Zaburi 78
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
My friends, listen to what I am going to teach you; pay careful attention [IDM] to what I say.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
I am going to give you some sayings that wise people have said. They will be sayings about things that happened long ago, things that were difficult to understand [MET],
3 yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
things that we have heard and known previously, things that our parents and grandparents told us.
4 Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
We will tell these things to our children [LIT], and we will also tell to our grandchildren [about] Yahweh’s power and the glorious/great things that he has done.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
He gave laws and commandments to the Israeli people, [those who are the descendants of] Jacob [DOU], and he told our ancestors to teach them to their children
6 ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
in order that their children would [also] know them and then they would teach them to their children.
7 Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
In that way, they also would trust in God, and not forget the things that he has done; instead, they would obey 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.
They would not be like their ancestors, who were very stubborn and kept rebelling [against God]; they did not continue firmly trusting in God, and they did not worship only him.
9 Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
[The soldiers of] the tribe of Ephraim had bows [and arrows] but they ran away [from their enemies] on the day that they fought a battle with their enemies.
10 Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
They did not do what they had agreed with God that they would do; they refused to obey his laws.
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
They forgot what he had done; they forgot about the miracles that they had seen him perform.
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
While our ancestors were watching, God performed miracles in the area around Zoan [city] in Egypt.
13 Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
[Then] he caused the [Red] Sea to divide, causing the water [on each side] to pile up like a wall, with the result that [our ancestors] walked through it [on dry ground].
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
He led them by a [bright] cloud during the day and by a fiery light during the night.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
He split rocks open in the desert, giving to our ancestors plenty of water from deep inside the earth.
16 alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
He caused a stream of water to flow from the rock; the water flowed like a river [DOU].
17 Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
But [our ancestors] continued to sin against God; in the desert they rebelled against the one who is greater than any other god.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
By demanding that God give them the food that they desired, they tried to find out if he would always do what they requested him to do.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
They insulted God by saying, “We don’t think he can supply food for us [here] in this desert!
20 Alipopiga mwamba, maji yalitoka kwa nguvu, vijito vikatiririka maji mengi. Lakini je, aweza kutupa chakula pia? Je, anaweza kuwapa watu wake nyama?”
[It is true that] he struck the rock, with the result that water gushed/flowed out, [but] (can he also provide bread and meat for [us], his people?/we doubt that he can also provide bread and meat for us, his people.)” [RHQ]
21 Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
So, when Yahweh heard that, he became very angry, and he sent a fire to burn up [some of] his Israeli [people]. [MTY, DOU]
22 kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
[He did that] because they did not trust in him, and they did not believe that he would rescue them.
23 Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
But God spoke to the sky above them; he commanded it to open [like] a door,
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
and [then food] fell down like rain, [food which they named] ‘manna’; God gave them grain from (heaven/the sky).
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
[So] the people ate the food that angels eat, [and] God gave to them all the manna that they wanted.
26 Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
[Later], he caused the wind to blow from the east, and by his power he also sent wind from the south,
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
and the wind brought birds which were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore.
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
God caused those birds to fall [dead] in the middle of (their camp)/the area where the people had put up their tents. [There were dead birds] all around their tents.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
[So] the people [cooked the birds and] ate the meat and their stomachs were full, because God had given them what they wanted.
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
But before they had eaten all that they wanted, and while they were still eating it,
31 hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
God was [still] very angry with them, and he caused their strongest men to die; he got rid of [many of] the finest [young] Israeli men.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
In spite of all that, the people continued to sin; in spite of all the miracles that God had performed, they still did not trust that he [would take care of them].
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
So, he caused their lives to end as quickly as a puff of wind ends; they died when disasters suddenly struck them.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
When God caused [some of] them to die, [the others] turned to God; they repented and earnestly asked God [to save them].
35 Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
They remembered that God is [like] a huge rock ledge [under which they would be safe] [MET], and that he, who was greater than any other god, is the one who protected/rescued them.
36 Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
But they [tried to] deceive God by what they said [MTY]; their words [MTY] were [all] lies.
37 mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
They were not loyal to him; they disregarded/ignored the agreement that he had made with them.
38 Hata hivyo alikuwa na huruma, alisamehe maovu yao na hakuwaangamiza. Mara kwa mara alizuia hasira yake, wala hakuchochea ghadhabu yake yote.
