Hosea 4
1 Sikieni neno la Bwana, enyi Waisraeli, kwa sababu Bwana analo shtaka dhidi yenu ninyi mnaoishi katika nchi: “Hakuna uaminifu, hakuna upendo, hakuna kumjua Mungu katika nchi.
Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel! for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 Kuna kulaani tu, uongo na uuaji, wizi na uzinzi, bila kuwa na mipaka, nao umwagaji damu mmoja baada ya mwingine.
Swearing and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery! they break all bounds, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Kwa sababu hii nchi huomboleza, wote waishio ndani mwake wanadhoofika, wanyama wa kondeni, ndege wa angani na samaki wa baharini wanakufa.
Therefore doth the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein doth languish, with the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also are taken away.
4 “Lakini mtu awaye yote na asilete shtaka, mtu yeyote na asimlaumu mwenzake, kwa maana watu wako ni kama wale waletao mashtaka dhidi ya kuhani.
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5 Unajikwaa usiku na mchana, nao manabii hujikwaa pamoja nawe. Kwa hiyo nitamwangamiza mama yako:
Therefore shalt thou stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.
6 watu wangu wanaangamizwa kwa kukosa maarifa, “Kwa kuwa wewe umeyakataa maarifa, mimi nami nitakukataa wewe usiwe kuhani kwangu mimi; kwa kuwa umeacha kuijali sheria ya Mungu wako mimi nami sitawajali watoto wako.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
7 Kadiri makuhani walivyoongezeka, ndivyo walivyozidi kutenda dhambi dhidi yangu, walibadilisha utukufu wao kwa kitu cha aibu.
The more they were increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
8 Hujilisha dhambi za watu wangu na kupendezwa na uovu wao.
They feed on the sin of My people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
9 Hata itakuwa: Kama walivyo watu, ndivyo walivyo makuhani. Nitawaadhibu wote wawili kwa ajili ya njia zao na kuwalipa kwa matendo yao.
And it is like people, like priest; and I will punish him for his ways, and will recompense him his doings.
10 “Watakula lakini hawatashiba; watajiingiza katika ukahaba lakini hawataongezeka, kwa sababu wamemwacha Bwana na kujiingiza wenyewe
And they shall eat, and not have enough, they shall commit harlotry, and shall not increase; because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11 katika ukahaba, divai ya zamani na divai mpya, ambavyo huondoa ufahamu
Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the heart.
12 wa watu wangu. Hutaka shauri kutoka kwa sanamu ya mti nao hujibiwa na fimbo ya mti. Roho ya ukahaba imewapotosha, hawana uaminifu kwa Mungu wao.
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of harlotry hath caused them to err, and they have gone astray from under their God.
13 Wanatoa dhabihu juu ya vilele vya milima na sadaka za kuteketezwa juu ya vilima, chini ya mialoni, milibua na miela, ambako kuna vivuli vizuri. Kwa hiyo binti zenu wamegeukia ukahaba na wake za wana wenu uzinzi.
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and offer upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good; therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 “Sitawaadhibu binti zenu wakati wanapogeukia ukahaba, wala wake za wana wenu wanapofanya uzinzi, kwa sababu wanaume wenyewe huandamana na malaya na kutambikia pamoja na makahaba wa mahali pa kuabudia miungu: watu wasiokuwa na ufahamu wataangamia!
I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for they themselves consort with lewd women, and they sacrifice with harlots; and the people that is without understanding is distraught.
15 “Ingawa umefanya uzinzi, ee Israeli, Yuda naye asije akawa na hatia. “Usiende Gilgali, usipande kwenda Beth-Aveni Wala usiape, ‘Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo!’
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah become guilty; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear: 'As the LORD liveth.'
16 Waisraeli ni wakaidi, kama mtamba wa ngʼombe ambaye ni mkaidi. Ni jinsi gani basi Bwana anaweza kuwachunga kama wana-kondoo katika shamba la majani?
For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place?
17 Efraimu amejiunga na sanamu, ondokana naye!
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
18 Hata wakati wamemaliza vileo vyao wanaendelea na ukahaba wao, watawala wao hupenda sana njia za aibu.
When their carouse is over, they take to harlotry; her rulers deeply love dishonour.
19 Kisulisuli kitawafagilia mbali na dhabihu zao zitawaletea aibu.
The wind hath bound her up in her skirts; and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
