< Zaburi 78 >
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
[A contemplation by Asaph.] Hear my teaching, my people. Turn 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 since the beginning of the world,
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 descendants, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous works that he has 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 teaching 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 it, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell their children,
7 Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike amri zake.
that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, 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 did not make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
The people 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 did not keep God's covenant, and refused to walk by his Law.
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
They forgot his doings, his wondrous works that he had shown them.
12 Walisahau mambo ya ajabu aliyofayafanya machoni pa mababu zao katika nchi ya Misri, katika ardhi ya Soani.
He did marvelous things 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 split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani, na aliwapa maji mengi, ya kutosha kujaza vina virefu vya bahari.
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the 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.
Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
19 Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu jangwani?
Yes, they spoke against God. They said, "Can God prepare 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?”
Look, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?"
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
22 kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in his salvation.
23 Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
Yet he commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven.
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them bread from heaven.
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
Man ate the bread of the mighty ones. He sent them food to the full.
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
He rained also flesh on them as the dust; winged birds as the sand of the seas.
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
He let it fall in the midst of his camp, all around his tent.
29 Hivyo walikula na walishiba. Maana aliwapa kile walichokitamani sana.
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
They did not turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of the fattest of them, and struck down the young men of Israel.
32 Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
For all this they still sinned, and did not believe in his wondrous works.
33 Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 Maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, na hawakuwa waaminifu kwa agano lake.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful 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 merciful, forgave iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn't come again.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert.
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
They turned again and tempted God, and gave pain to the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakufikiria kuhusu uweza wake, jinsi alivyo waokoa dhidi ya adui
They did not remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
43 alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, and their labor to 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, their sycamore fig 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 over their livestock also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of destroying angels.
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He made a path for his anger. He did not spare 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 struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Aliwaongoza nje watu wake mwenyewe kama kondoo na aliwaelekeza kupitia jangwani kama kundi.
But he led forth his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
He led them safely, so that they weren't afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for 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 rebelled against the Most High God, and did not keep his testimonies;
57 Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
but turned back, and dealt treacherously 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 engraved images.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel;
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
So that he forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among men;
61 Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary's hand.
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.
63 Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn't weep.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
He struck his adversaries backward. He made them a permanent shame.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
69 Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
He also chose David 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 that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo wake, naye aliwaongoza kwa ujuzi wa mikono yake.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.