< Zaburi 78 >
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu katika mifano; nitaimba kuhusu mambo yaliyofichika yahusuyo yaliyopita.
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 Tutawaambia kizazi kijacho kuhusu sifa anazostahili Yahwe kwa matendo yake, nguvu zake, na maajabu ambayo ameyafanya.
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of YHWH, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 Kwa kuwa yeye alianzisha agano la amri katika Yakobo na sheria maalumu katika Israeli. Yeye aliamuru mababu zetu kuwa walipaswa kuzifundisha kwa watoto wao.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike amri zake.
That they might set their hope in Elohim, and not forget the works of El, but keep his commandments:
8 Ndipo wasingekuwa kama mababu zao, ambao walikuwa wakaidi na wenye uasi, kizazi ambacho mioyo yao haikuwa kamilifu, na ambao roho zao hazikuwa na nia thabiti na aminifu kwa Mungu.
And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with El.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 Hawakutunza agano na Mungu, na walikataa kutii sheria yake.
They kept not the covenant of Elohim, and refused to walk in his law;
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12 Walisahau mambo ya ajabu aliyofayafanya machoni pa mababu zao katika nchi ya Misri, katika ardhi ya Soani.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 Aliigawa bahari na akawaongoza katikati ya bahari; aliyafanya maji yasimame kama kuta.
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani, na aliwapa maji mengi, ya kutosha kujaza vina virefu vya bahari.
He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
And they tempted El in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19 Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu jangwani?
Yea, they spake against Elohim; they said, Can El furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Tazama, wakati alipoupiga mwamba, maji yalibubujika, mito ikafurika. Lakini anaweza kutoa mkate tena? Ataweza kuleta nyama kwa watu wake?”
Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
Therefore YHWH heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22 kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
Because they believed not in Elohim, and trusted not in his salvation:
23 Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 Hivyo walikula na walishiba. Maana aliwapa kile walichokitamani sana.
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
The wrath of Elohim came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after El.
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
And they remembered that Elohim was their rock, and El Elyon their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 Maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, na hawakuwa waaminifu kwa agano lake.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 Lakini yeye, kwa kuwa alikuwa alikuwa na huruma, aliwasamehe uovu wao na hakuwaangamiza. Ndiyo, wakati mwingi aliizuia hasira yake na hakuionesha ghadhabu yake yote.
But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yea, they turned back and tempted El, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakufikiria kuhusu uweza wake, jinsi alivyo waokoa dhidi ya adui
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43 alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47 Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na miti ya mikuyu kwa mvua ya mawe zaidi.
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
48 Aliinyeshea mifugo yao mvua ya mawe na alirusha radi ya umeme ikapiga mifugo yao. Ukali wa hasira yake ulielekea dhidi yao.
He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51 Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 Aliwaongoza nje watu wake mwenyewe kama kondoo na aliwaelekeza kupitia jangwani kama kundi.
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Lakini bado walimjaribu na walimkaidi Mungu Aliye Juu na hawakushika amri zake takatifu.
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high Elohim, and kept not his testimonies:
57 Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 Kwa maana walimkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu na walimgadhabisha hata akawa na hasira ya wivu kwa miungu yao.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
When Elohim heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61 Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63 Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lameintation.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
Then YHWH awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68 Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69 Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71 Alimtoa kutoka katika kufuata kondoo pamoja na wana wao, na kumweka kuwa mchungaji wa Yakobo, watu wake, na Israeli, urithi wake.
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo wake, naye aliwaongoza kwa ujuzi wa mikono yake.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.