< Habakkuk 1 >
1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
Ujumbe ambao habakuki nabii alipokea,
2 O Yhwh, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Yahwe, kwa muda gani nitalilia msaada, na hutasikia? Nimekulilia wewe katika kitisho, 'vurugu' lakini hutaniokoa.
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Kwanini unanifanya nione mabaya na kuangalia matendo mabaya. Uharibifu na vurugu uko mbele yangu; kuna mapambano, na ushindani unainuka.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Walakini sheria ni dhaifu, na haki haiishi kwa wakati wowote. Sababu uovu umezunguka haki; walakini haki ya uongo inatoweka. “Yahwe” anamjibu habakuki
5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
“Angalia mataifa na uwajaribu; stajaabishwa na shangazwa! Sababu nina uhakika kuhusu kufanya kitu katika siku zako kwamba hutaamini itakapotaarifiwa kwenu.
6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
Sababu angalia! nakaribia kuwainua Wakaldayo - taifa katili na lenye kishindo - wanatembea kupitia upana wa nchi kuteka nyumba zisizo za kwao.
7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Wanahofu na kuogopa; hukumu yao na uzuri kutoka kwao unaendelea.
8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
Farasi wao pia wanambio sana kuliko chui, wepesi sana kuliko mbwa mwitu wa jioni. Farasi wao huwaseta, na wapanda farasi wao wanakuja kutoka mbali - wanapaa kama tai anayewahi kula.
9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
Wote wanakuja kwa vurugu; makundi yao yanakwenda kama upepo wa jangwani, na wanakusanya mateka kama mchanga.
10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
Wanawadhihaki wafalme, na viongozi ni dhihaka kwaajili yao. Huicheka kila ngome, maana hurundika mavumbi na kuyaondoa.
11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
Ndipo upepo utapita; itaendelea kupita - watu wenye hatia, ambao uwezo wao ni katika mungu.” Habakuki anamuuliza Yahwe swali lingine
12 Art thou not from everlasting, O Yhwh my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Yhwh, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
“Wewe si wa tangu nyakati za zamani, Yahwe Mungu wangu, uliye Mtakatifu? Sisi hatutakufa. Yahwe aliwatenga kwaajili ya hukumu, na ninyi, Mwamba, mmeimarisha kwaajili ya kusahihisha.
13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Macho yenu ni safi kuangaza juu ya uovu, lakini hamuwezi kuangalia matendo mabaya kwa fadhila; kwa nini mnaangalia kwa upendeleo hivyo juu ambao wanasaliti? Kwanini kunyamaza wakati uovu unameza sana wenye haki zaidi yao?
14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
unawafanya watu kama samaki baharini, kama vitu vitambaavyo bila kiongozi juu yao.
15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
Wao wanawaleta wote kwa ndoano; wanawakokota watu kutoka kwenye nyavu za samaki na kuwakusanya kwenye wavu wao. Hii ndiyo sababu wanafurahi na kupiga kelele kwa uchangamfu sana.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
Walakini wanatoa sadaka kwenye nyavu zao za kuvulia na kuchoma ubani kwenye nyavu zao, sababu wanyama wanene ni sehemu yao, na nyama iliyonona ni chakula chao.
17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
Kwa sababu hiyo watamaliza nyavu zao za kuvulia na kuendelea kuchicha mataifa, bila kuhisi huruma”?