Zaburi 78
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
“A psalm of Asaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction! 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 psalm; I will utter sayings of ancient times.
3 Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
What we have heard and learned, 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 from their children; Showing to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, His might, and the wonders he hath wrought.
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 appointed statutes in Jacob, And established a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers To make known to their children;
6 Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
So that the generation to come might know them; The children, which should be born, and rise up, Who should declare them to their children;
7 Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike amri zake.
That they might put their trust in God, And not forget his deeds, 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, like their forefathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, —A generation whose heart was not fixed upon God, And whose spirit was not steadfast toward the Almighty.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim were like armed bowmen, Who turn their backs in the day of battle.
10 Hawakutunza agano na Mungu, na walikataa kutii sheria yake.
They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
And forgot his mighty deeds, And the wonders he had shown 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; Yea, he made the waters to stand as a heap.
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
By day he led them by a cloud, And all the night by 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 from the great deep.
16 Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
From the rock he brought flowing streams, And made water to run down like rivers.
17 Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
Yet still they sinned against him, And provoked the Most High in the desert.
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
They tempted God in their hearts, By asking food for their delight.
19 Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu jangwani?
Yea, they spake against God, and said, “Can God spread 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, and the water flowed, And streams gushed forth: Is he also able to give bread? Can he provide flesh for his people?”
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
When, therefore, the LORD heard this, he was wroth: So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger arose against Israel.
22 kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his aid.
23 Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
Yet he had commanded the clouds above, And had opened the doors of heaven;
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
And had rained down upon them manna for food, And had given them the corn of heaven.
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
Every one ate the food of princes; He sent them bread to the full.
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
Then he caused a strong wind to blow in the heavens, And by his power he brought a south wind;
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
He rained down flesh upon them as dust, And feathered fowls as the sand of the sea.
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
He caused them to 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 filled; For he gave them their own desire.
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
Their desire was not yet satisfied, And their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
When the wrath of God came upon them, And slew their strong men, 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 put no trust 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 sudden destruction.
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
When he slew them, they sought him; They returned, and sought earnestly for God;
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
And remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
But they only flattered him with their mouths, And spake falsely to him with their tongues.
37 Maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, na hawakuwa waaminifu kwa agano lake.
For their hearts were not true to him, Nor were they steadfast 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.
Yet, being full of compassion, he forgave their iniquity, And would not utterly destroy them; Often he restrained his indignation, And stirred not up all his anger.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
He remembered that they were but flesh, —A breath, that passeth and cometh not back.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
How often did they provoke him in the wilderness! How often did they anger him in the desert!
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Again and again they tempted God, And offended 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.
What signs he had wrought in Egypt, And what wonders in the fields of Zoan.
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
He turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink of their streams.
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent amongst them flies, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
He gave also their fruits 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, And their sycamore-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 also gave up their cattle to hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He sent against them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and woe, —A host of angels of evil.
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He made a way for his anger, He spared them not from death, But gave up their lives to the pestilence.
51 Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
He smote all the firstborn in Egypt; The first-fruits 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 like a flock in the wilderness.
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
He led them on safely, so that they feared not, While 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 his own sacred border, Even to this mountain which his right hand had gained.
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
He cast out the nations before them, And divided their land by a measuring-line, as an inheritance, And caused 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 God, the Most High, And kept not his statutes;
57 Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
Like their fathers they were faithless, and turned back; They 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.
They provoked his anger by their high places, And stirred up his jealousy by their graven images.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
God saw this, and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
So that he forsook the habitation at Shiloh, The tabernacle where he dwelt 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 hand of the enemy.
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
His own people he gave up to the sword, And was wroth with his own inheritance.
63 Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
Fire consumed their young men, And their maidens did not bewail them.
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
But at length the Lord awaked as from sleep, As a hero who had been overpowered by wine;
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
He smote his enemies, and drove them back, And covered them with everlasting disgrace.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
Yet he rejected the tents 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.
Where he built, like the heavens, his sanctuary; Like the earth, which he hath established for ever.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
And he 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 tending the suckling ewes 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.
He fed them with an upright heart, And guided them with skilful hands.
