Zaburi 78
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears 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, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching 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, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell 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 God’s deeds, 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 didn’t make their hearts loyal, 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 didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk in his law.
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
He did marvellous things 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 split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all 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 abundantly as out of the 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.
Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God 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?”
Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat 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 angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
22 kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.
23 Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
Man 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 caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
31 hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
When he killed them, then they enquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
35 Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
They remembered that God was their rock, 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.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they 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 iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
43 siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,
44 Aligeuza mito yao kuwa damu, hawakuweza kunywa maji kutoka vijito vyao.
he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent amongst them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
He also gave their increase to the caterpillar, 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, their sycamore fig trees with frost.
48 Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
He also gave over their livestock 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 threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare 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 struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, 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.
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
55 Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for 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 rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies,
57 Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted 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 engraved images.
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed amongst men,
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
66 Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
72 Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
