Zaburi 73
1 Zaburi ya Asafu. Hakika Mungu ni mwema kwa Israeli, kwa wale ambao mioyo yao ni safi.
God truly is good to [us] Israeli people, to those who totally want to do all that God desires.
2 Bali kwangu mimi, miguu yangu ilikuwa karibu kuteleza; nilikuwa karibu mguu wangu kuachia uliposimama.
As for me, I almost [stopped trusting in God]; [it was as though] my feet slipped and I stumbled [MET],
3 Kwa maana niliwaonea wivu wenye kujivuna nilipoona kufanikiwa kwa waovu.
because I envied those who proudly [said that they did not need God], and I saw that they prospered [even though] they were wicked.
4 Wao hawana taabu, miili yao ina afya na nguvu.
Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.
5 Hawapati shida zinazowataabisha watu wengine, wala hawapati mapigo kama wanadamu wengine.
They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.
6 Kwa hiyo kiburi ni mkufu wao, wamejivika jeuri.
So they are proud, and their being proud is [like] a necklace [that they show to others], and they show off their violent actions like people show off their beautiful robes.
7 Uovu hutoka katika mioyo yao iliyokufa ganzi, majivuno maovu kutoka mioyoni mwao hauna kikomo.
From their inner beings they (pour out/do) evil deeds, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do.
8 Hudhihaki na kusema kwa ukorofi, katika majivuno yao wanatishia kutesa.
They scoff at [other people], and they talk about doing evil things to them; they are proud while they plan to oppress others.
9 Vinywa vyao huweka madai hata kwa mbingu, nazo ndimi zao humiliki duniani.
They say evil things about [God who is in] heaven [MTY], and they talk boastfully/proudly about things [that they have done] here on the earth.
10 Kwa hiyo watu wao huwageukia na kunywa maji tele.
The result is that people listen to what they say and praise them and do not think that they have done anything that is wrong.
11 Wanasema, “Mungu awezaje kujua? Je, Yeye Aliye Juu Sana anayo maarifa?”
Wicked people say [to themselves], “God will certainly not [RHQ] know [what we have done]; [people say that] he is greater than any other god, but he does not know [everything].”
12 Hivi ndivyo walivyo waovu: siku zote hawajali, wanaongezeka katika utajiri.
That is what wicked people are like; they never worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer.
13 Hakika nimeuweka moyo wangu safi bure, ni bure nimenawa mikono yangu nisiwe na hatia.
[So, God], I think it is useless that I have [RHQ] always done what you want me to, and that I have not sinned.
14 Mchana kutwa nimetaabika, nimeadhibiwa kila asubuhi.
All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.
15 Kama ningesema, “Nitasema hivi,” ningelikuwa nimewasaliti watoto wako.
If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.
16 Nilipojaribu kuelewa haya yote, yalikuwa magumu kwangu kuelewa.
And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].
17 Mpaka nilipoingia patakatifu pa Mungu, ndipo nilipotambua mwisho wao.
But when I went to your temple, [you spoke to me], and I understood what will happen to the wicked people [after they die].
18 Hakika unawaweka mahali pa utelezi, unawaangusha chini kwa uharibifu.
[Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.
19 Tazama jinsi wanavyoangamizwa ghafula, wanatoweshwa kabisa na vitisho!
They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.
20 Kama ndoto mtu aamkapo, hivyo wakati uinukapo, Ee Bwana, utawatowesha kama ndoto.
They [will disappear as quickly] as a dream disappears when a person awakes in the morning; Lord, when you arise, you will (cause them to disappear/forget all about them).
21 Wakati moyo wangu ulipohuzunishwa, na roho yangu ilipotiwa uchungu,
When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,
22 nilikuwa mpumbavu na mjinga, nilikuwa mnyama mkatili mbele yako.
I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.
23 Hata hivyo niko pamoja nawe siku zote, umenishika mkono wangu wa kuume.
But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.
24 Unaniongoza kwa shauri lako, hatimaye utaniingiza katika utukufu.
You guide me by teaching me, and (at the end [of my life]/when I die), you will receive me and honor me.
25 Nani niliye naye mbinguni ila wewe? Dunia haina chochote ninachokitamani ila wewe.
You are in heaven and I belong to you [RHQ], and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than that.
26 Mwili na moyo wangu vyaweza kushindwa, bali Mungu ni nguvu ya moyo wangu na fungu langu milele.
My body and my mind may become very weak, but God, you continue to enable me to be strong; I belong to you forever.
27 Wale walio mbali nawe wataangamia, unawaangamiza wote wasio waaminifu kwako.
Those who remain far from you will be destroyed; you will get rid of those who abandon you.
28 Lakini kwangu mimi, ni vyema kuwa karibu na Mungu. Nimemfanya Bwana Mwenyezi kimbilio langu; nami nitayasimulia matendo yako yote.
But [as for] me, it is wonderful to be near to God and to be protected by Yahweh, and to proclaim to others all that he has done [for me].
