Psalms 78
1 “A psalm of Asaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction! Incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
2 I will open my mouth in a psalm; I will utter sayings of ancient times.
Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
3 What we have heard and learned, And our fathers have told us,
yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
4 We will not hide from their children; Showing to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, His might, and the wonders he hath wrought.
Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
5 For he appointed statutes in Jacob, And established a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers To make known to their children;
Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
6 So that the generation to come might know them; The children, which should be born, and rise up, Who should declare them to their children;
ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
7 That they might put their trust in God, And not forget his deeds, But keep his commandments;
Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
8 And might not be, like their forefathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, —A generation whose heart was not fixed upon God, And whose spirit was not steadfast toward the Almighty.
Ili wasifanane na baba zao, waliokuwa kizazi cha ukaidi na uasi, ambao roho zao hazikuwa na uaminifu kwake, ambao roho zao hazikumwamini.
9 The children of Ephraim were like armed bowmen, Who turn their backs in the day of battle.
Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;
Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
11 And forgot his mighty deeds, And the wonders he had shown them.
Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; Yea, he made the waters to stand as a heap.
Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
14 By day he led them by a cloud, And all the night by a light of fire.
Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink, as from the great deep.
Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
16 From the rock he brought flowing streams, And made water to run down like rivers.
alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
17 Yet still they sinned against him, And provoked the Most High in the desert.
Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
18 They tempted God in their hearts, By asking food for their delight.
Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
19 Yea, they spake against God, and said, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
20 Behold! he smote the rock, and the water flowed, And streams gushed forth: Is he also able to give bread? Can he provide flesh for his people?”
Alipopiga mwamba, maji yalitoka kwa nguvu, vijito vikatiririka maji mengi. Lakini je, aweza kutupa chakula pia? Je, anaweza kuwapa watu wake nyama?”
21 When, therefore, the LORD heard this, he was wroth: So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger arose against Israel.
Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
22 Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his aid.
kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
23 Yet he had commanded the clouds above, And had opened the doors of heaven;
Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
24 And had rained down upon them manna for food, And had given them the corn of heaven.
akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
25 Every one ate the food of princes; He sent them bread to the full.
Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
26 Then he caused a strong wind to blow in the heavens, And by his power he brought a south wind;
Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
27 He rained down flesh upon them as dust, And feathered fowls as the sand of the sea.
Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
28 He caused them to fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations.
Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
29 So they did eat, and were filled; For he gave them their own desire.
Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
30 Their desire was not yet satisfied, And their meat was yet in their mouths,
Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
31 When the wrath of God came upon them, And slew their strong men, And smote down the chosen men of Israel.
hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
32 For all this they sinned still, And put no trust in his wondrous works.
Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
33 Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, And their years in sudden destruction.
Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
34 When he slew them, they sought him; They returned, and sought earnestly for God;
Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
35 And remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High their redeemer.
Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
36 But they only flattered him with their mouths, And spake falsely to him with their tongues.
Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
37 For their hearts were not true to him, Nor were they steadfast in his covenant.
mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
38 Yet, being full of compassion, he forgave their iniquity, And would not utterly destroy them; Often he restrained his indignation, And stirred not up all his anger.
Hata hivyo alikuwa na huruma, alisamehe maovu yao na hakuwaangamiza. Mara kwa mara alizuia hasira yake, wala hakuchochea ghadhabu yake yote.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh, —A breath, that passeth and cometh not back.
Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
40 How often did they provoke him in the wilderness! How often did they anger him in the desert!
Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
41 Again and again they tempted God, And offended the Holy One of Israel.
Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
42 They remembered not his hand, Nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy;
Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
43 What signs he had wrought in Egypt, And what wonders in the fields of Zoan.
siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
44 He turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink of their streams.
Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
45 He sent amongst them flies, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them.
Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
46 He gave also their fruits to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust.
Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost.
Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
48 He also gave up their cattle to hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
49 He sent against them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and woe, —A host of angels of evil.
Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
50 He made a way for his anger, He spared them not from death, But gave up their lives to the pestilence.
Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
51 He smote all the firstborn in Egypt; The first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
52 But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
53 He led them on safely, so that they feared not, While the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
54 He brought them to his own sacred border, Even to this mountain which his right hand had gained.
Hivyo akawaleta hadi kwenye mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, hadi nchi ya vilima ambayo mkono wake wa kuume ulikuwa umeitwaa.
55 He cast out the nations before them, And divided their land by a measuring-line, as an inheritance, And caused the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not his statutes;
Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
57 Like their fathers they were faithless, and turned back; They turned aside, like a deceitful bow.
Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
58 They provoked his anger by their high places, And stirred up his jealousy by their graven images.
Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
59 God saw this, and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
60 So that he forsook the habitation at Shiloh, The tabernacle where he dwelt among men,
Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the hand of the enemy.
Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
62 His own people he gave up to the sword, And was wroth with his own inheritance.
Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
63 Fire consumed their young men, And their maidens did not bewail them.
Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
64 Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.
makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
65 But at length the Lord awaked as from sleep, As a hero who had been overpowered by wine;
Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
66 He smote his enemies, and drove them back, And covered them with everlasting disgrace.
Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
67 Yet he rejected the tents of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, The Mount Zion which he loved;
lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
69 Where he built, like the heavens, his sanctuary; Like the earth, which he hath established for ever.
Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
70 And he chose David, his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
71 From tending the suckling ewes he brought him To feed Jacob his people, And Israel his inheritance.
Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
72 He fed them with an upright heart, And guided them with skilful hands.
Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
