Zaburi 78
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
An Instructive Psalm. Asaph’s. Give ear, O my people, to mine instruction, Bend your ear to the sayings of my mouth;
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu katika mifano; nitaimba kuhusu mambo yaliyofichika yahusuyo yaliyopita.
I will open, in a parable, my mouth, I will pour forth enigmas out of antiquity; —
3 Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
Which we have heard, and come to know, And, our fathers, have recounted to us;
4 Tutawaambia kizazi kijacho kuhusu sifa anazostahili Yahwe kwa matendo yake, nguvu zake, na maajabu ambayo ameyafanya.
We will not withhold [them] from their children, To a later generation, recounting the praises of Yahweh, Even his might and his wonders which he 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.
When he set up a testimony in Jacob, And, a law, appointed in Israel, —Which he commanded our fathers, That they might make them known to their children;
6 Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
To the end, A later generation, might come to know, Children who should be born, Who should arise, and recount [them] to their children;
7 Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike amri zake.
That they might set, in Elohim, their confidence, —And not forget the doings of El, But, his commandments, might observe;
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 become, like their fathers, a generation stubborn and rebellious, —A generation that fixed not their heart, Neither was their spirit, faithful with GOD.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
The sons of Ephraim—armed bowmen, Turned in the day of battle;
10 Hawakutunza agano na Mungu, na walikataa kutii sheria yake.
They kept not the covenant of God, And, in his law, refused to walk;
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
And forgat His doings, And his wonders which he had showed them:
12 Walisahau mambo ya ajabu aliyofayafanya machoni pa mababu zao katika nchi ya Misri, katika ardhi ya Soani.
In presence of their fathers, wrought he, wondrously, —In the land of Egypt—the field of Zoan:
13 Aliigawa bahari na akawaongoza katikati ya bahari; aliyafanya maji yasimame kama kuta.
He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through, And reared up the waters like a mound;
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
And led them, by a cloud, in the daytime, 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 used to cleave rocks in the desert, And let them drink as out of mighty deeps;
16 Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
And he brought forth streams out of the cliff, And caused waters to flow down, like rivers.
17 Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
But again, once more sinned they against him, Resisting the Most High in a land of drought:
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
They put GOD to the proof in their heart, By asking food to their mind:
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 GOD prepare a table in the desert?
20 Tazama, wakati alipoupiga mwamba, maji yalibubujika, mito ikafurika. Lakini anaweza kutoa mkate tena? Ataweza kuleta nyama kwa watu wake?”
Lo! he hath smitten a rock, And waters, have gushed out, Yea, torrents, have rushed along, —Food also, can he give? Or provide flesh for his people?
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
Therefore, Yahweh hearkened, and became wroth, —And, a fire, was kindled against Jacob, Moreover also, anger, mounted against Israel;
22 kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
Because, They believed not in God, Nor trusted in his salvation;
23 Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
Though he had commanded the skies above, And, the doors of the heavens, had opened;
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
And had rained on them manna to eat, And, the corn of the heavens, had given to them:
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
The food of the mighty, each one did eat, Nourishment, sent he them to the full;
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
He let loose an east wind in the heavens, Then guided he, in his might, a south wind;
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
And rained upon them flesh as the dust, And, like the sand of the seas, birds of wing;
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
And let them 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 abundantly filled, When, what they longed for, he had brought them: —
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
They had not turned away from what they had longed for, Yet was their food in their mouth,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
When, the anger of God, mounted against them, And he slew of their vigorous youths, And, the choice young men of Israel, caused he to bow down in death.
32 Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
For all this, sinned they still, And believed not in his wonders;
33 Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
So he ended, in a breath, their days, And their years, in a sudden terror!
