< Amosi 4 >
1 Sikilizeni neno hili, ninyi ngʼombe wa Bashani mlioko juu ya Mlima Samaria, ninyi wanawake mnaowaonea maskini, na kuwagandamiza wahitaji, na kuwaambia wanaume wenu, “Tuleteeni vinywaji!”
Listen to this message, you well-fed cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria, who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who order your husbands, “Bring us drinks!”
2 Bwana Mwenyezi ameapa kwa utakatifu wake: “Hakika wakati utakuja mtakapochukuliwa na kulabu, na wanaosalia kwa ndoana za samaki.
The Lord God has sworn by his holiness: Watch out! For the time is coming when they will drag you away with hooks, each one of you will be like a fish on a hook.
3 Nanyi mtakwenda moja kwa moja kupitia mahali palipobomolewa kwenye ukuta, nanyi mtatupwa nje kuelekea Harmoni,” asema Bwana.
You will leave through breaches in the city walls, thrown out in the direction of Mount Hermon.
4 “Nendeni Betheli mkatende dhambi; nendeni Gilgali mkazidi kutenda dhambi. Leteni dhabihu zenu kila asubuhi, zaka zenu kila mwaka wa tatu.
Why don't you go to Bethel and sin? Go to Gilgal and add to your sins even more? Offer your sacrifices in the morning, bring your tithes after three days.
5 Mchome mkate uliotiwa chachu kama sadaka ya shukrani, jisifuni kuhusu sadaka zenu za hiari: jigambeni kwa ajili ya sadaka hizo, enyi Waisraeli, kwa kuwa hili ndilo mnalopenda kulitenda,” asema Bwana Mwenyezi.
Burn a thank offering of bread made with yeast, and announce what you're giving as freewill offerings so everyone will know. This is what you love to do! declares the Lord God.
6 “Niliwapa njaa kwenye kila mji, na ukosefu wa chakula katika kila mji, hata hivyo bado hamjanirudia mimi,” asema Bwana.
It was I who made sure you had nothing to eat in all your cities, and a lack of food wherever you lived, but still you wouldn't return to me, says the Lord.
7 “Pia niliwazuilia ninyi mvua miezi mitatu kabla ya kufikia mavuno. Nilinyesha mvua kwenye mji mmoja, lakini niliizuia mvua isinyeshe mji mwingine. Shamba moja lilipata mvua, na lingine halikupata, nalo likakauka.
It was I who kept the rain from falling when there was still three months before harvest. One city would have rain, while another would not. One field would have rain, another would dry up from lack of rain.
8 Watu walitangatanga mji hata mji kutafuta maji, lakini hawakupata ya kuwatosha kunywa, hata hivyo hamjanirudia mimi,” asema Bwana.
People wandered from town to town looking for water, yet were still thirsty. But still you did not return to me, declares the Lord.
9 “Mara nyingi nilizipiga bustani zenu na mashamba ya mizabibu, niliyapiga kwa kutu na ukungu. Nzige walitafuna tini zenu na miti ya mizeituni, hata hivyo hamjanirudia mimi,” asema Bwana.
I struck your many farms and vineyards with blight and mildew; locusts devoured your fig trees and olive trees. But still you did not return to me, declares the Lord.
10 “Niliwapelekea tauni miongoni mwenu kama nilivyofanya kule Misri. Niliwaua vijana wenu wa kiume kwa upanga, niliwachukua farasi wenu. Nilijaza pua zenu kwa uvundo kutoka kwenye kambi zenu, hata hivyo hamjanirudia mimi,” asema Bwana.
I sent a plague on you like I did in Egypt. I killed your young men in battle; I took away your horses; I made you smell the stench of dead bodies in your camps. But still you did not return to me, declares the Lord.
11 “Niliwaangamiza baadhi yenu kama nilivyoangamiza Sodoma na Gomora. Mlikuwa kama kijiti kiwakacho kilichonyakuliwa motoni, hata hivyo hamjanirudia,” asema Bwana.
Some of you I destroyed as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick pulled out of a fire. But still you did not return to me, declares the Lord.
12 “Kwa hiyo hili ndilo nitakalowafanyia, Israeli, na kwa sababu nitawafanyia hili, jiandaeni kukutana na Mungu wenu, ee Israeli.”
Therefore, this is what I am going to do to you, Israel. Because I am going to do this, Israel, prepare to meet your God!
13 Yeye ambaye hufanya milima, anaumba upepo, na kufunua mawazo yake kwa mwanadamu, yeye ageuzaye asubuhi kuwa giza, na kukanyaga mahali pa juu pa nchi: Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote ndilo jina lake.
Watch! The One who made the mountains, who created the winds, who reveals his thoughts to humankind, who turns the sunlight into darkness, who walks on the high places of the earth—the Lord God of power is his name!