Habakkuk 1
1 The prophecy which Habakkuk the prophet foresaw.
Ujumbe ambao habakuki nabii alipokea,
2 How long, O Lord, have I entreated [thee], and thou wouldst not hear? [how long] shall I cry out unto thee [because of] violence, and thou wilt not save?
Yahwe, kwa muda gani nitalilia msaada, na hutasikia? Nimekulilia wewe katika kitisho, 'vurugu' lakini hutaniokoa.
3 Why wilt thou let me see wickedness, and wilt look on trouble, and the robbery and violence [that are] before me: while there is strife, and contention lifteth up [its head]?
Kwanini unanifanya nione mabaya na kuangalia matendo mabaya. Uharibifu na vurugu uko mbele yangu; kuna mapambano, na ushindani unainuka.
4 Therefore is the law powerless, and justice cometh not forth victorious; for the wicked encompasseth about the righteous; therefore doth justice come forth perverted.
Walakini sheria ni dhaifu, na haki haiishi kwa wakati wowote. Sababu uovu umezunguka haki; walakini haki ya uongo inatoweka. “Yahwe” anamjibu habakuki
5 Look ye about among the nations, and behold and be astonished and astounded; for [God] will fulfill a work in your days, ye would not believe it, if it were only 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 will raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation, that march to the wide spaces of the earth to conquer dwelling-places 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 Terrible and dreadful are they: from themselves go forth their judicial laws and their dignity.
Wanahofu na kuogopa; hukumu yao na uzuri kutoka kwao unaendelea.
8 And swifter than leopards are their horses, and fiercer than the evening wolves; and their horsemen spread themselves abroad: and their horsemen will come from afar; they will fly like the eagle hastening 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 all will come for violence: the front of their faces is like the east wind, and they gather captives as the sand.
Wote wanakuja kwa vurugu; makundi yao yanakwenda kama upepo wa jangwani, na wanakusanya mateka kama mchanga.
10 And they will make sport with kings, and princes will be a play unto them: at every strong-hold will they laugh, and they will cast up earth-mounds and capture it.
Wanawadhihaki wafalme, na viongozi ni dhihaka kwaajili yao. Huicheka kila ngome, maana hurundika mavumbi na kuyaondoa.
11 Then doth their spirit become arrogant, and they are surpassingly proud, and offend, [imputing] this their power unto their 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 Lord my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O Protector, thou hast appointed them to correct [nations].
“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, who art too pure of eyes to behold evil, and canst not look on trouble, wherefore wilt thou look upon those that deal treacherously, be silent when the wicked swalloweth up him 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 [why] makest thou 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 All of them he bringeth up with the angle, he draggeth them up in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is 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 he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because through them is his portion fat, and his food marrowy.
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 he therefore [always] empty his net, and continually slay nations without sparing?
Kwa sababu hiyo watamaliza nyavu zao za kuvulia na kuendelea kuchicha mataifa, bila kuhisi huruma”?
