< 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 Yahweh, ye sons of Israel, —that, a controversy, hath Yahweh with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, nor lovingkindness, 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.
Cursing and lying, and killing and stealing, and committing adultery, have broken forth, and, blood-shedding, unto blood-shedding, doth extend.
3 Kwa sababu hii nchi huomboleza, wote waishio ndani mwake wanadhoofika, wanyama wa kondeni, ndege wa angani na samaki wa baharini wanakufa.
For this cause, shall the land mourn, and everyone who dwelleth therein shall languish, with the wild beast of the field and with the bird of the heavens, —moreover also, the fishes of the sea, shall be withdrawn.
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.
Howbeit let, no man, contend, nor let him rebuke another, —since, thy people, are as they who contend against a priest:
5 Unajikwaa usiku na mchana, nao manabii hujikwaa pamoja nawe. Kwa hiyo nitamwangamiza mama yako:
So shouldst thou stumble in the daytime, and even the prophet stumble with thee, in the night, —and I should destroy thine own 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, therefore will I reject thee from ministering as priest unto me, and, because 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 were magnified, so, they sinned against me, —My glory—for what was contemptible, did they exchange.
8 Hujilisha dhambi za watu wangu na kupendezwa na uovu wao.
The sin of my people, they do eat, —and. unto their iniquity, lift they up every man his desire.
9 Hata itakuwa: Kama walivyo watu, ndivyo walivyo makuhani. Nitawaadhibu wote wawili kwa ajili ya njia zao na kuwalipa kwa matendo yao.
So doth it come to be—like people, like priest, —therefore will I visit upon him his ways, and, his doings, will I bring back to him;
10 “Watakula lakini hawatashiba; watajiingiza katika ukahaba lakini hawataongezeka, kwa sababu wamemwacha Bwana na kujiingiza wenyewe
And they shall eat, and not be satisfied, they have encouraged unchastity, yet have not been making increase, —for unto, Yahweh, have they left off giving heed: —
11 katika ukahaba, divai ya zamani na divai mpya, ambavyo huondoa ufahamu
Unchastity, and 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, of their Wood, do ask, —Let, their Staff, then tell them, —for, the spirit of unchastity, hath led them astray, and they have unchastely departed 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.
On the headlands of the mountains, they sacrifice, and, on the hills, burn they incense, under oak and poplar and terebinth, because, pleasant, is the shade thereof: For this cause, do your daughters, become unchaste, and, your brides, 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 do not bring punishment upon your daughters when they become unchaste, nor upon your brides, when they commit adultery, for, the men themselves, with unchaste women, do seclude themselves, and, with the common women of the shrine, do offer sacrifice, —and, a people who will not discern, must be ruined.
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 unchaste art thou, O Israel, let not Judah, become guilty, neither let them enter Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and [then] swear, By the life of Yahweh!
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, as a heifer that is stubborn, hath Israel, been stubborn, —Now, can Yahweh, turn them out to pasture, like a young ram in a wide place?
17 Efraimu amejiunga na sanamu, ondokana naye!
Mated with idols, is Ephraim, let him alone.
18 Hata wakati wamemaliza vileo vyao wanaendelea na ukahaba wao, watawala wao hupenda sana njia za aibu.
Their drinking-bout, having passed, —they became, unchaste, they loved wildly, a contempt, became her great men.
19 Kisulisuli kitawafagilia mbali na dhabihu zao zitawaletea aibu.
The wind hath bound her up in its wings, —that they may be ashamed, because of their sacrifices.

< Hosea 4 >