Zaburi 78
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
[A Psalm] of instruction for Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law: incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings [which have been] from the beginning.
3 yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
All which we have heard and known, and our fathers have declared to us.
4 Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
They were not hid from their children to a second generations; [the fathers] declaring the praises of the Lord, and his mighty acts, and his wonders which he wrought.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children:
6 ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare them to their children.
7 Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
That they might set their hope on God, and not forget the works of God, but diligently seek his commandments.
8 Ili wasifanane na baba zao, waliokuwa kizazi cha ukaidi na uasi, ambao roho zao hazikuwa na uaminifu kwake, ambao roho zao hazikumwamini.
That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which set not its heart aright, and its spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting [with] the bow, turned [back] in the day of battle.
10 Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
They kept not the covenant of God, and would not walk in his law.
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
And they forgot his benefits, and his miracles which he [had] shewed them;
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
the miracles which he wrought before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanes.
13 Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as [in] a bottle.
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
And he guided them with a cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
he clave a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.
16 alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
And he brought water out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down as rivers.
17 Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
And they sinned yet more against him; they provoked the Most High in the wilderness.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Alipopiga mwamba, maji yalitoka kwa nguvu, vijito vikatiririka maji mengi. Lakini je, aweza kutupa chakula pia? Je, anaweza kuwapa watu wake nyama?”
Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?
21 Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.
22 kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
23 Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
Man ate angels' bread; he sent them provision to the full.
26 Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the south-west wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,
31 hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
then the indignation of God rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years with anxiety.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.
35 Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
38 Hata hivyo alikuwa na huruma, alisamehe maovu yao na hakuwaangamiza. Mara kwa mara alizuia hasira yake, wala hakuchochea ghadhabu yake yote.
But he is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy [them]: yea, he will frequently turn away his wrath, and will not kindle all his anger.
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
And he remembered that they are flesh; a wind that passes away, and returns not.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] anger him in a dry land!
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yea, they turned back, and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They remembered not his hand, the day in which he delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.
43 siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanes:
44 Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
and had changed their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they should not drink.
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent against them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; and the frog, and it spoiled them.
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
And he gave their fruit to the canker worm, and their labours to the locust.
47 Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost.
48 Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
And he gave up their cattle to hail, and their substance to the fire.
49 Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
He sent out against them the fury of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels.
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He made a way for his wrath; he spared not their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death;
51 Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
and smote every first-born in the land of Egypt; the first-fruits of their labours in the tents of Cham.
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
And he removed his people like sheep; he led them as a flock in the wilderness.
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
And he guided them with hope, and they feared not: but the sea covered their enemies.
54 Hivyo akawaleta hadi kwenye mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, hadi nchi ya vilima ambayo mkono wake wa kuume ulikuwa umeitwaa.
And he brought them in to the mountain of his sanctuary, this mountain which his right hand had purchased.
55 Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
And he cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies.
57 Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow.
58 Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
And they provoked him with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
God heard and lightly regarded [them], and greatly despised Israel.
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
And he rejected the tabernacle of Selom, his tent where he dwelt among men.
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
And he gave their strength into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
And he gave his people to the sword; and disdained his inheritance.
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
Fire devoured their young men; and their virgins mourned not.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] as a mighty man who has been heated with wine.
66 Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he brought on them a perpetual reproach.
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
68 lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
but chose the tribe of Juda, the mount Sion which he loved.
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
And he built his sanctuary as [the place] of unicorns; he founded it for ever on the earth.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep.
71 Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
So he tended them in the innocency of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
