Hosea 11
1 “Wakati Israeli alipokuwa mtoto, nilimpenda, nilimwita mwanangu kutoka Misri.
I loved Israel when he was a child. He's my son I called out of Egypt.
2 Lakini kadiri nilivyomwita Israeli, ndivyo walivyokwenda mbali nami. Walitoa dhabihu kwa Mabaali na kufukiza uvumba kwa vinyago.
As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense to idols.
3 Mimi ndiye niliyemfundisha Efraimu kutembea, nikiwashika mikono; lakini hawakutambua kuwa ni mimi niliyewaponya.
I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand, but they didn't realize I was the one who healed them.
4 Niliwaongoza kwa kamba za huruma ya kibinadamu, kwa vifungo vya upendo; niliondoa nira shingoni mwao nami nikainama kuwalisha.
I led them along with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was the one who eased their burden and bent down to feed them.
5 “Je, hawatarudi Misri, nayo Ashuru haitawatawala kwa sababu wamekataa kutubu?
However, because my people refuse to return to me, they will not return to the land of Egypt but Assyria shall be their king.
6 Panga zitametameta katika miji yao, zitaharibu makomeo ya malango yao na kukomesha mipango yao.
War will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.
7 Watu wangu wamedhamiria kuniacha. Hata kama wakimwita Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, kwa vyovyote hatawainua.
My people are hanging on to their apostasy from me. They call him “god on high” but he will not raise them up at all.
8 “Efraimu, ninawezaje kukuacha? Ee Israeli, ninawezaje kukutoa? Nitawezaje kukutendea kama Adma? Nitawezaje kukufanya kama Seboimu? Moyo wangu umegeuka ndani yangu, huruma zangu zote zimeamshwa.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I let you go, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is breaking; I am full of compassion.
9 Sitatimiza hasira yangu kali, wala sitageuka na kumharibu Efraimu. Kwa kuwa mimi ndimi Mungu, wala si mwanadamu, Aliye Mtakatifu miongoni mwenu. Sitakuja kwa ghadhabu.
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One living among you. I will not enter your cities.
10 Watamfuata Bwana; atanguruma kama simba. Wakati angurumapo, watoto wake watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.
The people will follow me, the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When he roars like a lion then his children will come trembling from the west.
11 Watakuja wakitetemeka kama ndege wakitoka Misri, kama hua wakitoka Ashuru. Nitawakalisha katika nyumba zao,” asema Bwana.
Like a flock of frightened birds they will come from Egypt, like doves they will come from Assyria, and I will bring them back home, declares the Lord.
12 Efraimu amenizunguka kwa uongo, nyumba ya Israeli kwa udanganyifu. Naye Yuda ni mkaidi dhidi ya Mungu, hata kinyume cha yule mwaminifu Aliye Mtakatifu.
Ephraim surrounds me with lies and Israel with deceit, and Judah still wanders with some deity, faithful to some “Holy One.”
