Hosea 14
1 Rudi, ee Israeli, kwa Bwana Mungu wako. Dhambi zako zimekuwa ndilo anguko lako!
Return, O Israel, to Jehovah thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Chukueni maneno pamoja nanyi, mkamrudie Bwana. Mwambieni: “Samehe dhambi zetu zote na utupokee kwa neema, ili tuweze kutoa matunda yetu kama sadaka za mafahali.
Take with you words, And return to Jehovah, saying, “Forgive all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, And we will render to thee the sacrifices of our lips!
3 Ashuru hawezi kutuokoa, hatutapanda farasi wa vita. Kamwe hatutasema tena ‘Miungu yetu’ kwa kile ambacho mikono yetu wenyewe imetengeneza, kwa kuwa kwako wewe yatima hupata huruma.”
Assyria shall not help us; We will not ride on horses; And no more will we say to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods! For from thee the fatherless obtaineth mercy.”
4 “Nitaponya ukaidi wao na kuwapenda kwa hiari yangu, kwa kuwa hasira yangu imeondoka kwao.
“I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from them.
5 Nitakuwa kama umande kwa Israeli; atachanua kama yungiyungi. Kama mwerezi wa Lebanoni atashusha mizizi yake chini;
I will be as the dew to Israel; He shall blossom as the lily, And strike his roots like Lebanon.
6 matawi yake yatatanda. Fahari yake itakuwa kama mti wa mzeituni, harufu yake nzuri kama mwerezi wa Lebanoni.
His sprouts shall spread forth, And his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, And his fragrance as Lebanon.
7 Watu wataishi tena kwenye kivuli chake. Atastawi kama nafaka. Atachanua kama mzabibu, nao umaarufu wake utakuwa kama divai itokayo Lebanoni.
They that dwell under his shadow Shall revive as the corn; They shall shoot forth as the vine; Their name shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ee Efraimu, nina shughuli gani tena na sanamu? Nitamjibu na kumtunza. Mimi ni kama msunobari wenye majani mabichi; kuzaa kwako matunda kunatoka kwangu.”
Ephraim shall say, What have I more to do with idols? I will hear him; I will care for him; I will be like a green cypress-tree; From me shall thy fruit be found.”
9 Ni nani mwenye hekima? Atayatambua mambo haya. Ni nani mwenye ufahamu? Huyu atayaelewa. Njia za Bwana ni adili; wenye haki huenda katika njia hizo, lakini waasi watajikwaa ndani yake.
Who is wise, that he may understand these things, Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, And the righteous walk in them; But in them transgressors stumble.
