Habakuki 1
1 Neno alilopokea nabii Habakuki.
This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:
2 Ee Bwana, hata lini nitakuomba msaada, lakini wewe husikilizi? Au kukulilia, “Udhalimu!” Lakini hutaki kuokoa?
How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?
3 Kwa nini unanifanya nitazame dhuluma? Kwa nini unavumilia makosa? Uharibifu na udhalimu viko mbele yangu; kuna mabishano na mapambano kwa wingi.
Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
4 Kwa hiyo sheria imepotoshwa, nayo haki haipo kabisa. Waovu wanawazunguka wenye haki, kwa hiyo haki imepotoshwa.
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
5 “Yatazame mataifa, uangalie na ushangae kabisa. Kwa sababu katika siku zako nitafanya kitu ambacho hungeamini, hata kama ungeambiwa.
“Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
6 Nitawainua Wakaldayo, watu hao wakatili na wenye haraka, ambao hupita dunia yote kuteka mahali pa kuishi pasipo pao wenyewe.
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
7 Ni watu wanoogopwa na wanaotisha; wenyewe ndio sheria yao, na huinua heshima yao wenyewe.
They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
8 Farasi wao ni wepesi kuliko chui, na wakali kuliko mbwa mwitu wakati wa machweo. Askari wapanda farasi wao huenda mbio; waendesha farasi wao wanatoka mbali. Wanaruka kasi kama tai ili kurarua;
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
9 wote wanakuja tayari kwa fujo. Makundi yao ya wajeuri yanasonga mbele kama upepo wa jangwani, na kukusanya wafungwa kama mchanga.
All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.
10 Wanawabeza wafalme, na kuwadhihaki watawala. Wanaicheka miji yote iliyozungushiwa maboma; wanafanya malundo ya udongo na kuiteka hiyo miji.
They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it.
11 Kisha wanapita kasi kama upepo na kusonga mbele: watu wenye hatia, ambao nguvu zao ndio mungu wao.”
Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”
12 Ee Bwana, je, wewe sio wa tangu milele? Mungu wangu, Uliye Mtakatifu wangu, hatutakufa. Ee Bwana, umewachagua wao ili watekeleze hukumu; Ee Mwamba, umewaamuru watuadhibu.
Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, You have established them for correction.
13 Macho yako ni safi mno hata yasiweze kuutazama uovu, wala huwezi kuvumilia makosa. Kwa nini basi unawavumilia wadanganyifu? Kwa nini unakuwa kimya wakati waovu wanawameza wale wenye haki kuliko wao wenyewe?
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 Umewafanya watu kama samaki baharini, kama viumbe wa bahari wasio na mtawala.
You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
15 Adui mwovu anawavuta wote kwa ndoana, anawakamata katika wavu wake, anawakusanya katika juya lake; kwa hiyo anashangilia na anafurahi.
The foe pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his dragnet, and gathers them in his fishing net; so he rejoices gladly.
16 Kwa hiyo anatoa kafara kwa wavu wake, na kuchoma uvumba kwa juya lake, kwa kuwa kwa wavu wake anaishi kwa starehe, na anafurahia chakula kizuri.
Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich.
17 Je, aendelee kuwatoa walio katika wavu wake, akiangamiza mataifa bila huruma?
Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?
