Zaburi 73
1 Zaburi ya Asafu. Hakika Mungu ni mwema kwa Israeli, kwa wale ambao mioyo yao ni safi.
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 Bali kwangu mimi, miguu yangu ilikuwa karibu kuteleza; nilikuwa karibu mguu wangu kuachia uliposimama.
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, My steps had, well-nigh slipped;
3 Kwa maana niliwaonea wivu wenye kujivuna nilipoona kufanikiwa kwa waovu.
For I was envious of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
4 Wao hawana taabu, miili yao ina afya na nguvu.
For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
5 Hawapati shida zinazowataabisha watu wengine, wala hawapati mapigo kama wanadamu wengine.
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 Kwa hiyo kiburi ni mkufu wao, wamejivika jeuri.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 Uovu hutoka katika mioyo yao iliyokufa ganzi, majivuno maovu kutoka mioyoni mwao hauna kikomo.
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 Hudhihaki na kusema kwa ukorofi, katika majivuno yao wanatishia kutesa.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 Vinywa vyao huweka madai hata kwa mbingu, nazo ndimi zao humiliki duniani.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 Kwa hiyo watu wao huwageukia na kunywa maji tele.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
11 Wanasema, “Mungu awezaje kujua? Je, Yeye Aliye Juu Sana anayo maarifa?”
And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Hivi ndivyo walivyo waovu: siku zote hawajali, wanaongezeka katika utajiri.
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 Hakika nimeuweka moyo wangu safi bure, ni bure nimenawa mikono yangu nisiwe na hatia.
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 Mchana kutwa nimetaabika, nimeadhibiwa kila asubuhi.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 Kama ningesema, “Nitasema hivi,” ningelikuwa nimewasaliti watoto wako.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 Nilipojaribu kuelewa haya yote, yalikuwa magumu kwangu kuelewa.
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 Mpaka nilipoingia patakatifu pa Mungu, ndipo nilipotambua mwisho wao.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 Hakika unawaweka mahali pa utelezi, unawaangusha chini kwa uharibifu.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
19 Tazama jinsi wanavyoangamizwa ghafula, wanatoweshwa kabisa na vitisho!
How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
20 Kama ndoto mtu aamkapo, hivyo wakati uinukapo, Ee Bwana, utawatowesha kama ndoto.
As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 Wakati moyo wangu ulipohuzunishwa, na roho yangu ilipotiwa uchungu,
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 nilikuwa mpumbavu na mjinga, nilikuwa mnyama mkatili mbele yako.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 Hata hivyo niko pamoja nawe siku zote, umenishika mkono wangu wa kuume.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
24 Unaniongoza kwa shauri lako, hatimaye utaniingiza katika utukufu.
By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
25 Nani niliye naye mbinguni ila wewe? Dunia haina chochote ninachokitamani ila wewe.
Whom have I in the heavens? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 Mwili na moyo wangu vyaweza kushindwa, bali Mungu ni nguvu ya moyo wangu na fungu langu milele.
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
27 Wale walio mbali nawe wataangamia, unawaangamiza wote wasio waaminifu kwako.
For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely from thee.
28 Lakini kwangu mimi, ni vyema kuwa karibu na Mungu. Nimemfanya Bwana Mwenyezi kimbilio langu; nami nitayasimulia matendo yako yote.
But, as for me, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
