Hosea 11
1 “Wakati Israeli alikuwa kijana nilimpenda, na nikamwita mtoto wangu kutoka Misri.
When Israel was young, then I began to love him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 Kwa kadiri waliyoitwa, ndivyo walivyoondoka kwangu. Wakawafanyia dhabihu Baali, wakatafuta uvumba kwa sanamu.
The more I called them, the further they went away from me. They kept sacrificing to Baals and making offerings to idols.
3 Lakini mimi ndio niliyemfundisha Efraimu kutembea. Ndiye niliyewainua kwa silaha zao, lakini hawakujua kwamba niliwajali.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them.
4 Niliwaongoza kwa kamba za ubinadamu, na mafungo ya upendo. Mimi nilikuwa kama mtu aliyepunguza jozi juu ya taya zao, na nikainama na kuwalisha.
With humane cords I ever drew them, with bands of love. I was to them as one who lifts up the yoke from off their jaws, and bending toward them, I gave them food to eat.
5 Je, hawatarudi nchi ya Misri? Je, Ashuru haitatawala juu yao kwa sababu wanakataa kurudi kwangu?
No! They return to the land of Egypt, Assyria will be their king, for they have refused to return to me.
6 Upanga utaanguka juu ya miji yao na kuharibu makomeo ya milango yao; itawaangamiza kwa sababu ya mipango yao wenyewe.
Therefore the swords will whirl in their cities, will devour in their fortresses.
7 Watu wangu wameamua kuniacha. Ingawa wanaita kwa Aliye Juu, hakuna mtu atawasaidia.
For my people are bent in rebellion against me, even if they call on the Most High he will not raise them.
8 Ninawezaje kukuacha, Efraimu? Ninawezaje kukupeleka, Israeli? Ninawezaje kukufanya kama Adma? Ninawezaje kukufanya kama Seboimu? Moyo wangu umebadilika ndani yangu; huruma zangu zote zimeongezeka.
How can I give you up, Ephraim! Give you over, Israel! How am I to give you up as Admah! Make you like Zeboim! My heart asserts itself, my sympathies are all aglow.
9 Sitafanya hasira yangu kali; Mimi sitawaangamiza Efraimu tena. Kwa maana mimi ni Mungu, wala si mtu; Mimi ni Mtakatifu kati yenu, nami sitakuja katika ghadhabu.
I will not carry into effect the fierceness of my anger, I will not turn to destroy Ephraim, for God am I, and not man, holy in the midst of you, therefore I will not consume.
10 Watanifuata, Bwana. Nitanguruma kama simba. Nami nitaomboleza, na watu watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.
They will follow after the Lord. Like a lion he will roar, and when he roars his children will come trembling from the west.
11 Watakuja wakitetemeka kama ndege kutoka Misri, kama njiwa kutoka nchi ya Ashuru. Nitawafanya wapate kuishi katika nyumba zao.” Hii ndiyo tamko la Bwana.
They will come trembling like the birds from Egypt, like doves from the land of Assyria. And I will bring them back to their houses, – declares the Lord.
12 Efraimu ananizunguka kwa maneno ya uongo, na nyumba ya Israeli kwa udanganyifu. Lakini Yuda bado anaendelea nami, Mungu, na ni mwaminifu kwangu, Mtakatifu.
Ephraim has encompassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still wanders with God faithful to the Holy One.
