Hosea 14
1 Rudi, ee Israeli, kwa Bwana Mungu wako. Dhambi zako zimekuwa ndilo anguko lako!
Return, Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your 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 words of repentance with you, and return to the Lord your God. Say to him: Wholly pardon our iniquity, accept that which is good, instead of sacrificing bulls, we offer our praise.
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 will not save us, nor Egyptian warhorses, and we will no more call the work of our hands our gods. For in you orphan Israel finds mercy.
4 “Nitaponya ukaidi wao na kuwapenda kwa hiari yangu, kwa kuwa hasira yangu imeondoka kwao.
‘I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, now that 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 dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, he will plant his roots like the cedars of Lebanon,
6 matawi yake yatatanda. Fahari yake itakuwa kama mti wa mzeituni, harufu yake nzuri kama mwerezi wa Lebanoni.
his saplings will spread out, his beauty will be like that of the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
7 Watu wataishi tena kwenye kivuli chake. Atastawi kama nafaka. Atachanua kama mzabibu, nao umaarufu wake utakuwa kama divai itokayo Lebanoni.
People will return and dwell in my shade, they will bring life to new grain. They shall sprout like the vine, and their renown will be like that of 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 – what have I to do with idols! It is I the Lord who respond to him and look after him. I am like an evergreen cypress, from me is your fruit 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.
Whoever is wise, let him discern these things, prudent, let him perceive them; For the Lord’s ways are straight, and the righteous walk in them, but the wicked stumble in them.
