1
Israeli ni mzabibu, utoao matunda yake; kwa kadiri ya wingi wa matunda yake, kwa kadiri iyo hiyo ameongeza madhabahu zake; kwa kadiri ya wema wa nchi yake, kwa kadiri iyo hiyo wamefanya nguzo nzuri.
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
2
Moyo wao umegawanyika; sasa wataonekana kuwa na hatia; yeye atazipiga madhabahu zao, ataziharibu nguzo zao.
Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
3
Yakini sasa watasema, Hatuna mfalme; kwa maana hatumchi Bwana; na mfalme huyu je! Aweza kututendea nini?
Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?”
4
Hunena maneno yasiyo na maana; huapa kwa uongo wafanyapo maagano; basi ndipo hukumu huchipuka kama mbaruti katika matuta ya shamba.
They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5
Wakaao Samaria wataona hofu kwa ajili ya ndama za Beth-Aveni; kwa maana watu wa mji huo wataulilia, na makuhani wake walioufurahia, kwa sababu ya utukufu wake; kwa maana umetoweka.
The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced in its glory—for it has been taken from them into exile.
6
Nayo itachukuliwa Ashuru, iwe zawadi kwa mfalme Yarebu; Efraimu atapata aibu, na Israeli atalionea haya shauri lake mwenyewe.
Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
7
Katika habari za Samaria, mfalme wake amekatiliwa mbali, kama povu usoni pa maji.
Samaria will be carried off with her king like a twig on the surface of the water.
8
Mahali pa Aveni palipoinuka, yaani, dhambi ya Israeli, pataharibika; mwiba na mbigili itamea juu ya madhabahu zake; nao wataiambia milima, Tusitirini; na vilima, Tuangukieni.
The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9
Ee Israeli, umefanya dhambi tangu siku za Gibea; huko ndiko walikosimama; ili vita vilivyokuwa juu ya wana wa uovu visiwapate katika Gibea.
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?
10
Wakati nitakapopenda nitawaadhibu; na hao mataifa watakusanyika juu yao, watakapofungwa kwa sababu ya makosa yao mawili.
I will chasten them when I please; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression.
11
Naye Efraimu ni ndama aliyefundishwa, apendaye kupura; lakini nimepitisha kongwa juu ya shingo yake nzuri; nitampandisha mwenye kupanda juu ya Efraimu; Yuda atalima, na Yakobo atavunja madongoa yake.
Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.
12
Jipandieni katika haki, vuneni kwa fadhili; uchimbueni udongo wa mashamba yenu, kwa maana wakati umewadia wa kumtafuta Bwana, hata atakapokuja na kuwanyeshea haki.
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
13
Mmelima dhuluma, mmevuna uovu; mmekula matunda ya uongo; kwa maana uliitumainia njia yako, na wingi wa mashujaa wako.
You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,
14
Kwa sababu hiyo fitina itatokea kati ya watu wako, na ngome zako zote zitaharibiwa, kama vile Shalmani alivyoharibu Betharbeli, katika siku ya vita; mama akavunjika-vunjika pamoja na watoto wake.
the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
15
Hivyo ndivyo Betheli atakavyowatenda ninyi, kwa sababu ya ubaya wenu mwingi; wakati wa mapambazuko mfalme wa Israeli atakatiliwa mbali kabisa.
Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.