Hosea 11
1 Just as the morning passes, so has the king of Israel passed by. For Israel was a child and I loved him; and out of Egypt I called my son.
“Wakati Israeli alikuwa kijana nilimpenda, na nikamwita mtoto wangu kutoka Misri.
2 They called them, and so they departed before their face. They offered victims to the Baals, and they sacrificed to graven images.
Kwa kadiri waliyoitwa, ndivyo walivyoondoka kwangu. Wakawafanyia dhabihu Baali, wakatafuta uvumba kwa sanamu.
3 And I was like a foster father to Ephraim. I carried them in my arms. And they did not know that I healed them.
Lakini mimi ndio niliyemfundisha Efraimu kutembea. Ndiye niliyewainua kwa silaha zao, lakini hawakujua kwamba niliwajali.
4 I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love. And I will be to them like one who raises the yoke over their jaws. And I will reach down to him so that he may eat.
Niliwaongoza kwa kamba za ubinadamu, na mafungo ya upendo. Mimi nilikuwa kama mtu aliyepunguza jozi juu ya taya zao, na nikainama na kuwalisha.
5 He will not return to the land of Egypt, but Assur himself will be the king over him, because they were not willing to be converted.
Je, hawatarudi nchi ya Misri? Je, Ashuru haitatawala juu yao kwa sababu wanakataa kurudi kwangu?
6 The sword has begun in his cities, and it will consume his elect and devour their heads.
Upanga utaanguka juu ya miji yao na kuharibu makomeo ya milango yao; itawaangamiza kwa sababu ya mipango yao wenyewe.
7 And my people will long for my return. But a yoke will be imposed on them together, which will not be taken away.
Watu wangu wameamua kuniacha. Ingawa wanaita kwa Aliye Juu, hakuna mtu atawasaidia.
8 How will I provide for you, Ephraim; how will I protect you, Israel? How will I provide for you as for Adam; will I set you like Zeboiim? My heart has changed within me; together with my regret, it has been stirred up.
Ninawezaje kukuacha, Efraimu? Ninawezaje kukupeleka, Israeli? Ninawezaje kukufanya kama Adma? Ninawezaje kukufanya kama Seboimu? Moyo wangu umebadilika ndani yangu; huruma zangu zote zimeongezeka.
9 I will not act on the fury of my wrath. I will not turn back to utterly destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the Divine in your midst, and I will not advance upon the city.
Sitafanya hasira yangu kali; Mimi sitawaangamiza Efraimu tena. Kwa maana mimi ni Mungu, wala si mtu; Mimi ni Mtakatifu kati yenu, nami sitakuja katika ghadhabu.
10 They will walk after the Lord; he will roar like a lion. For he himself will roar, and the sons of the sea will dread.
Watanifuata, Bwana. Nitanguruma kama simba. Nami nitaomboleza, na watu watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.
11 And they will fly like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove from the land of the Assyrians. And I will arrange them in their own houses, says the Lord.
Watakuja wakitetemeka kama ndege kutoka Misri, kama njiwa kutoka nchi ya Ashuru. Nitawafanya wapate kuishi katika nyumba zao.” Hii ndiyo tamko la Bwana.
12 Ephraim has besieged me with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah went down as a witness before God and the holy ones of faith.
Efraimu ananizunguka kwa maneno ya uongo, na nyumba ya Israeli kwa udanganyifu. Lakini Yuda bado anaendelea nami, Mungu, na ni mwaminifu kwangu, Mtakatifu.
