Hosea 12
1 Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
Efraimu anajilisha upepo; hufukuzia upepo wa mashariki kutwa nzima na kuzidisha uongo na jeuri. Anafanya mkataba na Ashuru na kutuma mafuta ya zeituni Misri.
2 The LORD also brings a charge against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
Bwana analo shtaka dhidi ya Yuda, atamwadhibu Yakobo kwa kadiri ya njia zake na kumlipa kwa kadiri ya matendo yake.
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
Yakobo akiwa tumboni alishika kisigino cha kaka yake; kama mwanadamu, alishindana na Mungu.
4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there —
Alishindana na malaika na kumshinda; alilia na kuomba upendeleo wake. Alimkuta huko Betheli na kuzungumza naye huko:
5 the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.
Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Bwana ndilo jina lake!
6 But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God.
Lakini ni lazima urudi kwa Mungu wako; dumisha upendo na haki, nawe umngojee Mungu wako siku zote.
7 A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.
Mfanyabiashara hutumia vipimo vya udanganyifu; hupenda kupunja.
8 And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”
Efraimu hujisifu akisema, “Mimi ni tajiri sana; nimetajirika. Pamoja na utajiri wangu wote hawatakuta ndani yangu uovu wowote au dhambi.”
9 But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.
“Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu niliyewaleta kutoka Misri; nitawafanya mkae tena kwenye mahema, kama vile katika siku za sikukuu zenu zilizoamriwa.
10 I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.
Niliongea na manabii, nikawapa maono mengi na kusema mifano kupitia wao.”
11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.
Je, Gileadi si mwovu? Watu wake hawafai kitu! Je, hawatoi dhabihu za mafahali huko Gilgali? Madhabahu zao zitakuwa kama malundo ya mawe katika shamba lililolimwa.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep.
Yakobo alikimbilia katika nchi ya Aramu; Israeli alitumika ili apate mke, ili aweze kulipa kwa ajili yake alichunga kondoo.
13 But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
Bwana alimtumia nabii kumpandisha Israeli kutoka Misri, kwa njia ya nabii alimtunza.
14 Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.
Lakini Efraimu amemchochea sana hasira; Bwana wake ataleta juu yake hatia yake ya kumwaga damu naye atamlipiza kwa ajili ya dharau yake.
