Zaburi 78
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
A maskil of Asaph. My people, attend to my teaching: bend your ears to the words of my mouth,
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu katika mifano; nitaimba kuhusu mambo yaliyofichika yahusuyo yaliyopita.
as I open my mouth in a poem on the riddling story of the past.
3 Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
What we have heard and known, and what our ancestors 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. We will tell to the next generation the praises and might of the Lord, and the wonders 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.
He set up a testimony in Jacob, a law he appointed in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to make known to their children,
6 Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
that the next generation should know it, that the children yet to be born should arise and tell their children;
7 Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike amri zake.
that in God they might put their confidence, and not forget God’s works; but that they might 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 not be like their ancestors, a generation defiant and stubborn, a generation with heart unsteady, and spirit unfaithful towards God.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
Ephraimites, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
10 Hawakutunza agano na Mungu, na walikataa kutii sheria yake.
They did not keep God’s covenant, they refused to walk in his law.
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
They forgot what he had done, 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.
He did wonders before their ancestors in the country of Zoan in Egypt.
13 Aliigawa bahari na akawaongoza katikati ya bahari; aliyafanya maji yasimame kama kuta.
Through the sea which he split he brought them, making waters stand up like a heap;
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
he led them by day with a cloud, all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani, na aliwapa maji mengi, ya kutosha kujaza vina virefu vya bahari.
From the rocks which he split in the wilderness, he gave them to drink as of ocean’s abundance.
16 Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
He brought streams out of the rock, and made water run down like rivers.
17 Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
Yet they still went on sinning against him, they defied the Most High in the desert.
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
They willfully challenged God, demanding the food that they longed for.
19 Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu jangwani?
“Is God able,” such was their challenge, “to spread in the desert a table?
20 Tazama, wakati alipoupiga mwamba, maji yalibubujika, mito ikafurika. Lakini anaweza kutoa mkate tena? Ataweza kuleta nyama kwa watu wake?”
From the rock that he struck there gushed water, and torrents that overflowed; but can he also give bread, or provide his people with meat?”
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
When the Lord heard this, he was furious, and fire was kindled on Jacob, anger flared up against Israel.
22 kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
For they put no trust in God, no confidence in his help.
23 Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
So he summoned the clouds above; and, opening the doors of heaven,
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
he rained manna upon them for food, and grain of heaven he gave them.
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
Everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food to the full.
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
He launched the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south by his power.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
He rained meat upon them like dust, winged bird like the sand of the sea.
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
In the midst of their camp he dropped it, all around their tents.
29 Hivyo walikula na walishiba. Maana aliwapa kile walichokitamani sana.
They ate and were more than filled; he had brought them the thing they desired.
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
But the thing they desired became loathsome: while their food was still in their mouths,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
the wrath of God rose against them. He slew the stoutest among them, and laid low the young men of Israel.
32 Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
Yet for all this they sinned yet more, and refused to believe in his wonders.
33 Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
So he ended their days in a breath, and their years in sudden dismay.
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
When he slew them, then they sought after him, they turned and sought God with diligence.
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
They remembered that God was their rock, and 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.
Their heart was not steady with him, they were faithless to 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 is full of pity: he pardons sin and destroys not. Often he turns his anger away, without stirring his wrath at all.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
So he remembered that they were but flesh, breath that passes and does not return.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
But how often they rebelled in the desert, and caused him grief in the wilderness,
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
tempting God again and again, provoking the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakufikiria kuhusu uweza wake, jinsi alivyo waokoa dhidi ya adui
They did not remember his strength, nor the day he redeemed from the foe,
43 alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, in the country of Zoan his wonders.
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
He turned their canals into blood, their streams undrinkable.
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent forth flies, which devoured them; frogs, too, which destroyed them.
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
Their crops he gave to the caterpillar, and the fruits of their toil to the locust.
47 Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na miti ya mikuyu kwa mvua ya mawe zaidi.
He slew 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 delivered their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to bolts of fire.
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He let loose his hot anger among them, fury and wrath and distress, a band of destroying angels.
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He cleared a path for his anger, did not spare them from death, but gave them over to pestilence.
51 Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
He struck down 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.
He led forth his people like sheep, he was guide to his flock in the desert.
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
Securely he led them, and free from fear, while their foes were drowned in the sea.
54 Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
To his holy realm he brought them, to the mountain his right hand had purchased.
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
He drove out the nations before them, and allotted their land for possession, and their tents for Israel to live in.
56 Lakini bado walimjaribu na walimkaidi Mungu Aliye Juu na hawakushika amri zake takatifu.
Yet they tempted and angered the Most High God, they did not observe his decrees.
57 Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
They drew back, false like their ancestors; they failed like a treacherous bow.
58 Kwa maana walimkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu na walimgadhabisha hata akawa na hasira ya wivu kwa miungu yao.
Their shrines stirred him to anger, their idols moved him to jealousy.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
When God heard of this, he was furious, and he spurned Israel utterly.
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
He abandoned his home in Shiloh, the tent he had pitched among people.
61 Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
He gave his strength up to captivity, his glory to the hands of the foe.
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
He gave his people to the sword, he was furious with his own.
63 Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
Fire devoured their young men, and their maidens had no marriage-song.
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior flushed with wine;
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
and he beat back his foes, putting them to perpetual scorn.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
He disowned the tent of Joseph, he rejected the tribe of Ephraim;
68 Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
And he built like the heights his sanctuary, like the earth which he founded forever.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
And he chose David his servant, taking 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 the mother-ewes he brought him, to be shepherd to Jacob his people, and to Israel his inheritance.
72 Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo wake, naye aliwaongoza kwa ujuzi wa mikono yake.
With upright heart did he shepherd them, and with skilful hands did he guide them.