But God was merciful to his people. He forgave them for having sinned and did not get rid of them. Many times he refrained from becoming angry [with them] and restrained from furiously/severely [punishing them] [MTY].
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
He remembered/considered that they were only humans who die; they [disappear quickly] [SIM], like a wind that blows by and then is gone.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
Many times our ancestors rebelled against God in the desert and caused him to become very sad.
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Many times they did evil things, to find out [if they could do those things without God punishing them]. They frequently caused the holy God of Israel to become disgusted/sad.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They forgot about his [great] power, and they (forgot/did not think) about the time when he rescued them from their enemies.
43 siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
They forgot about when he performed many miracles in the area near Zoan [city] in Egypt.
44 Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
He caused the [Nile] River (OR, their sources of water) to become [red like] blood, with the result that the people of Egypt had no water to drink.
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent among the people of Egypt swarms of flies that bit them, and he sent frogs that ate up everything.
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
He sent locusts to eat their crops and the other things that grew in their fields.
47 Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
He sent hail that destroyed the grapevines, and sent frost that ruined the figs.
48 Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
He sent hail that killed their cattle and sent lightning that killed their sheep and cows.
49 Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
Because God was fiercely angry with the people of Egypt, he caused them to be very distressed. The disasters that struck them were like a group of angels that destroyed [everything].
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He did not lessen his being angry [with them], and he did not (spare their lives/prevent them from dying); he sent a (plague/serious illness) that killed [many of] them.
51 Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
He also caused all the firstborn sons of the people of Egypt to die.
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
Then he led his people out [of Egypt] like [a shepherd leads] his sheep [SIM], and he guided them [while they walked] through the desert.
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
He led them safely, and they were not afraid, but their enemies 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.
[Later] he brought them to [Canaan], his sacred land, to [Zion] Hill (OR, the hilly area) and by his power [MTY] he enabled them to conquer [the people who were living there].
55 Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
He expelled the people-groups while his people were advancing; he allotted part of the land for [each tribe] to possess, and he gave to the Israeli people the houses of those people who had been expelled.
56 Lakini wao walimjaribu Mungu, na kuasi dhidi ya Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, wala hawakuzishika sheria zake.
However, the Israeli people rebelled against God, who is greater than any other god, and they did many evil things to see if they could do those things without God punishing them, and they did not obey his commandments.
57 Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
Instead, like their ancestors did, they rebelled against God and (were not loyal to/did not faithfully [obey]) him; they were as [unreliable as] a crooked arrow [that does not go straight] [SIM].
58 Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
Because they [worshiped] carved images of their gods on the tops of hills, they caused God to become angry [DOU].
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
He saw what they were doing and became very angry, so he rejected the Israeli people.
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
He no longer appeared to them at Shiloh in the tent where he had lived among them.
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
He allowed their enemies to capture [the sacred chest], [which was the symbol of] his power and his glory.
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
Because he was angry with his people, he allowed them to be killed [MTY] [by their enemies].
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
Young men were killed in battles, with the result that the young women had no one to marry.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
[Many] priests were killed by [their enemies’] swords, and (the people did not allow the priests’ widows/the priests’ widows were not allowed) to mourn.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
Later, [it was as though] the Lord awoke from sleeping; he was like a strong man who (became stimulated/felt that he was strong) by (OR, became sober after) [drinking] a lot of wine [SIM].
66 Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
He pushed their enemies back and caused them to be [very] ashamed for a long time [HYP] [because they had been defeated].
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
[But] he did not set up his tent where [the people of] the tribe of Ephraim lived; he did not choose their area [to do that].
68 lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
Instead he chose [the area where] the tribe of Judah [lived]; he chose Zion Hill, which he loves.
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
He [decided to have] his temple built [there], high up, like [his home in] heaven; he caused it to be firm, [and intended that] his temple would last forever, like the earth.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
He chose David, who served him [faithfully], and took him from the pastures
71 Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
where he was taking care of his [father’s] sheep, and appointed him to be the leader [MET] of the Israeli people, the people who belong to God.
72 Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
David took care of the Israeli people sincerely and wholeheartedly, and guided them skillfully/wisely.
