Zaburi 78
1 Utenzi wa Asafu. Enyi watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
An Instruction of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law, Incline your ear to sayings of my mouth.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu kwa mafumbo, nitazungumza mambo yaliyofichika, mambo ya kale:
I open with a simile my mouth, I bring forth hidden things of old,
3 yale ambayo tuliyasikia na kuyajua, yale ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
That we have heard and do know, And our fathers have recounted to us.
4 Hatutayaficha kwa watoto wao; tutakiambia kizazi kijacho matendo yastahiliyo sifa ya Bwana, uweza wake, na maajabu aliyoyafanya.
We do not hide from their sons, To a later generation recounting praises of Jehovah, And His strength, and His wonders that He hath done.
5 Aliagiza amri kwa Yakobo na akaweka sheria katika Israeli, ambazo aliwaamuru baba zetu wawafundishe watoto wao,
And He raiseth up a testimony in Jacob, And a law hath placed in Israel, That He commanded our fathers, To make them known to their sons.
6 ili kizazi kijacho kizijue, pamoja na watoto ambao watazaliwa, nao pia wapate kuwaeleza watoto wao.
So that a later generation doth know, Sons who are born, do rise and recount to their sons,
7 Ndipo wangeweka tumaini lao kwa Mungu, nao wasingesahau matendo yake, bali wangalizishika amri zake.
And place in God their confidence, And forget not the doings of God, But keep His commands.
8 Ili wasifanane na baba zao, waliokuwa kizazi cha ukaidi na uasi, ambao roho zao hazikuwa na uaminifu kwake, ambao roho zao hazikumwamini.
And they are not like their fathers, A generation apostate and rebellious, A generation! it hath not prepared its heart, Nor stedfast with God [is] its spirit.
9 Watu wa Efraimu, ingawa walijifunga pinde, walikimbia siku ya vita.
Sons of Ephraim — armed bearers of bow, Have turned in a day of conflict.
10 Hawakulishika agano la Mungu na walikataa kuishi kwa sheria yake.
They have not kept the covenant of God, And in His law they have refused to walk,
11 Walisahau aliyokuwa ameyatenda, maajabu aliyokuwa amewaonyesha.
And they forget His doings, And His wonders that He shewed them.
12 Alitenda miujiza machoni mwa baba zao, huko Soani, katika nchi ya Misri.
Before their fathers He hath done wonders, In the land of Egypt — the field of Zoan.
13 Aliigawanya bahari akawapitisha, alifanya maji yasimame imara kama ukuta.
He cleft a sea, and causeth them to pass over, Yea, He causeth waters to stand as a heap.
14 Aliwaongoza kwa wingu mchana na kwa nuru kutoka kwenye moto usiku kucha.
And leadeth them with a cloud by day, And all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani na akawapa maji tele kama bahari,
He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink — as the great deep.
16 alitoa vijito kutoka kwenye jabali lililochongoka, akayafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
And bringeth out streams from a rock, And causeth waters to come down as rivers.
17 Lakini waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi jangwani dhidi ya Aliye Juu Sana.
And they add still to sin against Him, To provoke the Most High in the dry place.
18 Kwa makusudi walimjaribu Mungu, wakidai vyakula walivyovitamani.
And they try God in their heart, To ask food for their lust.
19 Walinena dhidi ya Mungu, wakisema, “Je, Mungu aweza kuandaa meza jangwani?
And they speak against God — they said: 'Is God able to array a table in a wilderness?'
20 Alipopiga mwamba, maji yalitoka kwa nguvu, vijito vikatiririka maji mengi. Lakini je, aweza kutupa chakula pia? Je, anaweza kuwapa watu wake nyama?”
Lo, He hath smitten a rock, And waters flow, yea, streams overflow. 'Also — bread [is] He able to give? Doth He prepare flesh for His people?'
