Habakuki 1
1 Neno alilopokea nabii Habakuki.
The word which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 Ee Bwana, hata lini nitakuomba msaada, lakini wewe husikilizi? Au kukulilia, “Udhalimu!” Lakini hutaki kuokoa?
How long, O Lord, will your ears be shut to my voice? I make an outcry to you about violent behaviour, but you do not send salvation.
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 evil-doing, and why are my eyes fixed on wrong? for wasting and violent acts are before me: and there is fighting and bitter argument.
4 Kwa hiyo sheria imepotoshwa, nayo haki haipo kabisa. Waovu wanawazunguka wenye haki, kwa hiyo haki imepotoshwa.
For this reason the law is feeble and decisions are not effected: for the upright man is circled round by evil-doers; because of which right is twisted.
5 “Yatazame mataifa, uangalie na ushangae kabisa. Kwa sababu katika siku zako nitafanya kitu ambacho hungeamini, hata kama ungeambiwa.
See among the nations, and take note, and be full of wonder: for in your days I am doing a work in which you will have no belief, even if news of it is given to you.
6 Nitawainua Wakaldayo, watu hao wakatili na wenye haraka, ambao hupita dunia yote kuteka mahali pa kuishi pasipo pao wenyewe.
For see, I am sending the Chaldaeans, that bitter and quick-moving nation; who go through the wide spaces of the earth to get for themselves living-places which are not theirs.
7 Ni watu wanoogopwa na wanaotisha; wenyewe ndio sheria yao, na huinua heshima yao wenyewe.
They are greatly to be feared: their right comes from themselves.
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;
And their horses are quicker than leopards and their horsemen more cruel than evening wolves; they come from far away, like an eagle in flight rushing on its food.
9 wote wanakuja tayari kwa fujo. Makundi yao ya wajeuri yanasonga mbele kama upepo wa jangwani, na kukusanya wafungwa kama mchanga.
They are coming all of them with force; the direction of their faces is forward, the number of their prisoners is like the sands of the sea.
10 Wanawabeza wafalme, na kuwadhihaki watawala. Wanaicheka miji yote iliyozungushiwa maboma; wanafanya malundo ya udongo na kuiteka hiyo miji.
He makes little of kings, rulers are a sport to him; all the strong places are to be laughed at; for he makes earthworks and takes them.
11 Kisha wanapita kasi kama upepo na kusonga mbele: watu wenye hatia, ambao nguvu zao ndio mungu wao.”
Then his purpose will be changed, over-stepping the limit; he will make his strength his 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 eternal, O Lord my God, my Holy One? for you there is no death. O Lord, he has been ordered by you for our punishment; and by you, O Rock, he has been marked out to put us right.
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?
Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?
14 Umewafanya watu kama samaki baharini, kama viumbe wa bahari wasio na mtawala.
He has made men like the fishes of the sea, like the worms which have no ruler over them.
15 Adui mwovu anawavuta wote kwa ndoana, anawakamata katika wavu wake, anawakusanya katika juya lake; kwa hiyo anashangilia na anafurahi.
He takes them all up with his hook, he takes them in his net, getting them together in his fishing-net: for which cause he is glad and full of joy.
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.
For this reason he makes an offering to his net, burning perfume to his fishing-net; because by them he gets much food and his meat is fat.
17 Je, aendelee kuwatoa walio katika wavu wake, akiangamiza mataifa bila huruma?
For this cause his net is ever open, and there is no end to his destruction of the nations.
