Hosea 12
1 Efraimu anajilisha upepo; hufukuzia upepo wa mashariki kutwa nzima na kuzidisha uongo na jeuri. Anafanya mkataba na Ashuru na kutuma mafuta ya zeituni Misri.
Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.
2 Bwana analo shtaka dhidi ya Yuda, atamwadhibu Yakobo kwa kadiri ya njia zake na kumlipa kwa kadiri ya matendo yake.
The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.
3 Yakobo akiwa tumboni alishika kisigino cha kaka yake; kama mwanadamu, alishindana na Mungu.
In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;
4 Alishindana na malaika na kumshinda; alilia na kuomba upendeleo wake. Alimkuta huko Betheli na kuzungumza naye huko:
He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;
5 Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Bwana ndilo jina lake!
Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.
6 Lakini ni lazima urudi kwa Mungu wako; dumisha upendo na haki, nawe umngojee Mungu wako siku zote.
So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.
7 Mfanyabiashara hutumia vipimo vya udanganyifu; hupenda kupunja.
As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.
8 Efraimu hujisifu akisema, “Mimi ni tajiri sana; nimetajirika. Pamoja na utajiri wangu wote hawatakuta ndani yangu uovu wowote au dhambi.”
And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.
9 “Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu niliyewaleta kutoka Misri; nitawafanya mkae tena kwenye mahema, kama vile katika siku za sikukuu zenu zilizoamriwa.
But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.
10 Niliongea na manabii, nikawapa maono mengi na kusema mifano kupitia wao.”
My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.
11 Je, Gileadi si mwovu? Watu wake hawafai kitu! Je, hawatoi dhabihu za mafahali huko Gilgali? Madhabahu zao zitakuwa kama malundo ya mawe katika shamba lililolimwa.
In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.
12 Yakobo alikimbilia katika nchi ya Aramu; Israeli alitumika ili apate mke, ili aweze kulipa kwa ajili yake alichunga kondoo.
And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13 Bwana alimtumia nabii kumpandisha Israeli kutoka Misri, kwa njia ya nabii alimtunza.
And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.
14 Lakini Efraimu amemchochea sana hasira; Bwana wake ataleta juu yake hatia yake ya kumwaga damu naye atamlipiza kwa ajili ya dharau yake.
I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.
