< 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 is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day he multiplies lying and spoiling, And they make a covenant with Asshur, And oil is carried to Egypt.
2 Bwana analo shtaka dhidi ya Yuda, atamwadhibu Yakobo kwa kadiri ya njia zake na kumlipa kwa kadiri ya matendo yake.
And YHWH has a controversy with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, He returns to him according to his doings.
3 Yakobo akiwa tumboni alishika kisigino cha kaka yake; kama mwanadamu, alishindana na Mungu.
In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,
4 Alishindana na malaika na kumshinda; alilia na kuomba upendeleo wake. Alimkuta huko Betheli na kuzungumza naye huko:
Indeed, he is a prince to the Messenger, And he overcomes [by] weeping, And he makes supplication to Him, At Bethel He finds him, And there He speaks with us,
5 Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Bwana ndilo jina lake!
Even YHWH, God of the Hosts, YHWH [is] His memorial.
6 Lakini ni lazima urudi kwa Mungu wako; dumisha upendo na haki, nawe umngojee Mungu wako siku zote.
And you, through your God, turn, Keep kindness and judgment, And wait on your God continually.
7 Mfanyabiashara hutumia vipimo vya udanganyifu; hupenda kupunja.
Canaan! In his hand [are] balances of deceit! He has loved to oppress.
8 Efraimu hujisifu akisema, “Mimi ni tajiri sana; nimetajirika. Pamoja na utajiri wangu wote hawatakuta ndani yangu uovu wowote au dhambi.”
And Ephraim says, Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labors—they do not find against me iniquity that [is] sin.
9 “Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu niliyewaleta kutoka Misri; nitawafanya mkae tena kwenye mahema, kama vile katika siku za sikukuu zenu zilizoamriwa.
And I—your God YHWH from the land of Egypt, Again I turn you back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.
10 Niliongea na manabii, nikawapa maono mengi na kusema mifano kupitia wao.”
And I have spoken to the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use allegories.
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.
Surely Gilead [is] iniquity, They have been only vanity, In Gilead they have sacrificed bullocks, Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a field.
12 Yakobo alikimbilia katika nchi ya Aramu; Israeli alitumika ili apate mke, ili aweze kulipa kwa ajili yake alichunga kondoo.
And Jacob flees to the country of Aram, And Israel serves for a wife, Indeed, he has kept watch for a wife.
13 Bwana alimtumia nabii kumpandisha Israeli kutoka Misri, kwa njia ya nabii alimtunza.
And by a prophet has YHWH brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it has been watched.
14 Lakini Efraimu amemchochea sana hasira; Bwana wake ataleta juu yake hatia yake ya kumwaga damu naye atamlipiza kwa ajili ya dharau yake.
Ephraim has most bitterly provoked, And he leaves his blood on himself, And his Lord turns his reproach back to him!”

< Hosea 12 >