21 Bwana alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, moto wake ukawa dhidi ya Yakobo, na ghadhabu yake ikawaka dhidi ya Israeli,
Therefore hath Jehovah heard, And He sheweth Himself wroth, And fire hath been kindled against Jacob, And anger also hath gone up against Israel,
22 kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, wala kuutumainia ukombozi wake.
For they have not believed in God, Nor have they trusted in His salvation.
23 Hata hivyo alitoa amri kwa anga zilizo juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu,
And He commandeth clouds from above, Yea, doors of the heavens He hath opened.
24 akawanyeshea mana ili watu wale; aliwapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
And He raineth on them manna to eat, Yea, corn of heaven He hath given to them.
25 Watu walikula mkate wa malaika, akawatumia chakula chote ambacho wangeliweza kula.
Food of the mighty hath each eaten, Venison He sent to them to satiety.
26 Aliachia upepo wa mashariki kutoka kwenye mbingu na kuuongoza upepo wa kusini kwa uwezo wake.
He causeth an east wind to journey in the heavens, And leadeth by His strength a south wind,
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, ndege warukao kama mchanga wa pwani.
And He raineth on them flesh as dust, And as sand of the seas — winged fowl,
28 Aliwafanya washuke ndani ya kambi yao, kuzunguka mahema yao yote.
And causeth [it] to fall in the midst of His camp, Round about His tabernacles.
29 Walikula na kusaza, kwa maana alikuwa amewapa kile walichotamani.
And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, And their desire He bringeth to them.
30 Kabla hawajamaliza kula walichokitamani, hata kilipokuwa kingali bado vinywani mwao,
They have not been estranged from their desire, Yet [is] their food in their mouth,
31 hasira ya Mungu ikawaka juu yao, akawaua wale waliokuwa na nguvu zaidi miongoni mwao, akiwaangusha vijana wa Israeli.
And the anger of God hath gone up against them, And He slayeth among their fat ones, And youths of Israel He caused to bend.
32 Licha ya haya yote, waliendelea kutenda dhambi, licha ya maajabu yake, hawakuamini.
With all this they have sinned again, And have not believed in His wonders.
33 Kwa hiyo akamaliza siku zao katika ubatili na miaka yao katika vitisho.
And He consumeth in vanity their days, And their years in trouble.
34 Kila mara Mungu alipowaua baadhi yao, waliosalia walimtafuta, walimgeukia tena kwa shauku.
If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly,
35 Walikumbuka kwamba Mungu alikuwa Mwamba wao, kwamba Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa Mkombozi wao.
And they remember that God [is] their rock, And God Most High their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, wakisema uongo kwa ndimi zao,
And — they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,
37 mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast 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.
And He — the Merciful One, Pardoneth iniquity, and destroyeth not, And hath often turned back His anger, And waketh not up all His fury.
39 Alikumbuka kwamba wao walikuwa nyama tu, upepo upitao ambao haurudi.
And He remembereth that they [are] flesh, A wind going on — and it returneth not.
40 Mara ngapi walimwasi jangwani na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
How often do they provoke Him in the wilderness, Grieve Him in the desolate place?
41 Walimjaribu Mungu mara kwa mara, wakamkasirisha yeye Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yea, they turn back, and try God, And the Holy One of Israel have limited.
42 Hawakukumbuka uwezo wake, siku aliyowakomboa kutoka kwa mtesi,
They have not remembered His hand The day He ransomed them from the adversary.
43 siku aliyoonyesha ishara zake za ajabu huko Misri, maajabu yake huko Soani.
When He set 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 He turneth to blood their streams, And their floods they drink not.
45 Aliwapelekea makundi ya mainzi yakawala, na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sendeth among them the beetle, and it consumeth them, And the frog, and it destroyeth them,
46 Aliruhusu tunutu kuharibu mimea yao, mazao yao kwa nzige.
And giveth to the caterpillar their increase, And their labour to the locust.
47 Aliharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na mikuyu yao kwa mvua iliyochangamana na theluji.
He destroyeth with hail their vine, And their sycamores with frost,
48 Aliwaachia mifugo yao mvua ya mawe, akayapiga makundi ya wanyama wao kwa radi.
And delivereth up to the hail their beasts, And their cattle to the burning flames.
