Psalms 78
1 “A psalm of Asaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction! Incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
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 katika mifano; nitaimba kuhusu mambo yaliyofichika yahusuyo yaliyopita.
3 What we have heard and learned, And our fathers have told us,
Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
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.
Tutawaambia kizazi kijacho kuhusu sifa anazostahili Yahwe kwa matendo yake, nguvu zake, na maajabu ambayo ameyafanya.
5 For he appointed statutes in Jacob, And established a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers To make known to their children;
Kwa kuwa yeye alianzisha agano la amri katika Yakobo na sheria maalumu katika Israeli. Yeye aliamuru mababu zetu kuwa walipaswa kuzifundisha kwa 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;
Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
7 That they might put their trust in God, And not forget his deeds, But keep his commandments;
Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike 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.
Ndipo wasingekuwa kama mababu zao, ambao walikuwa wakaidi na wenye uasi, kizazi ambacho mioyo yao haikuwa kamilifu, na ambao roho zao hazikuwa na nia thabiti na aminifu kwa Mungu.
9 The children of Ephraim were like armed bowmen, Who turn their backs in the day of battle.
Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;
Hawakutunza agano na Mungu, na walikataa kutii sheria yake.
11 And forgot his mighty deeds, And the wonders he had shown them.
Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Walisahau mambo ya ajabu aliyofayafanya machoni pa mababu zao katika nchi ya Misri, katika ardhi ya Soani.
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; Yea, he made the waters to stand as a heap.
Aliigawa bahari na akawaongoza katikati ya bahari; aliyafanya maji yasimame kama kuta.
14 By day he led them by a cloud, And all the night by a light of fire.
Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink, as from the great deep.
Alipasua miamba jangwani, na aliwapa maji mengi, ya kutosha kujaza vina virefu vya bahari.
16 From the rock he brought flowing streams, And made water to run down like rivers.
Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
17 Yet still they sinned against him, And provoked the Most High in the desert.
Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
18 They tempted God in their hearts, By asking food for their delight.
Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
19 Yea, they spake against God, and said, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu 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?”
Tazama, wakati alipoupiga mwamba, maji yalibubujika, mito ikafurika. Lakini anaweza kutoa mkate tena? Ataweza kuleta nyama kwa watu wake?”
21 When, therefore, the LORD heard this, he was wroth: So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger arose against Israel.
Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
22 Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his aid.
kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
23 Yet he had commanded the clouds above, And had opened the doors of heaven;
Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
24 And had rained down upon them manna for food, And had given them the corn of heaven.
Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
25 Every one ate the food of princes; He sent them bread to the full.
Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
26 Then he caused a strong wind to blow in the heavens, And by his power he brought a south wind;
Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
27 He rained down flesh upon them as dust, And feathered fowls as the sand of the sea.
Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
28 He caused them to fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations.
Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
29 So they did eat, and were filled; For he gave them their own desire.
Hivyo walikula na walishiba. Maana aliwapa kile walichokitamani sana.
30 Their desire was not yet satisfied, And their meat was yet in their mouths,
Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
31 When the wrath of God came upon them, And slew their strong men, And smote down the chosen men of Israel.
Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
32 For all this they sinned still, And put no trust in his wondrous works.
Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
33 Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, And their years in sudden destruction.
Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
34 When he slew them, they sought him; They returned, and sought earnestly for God;
Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
35 And remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High their redeemer.
Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
36 But they only flattered him with their mouths, And spake falsely to him with their tongues.
Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
37 For their hearts were not true to him, Nor were they steadfast in his covenant.
Maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, na hawakuwa waaminifu kwa 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.
Lakini yeye, kwa kuwa alikuwa alikuwa na huruma, aliwasamehe uovu wao na hakuwaangamiza. Ndiyo, wakati mwingi aliizuia hasira yake na hakuionesha ghadhabu yake yote.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh, —A breath, that passeth and cometh not back.
Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
40 How often did they provoke him in the wilderness! How often did they anger him in the desert!
Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
41 Again and again they tempted God, And offended the Holy One of Israel.
Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
42 They remembered not his hand, Nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy;
Hawakufikiria kuhusu uweza wake, jinsi alivyo waokoa dhidi ya adui
43 What signs he had wrought in Egypt, And what wonders in the fields of Zoan.
alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
44 He turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink of their streams.
Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
45 He sent amongst them flies, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them.
Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
46 He gave also their fruits to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust.
Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost.
Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na miti ya mikuyu kwa mvua ya mawe zaidi.
48 He also gave up their cattle to hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Aliinyeshea mifugo yao mvua ya mawe na alirusha radi ya umeme ikapiga mifugo yao. Ukali wa hasira yake ulielekea dhidi yao.
49 He sent against them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and woe, —A host of angels of evil.
Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
50 He made a way for his anger, He spared them not from death, But gave up their lives to the pestilence.
Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
51 He smote all the firstborn in Egypt; The first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
52 But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
Aliwaongoza nje watu wake mwenyewe kama kondoo na aliwaelekeza kupitia jangwani kama kundi.
53 He led them on safely, so that they feared not, While the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
54 He brought them to his own sacred border, Even to this mountain which his right hand had gained.
Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
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.
Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not his statutes;
Lakini bado walimjaribu na walimkaidi Mungu Aliye Juu na hawakushika amri zake takatifu.
57 Like their fathers they were faithless, and turned back; They turned aside, like a deceitful bow.
Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
58 They provoked his anger by their high places, And stirred up his jealousy by their graven images.
Kwa maana walimkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu na walimgadhabisha hata akawa na hasira ya wivu kwa miungu yao.
59 God saw this, and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
60 So that he forsook the habitation at Shiloh, The tabernacle where he dwelt among men,
Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the hand of the enemy.
Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
62 His own people he gave up to the sword, And was wroth with his own inheritance.
Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
63 Fire consumed their young men, And their maidens did not bewail them.
Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
64 Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.
Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
65 But at length the Lord awaked as from sleep, As a hero who had been overpowered by wine;
Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
66 He smote his enemies, and drove them back, And covered them with everlasting disgrace.
Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
67 Yet he rejected the tents of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, The Mount Zion which he loved;
Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
69 Where he built, like the heavens, his sanctuary; Like the earth, which he hath established for ever.
Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
70 And he chose David, his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
71 From tending the suckling ewes he brought him To feed Jacob his people, And Israel his inheritance.
Alimtoa kutoka katika kufuata kondoo pamoja na wana wao, na kumweka kuwa mchungaji wa Yakobo, watu wake, na Israeli, urithi wake.
72 He fed them with an upright heart, And guided them with skilful hands.
Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo wake, naye aliwaongoza kwa ujuzi wa mikono yake.
