< Hosea 8 >
1 Set the horn to thy mouth. As a vulture he cometh against the house of the LORD; because they have transgressed My covenant, and trespassed against My law.
“Wekeni tarumbeta midomoni mwenu! Tai yuko juu ya nyumba ya Bwana kwa sababu watu wamevunja Agano langu, wameasi dhidi ya sheria yangu.
2 Will they cry unto Me: 'My God, we Israel know Thee'?
Israeli ananililia, ‘Ee Mungu wetu, tunakukubali!’
3 Israel hath cast off that which is good; the enemy shall pursue him.
Lakini Israeli amekataa lile lililo jema, adui atamfuatia.
4 They have set up kings, but not from Me, they have made princes, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
Wanaweka wafalme bila idhini yangu, wamechagua wakuu bila kibali changu. Kwa fedha zao na dhahabu wamejitengenezea sanamu kwa ajili ya maangamizi yao wenyewe.
5 Thy calf, O Samaria, is cast off; Mine anger is kindled against them; how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
Ee Samaria, tupilieni mbali sanamu yenu ya ndama! Hasira yangu inawaka dhidi yao. Watakuwa najisi mpaka lini?
6 For from Israel is even this: the craftsman made it, and it is no God; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in shivers.
Zimetoka katika Israeli! Ndama huyu: ametengenezwa na fundi, si Mungu. Atavunjwa vipande vipande, yule ndama wa Samaria.
7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; it hath no stalk, the bud that shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.
“Wanapanda upepo na kuvuna upepo wa kisulisuli. Bua halina suke, halitatoa unga. Kama lingetoa nafaka, wageni wangeila yote.
8 Israel is swallowed up; now are they become among the nations as a vessel wherein is no value.
Israeli amemezwa; sasa yupo miongoni mwa mataifa kama kitu kisicho na thamani.
9 For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Kwa kuwa wamepanda kwenda Ashuru kama punda-mwitu anayetangatanga peke yake. Efraimu amejiuza mwenyewe kwa wapenzi.
10 Yea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them up; and they begin to be minished by reason of the burden of king and princes.
Ingawa wamejiuza wenyewe miongoni mwa mataifa, sasa nitawakusanya pamoja. Wataanza kudhoofika chini ya uonevu wa mfalme mwenye nguvu.
11 For Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, yea, altars have been unto him to sin.
“Ingawa Efraimu alijenga madhabahu nyingi kwa ajili ya sadaka za dhambi, hizi zimekuwa madhabahu za kufanyia dhambi.
12 Though I write for him never so many things of My Law, they are accounted as a stranger's.
Nimeandika kwa ajili yao mambo mengi kuhusu sheria yangu, lakini wameziangalia kama kitu cha kigeni.
13 As for the sacrifices that are made by fire unto Me, let them sacrifice flesh and eat it, for the LORD accepteth them not. Now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.
Wanatoa dhabihu nilizopewa mimi nao wanakula hiyo nyama, lakini Bwana hapendezwi nao. Sasa ataukumbuka uovu wao na kuadhibu dhambi zao: Watarudi Misri.
14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded palaces, and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof.
Israeli amemsahau Muumba wake na kujenga majumba ya kifalme, Yuda amejengea miji mingi ngome. Lakini nitatuma moto kwenye miji yao utakaoteketeza ngome zao.”