Hosea 11
1 “Wakati Israeli alikuwa kijana nilimpenda, na nikamwita mtoto wangu kutoka Misri.
“When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 Kwa kadiri waliyoitwa, ndivyo walivyoondoka kwangu. Wakawafanyia dhabihu Baali, wakatafuta uvumba kwa sanamu.
The more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense 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. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for 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.
I led them with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 Je, hawatarudi nchi ya Misri? Je, Ashuru haitatawala juu yao kwa sababu wanakataa kurudi kwangu?
Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?
6 Upanga utaanguka juu ya miji yao na kuharibu makomeo ya milango yao; itawaangamiza kwa sababu ya mipango yao wenyewe.
The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.
7 Watu wangu wameamua kuniacha. Ingawa wanaita kwa Aliye Juu, hakuna mtu atawasaidia.
My people are determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help 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? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been stirred up.
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 execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.
10 Watanifuata, Bwana. Nitanguruma kama simba. Nami nitaomboleza, na watu watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.
They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. 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 a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.
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 surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”
