Osee 14

1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord thy God; for the people have fallen through thine iniquities.

Rudi, ee Israeli, kwa Bwana Mungu wako. Dhambi zako zimekuwa ndilo anguko lako!

2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord your God: speak to him, that ye may not receive [the reward of] unrighteousness, but that ye may receive good things: and we will render in return the fruit of our lips.

Chukueni maneno pamoja nanyi, mkamrudie Bwana. Mwambieni: “Samehe dhambi zetu zote na utupokee kwa neema, ili tuweze kutoa matunda yetu kama sadaka za mafahali.

3 Assur shall never save us; we will not mount on horseback; we will no longer say to the works of our hands, Our gods. He who is in thee shall pity the orphan.

Ashuru hawezi kutuokoa, hatutapanda farasi wa vita. Kamwe hatutasema tena ‘Miungu yetu’ kwa kile ambacho mikono yetu wenyewe imetengeneza, kwa kuwa kwako wewe yatima hupata huruma.”

4 I will restore their dwellings, I will love them truly: for he has turned away my wrath from him.

“Nitaponya ukaidi wao na kuwapenda kwa hiari yangu, kwa kuwa hasira yangu imeondoka kwao.

5 I will be as dew to Israel: he shall bloom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Libanus.

Nitakuwa kama umande kwa Israeli; atachanua kama yungiyungi. Kama mwerezi wa Lebanoni atashusha mizizi yake chini;

6 His branches shall spread, and he shall be as a fruitful olive, and his smell shall be as [the smell] of Libanus.

matawi yake yatatanda. Fahari yake itakuwa kama mti wa mzeituni, harufu yake nzuri kama mwerezi wa Lebanoni.

7 They shall return, and dwell under his shadow: they shall live and be satisfied with corn, and he shall flower as a vine: his memorial shall be to Ephraim as the wine of Libanus.

Watu wataishi tena kwenye kivuli chake. Atastawi kama nafaka. Atachanua kama mzabibu, nao umaarufu wake utakuwa kama divai itokayo Lebanoni.

8 What [has] he to do any more with idols? I have afflicted him, and I will strengthen him: I am as a leafy juniper tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Ee Efraimu, nina shughuli gani tena na sanamu? Nitamjibu na kumtunza. Mimi ni kama msunobari wenye majani mabichi; kuzaa kwako matunda kunatoka kwangu.”

9 Who is wise, and will understand these things? or prudent, and will know them? for the ways of the Lord are straight, and the righteous shall walk in them: but the ungodly shall fall therein.

Ni nani mwenye hekima? Atayatambua mambo haya. Ni nani mwenye ufahamu? Huyu atayaelewa. Njia za Bwana ni adili; wenye haki huenda katika njia hizo, lakini waasi watajikwaa ndani yake.