Hosea 13
1 Wakati Efraimu alipozungumza, watu walitetemeka, alikuwa ametukuzwa katika Israeli. Lakini alikuwa na hatia ya kumwabudu Baali naye akafa.
“When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but he became guilty because of Baal worship, and he 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.”
Now they sin more and more. They make cast metal figures from their silver, idols as skillfully worked as possible, all of them the work of the craftsmen. People say of them, 'These men who sacrifice kiss 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.
So they will be like the morning clouds, like the dew that goes away early, like the chaff that is driven by the wind away from a threshing floor, and like smoke out of a chimney.
4 “Bali mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wenu, niliyewaleta ninyi toka Misri. Msimkubali Mungu mwingine ila mimi, hakuna Mwokozi isipokuwa mimi.
But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me; you must acknowledge that besides me, there is no other savior.
5 Niliwatunza huko jangwani, katika nchi yenye joto liunguzalo.
I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great dryness.
6 Nilipowalisha, walishiba, waliposhiba, wakajivuna, kisha wakanisahau mimi.
When you had pasture, then you became full; and when you were filled, your heart became lifted up. For that reason you forgot me.
7 Kwa hiyo nitakuja juu yao kama simba, kama chui nitawavizia kando ya njia.
I will become like a lion to them; like a leopard I will watch along the path.
8 Kama dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, nitawashambulia na kurarua vifua vyenu. Kama simba nitawala; mnyama pori atawararua vipande vipande.
I will attack them as a bear that is robbed of her cubs. I will rip open their chests, and there I will devour them as a lion, as a wild beast would tear them to pieces.
9 “Ee Israeli, umeangamizwa, kwa sababu wewe u kinyume nami, kinyume na msaidizi wako.
I will destroy you, Israel; who will be able to help you?
10 Yuko wapi mfalme wako, ili apate kukuokoa? Wako wapi watawala wako katika miji yako yote ambao ulisema kuwahusu, ‘Nipe mfalme na wakuu’?
Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers, about whom you said to me, 'Give me a king and princes'?
11 Hivyo katika hasira yangu nilikupa mfalme na katika ghadhabu yangu nilimwondoa.
I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.
12 Kosa la Efraimu limehifadhiwa, dhambi zake zimewekwa katika kumbukumbu.
Ephraim's iniquity has been stored up; his guilt has been stored up.
13 Utungu kama wa mwanamke anayejifungua mtoto humjia, lakini yeye ni mtoto asiyekuwa na hekima; wakati utakapowadia hatatoka katika tumbo la mama yake.
Pains of childbirth will come on him, but he is an unwise son, for when it is time to be born, he does not come out of the womb.
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)
Will I rescue them from the hand of Sheol? Will I rescue them from death? Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my 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 Ephraim is prosperous among his brothers, an east wind will come; the wind of Yahweh will blow in from the wilderness. Ephraim's spring will dry up, and his well will have no water. His enemy will plunder his storehouse of every precious object.
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 will be guilty, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their young children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.
