< Psalms 78 >
1 A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn 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 parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
3 which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
4 We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
5 For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
6 that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children,
ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
7 that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments,
Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
8 and might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
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, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
10 They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk in his law.
Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
11 They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
12 He did marvelous things 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 split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
14 In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
17 Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against 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 heart by asking food according to their desire.
Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
19 Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
20 Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat 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 Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
22 because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.
kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
24 He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.
akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
25 Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
27 He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
28 He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.
Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
29 So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
30 They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
31 when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young 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 still sinned, and didn’t believe 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 terror.
Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
34 When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer.
Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
36 But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
38 But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
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 wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
41 They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
42 They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
43 how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,
siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
44 he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.
Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
46 He also gave their increase 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, their sycamore fig trees with frost.
Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
48 He also gave over their livestock to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
49 He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
50 He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence,
Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
51 and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief 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 out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
53 He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
54 He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
Hivyo akawaleta hadi kwenye mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, hadi nchi ya vilima ambayo mkono wake wa kuume ulikuwa umeitwaa.
55 He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made 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 rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies,
Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
57 but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow.
Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
59 When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
60 so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men,
Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
61 and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.
Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
62 He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.
Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
63 Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.
Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep.
makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
65 Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
66 He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
67 Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
70 He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
71 from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
72 So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.