Hosea 11
1 “Wakati Israeli alipokuwa mtoto, nilimpenda, nilimwita mwanangu kutoka Misri.
“When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 Lakini kadiri nilivyomwita Israeli, ndivyo walivyokwenda mbali nami. Walitoa dhabihu kwa Mabaali na kufukiza uvumba kwa vinyago.
The more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense 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. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for them.
4 Niliwaongoza kwa kamba za huruma ya kibinadamu, kwa vifungo vya upendo; niliondoa nira shingoni mwao nami nikainama kuwalisha.
I led them with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 “Je, hawatarudi Misri, nayo Ashuru haitawatawala kwa sababu wamekataa kutubu?
Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?
6 Panga zitametameta katika miji yao, zitaharibu makomeo ya malango yao na kukomesha mipango yao.
The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.
7 Watu wangu wamedhamiria kuniacha. Hata kama wakimwita Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, kwa vyovyote hatawainua.
My people are determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help 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? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been stirred up.
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 my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.
10 Watamfuata Bwana; atanguruma kama simba. Wakati angurumapo, watoto wake watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.
They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. 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 a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.
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 falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”
