Habakuki 1
1 Neno alilopokea nabii Habakuki.
The message seen by the prophet Habakkuk.
2 Ee Bwana, hata lini nitakuomba msaada, lakini wewe husikilizi? Au kukulilia, “Udhalimu!” Lakini hutaki kuokoa?
How long, Lord, have I cried out and without you hearing me! I cry to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not help.
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 look upon wickedness and behold trouble? Destruction and violence are before my eyes, and fighting and quarrelling.
4 Kwa hiyo sheria imepotoshwa, nayo haki haipo kabisa. Waovu wanawazunguka wenye haki, kwa hiyo haki imepotoshwa.
Therefore the law is weak, and justice is never rendered; for the wicked surround 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, look well, be shocked and amazed. For I am about to do a work in your days; you will not believe it when it is told.
6 Nitawainua Wakaldayo, watu hao wakatili na wenye haraka, ambao hupita dunia yote kuteka mahali pa kuishi pasipo pao wenyewe.
For I am about to raise up the Chaldeans, a nation grim and quick of action who sweep over the whole 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 bring fear and terror. They write their own rules.
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, quicker than wolves hunting at dusk. From afar they come swooping down, like an eagle attacking its prey.
9 wote wanakuja tayari kwa fujo. Makundi yao ya wajeuri yanasonga mbele kama upepo wa jangwani, na kukusanya wafungwa kama mchanga.
They all come to do violence, a horde like a desert wind, they gather up captives like sand.
10 Wanawabeza wafalme, na kuwadhihaki watawala. Wanaicheka miji yote iliyozungushiwa maboma; wanafanya malundo ya udongo na kuiteka hiyo miji.
At kings they scoff, and princes are sport to them. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up earth to take it.
11 Kisha wanapita kasi kama upepo na kusonga mbele: watu wenye hatia, ambao nguvu zao ndio mungu wao.”
Then they sweep on like the wind, Their 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 eternal, Lord, my holy one, who does not die? Lord you have appointed them to execute judgment, my rock, you have established them to punish.
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 at evil, you cannot condone iniquity. So why do you regard the treacherous in silence, while the wicked swallows the upright?
14 Umewafanya watu kama samaki baharini, kama viumbe wa bahari wasio na mtawala.
You have made people like the fish of the sea, like reptiles 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 wicked sweep them all into their nets, and gather them into their drag-nets, and rejoice and celebrate.
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 they sacrifice to their net, and burn offerings to their drag-net; for by their nets are their portions generous, and their food is rich.
17 Je, aendelee kuwatoa walio katika wavu wake, akiangamiza mataifa bila huruma?
Will they empty their nets continually, slaughter nations unpityingly?
