< Hosea 9 >
1 Usifurahi, Israeli, kwa furaha kama watu wengine. Kwa maana haukuwa mwaminifu, umemuacha Mungu wako. Unapenda kulipa mshahara kwa kahaba kwenye sakafu zote za nafaka.
Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.
2 Lakini sakafu na divai hazitawalisha; divai mpya itampungukia.
The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them.
3 Hawawezi kuendelea kuishi katika nchi ya Bwana; badala yake, Efraimu atarudi Misri, na siku moja watakula chakula kichafu katika Ashuru.
They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
4 Hawatamtolea Bwana sadaka za divai, wala hawatamfurahisha. Dhabihu zao zitakuwa kwao kama chakula cha matanga wote wanaolila watakuwa wamejisikia. Maana chakula chao kitakuwa chao pekee; hautakuingia nyumbani mwa Bwana.
They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD.
5 Utafanya nini siku ya sikukuu iliyowekwa rasmi, siku ya sikukuu ya Yahweh?
What will you do on the appointed day, on the day of the LORD’s feast?
6 Kwa maana, angalia, wamekimbia uharibifu, Misri itawakusanya, na Nofu itawazika. Maana hazina zao za pesa za fedha zitakuwa nao, na miiba itajaza hema zao.
For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents.
7 Siku za adhabu zinakuja; siku za kulipiza kisasi zinakuja. Waisraeli wote wajue mambo haya. Nabii ni mpumbavu, na mtu aliyevuviwa ni mwendawazimu, kwa sababu ya uovu wako mkubwa na uadui mkubwa.
The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
8 Nabii ndiye mlinzi wa Mungu wangu juu ya Efraimu. Lakini mtego wa ndege ni juu ya njia zake zote, na uadui umo katika nyumba ya Mungu wake.
The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!
9 Wamejiharibu wenyewe kama siku za Gibea. Mungu atawakumbusha uovu wao, naye atawaadhibu dhambi zao.
They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
10 Bwana asema, “Nilipoikuta Israeli, ilikuwa kama kutafuta zabibu jangwani. Kama matunda ya kwanza ya msimu kwenye mtini, nimewaona baba zenu. Lakini wakaenda Baal Peori, nao wakajitoa kwenye sanamu ya aibu. Walikuwa chukizo kama sanamu waliyoipenda.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.
11 Na kwa ajili ya Efraimu, utukufu wao utatoka kama ndege. Hakutakuwa na kuzaa, hakuna mimba, wala achukuaye mimba.
Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.
12 Ingawa wameleta watoto, nitawachukua ili asibaki hata mmoja. Ole wao nikiwaacha!
Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!
13 Nimeiona Efraimu, kama vile Tiro, alipandwa katika mlima, lakini Efraimu atatoa watoto wake kwa mtu atakayewaua.
I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow. But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.
14 Wape, Bwana-utawapa nini? Wape tumbo lenye kuharibu mimba na matiti ambayo haitoi maziwa.
Give them, O LORD— what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up!
15 'Kwa sababu ya uovu wao wote huko Gilgali, ndivyo nilipowachukia. Kwa sababu ya matendo yao ya dhambi, nitawafukuza nje ya nyumba yangu. Sitawapenda tena; maofisa wao wote ni waasi.
All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.
16 Efraimu ni mgonjwa, na mizizi yao imekauka; hawazai matunda. Hata ikiwa wana watoto, nitawaua watoto wao wapendwa.
Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.
17 Mungu wangu atawakataa kwa sababu hawakumtii. Watakuwa watu wa kutangatanga kati ya mataifa.
My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.