< Zaburi 78 >
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
A maskil of Asaph. My people, attend to my teaching: bend your ears to the words of my mouth,
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
as I open my mouth in a poem on the riddling story of the past.
3 yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
What we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told us,
4 Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
we will not hide from their children. We will tell to the next generation the praises and might of the Lord, and the wonders that he has done.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
He set up a testimony in Jacob, a law he appointed in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to make known to their children,
6 ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
that the next generation should know it, that the children yet to be born should arise and tell their children;
7 Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
that in God they might put their confidence, and not forget God’s works; but that they might keep 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 not be like their ancestors, a generation defiant and stubborn, a generation with heart unsteady, and spirit unfaithful towards God.
9 Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
Ephraimites, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
10 Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
They did not keep God’s covenant, they refused to walk in his law.
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
They forgot what he had done, and the wonders he had shown them.
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
He did wonders before their ancestors in the country of Zoan in Egypt.
13 Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
Through the sea which he split he brought them, making waters stand up like a heap;
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
he led them by day with a cloud, all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
From the rocks which he split in the wilderness, he gave them to drink as of ocean’s abundance.
16 alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
He brought streams out of the rock, and made water run down like rivers.
17 Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
Yet they still went on sinning against him, they defied the Most High in the desert.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
They willfully challenged God, demanding the food that they longed for.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
“Is God able,” such was their challenge, “to spread in the desert a table?
20 Alipopiga mwamba, maji yalitoka kwa nguvu, vijito vikatiririka maji mengi. Lakini je, aweza kutupa chakula pia? Je, anaweza kuwapa watu wake nyama?”
From the rock that he struck there gushed water, and torrents that overflowed; but can he also give bread, or provide his people with meat?”
21 Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
When the Lord heard this, he was furious, and fire was kindled on Jacob, anger flared up against Israel.
22 kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
For they put no trust in God, no confidence in his help.
23 Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
So he summoned the clouds above; and, opening the doors of heaven,
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
he rained manna upon them for food, and grain of heaven he gave them.
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
Everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food to the full.
26 Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
He launched the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south by his power.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
He rained meat upon them like dust, winged bird like the sand of the sea.
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
In the midst of their camp he dropped it, all around their tents.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
They ate and were more than filled; he had brought them the thing they desired.
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
But the thing they desired became loathsome: while their food was still in their mouths,
31 hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
the wrath of God rose against them. He slew the stoutest among them, and laid low the young men of Israel.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
Yet for all this they sinned yet more, and refused to believe in his wonders.
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
So he ended their days in a breath, and their years in sudden dismay.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
When he slew them, then they sought after him, they turned and sought God with diligence.
35 Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
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,
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
Their heart was not steady with him, they were faithless to 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 full of pity: he pardons sin and destroys not. Often he turns his anger away, without stirring his wrath at all.
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
So he remembered that they were but flesh, breath that passes and does not return.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
But how often they rebelled in the desert, and caused him grief in the wilderness,
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
tempting God again and again, provoking the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They did not remember his strength, nor the day he redeemed from the foe,
43 siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, in the country of Zoan his wonders.
44 Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
He turned their canals into blood, their streams undrinkable.
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent forth flies, which devoured them; frogs, too, which destroyed them.
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
Their crops he gave to the caterpillar, and the fruits of their toil to the locust.
47 Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
He slew their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
He delivered their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to bolts of fire.
49 Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
He let loose his hot anger among them, fury and wrath and distress, a band of destroying angels.
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He cleared a path for his anger, did not spare them from death, but gave them over to pestilence.
51 Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
He led forth his people like sheep, he was guide to his flock in the desert.
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
Securely he led them, and free from fear, while their foes were drowned in the sea.
54 Hivyo akawaleta hadi kwenye mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, hadi nchi ya vilima ambayo mkono wake wa kuume ulikuwa umeitwaa.
To his holy realm he brought them, to the mountain his right hand had purchased.
55 Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
He drove out the nations before them, and allotted their land for possession, and their tents for Israel to live in.
56 Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
Yet they tempted and angered the Most High God, they did not observe his decrees.
57 Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
They drew back, false like their ancestors; they failed like a treacherous bow.
58 Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
Their shrines stirred him to anger, their idols moved him to jealousy.
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
When God heard of this, he was furious, and he spurned Israel utterly.
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
He abandoned his home in Shiloh, the tent he had pitched among people.
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
He gave his strength up to captivity, his glory to the hands of the foe.
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
He gave his people to the sword, he was furious with his own.
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
Fire devoured their young men, and their maidens had no marriage-song.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior flushed with wine;
66 Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
and he beat back his foes, putting them to perpetual scorn.
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
He disowned the tent of Joseph, he rejected the tribe of Ephraim;
68 lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
And he built like the heights his sanctuary, like the earth which he founded forever.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
And he chose David his servant, taking him from the sheepfolds.
71 Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
From the mother-ewes he brought him, to be shepherd to Jacob his people, and to Israel his inheritance.
72 Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
With upright heart did he shepherd them, and with skilful hands did he guide them.