Zaburi 78
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, 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 a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers 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 them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed 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.
That the generation to come might know them, even the children who should be born; who 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 in God, and not forget the works of God, but 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 might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, 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 refused to walk in his law;
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shown them.
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
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 to stand as an heap.
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
In the day time also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
Yea, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish 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, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? 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 the LORD heard this, and was full of wrath: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came 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,
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the grain of heaven.
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
Man ate angels’ food: he sent them food to the full.
26 Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, around their habitations.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
So they ate, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet 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 came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early 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 high God their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
Nevertheless they would flatter him with their mouth, and they lied to him with their tongues.
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, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time he turned his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
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 Zoan:
44 Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
And had turned their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they could not drink.
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
He gave also their increase to the caterpiller, and their labour to the locust.
47 Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
He destroyed 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 gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51 Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed 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 the border of his sanctuary, even to 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.
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, 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.
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
When God heard this, he was filled with wrath, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
He gave over his people also to the sword; and was filled with wrath with his inheritance.
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, and 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 in the hinder part: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
Moreover he refused 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 Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
He chose David also 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 great 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.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
