Psalms 78
1 [A Psalm] of instruction for Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law: incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
2 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings [which have been] from the beginning.
Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
3 All which we have heard and known, and our fathers have declared to us.
yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
4 They were not hid from their children to a second generations; [the fathers] declaring the praises of the Lord, and his mighty acts, and his wonders which he wrought.
Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
5 And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children:
Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
6 that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare them to their children.
ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
7 That they might set their hope on God, and not forget the works of God, but diligently seek his commandments.
Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
8 That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which set not its heart aright, and its spirit was not steadfast with God.
Ili wasifanane na baba zao, waliokuwa kizazi cha ukaidi na uasi, ambao roho zao hazikuwa na uaminifu kwake, ambao roho zao hazikumwamini.
9 The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting [with] the bow, turned [back] in the day of battle.
Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and would not walk in his law.
Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
11 And they forgot his benefits, and his miracles which he [had] showed them;
Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
12 the miracles which he wrought before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanes.
Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
13 He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as [in] a bottle.
Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
14 And he guided them with a cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
15 he clave a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.
Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
16 And he brought water out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down as rivers.
alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
17 And they sinned yet more against him; they provoked the Most High in the wilderness.
Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
18 And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.
Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
19 They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
20 Forasmuch as he struck the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?
Alipopiga mwamba, maji yalitoka kwa nguvu, vijito vikatiririka maji mengi. Lakini je, aweza kutupa chakula pia? Je, anaweza kuwapa watu wake nyama?”
21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.
Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
23 Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
24 and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.
akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
25 Man ate angels' bread; he sent them provision to the full.
Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
26 He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the southwest wind.
Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
27 And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.
Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
28 And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.
Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
29 So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.
Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
30 They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,
Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
31 then the indignation of God rose up against them, and killed the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.
hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
32 In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.
Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
33 And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years with anxiety.
Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
34 When he killed them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.
Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
35 And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
36 Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
37 For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
38 But he is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy [them]: yes, he will frequently turn away his wrath, and will not kindle all his anger.
Hata hivyo alikuwa na huruma, alisamehe maovu yao na hakuwaangamiza. Mara kwa mara alizuia hasira yake, wala hakuchochea ghadhabu yake yote.
39 And he remembered that they are flesh; a wind that passes away, and returns not.
Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
40 How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] anger him in a dry land!
Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
41 Yes, they turned back, and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
42 They remembered not his hand, the day in which he delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.
Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanes:
siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
44 and had changed their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they should not drink.
Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
45 He sent against them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; and the frog, and it spoiled them.
Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
46 And he gave their fruit to the canker worm, and their labours to the locust.
Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
47 He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost.
Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
48 And he gave up their cattle to hail, and their substance to the fire.
Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
49 He sent out against them the fury of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels.
Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
50 He made a way for his wrath; he spared not their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death;
Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
51 and struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt; the first fruits of their labours in the tents of Cham.
Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
52 And he removed his people like sheep; he led them as a flock in the wilderness.
Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
53 And he guided them with hope, and they feared not: but the sea covered their enemies.
Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
54 And he brought them in to the mountain of his sanctuary, this mountain which his right hand had purchased.
Hivyo akawaleta hadi kwenye mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, hadi nchi ya vilima ambayo mkono wake wa kuume ulikuwa umeitwaa.
55 And he cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies.
Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
57 And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow.
Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
58 And they provoked him with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
59 God heard and lightly regarded [them], and greatly despised Israel.
Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
60 And he rejected the tabernacle of Selom, his tent where he lived amongst men.
Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
61 And he gave their strength into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
62 And he gave his people to the sword; and disdained his inheritance.
Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
63 Fire devoured their young men; and their virgins mourned not.
Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for.
makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
65 So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] as a mighty man who has been heated with wine.
Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
66 And he struck his enemies in the hinder parts: he brought on them a perpetual reproach.
Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
67 And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
68 but chose the tribe of Juda, the mount Sion which he loved.
lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
69 And he built his sanctuary as [the place] of unicorns; he founded it for ever on the earth.
Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep.
Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
71 He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
72 So he tended them in the innocency of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
