< 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. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
2 Moyo wao ni mdanganyifu, nao sasa lazima wachukue hatia yao. Bwana atabomoa madhabahu zao na kuharibu mawe yao ya ibada.
Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.
3 Kisha watasema, “Hatuna mfalme kwa sababu hatukumheshimu Bwana. Lakini hata kama tungelikuwa na mfalme, angeweza kutufanyia nini?”
Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear the LORD; and the king, what can 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 make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgement springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the 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 in terror for the calves of Beth Aven, for its people will mourn over it, along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it.
6 Itachukuliwa kwenda Ashuru kama ushuru kwa mfalme mkuu. Efraimu atafedheheshwa; Israeli ataaibika kwa ajili ya sanamu zake za mti.
It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
7 Samaria na mfalme wake wataelea kama kijiti juu ya uso wa maji.
Samaria and her king float away like a twig on 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 also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, “Cover us!” and 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 from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn’t overtake them in Gibeah.
10 Wakati nitakapopenda, nitawaadhibu; mataifa yatakusanywa dhidi yao ili kuwaweka katika vifungo kwa ajili ya dhambi zao mbili.
When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them when they are bound to their two transgressions.
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, so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plough. Jacob will break his clods.
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 to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, 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 ploughed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
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.
Therefore a battle roar will arise amongst your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15 Ndivyo itakavyotokea kwako, ee Betheli, kwa sababu uovu wako ni mkuu. Siku ile itakapopambazuka, mfalme wa Israeli ataharibiwa kabisa.
So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.