Hosea 10
1 Israeli alikuwa mzabibu uliostawi sana, alijizalia matunda mwenyewe. Kadiri matunda yake yalivyoongezeka, alijenga madhabahu zaidi; kadiri nchi yake ilivyostawi, alipamba mawe yake ya ibada.
Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. As his fruit increased, the more altars he built. As his land produced more, he improved his pillars.
2 Moyo wao ni mdanganyifu, nao sasa lazima wachukue hatia yao. Bwana atabomoa madhabahu zao na kuharibu mawe yao ya ibada.
Their heart is deceitful; now they must bear their guilt. Yahweh will demolish their altars; he will destroy their pillars.
3 Kisha watasema, “Hatuna mfalme kwa sababu hatukumheshimu Bwana. Lakini hata kama tungelikuwa na mfalme, angeweza kutufanyia nini?”
For then they will say, “We have no king, for we did not fear Yahweh, and a king—what could he do for us?”
4 Wanaweka ahadi nyingi, huapa viapo vya uongo wanapofanya mapatano; kwa hiyo mashtaka huchipuka kama magugu ya sumu katika shamba lililolimwa.
They speak empty words and make covenants by swearing falsely. So justice springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5 Watu wanaoishi Samaria huogopa kwa ajili ya sanamu ya ndama ya Beth-Aveni. Watu wake wataiombolezea, vivyo hivyo kuhani wake wa kuabudu sanamu, wale waliokuwa wamefurahia fahari yake, kwa sababu itaondolewa kutoka kwao kwenda uhamishoni.
The inhabitants of Samaria will be afraid because of the calves of Beth Aven. Its people mourned over them, as did those idolatrous priests who had rejoiced over them and their splendor, but they are no longer there.
6 Itachukuliwa kwenda Ashuru kama ushuru kwa mfalme mkuu. Efraimu atafedheheshwa; Israeli ataaibika kwa ajili ya sanamu zake za mti.
They will be carried to Assyria as a present for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced, and Israel will be ashamed of its idol.
7 Samaria na mfalme wake wataelea kama kijiti juu ya uso wa maji.
Samaria's king will be destroyed, like a chip of wood on the surface of the water.
8 Mahali pa kuabudia sanamu pa uovu pataharibiwa: ndiyo dhambi ya Israeli. Miiba na mibaruti itaota na kufunika madhabahu zao. Kisha wataiambia milima, “Tufunikeni!” na vilima, “Tuangukieni!”
The high places of wickedness will be destroyed. This is the sin of Israel! Thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. The people will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9 “Tangu siku za Gibea, mmetenda dhambi, ee Israeli, huko ndiko mlikobaki. Je, vita havikuwapata watenda mabaya huko Gibea?
“Israel, you have sinned since the days of Gibeah; there you have remained. Will not war overtake the sons of wrong in Gibeah?
10 Wakati nitakapopenda, nitawaadhibu; mataifa yatakusanywa dhidi yao ili kuwaweka katika vifungo kwa ajili ya dhambi zao mbili.
When I desire it, I will discipline them. The nations will gather together against them and put them in bonds for their double iniquity.
11 Efraimu ni mtamba wa ngʼombe aliyefundishwa ambaye hupenda kupura, hivyo nitamfunga nira juu ya shingo yake nzuri. Nitamwendesha Efraimu, Yuda lazima alime, naye Yakobo lazima avunjavunje mabonge ya udongo.
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh the grain, so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will put a yoke on Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will pull the harrow by himself.
12 Jipandieni wenyewe haki, vuneni matunda ya upendo usio na kikomo, vunjeni ardhi yenu isiyolimwa; kwa kuwa ni wakati wa kumtafuta Bwana, mpaka atakapokuja na kuwanyeshea juu yenu haki.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, and reap the fruit of covenant faithfulness. Break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
13 Lakini mmepanda uovu, mkavuna ubaya, mmekula tunda la udanganyifu. Kwa sababu mmetegemea nguvu zenu wenyewe na wingi wa mashujaa wenu,
You have plowed wickedness; you reaped injustice. You have eaten the fruit of deception because you trusted in your plans and in your many soldiers.
14 mngurumo wa vita utainuka dhidi ya watu wako, ili kwamba ngome zako zote zitaharibiwa: kama Shalmani alivyoharibu Beth-Arbeli katika siku ile ya vita, wakati mama pamoja na watoto wao walipotupwa kwa nguvu ardhini.
So a tumult of war will rise among your people, and all your fortified cities will be destroyed. It will be as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel on a day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces with their children.
15 Ndivyo itakavyotokea kwako, ee Betheli, kwa sababu uovu wako ni mkuu. Siku ile itakapopambazuka, mfalme wa Israeli ataharibiwa kabisa.
So it will happen to you, Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be completely cut off.”