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
If he slew [of] them, then they sought him, Yea they turned, and did earnestly seek GOD;
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
And remembered that, Elohim, was their rock, Yea, EL Most High, their Redeemer:
36 Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
So they spake him fair with their mouth, And, with their tongue, did promise him falsely;
37 Maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, na hawakuwa waaminifu kwa agano lake.
But, their heart, was not fixed with him, Nor were they trusty 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, he, full of compassion, would put a propitiatory-covering over iniquity, and not destroy, —Yea, many a time, turned he back his anger, And would not stir up all his wrath.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
So then he remembered, That, Flesh, they were, A Wind departing, that returneth not.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
How often they, Resisted him in the desert, Vexed him, in the waste:
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yea they again put GOD to the test, And, to the Holy One of Israel, caused they sorrow:
42 Hawakufikiria kuhusu uweza wake, jinsi alivyo waokoa dhidi ya adui
They remembered not his hand—The day, When he ransomed them from the adversary;
43 alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
When he set, in Egypt, his signs, And his wonders, in the plain of Zoan;
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
When he turned, into blood, their Nile-streams, And, their own rivers, could they not drink;
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent among them, The gad-fly, and it devoured them, And the frog, and it despoiled them;
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
When he gave to the corn-locust their produce, And their toil, to the swarming locust;
47 Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na miti ya mikuyu kwa mvua ya mawe zaidi.
He killed, with hail, their vine, And their sycomores, with frost:
48 Aliinyeshea mifugo yao mvua ya mawe na alirusha radi ya umeme ikapiga mifugo yao. Ukali wa hasira yake ulielekea dhidi yao.
When he gave up, to hail-storms, their beasts, And their cattle, to pestilent fevers;
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He sent among them the heat of his anger, Wrath and indignation and distress, —A mission of messengers of misfortune:
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He leveled a path for his anger, Withheld not, from death, their soul, But, their life—to the pestilence, he delivered:
51 Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
So he smote, Every first-born in Egypt, The beginning of their strength, in the tents of Ham;
52 Aliwaongoza nje watu wake mwenyewe kama kondoo na aliwaelekeza kupitia jangwani kama kundi.
And he set forth, like sheep, his people, And guided them, like a flock in the desert;
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
Yea he led them securely, and they dreaded not, And, their enemies, the sea did cover.
54 Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
Then brought he them within his own holy bounds, The mountain-range, which his right hand made his own:
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
So he drave out, before them, [whole] nations, And allotted them, by line, an inheritance, And caused to dwell, in their own homes, the tribes of Israel.
56 Lakini bado walimjaribu na walimkaidi Mungu Aliye Juu na hawakushika amri zake takatifu.
But they tested and resisted God Most High, And, his testimonies, did not observe;
57 Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
But drew back and dealt treacherously, like their fathers, They turned aside, like deceitful bowmen;
58 Kwa maana walimkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu na walimgadhabisha hata akawa na hasira ya wivu kwa miungu yao.
And provoked him to anger with their high places, And, with their images, used to move him to jealousy.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
God heard and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
So he gave up the habitation of Shiloh, The tent he had set up among Men;
61 Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
Yea he gave up, into captivity, his strength, And his beauty into the hand of an adversary;
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
And delivered up, to the sword, his people, And, with his own inheritance, was he wroth;
63 Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
His young men, were devoured by fire, And, his virgins, were not praised in song;
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
His priests, by the sword, did fall, And, his widows, were not able to bewail.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
Then awoke, as one that had slept, Adonay, As a warrior exulting with wine!
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
So he smote his adversaries in the rear, Reproach age-abiding, laid he upon them.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
Howbeit he rejected the tent of Joseph, And, the tribe of Ephraim, did not choose:
68 Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
But made choice of the tribe of Judah, The mountain of Zion, which he loved;
69 Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
And built, like the heights, his sanctuary, Like the earth, he founded it to times age-abiding.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
And made choice of David his servant, And took him from among the folds of the sheep:
71 Alimtoa kutoka katika kufuata kondoo pamoja na wana wao, na kumweka kuwa mchungaji wa Yakobo, watu wake, na Israeli, urithi wake.
From after the sucking ewes, he brought him in, —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.
So he did shepherd them, according to the singleness of his heart, And, with the discernment of his hands, used he to guide them.
