Hosea 7
1 kila mara nilipotaka kumponya Israeli, dhambi za Efraimu zinafichuliwa na maovu ya Samaria yanafunuliwa. Wanafanya udanganyifu, wevi huvunja nyumba, maharamia hunyangʼanya barabarani,
“and when I wanted to heal them [again], [I did not do it, ] [because] I saw the wicked things that [the people of] Samaria [city] and [other places in] Israel [DOU] have done. They constantly deceive others; bandits rob people in the streets.
2 lakini hawafahamu kwamba ninakumbuka matendo yao yote mabaya. Dhambi zao zimewameza, ziko mbele zangu siku zote.
But they do not realize that I do not forget all the evil things that they do. [It is as though] they are surrounded by [all] the sins that they commit; and [it is though] those sins are [always right] in front of me [MTY].
3 “Wanamfurahisha sana mfalme kwa maovu yao, wakuu wao kwa uongo wao.
Their king is delighted with the wicked things that the people do; his officials are happy about the people’s lies.
4 Wote ni wazinzi, wanawaka kama tanuru ambayo moto wake mwokaji hana haja ya kuuchochea kuanzia kukanda unga hadi umekwisha kuumuka.
[The king and his officials] are all treacherous. [They are always eager to do wicked things; ] they are like [SIM] an oven that is [very] hot: a baker mixes the dough and waits for it to expand, and he does not [need to] cause the oven to become hotter.
5 Katika sikukuu ya mfalme wetu wakuu wanawaka kwa mvinyo, naye anawaunga mkono wenye mizaha.
The king and his officials get very drunk during their festivals, carousing with others who also do foolish things.
6 Mioyo yao ni kama tanuru, wanamwendea kwa hila. Hasira yao inafoka moshi usiku kucha, wakati wa asubuhi inalipuka kama miali ya moto.
The officials angrily plan to murder the king; it is like [SIM] they have an oven in their inner beings. All during the night their [eagerness/wanting to murder the king] is like a fire that is smouldering, but in the morning it becomes like [MET] a roaring fire.
7 Wote ni moto kama tanuru; wanawaangamiza watawala wao. Wafalme wake wote wanaanguka, wala hakuna yeyote kati yao aniitaye mimi.
All those officials are like [MET] hot flames that completely burn up their rulers, so all their kings are murdered, and no one pleads with me [to help them].”
8 “Efraimu anajichanganya na mataifa; Efraimu ni mkate ambao haukuiva.
“[The leaders of] Israel join with leaders of [godless] nations; so [the leaders of] Israel are [as worthless as] a pancake that is cooked on only one side.
9 Wageni wananyonya nguvu zake, lakini hafahamu hilo. Nywele zake zina mvi hapa na pale, lakini hana habari.
Joining with the rulers of foreign nations has caused Israel to be a weak [nation], but the Israelis do not realize that. Israel has become [like] [MET] a gray-haired old man, but the people of Israel do not realize it.
10 Kiburi cha Israeli kinashuhudia dhidi yake, lakini pamoja na haya yote harudi kwa Bwana Mungu wake wala kumtafuta.
Their being proud [PRS] testifies against them, but in spite of that, they do not return to [me], Yahweh, their God, or [even] try to know me.
11 “Efraimu ni kama hua, hudanganywa kwa urahisi na hana akili: mara anaita Misri, mara anageukia Ashuru.
[The people of] Israel have become foolish and stupid like [SIM] doves. [First] they called out to Egypt [to help them], [and then] they sought help from Assyria.
12 Wakati watakapokwenda, nitatupa wavu wangu juu yao; nitawavuta chini waanguke kama ndege wa angani. Nitakaposikia wakikusanyika pamoja, nitawanasa.
But wherever they go [to get help], [I will not allow them to succeed]; [it will be as though] [MET] I will throw a net over them like [SIM] [a hunter uses a net to capture] birds; I will punish them for the evil things that they do.
13 Ole wao, kwa sababu wamepotoka kutoka kwangu! Maangamizi ni yao kwa sababu wameniasi! Ninatamani kuwakomboa, lakini wanasema uongo dhidi yangu.
Terrible things will happen to them because they abandoned/deserted me! They will be destroyed because they rebelled against me. I wanted to rescue them, but they tell lies about me.
14 Hawanililii mimi kutoka mioyoni mwao, bali wanaomboleza vitandani mwao. Hukusanyika pamoja kwa ajili ya nafaka na divai mpya, lakini hugeukia mbali nami.
They do not cry out to me sincerely [IDM]; they [only] lie on their beds and wail. They gather together and ask [me to give them] grain and wine, but they turn away from me.
15 Niliwafundisha na kuwatia nguvu, lakini wanapanga mabaya dhidi yangu.
I trained/taught them and enabled them to become strong, but now they plan [to do] evil things to me.
16 Hawamgeukii Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wako kama upinde wenye kasoro. Viongozi wao wataanguka kwa upanga kwa sababu ya maneno yao ya jeuri. Kwa ajili ya hili watadhihakiwa katika nchi ya Misri.
They have rejected me, their Great God, and turned to their god Baal; they are [as useless] as [SIM] a crooked bow. Their leaders boast [that they are very strong], but they will be killed by [their enemies’] swords. As a result, [the people of] Egypt will laugh at them.”
