< Mika 6 >
1 Sikiliza asemalo Bwana: “Simama, tetea shauri lako mbele ya milima; vilima na visikie lile unalotaka kusema.
Pay attention to what Yahweh says [to you Israeli people]: “Stand up [in court] and state what you are accusing [me] about. And allow the hills and mountains to hear what you will say.
2 Sikilizeni, ee milima, mashtaka ya Bwana, sikilizeni, enyi misingi ya milele ya dunia. Kwa kuwa Bwana ana shauri dhidi ya watu wake; anatoa mashtaka dhidi ya Israeli.
[But then] you mountains must [also] listen [carefully] [DOU] to what I, Yahweh, am complaining [about my people]. I have something to say about what [DOU] my Israeli people are doing that displeases me.
3 “Watu wangu, nimewatendea nini? Nimewalemea kwa jinsi gani? Mnijibu.
My people, what have I done to [cause trouble for] you [RHQ]? What have I done to cause you to experience difficulties? Answer me!
4 Nimewatoa kutoka Misri na kuwakomboa kutoka nchi ya utumwa. Nilimtuma Mose awaongoze, pia Aroni na Miriamu.
I [did great things for your ancestors]; I brought them out of Egypt; I rescued them from that land where they were slaves. I sent Moses to [lead] them, and [his older brother] Aaron and [his older sister] Miriam.
5 Watu wangu, kumbukeni jinsi Balaki mfalme wa Moabu alivyofanya shauri na kile Balaamu mwana wa Beori alichojibu. Kumbukeni safari yenu kutoka Shitimu mpaka Gilgali, ili mfahamu matendo ya haki ya Bwana.”
My people, think about when Balak, the king of Moab, requested Beor’s son Balaam [to curse your ancestors], and think about what Balaam replied. Think about [how your ancestors crossed the Jordan River miraculously while] they were traveling from Acacia to Gilgal. [Think about those things in order] that you may know that [I], Yahweh, do what is right.”
6 Nimjie Bwana na kitu gani na kusujudu mbele za Mungu aliyetukuka? Je, nije mbele zake na sadaka za kuteketezwa, nije na ndama za mwaka mmoja?
[The Israeli people ask, ] “What shall we bring to Yahweh [who lives in] heaven when we come to him and bow down before him? Should we bring calves that are a year-old that will be offerings that will be [killed and] completely burned [on the altar]?
7 Je, Bwana atafurahishwa na kondoo dume elfu, au mito elfu kumi ya mafuta? Je, nimtoe mzaliwa wangu wa kwanza kwa ajili ya kosa langu, mtoto wangu mwenyewe kwa ajili ya dhambi ya nafsi yangu?
Will Yahweh be pleased [if we offer to him] 1,000 rams and 10,000 streams of [olive] oil? Should we offer our firstborn children [to be sacrifices] to pay for the sins that we have committed [DOU]?”
8 Amekuonyesha yaliyo mema, ee mwanadamu. Bwana anataka nini kwako? Ila kutenda kwa haki na kupenda rehema, na kwenda kwa unyenyekevu na Mungu wako.
[No, because] he has shown each of us what is good [to do]; he has shown [RHQ] us what he requires each of us [to do]: He wants us to do what is just/fair and to love and to be merciful [to others], and [he wants us] to live humbly [while we fellowship] with him, our God.
9 Sikiliza! Bwana anauita mji: kulicha jina lako ni hekima: “Tii hiyo fimbo na yeye aliyeiamuru.
“I am Yahweh, so if you are wise, you should revere me. I am calling out to [you people of] Jerusalem, ‘The armies [MET] that will destroy your city are coming, so pay careful attention to me, the one who is causing them to punish you with my rod.
10 Je, bado nisahau, ee nyumba ya uovu, hazina yako uliyopata kwa udanganyifu na vipimo vilivyopunguka, ambavyo vimelaaniwa?
Do you think that [RHQ] I should forget that you wicked people filled your homes with valuable things that you acquired by cheating [others]? Do you think that [RHQ] I should forget that you used false measures [when you bought and sold things]? Those are things that I hate.
11 Je, naweza kuhukumu kuwa mtu mwenye mizani ya udanganyifu hana hatia, aliye na mfuko wa mawe ya kupimia ya uongo?
[Do you think] that [RHQ] I should say nothing about people who use scales that do not weigh correctly, and who use weights that are not accurate?
12 Matajiri wake ni wajeuri; watu wake ni waongo na ndimi zao zinazungumza kwa udanganyifu.
The rich people among you always act violently [to get money from poor people]. All of the people [in Jerusalem] are liars, and they [SYN] always deceive people.
13 Kwa hiyo, nimeanza kukuharibu, kuwaangamiza kwa sababu ya dhambi zenu.
Therefore, I have [already] begun to get rid of you, to ruin you because of the sins that you have committed.
14 Mtakula lakini hamtashiba; matumbo yenu bado yatakuwa matupu. Mtaweka akiba lakini hamtaokoa chochote, kwa sababu mtakachoweka akiba nitatoa kwa upanga.
[Soon] you will eat food, but you will not have enough to satisfy you; your stomachs will [still feel as though they are] empty. You will try to save up [money], but you will not be able to save anything, because I will send your enemies to take it from you in wars [MTY].
15 Mtapanda lakini hamtavuna; mtakamua zeituni lakini hamtatumia mafuta yake. Mtakamua zabibu lakini hamtakunywa hiyo divai.
You will plant [seeds], but you will not harvest [anything]. You will press olives, but [others], not you, will use the [olive] oil. You will trample on grapes [and make wine from the juice], but [others], not you, will drink the wine.
16 Mmezishika sheria za Omri na matendo yote ya nyumba ya Ahabu, tena umefuata desturi zao. Kwa hiyo nitakutoa kwa maangamizi na watu wako kuwa dhihaka; mtachukua dharau za mataifa.”
[Those things will happen to you because] you obey [only] the wicked laws of [King] Omri, and [you do the terrible things that wicked King] Ahab and his descendants commanded. So, I will destroy your [country], and I will cause your people to be despised; people [of other nations] will insult you.’”