Hosea 13
1 Wakati Efraimu alipozungumza, watu walitetemeka, alikuwa ametukuzwa katika Israeli. Lakini alikuwa na hatia ya kumwabudu Baali naye akafa.
Once when Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; But he offended through Baal, and died.
2 Sasa wanatenda dhambi zaidi na zaidi; wanajitengenezea sanamu kutokana na fedha yao, vinyago vilivyotengenezwa kwa uhodari, vyote kazi ya fundi stadi. Inasemekana kuhusu hawa watu, “Hutoa dhabihu za binadamu na kubusu sanamu za ndama.”
And now they sin more and more, And have made to themselves molten images; Of their silver by their skill have they made idols; All of it is the work of artificers. They say concerning them, Whoever will sacrifice, let him kiss the calves!
3 Kwa hiyo watakuwa kama ukungu wa asubuhi, kama umande wa alfajiri utowekao, kama makapi yapeperushwayo kutoka sakafu ya kupuria nafaka, kama moshi utorokao kupitia dirishani.
Therefore shall they be as the morning cloud, And as the early dew, which passeth away; As chaff driven with a whirlwind from the thrashing-floor, And as smoke from the chimney.
4 “Bali mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu, niliyewaleta ninyi toka Misri. Msimkubali Mungu mwingine ila mimi, hakuna Mwokozi isipokuwa mimi.
Yet I, Jehovah, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, And thou hast known no God but me; Yea, there was no saviour besides me.
5 Niliwatunza huko jangwani, katika nchi yenye joto liunguzalo.
I cared for thee in the desert, In the land of great drought.
6 Nilipowalisha, walishiba, waliposhiba, wakajivuna, kisha wakanisahau mimi.
As they were fed, so they were filled; They were filled, and their heart was lifted up; Therefore they forgot me.
7 Kwa hiyo nitakuja juu yao kama simba, kama chui nitawavizia kando ya njia.
Therefore have I become to them as a lion; As a leopard I watch for them in the way;
8 Kama dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, nitawashambulia na kurarua vifua vyenu. Kama simba nitawala; mnyama pori atawararua vipande vipande.
I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps, And I will rend the caul of their heart, And there will I devour them as a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them.
9 “Ee Israeli, umeangamizwa, kwa sababu wewe u kinyume nami, kinyume na msaidizi wako.
It hath been thy destruction, O Israel, That against me, against thy help, thou hast rebelled!
10 Yuko wapi mfalme wako, ili apate kukuokoa? Wako wapi watawala wako katika miji yako yote ambao ulisema kuwahusu, ‘Nipe mfalme na wakuu’?
Where is now thy king? Let him save thee in all thy cities! And where thy judges, In regard to whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes!
11 Hivyo katika hasira yangu nilikupa mfalme na katika ghadhabu yangu nilimwondoa.
I gave thee a king in mine anger, And I have taken him away in my wrath;
12 Kosa la Efraimu limehifadhiwa, dhambi zake zimewekwa katika kumbukumbu.
the iniquity of Ephraim is treasured up; His guilt is laid up in store.
13 Utungu kama wa mwanamke anayejifungua mtoto humjia, lakini yeye ni mtoto asiyekuwa na hekima; wakati utakapowadia hatatoka katika tumbo la mama yake.
The pangs of a travailing woman shall come upon him; He is an unwise son, For else would he not tarry long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14 “Nitawakomboa watu hawa kutoka nguvu za kaburi, nitawakomboa kutoka mautini. Yako wapi, ee mauti, mateso yako? Uko wapi, ee kuzimu, uharibifu wako? “Sitakuwa na huruma, (Sheol h7585)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, where is thy plague? O grave, where is thy destruction? Repentance is hidden from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)
15 hata ingawa Efraimu atastawi miongoni mwa ndugu zake. Upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwa Bwana utakuja, ukivuma kutoka jangwani, chemchemi yake haitatoa maji na kisima chake kitakauka. Ghala lake litatekwa hazina zake zote.
Though he be fruitful among his brethren, An east wind shall come, A wind of Jehovah shall come up from the desert, And his spring shall become dry, And his fountain shall be dried up, And the treasure of all his pleasant vessels shall be spoiled.
16 Watu wa Samaria ni lazima wabebe hatia yao, kwa sababu wameasi dhidi ya Mungu wao. Wataanguka kwa upanga; watoto wao wadogo watatupwa kwa nguvu ardhini, wanawake wao walio na mimba watatumbuliwa.”
Samaria shall suffer for her guilt, For she hath rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword; Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child shall be ripped up.
