Zaburi 78
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
“A Maskil of Assaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction: incline thy ear to the words of my mouth.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
I will open with a parable my mouth: I will utter riddles out of ancient times;
3 yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
Which we have heard and know, and which our fathers have related unto us.
4 Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
We will not conceal them from their children, relating to the latest generation the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful deeds which he hath done.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
Yea, he established a testimony in Jacob, and instituted a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
In order that the latest generation might know them, even the children that are to be born; that they may arise and relate them to their children;
7 Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
That they may place in God their hope, and not forget the doings of God, but observe 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.
And that they may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that had not directed their heart firmly, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9 Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, like well-armed archers, that turn round on the day of battle,
10 Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
Kept not the covenant of God, and in his law they refused to walk;
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
And they forgot his deeds, as also his wonders, which he had permitted them to see.
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
In the presence of their fathers did he do wonders, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.
13 Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters stand upright as a wall.
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
And he led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the mighty deep.
16 alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
And he brought forth running streams out of the rock, and caused water to run down like rivers.
17 Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
But they repeated to sin yet more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
And they tempted God in their heart, by asking food for their desire.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
Yea, they spoke against God: they said, Will God be able to set in order 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?”
Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed: shall he also be able to give bread? or can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
Therefore, when the Lord heard this, he became wroth: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also ascended against Israel,
22 kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
Because they had not believed in God, and had not trusted in his salvation.
23 Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
Then he ordained the skies from above, and the doors of heaven he opened;
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
And he let rain down upon them manna to eat, and the corn of heaven gave he unto them.
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
Angels' bread did man eat: he sent them provision to satisfaction.
26 Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
He caused an east wind to pass along the heavens; and he led forth by his strength the south wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
And he let rain upon them flesh [as plentiful] as the dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea;
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
And he let them fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
And they ate, and were greatly satisfied, and what they longed for he brought unto them.
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
They were not estranged from their longing, yet was their food in their mouth:
31 hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
When the wrath of God ascended against them, and he slew some of the fattest of them, and the young men of Israel did he strike down.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
With all this they sinned again, and believed not in his wonders.
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
Therefore he caused their days to come to an end in nought, and their years in dread.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
When he slew them, then did they seek him, and they returned and inquired earnestly after God.
35 Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the most high God their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
Nevertheless they prayed insincerely to him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him.
37 mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
For their heart was not firm with him, and they were not faithful 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, being merciful, forgave the iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not awaken all his fury.
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
And he remembered that they are but flesh, a spirit that passeth away, and returneth not again.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, grieve him in the desert!
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yea, they once more tempted God, and set limits to the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They remembered not his hand, the day when he ransomed them from the adversary;
43 siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
When he displayed in Egypt his signs, and his wonderful tokens in the fields of Zo'an.
44 Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
And he changed their rivers into blood; and their running streams, that they could not drink [of them].
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent out among them various wild beasts, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
And he gave unto the cricket their products, and their labor unto the locust.
47 Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
He slew with hail their vines, and their sycamore-trees with ice-bolts.
48 Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
And he surrendered to the hail their cattle, and their herds to the lightning's flashes.
49 Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
He let loose against them the fierceness of his anger, wrath and indignation, and distress, a host of angels of misfortune.
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He leveled a path for his anger; he withheld not from death their soul, and their life he surrendered to the pestilence;
51 Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
And he smote all the first-born in Egypt; the first of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
But he caused his own people to depart like flocks, and guided them like a drove in the wilderness.
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
And he led them in safety, so that they felt no dread; but the sea covered over 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 to his holy territory, even to this mount, which his right hand had acquired.
55 Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
And he drove out from before them nations, and divided them by the measuring-line as an inheritance, and he caused to dwell in their tents the tribes of Israel.
56 Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the most high God, and his testimonies they kept not;
57 Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
But swerved aside, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers; they turned about like a deceitful bow.
58 Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
And they provoked him to anger with their high-places, and with their graven images they moved him to jealousy.
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
God heard this, and he became wroth, and felt greatly disgusted with Israel;
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
And he cast off the dwelling at Shiloh, the tabernacle where he had dwelt among men;
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
And he gave up his strength unto captivity, and his glory into the adversary's hand.
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
And he surrendered his people unto the sword; and with his inheritance was he wroth.
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
His young men the fire devoured; and his virgins were not demanded in marriage.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
His priests fell by the sword; and his widows did not weep.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
Then awoke the Lord as one that sleepeth, like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
And he smote his enemies backward: a perpetual disgrace on them.
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
Yet was he disgusted with the tent of Joseph, and of the tribe of Ephraim he made not choice;
68 lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
But he chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
And he built like high [mountains] his sanctuary, like the earth which he hath founded for ever.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
And he made choice of David his servant, and took him from the sheep-folds:
71 Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
From following the ewes with young he brought him, to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
And he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and by the skilfulness of his hands did he lead them.
