaendelea.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
Farasi wao pia wanambio sana kuliko chui, wepesi sana kuliko mbwa mwitu wa jioni. Farasi wao huwaseta, na wapanda farasi wao wanakuja kutoka mbali - wanapaa kama tai anayewahi kula.
9 All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.
Wote wanakuja kwa vurugu; makundi yao yanakwenda kama upepo wa jangwani, na wanakusanya mateka kama mchanga.
10 They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it.
Wanawadhihaki wafalme, na viongozi ni dhihaka kwaajili yao. Huicheka kila ngome, maana hurundika mavumbi na kuyaondoa.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”
Ndipo upepo utapita; itaendelea kupita - watu wenye hatia, ambao uwezo wao ni katika mungu.” Habakuki anamuuliza Yahwe swali lingine
12 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, You have established them for correction.
“Wewe si wa tangu nyakati za zamani, Yahwe Mungu wangu, uliye Mtakatifu? Sisi hatutakufa. Yahwe aliwatenga kwaajili ya hukumu, na ninyi, Mwamba, mmeimarisha kwaajili ya kusahihisha.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
Macho yenu ni safi kuangaza juu ya uovu, lakini hamuwezi kuangalia matendo mabaya kwa fadhila; kwa nini mnaangalia kwa upendeleo hivyo juu ambao wanasaliti? Kwanini kunyamaza wakati uovu unameza sana wenye haki zaidi yao?
14 You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
unawafanya watu kama samaki baharini, kama vitu vitambaavyo bila kiongozi juu yao.
15 The foe pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his dragnet, and gathers them in his fishing net; so he rejoices gladly.
Wao wanawaleta wote kwa ndoano; wanawakokota watu kutoka kwenye nyavu za samaki na kuwakusanya kwenye wavu wao. Hii ndiyo sababu wanafurahi na kupiga kelele kwa uchangamfu sana.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich.
Walakini wanatoa sadaka kwenye nyavu zao za kuvulia na kuchoma ubani kwenye nyavu zao, sababu wanyama wanene ni sehemu yao, na nyama iliyonona ni chakula chao.
17 Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?
Kwa sababu hiyo watamaliza nyavu zao za kuvulia na kuendelea kuchicha mataifa, bila kuhisi huruma”?