Hosea 10
1 Israel is like a spreading vine that produces fruit for itself. The more fruit they produced, the more altars they built. The more productive the land, the more beautiful they made the sacred pillars.
Israeli alikuwa mzabibu uliostawi sana, alijizalia matunda mwenyewe. Kadiri matunda yake yalivyoongezeka, alijenga madhabahu zaidi; kadiri nchi yake ilivyostawi, alipamba mawe yake ya ibada.
2 The people have minds that are deceptive, and now they must take responsibility for their guilt. The Lord will break apart their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.
Moyo wao ni mdanganyifu, nao sasa lazima wachukue hatia yao. Bwana atabomoa madhabahu zao na kuharibu mawe yao ya ibada.
3 Then they will say, “We have no king, for we do not fear the Lord, and yet what would a king do for us?”
Kisha watasema, “Hatuna mfalme kwa sababu hatukumheshimu Bwana. Lakini hata kama tungelikuwa na mfalme, angeweza kutufanyia nini?”
4 They speak empty words, swearing false promises to make a covenant. Their “justice” flourishes like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
Wanaweka ahadi nyingi, huapa viapo vya uongo wanapofanya mapatano; kwa hiyo mashtaka huchipuka kama magugu ya sumu katika shamba lililolimwa.
5 Those who live in Samaria tremble in awe at the calf of Beth-aven. Its people mourn for it in their pagan rituals, while its idolatrous priests celebrate its glory. But it will certainly be taken away from them. It will be brought to Assyria as tribute for the great king.
Watu wanaoishi Samaria huogopa kwa ajili ya sanamu ya ndama ya Beth-Aveni. Watu wake wataiombolezea, vivyo hivyo kuhani wake wa kuabudu sanamu, wale waliokuwa wamefurahia fahari yake, kwa sababu itaondolewa kutoka kwao kwenda uhamishoni.
6 Ephraim will be disgraced, and Israel will be ashamed at its own decisions.
Itachukuliwa kwenda Ashuru kama ushuru kwa mfalme mkuu. Efraimu atafedheheshwa; Israeli ataaibika kwa ajili ya sanamu zake za mti.
7 Samaria and its king will be destroyed, swept away like a twig on the surface of the water.
Samaria na mfalme wake wataelea kama kijiti juu ya uso wa maji.
8 The high places of Aven, where Israel sinned, will be demolished, and thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. Then they will call to the mountains, “Bury us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
Mahali pa kuabudia sanamu pa uovu pataharibiwa: ndiyo dhambi ya Israeli. Miiba na mibaruti itaota na kufunika madhabahu zao. Kisha wataiambia milima, “Tufunikeni!” na vilima, “Tuangukieni!”
9 Since the days of Gibeah you have been sinning, Israel, and you haven't changed. Do the people of Gibeah think that war will not come to them?
“Tangu siku za Gibea, mmetenda dhambi, ee Israeli, huko ndiko mlikobaki. Je, vita havikuwapata watenda mabaya huko Gibea?
10 When I choose I will punish the wicked. The nations will be gathered together against them when they are punished for their double crime.
Wakati nitakapopenda, nitawaadhibu; mataifa yatakusanywa dhidi yao ili kuwaweka katika vifungo kwa ajili ya dhambi zao mbili.
11 Ephraim is like a trained heifer that loved to thresh the grain, but now I will place a yoke on her strong neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will have to pull the plough; and Jacob must break up the ground for himself.
Efraimu ni mtamba wa ngʼombe aliyefundishwa ambaye hupenda kupura, hivyo nitamfunga nira juu ya shingo yake nzuri. Nitamwendesha Efraimu, Yuda lazima alime, naye Yakobo lazima avunjavunje mabonge ya udongo.
12 Sow for yourselves what is right and you will reap unfailing love. Break up the unploughed ground. It's time to go to the Lord until he comes and rains down goodness on you.
Jipandieni wenyewe haki, vuneni matunda ya upendo usio na kikomo, vunjeni ardhi yenu isiyolimwa; kwa kuwa ni wakati wa kumtafuta Bwana, mpaka atakapokuja na kuwanyeshea juu yenu haki.
13 But instead you have planted wickedness and reaped an evil harvest. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own strength and in your many warriors.
Lakini mmepanda uovu, mkavuna ubaya, mmekula tunda la udanganyifu. Kwa sababu mmetegemea nguvu zenu wenyewe na wingi wa mashujaa wenu,
14 The terrifying noise of battle will rise against your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, just as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel in the time of war. Even mothers and children were dashed to pieces.
mngurumo wa vita utainuka dhidi ya watu wako, ili kwamba ngome zako zote zitaharibiwa: kama Shalmani alivyoharibu Beth-Arbeli katika siku ile ya vita, wakati mama pamoja na watoto wao walipotupwa kwa nguvu ardhini.
15 This is what will happen to you, Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At dawn, the king of Israel will be utterly destroyed.
Ndivyo itakavyotokea kwako, ee Betheli, kwa sababu uovu wako ni mkuu. Siku ile itakapopambazuka, mfalme wa Israeli ataharibiwa kabisa.
