< Hosea 13 >
1 When Ephraim spoke, a horror seized Israel: and he sinned in Baal and died.
Efraimu alipozungumza, kulikuwa na tetemeko. Alijikuza katika Israeli, lakini akawa na hatia kwa sababu ya ibada ya Baali, naye akafa.
2 And now they have sinned more and more: and they have made to themselves a molten thing of their silver as the likeness of idols: the whole is the work of craftsmen: to these that say: Sacrifice men, ye that adore calves.
Sasa wanafanya dhambi zaidi na zaidi. Wanatengeneza sanamu za chuma kutoka kwenye fedha zao, sanamu kwa kadiri ya ufanisi wao, zote ni kazi ya mafundi. Watu wanasema juu yao, 'Watu hawa watoao dhabihu na kumbusu ndama.'
3 Therefore they shall be as a morning aloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the dust that is driven with a whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
Kwa hiyo watakuwa kama mawingu ya asubuhi, kama umande unaoondoka mapema, kama makapi yanayotokana na upepo kutoka kwenye sakafu, na kama moshi utokao kwenye bomba.
4 But I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt: and thou shalt know no God but me, and there is no saviour beside me.
Lakini mimi ndimi Bwana, Mungu weko, tangu nchi ya Misri. Hutamjua Mungu mwingine bali mimi; wala zaidi yangu, hakuna mkombozi mwingine.
5 I knew thee in the desert, in the land of the wilderness.
Nilikujua jangwani, katika nchi yenye kame.
6 According to their pastures they were filled, and were made full: and they lifted up their heart, and have forgotten me.
Wakati ulipokuwa na malisho, ulishiba; na wakati uliposhiba, moyo wako ukainuliwa. Kwa sababu hiyo umenisahau.
7 And I will be to them as a lioness, as a leopard in the way of the Assyrians.
Nitakuwa kama simba; kama chui nitaangalia kando ya njia.
8 I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them.
Nitawaangamiza kama dubu aliyenyang'anywa watoto wake. Nami nitararua vifua vyao, na huko nitawaangamiza kama simba, kama vile mnyama wa mwitu atakayerarua vipande vipande.
9 Destruction is thy own, O Israel: thy help is only in me.
Nitawaangamiza, Israeli; nani atakayekusaidia?
10 Where is thy king? now especially let him save thee in all thy cities: and thy judges, of whom thou saidst: Give me kings and princes.
Mfalme wako yuko wapi, ili akuokoe katika miji yako yote? Wako wapi wakuu, ambao kwao umeniambia hivi, 'Nipe mfalme na wakuu'?
11 I will give thee a king in my wrath, and will take him away in my indignation.
Nimekupa mfalme kwa hasira yangu, nikamchukua kwa ghadhabu yangu.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hidden.
Uovu wa Efraimu umehifadhiwa; hatia yake imehifadhiwa.
13 The sorrows of a woman in labour snail come upon him, he is an unwise son: for now he shall not stand in the breach of the children.
Atakuwa na uchungu wa kujifungua, lakini ni mwana mjinga, kwa maana wakati wa kuzaliwa, hatatoka tumboni.
14 I will deliver them out of the hand of death. I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite: comfort is hidden from my eyes. (Sheol )
Je, nitawaokoa na mkono wa kaburi? Je, nitawaokoa na kifo? Ewe Mauti yako wapi mapigo yako? Ewe kaburi kuko wapi kuharibu kwako? Huruma itafichwa na macho yangu. (Sheol )
15 Because he shall make a separation between brothers: the Lord will bring a burning wind that shall rise from the desert, and it shall dry up his springs, and shall make his fountain desolate, and he shall carry off the treasure of every desirable vessel.
Ingawa Efraimu anafanikiwa kati ya ndugu zake, upepo wa mashariki utakuja; upepo wa Bwana utapiga kutoka jangwani. Kijito cha maji cha Efraimu kitauka, na kisima chake hakitakuwa na maji. Adui yake atapora ghala lake la kila kitu cha thamani.
16 Let Samaria perish, because she hath stirred up her God to bitterness: let them perish by the sword, let their little ones be dashed, and let the women with child be ripped up.
Samaria itakuwa na hatia, kwa sababu amemuasi dhidi ya Mungu wake. Wataanguka kwa upanga; watoto wao wadogo watavunjwa, na wanawake wao wajawazito watatambuliwa wazi.