< 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 Jehovah, ye sons of Israel! For Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land; For 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.
Perjury, and falsehood, and murder, And theft, and adultery have broken forth, And blood reacheth to blood.
3 Kwa sababu hii nchi huomboleza, wote waishio ndani mwake wanadhoofika, wanyama wa kondeni, ndege wa angani na samaki wa baharini wanakufa.
Therefore shall the land mourn, And every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, Together with the beasts of the forest, and the birds of heaven; Yea, even the fishes of the sea shall perish.
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 rebuke, and let no man reprove; For thy people are like those that contend with the priest,
5 Unajikwaa usiku na mchana, nao manabii hujikwaa pamoja nawe. Kwa hiyo nitamwangamiza mama yako:
Therefore shalt thou Fall by day, And the prophet shall fall with thee by 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 is destroyed for lack of knowledge; Since thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, so that thou shalt no more be my priest; Since 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.
As they have become great, so have they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.
8 Hujilisha dhambi za watu wangu na kupendezwa na uovu wao.
They feed upon the sins of my people, And incline their hearts to 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 shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; I will punish them for their ways, And requite them for their doings.
10 “Watakula lakini hawatashiba; watajiingiza katika ukahaba lakini hawataongezeka, kwa sababu wamemwacha Bwana na kujiingiza wenyewe
They shall eat and shall not be satisfied; They shall commit fornication, and shall not increase, For they have left off giving heed to Jehovah.
11 katika ukahaba, divai ya zamani na divai mpya, ambavyo huondoa ufahamu
Fornication and wine and new wine take away the understanding;
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 of their stocks, And their staff revealeth to them. For the spirit of fornication causeth them to err; Yea, they commit fornication, forsaking 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.
On the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, And on the hills they burn incense, Under the oak, and the poplar, and the terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters commit fornication, 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 fornication, Nor your daughters-in-law, when they commit adultery; For ye yourselves go aside with harlots, And sacrifice with prostitutes; Therefore the people that hath not understanding shall fall.
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 play the harlot, O Israel, Yet let not Judah offend! Come ye not to Gilgal, Neither go ye up to Bethaven. And swear ye not, saying, As Jehovah 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 like a refractory heifer is Israel become refractory, Therefore will Jehovah feed them, like a lamb in a wide 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 carousal is over, They give themselves up to lasciviousness; Their rulers love shame.
19 Kisulisuli kitawafagilia mbali na dhabihu zao zitawaletea aibu.
The wind hath bound them up with its wings, And they shall be brought to shame on account of their sacrifices.

< Hosea 4 >