49 Aliwafungulia hasira yake kali, ghadhabu yake, hasira na uadui, na kundi la malaika wa kuharibu.
He sendeth on them the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress — A discharge of evil messengers.
50 Aliitengenezea njia hasira yake, hakuwaepusha na kifo, bali aliwaachia tauni.
He pondereth a path for His anger, He kept not back their soul from death, Yea, their life to the pestilence He delivered up.
51 Aliwapiga wazaliwa wote wa kwanza wa Misri, matunda ya kwanza ya ujana katika mahema ya Hamu.
And He smiteth every first-born in Egypt, The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.
52 Lakini aliwatoa watu wake kama kundi, akawaongoza kama kondoo kupitia jangwani.
And causeth His people to journey as a flock, And guideth them as a drove in a wilderness,
53 Aliwaongoza salama, wala hawakuogopa, bali bahari iliwameza adui zao.
And He leadeth them confidently, And they have not been afraid, And their enemies hath the sea covered.
54 Hivyo akawaleta hadi kwenye mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, hadi nchi ya vilima ambayo mkono wake wa kuume ulikuwa umeitwaa.
And He bringeth them in unto the border of His sanctuary, This mountain His right hand had got,
55 Aliyafukuza mataifa mbele yao, na kuwagawia nchi zao kama urithi, aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika makao yao.
And casteth out nations from before them, And causeth them to fall in the line of inheritance, And causeth 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.
And they tempt and provoke God Most High, And His testimonies have not kept.
57 Kama baba zao, hawakuwa thabiti wala waaminifu, wakawa wasioweza kutegemewa kama upinde wenye kasoro.
And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,
58 Wakamkasirisha Mungu kwa mahali pao pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, wakachochea wivu wake kwa sanamu zao.
And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous,
59 Wakati Mungu alipowasikia, alikasirika sana, akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
God hath heard, and sheweth Himself wroth. And kicketh exceedingly against Israel.
60 Akaiacha hema ya Shilo, hema aliyokuwa ameiweka katikati ya wanadamu.
And He leaveth the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men,
61 Akalipeleka Sanduku la nguvu zake utumwani, utukufu wake mikononi mwa adui.
And He giveth His strength to captivity, And His beauty into the hand of an adversary,
62 Aliachia watu wake wauawe kwa upanga, akaukasirikia sana urithi wake.
And delivereth up to the sword His people, And with His inheritance shewed Himself angry.
63 Moto uliwaangamiza vijana wao, na wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
His young men hath fire consumed, And His virgins have not been praised.
64 makuhani wao waliuawa kwa upanga, wala wajane wao hawakuweza kulia.
His priests by the sword have fallen, And their widows weep not.
65 Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama vile kuamka usingizini, kama vile mtu aamkavyo kutoka kwenye bumbuazi la mvinyo.
And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine.
66 Aliwapiga na kuwashinda adui zake, akawatia katika aibu ya milele.
And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them,
67 Ndipo alipozikataa hema za Yosefu, hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu,
And He kicketh against the tent of Joseph, And on the tribe of Ephraim hath not fixed.
68 lakini alilichagua kabila la Yuda, Mlima Sayuni, ambao aliupenda.
And He chooseth the tribe of Judah, With mount Zion that He loved,
69 Alijenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, kama dunia ambayo aliimarisha milele.
And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age.
70 Akamchagua Daudi mtumishi wake na kumtoa kwenye mazizi ya kondoo.
And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,
71 Kutoka kuchunga kondoo alimleta kuwa mchungaji wa watu wake Yakobo, wa Israeli urithi wake.
From behind suckling ones He hath brought him in, To rule over Jacob His people, And over Israel His inheritance.
72 Naye Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo, kwa mikono ya ustadi aliwaongoza.
And he ruleth them according to the integrity of his heart, And by the skilfulness of his hands leadeth them!
