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, feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind, all the day, falsehood and force, doth he magnify, —and, a covenant with Assyria, would they solemnize, and, oil into Egypt, must be borne along.
2 Bwana analo shtaka dhidi ya Yuda, atamwadhibu Yakobo kwa kadiri ya njia zake na kumlipa kwa kadiri ya matendo yake.
But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, —so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay him.
3 Yakobo akiwa tumboni alishika kisigino cha kaka yake; kama mwanadamu, alishindana na Mungu.
In the womb, took he his brother by the heel; and, in his manly vigour, strove he with God:
4 Alishindana na malaika na kumshinda; alilia na kuomba upendeleo wake. Alimkuta huko Betheli na kuzungumza naye huko:
Yea he strove against a Messenger, and prevailed, he wept, and made supplication unto him, —At Bethel, he found him, and, there, he spake with us;
5 Bwana Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Bwana ndilo jina lake!
And, Yahweh, is God of host, —Yahweh, is his memorial.
6 Lakini ni lazima urudi kwa Mungu wako; dumisha upendo na haki, nawe umngojee Mungu wako siku zote.
Thou, therefore, by thy God, shalt return, —lovingkindness and justice, do thou keep, so wait thou for thy God, continually.
7 Mfanyabiashara hutumia vipimo vya udanganyifu; hupenda kupunja.
A trafficker! in his hand, are balances of deceit, to oppress, he loveth.
8 Efraimu hujisifu akisema, “Mimi ni tajiri sana; nimetajirika. Pamoja na utajiri wangu wote hawatakuta ndani yangu uovu wowote au dhambi.”
So then Ephraim said, Surely I have gotten me riches, I have found wealth for myself, —in all my toils, they cannot find in me perversity which is sin.
9 “Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu niliyewaleta kutoka Misri; nitawafanya mkae tena kwenye mahema, kama vile katika siku za sikukuu zenu zilizoamriwa.
But, I, Yahweh, have been thy God, from the land of Egypt, —I will yet make thee dwell in tents, as in the days of appointed meeting.
10 Niliongea na manabii, nikawapa maono mengi na kusema mifano kupitia wao.”
And I will lay my word upon the prophets, yea, I myself, have magnified, vision, —and, by the hand of the prophets, will I use similitudes.
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.
If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, —their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.
12 Yakobo alikimbilia katika nchi ya Aramu; Israeli alitumika ili apate mke, ili aweze kulipa kwa ajili yake alichunga kondoo.
When Jacob fled to the country of Syria, then Israel served for a wife, and, for a wife, he watched over a flock.
13 Bwana alimtumia nabii kumpandisha Israeli kutoka Misri, kwa njia ya nabii alimtunza.
And, by a prophet, Yahweh, brought up, Israel out of Egypt, —and, by a prophet, was he watched over.
14 Lakini Efraimu amemchochea sana hasira; Bwana wake ataleta juu yake hatia yake ya kumwaga damu naye atamlipiza kwa ajili ya dharau yake.
Ephraim hath provoked, very bitterly, —his own blood, therefore, upon him, will he leave, and, his reproach, shall his Lord, bring back to him.
