Hosea 14
1 Israeli, rudi kwa Bwana, Mungu wako, kwa kuwa umeanguka kwa sababu ya uovu wako.
Return, O Israel, to Jehovah thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Chukueni maneno pamoja nanyi na mrudieni Yahweh. Mwambieni, “Ondoa uovu wetu wote, uyakubali mema, ili tuweze kukupa matunda ya midomo yetu.
Take with you words, And return to Jehovah, saying, “Forgive all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, And we will render to thee the sacrifices of our lips!
3 Ashuru haitatuokoa; hatutapanda farasi kwenda vitani. Hatuwezi tena kuiambia kazi ya mikono yetu, 'ninyi ni miungu yetu,' kwa maana kwako mtu asiye na baba hupata huruma.”
Assyria shall not help us; We will not ride on horses; And no more will we say to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods! For from thee the fatherless obtaineth mercy.”
4 'Nitawaponya kugeuka kwao; Nami nitawapenda kwa moyo, kwa maana hasira yangu itaondoka kwake.
“I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from them.
5 Nitakuwa kama umande kwa Israeli; atachanua kama maua na kuchukua mizizi kama mwerezi nchini Lebanoni.
I will be as the dew to Israel; He shall blossom as the lily, And strike his roots like Lebanon.
6 Matawi yake yataenea; Uzuri wake utakuwa kama mizeituni, na harufu yake kama mierezi ya Lebanoni.
His sprouts shall spread forth, And his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, And his fragrance as Lebanon.
7 Watu wanaoishi katika kivuli chake watarejea; watafufuliwa kama nafaka na maua kama mizabibu. Utukufu wake utakuwa kama divai ya Lebanoni.
They that dwell under his shadow Shall revive as the corn; They shall shoot forth as the vine; Their name shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Efraimu, nifanye nini tena na sanamu? Mimi nitamjibu na kumtunza. Mimi ni kama mberoshi majani yake ni ya kijani daima; kutoka kwangu huja matunda yako.”
Ephraim shall say, What have I more to do with idols? I will hear him; I will care for him; I will be like a green cypress-tree; From me shall thy fruit be found.”
9 Nani mwenye busara ili aelewe mambo haya? Nani anaelewa mambo haya ili awatambue? Kwa kuwa njia za Bwana ni sawa, na wenye haki watatembea ndani yao, lakini waasi wataanguka ndani yake.
Who is wise, that he may understand these things, Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, And the righteous walk in them; But in them transgressors stumble.
