1
Efraimu aliponena, palikuwa na tetemeko; alijitukuza katika Israeli; Lakini alipokosa katika Baali, alikufa.
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died.
2
Na sasa wanazidi kufanya dhambi, nao wamejifanyizia sanamu kwa fedha yao, naam, sanamu kwa kadiri ya akili zao; zote pia ni kazi ya mafundi; nao huzitaja hivi, Wanaume watoao dhabihu na wazibusu ndama.
Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”
3
Kwa sababu hiyo watakuwa kama wingu la asubuhi, na kama umande utowekao upesi, kama makapi yaliyopeperushwa na tufani sakafuni, na kama moshi utokao katika bomba.
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.
4
Lakini mimi ni Bwana, Mungu wako tangu nchi ya Misri; wala hutamjua mungu mwingine ila mimi; wala zaidi ya mimi hakuna Mwokozi.
Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.
5
Mimi nalikujua katika jangwa, katika nchi yenye kiu nyingi.
I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
6
Kwa kadiri ya malisho yao, kwa kadiri iyo hiyo walishiba; walishiba na moyo wao ukatukuka; ndiyo sababu wamenisahau mimi.
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
7
Basi nimekuwa kama simba kwao; kama chui nitavizia njiani;
So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8
nitakutana nao kama dubu aliyenyang'anywa watoto wake; nami nitararua nyama ya mioyo yao; na huko nitawala kama simba; huyo mnyama mkali atawararua.
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.
9
Haya ndiyo maangamizo yako, Ee Israeli, ya kuwa wewe u kinyume changu mimi, kinyume cha msaada wako.
You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me—against your helper.
10
Yuko wapi sasa mfalme wako, apate kukuokoa katika miji yako yote? Na hao waamuzi wako, uliowanena hivi, Nipe mfalme na wakuu?
Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?
11
Nimekupa mfalme katika hasira yangu, nikamwondoa katika ghadhabu yangu.
So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.
12
Uovu wa Efraimu umefungwa kwa kukazwa; dhambi yake imewekwa akiba.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.
13
Utungu wa mwanamke mwenye mimba utampata; yeye ni mwana asiye na akili; maana wakati umewadia, ambao haimpasi kukawia mahali wapenyapo watoto.
Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.
14
Nitawakomboa na nguvu za kaburi; nitawaokoa na mauti; ewe mauti, ya wapi mapigo yako? Ewe kaburi, ku wapi kuharibu kwako? Kujuta kutafichwa na macho yangu.
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
15
Ajapokuwa yeye ni mwenye kuzaa sana kati ya ndugu zake, upepo wa mashariki utakuja, hiyo pumzi ya Bwana itokayo upande wa nyikani, na kijito chake cha maji kitakauka, na chemchemi yake itakaushwa; yeye atateka nyara hazina ya vyombo vyote vipendezavyo.
Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come—a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
16
Samaria atachukua hatia yake; kwa maana amemwasi Mungu wake; wataanguka kwa upanga; watoto wao wachanga watavunjwa vipande vipande, na wanawake wao wenye mimba watatambuliwa.
Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.