< 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,
'When I give healing to Israel, Then revealed is the iniquity of Ephraim, And the wickedness of Samaria, For they have wrought falsehood, And a thief doth come in, Stript off hath a troop in the street,
2 lakini hawafahamu kwamba ninakumbuka matendo yao yote mabaya. Dhambi zao zimewameza, ziko mbele zangu siku zote.
And they do not say to their heart, [That] all their evil I have remembered, Now compassed them have their doings, Over-against My face they have been.
3 “Wanamfurahisha sana mfalme kwa maovu yao, wakuu wao kwa uongo wao.
With their wickedness they make glad a king, And with their lies — princes.
4 Wote ni wazinzi, wanawaka kama tanuru ambayo moto wake mwokaji hana haja ya kuuchochea kuanzia kukanda unga hadi umekwisha kuumuka.
All of them [are] adulterers, Like a burning oven of a baker, He ceaseth from stirring up after kneading the dough, till its leavening.
5 Katika sikukuu ya mfalme wetu wakuu wanawaka kwa mvinyo, naye anawaunga mkono wenye mizaha.
A day of our king! Princes have polluted themselves [with] the poison of wine, He hath drawn out his hand with scorners.
6 Mioyo yao ni kama tanuru, wanamwendea kwa hila. Hasira yao inafoka moshi usiku kucha, wakati wa asubuhi inalipuka kama miali ya moto.
For they have drawn near, As an oven [is] their heart, In their lying in wait all the night sleep doth their baker, Morning! he is burning as a flaming fire.
7 Wote ni moto kama tanuru; wanawaangamiza watawala wao. Wafalme wake wote wanaanguka, wala hakuna yeyote kati yao aniitaye mimi.
All of them are warm as an oven, And they have devoured their judges, All their kings have fallen, There is none calling unto Me among them.
8 “Efraimu anajichanganya na mataifa; Efraimu ni mkate ambao haukuiva.
Ephraim! among peoples he mixeth himself, Ephraim hath been a cake unturned.
9 Wageni wananyonya nguvu zake, lakini hafahamu hilo. Nywele zake zina mvi hapa na pale, lakini hana habari.
Devoured have strangers his power, And he hath not known, Also old age hath sprinkled [itself] on him, And he hath not known.
10 Kiburi cha Israeli kinashuhudia dhidi yake, lakini pamoja na haya yote harudi kwa Bwana Mungu wake wala kumtafuta.
And humbled hath been the excellency of Israel to his face, And they have not turned back unto Jehovah their God, Nor have they sought Him for all this.
11 “Efraimu ni kama hua, hudanganywa kwa urahisi na hana akili: mara anaita Misri, mara anageukia Ashuru.
And Ephraim is as a simple dove without heart, Egypt they called on — [to] Asshur they have gone.
12 Wakati watakapokwenda, nitatupa wavu wangu juu yao; nitawavuta chini waanguke kama ndege wa angani. Nitakaposikia wakikusanyika pamoja, nitawanasa.
When they go I spread over them My net, As the fowl of the heavens I bring them down, I chastise them as their company hath heard.
13 Ole wao, kwa sababu wamepotoka kutoka kwangu! Maangamizi ni yao kwa sababu wameniasi! Ninatamani kuwakomboa, lakini wanasema uongo dhidi yangu.
Woe to them, for they wandered from Me, Destruction to them, for they transgressed against Me, And I — I ransom them, and they have spoken lies against Me,
14 Hawanililii mimi kutoka mioyoni mwao, bali wanaomboleza vitandani mwao. Hukusanyika pamoja kwa ajili ya nafaka na divai mpya, lakini hugeukia mbali nami.
And have not cried unto Me with their heart, but howl on their beds, For corn and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn aside against Me.
15 Niliwafundisha na kuwatia nguvu, lakini wanapanga mabaya dhidi yangu.
And I instructed — I strengthened their arms, And concerning Me they think evil!
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 turn back — not to the Most High, They have been as a deceitful bow, Fall by sword do their princes, From the insolence of their tongue, This [is] their derision in the land of Egypt!