Hosea 11
1 “Wakati Israeli alipokuwa mtoto, nilimpenda, nilimwita mwanangu kutoka Misri.
When Israel was young, then I began to love him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 Lakini kadiri nilivyomwita Israeli, ndivyo walivyokwenda mbali nami. Walitoa dhabihu kwa Mabaali na kufukiza uvumba kwa vinyago.
The more I called them, the further they went away from me. They kept sacrificing to Baals and making offerings to idols.
3 Mimi ndiye niliyemfundisha Efraimu kutembea, nikiwashika mikono; lakini hawakutambua kuwa ni mimi niliyewaponya.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them.
4 Niliwaongoza kwa kamba za huruma ya kibinadamu, kwa vifungo vya upendo; niliondoa nira shingoni mwao nami nikainama kuwalisha.
With humane cords I ever drew them, with bands of love. I was to them as one who lifts up the yoke from off their jaws, and bending toward them, I gave them food to eat.
5 “Je, hawatarudi Misri, nayo Ashuru haitawatawala kwa sababu wamekataa kutubu?
No! They return to the land of Egypt, Assyria will be their king, for they have refused to return to me.
6 Panga zitametameta katika miji yao, zitaharibu makomeo ya malango yao na kukomesha mipango yao.
Therefore the swords will whirl in their cities, will devour in their fortresses.
7 Watu wangu wamedhamiria kuniacha. Hata kama wakimwita Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, kwa vyovyote hatawainua.
For my people are bent in rebellion against me, even if they call on the Most High he will not raise them.
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! Give you over, Israel! How am I to give you up as Admah! Make you like Zeboim! My heart asserts itself, my sympathies are all aglow.
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 carry into effect the fierceness of my anger, I will not turn to destroy Ephraim, for God am I, and not man, holy in the midst of you, therefore I will not consume.
10 Watamfuata Bwana; atanguruma kama simba. Wakati angurumapo, watoto wake watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.
They will follow after the Lord. Like a lion he will roar, and when he roars 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.
They will come trembling like the birds from Egypt, like doves from the land of Assyria. And I will bring them back to their houses, – 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 has encompassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still wanders with God faithful to the Holy One.
