1
Ee Israeli, mrudie Bwana, Mungu wako; maana umeanguka kwa sababu ya uovu wako.
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
2
Chukueni maneno pamoja nanyi, mkamrudie Bwana; mkamwambie, Ondoa maovu yote, uyatakabali yaliyo mema; na hivyo ndivyo mtakavyotoa sadaka za midomo yetu kana kwamba ni ng'ombe.
Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.
3
Ashuru hatatuokoa; hatutapanda farasi; wala hatutaiambia tena kazi ya mikono yetu, Ninyi ndinyi miungu yetu; maana kwako wewe wasio na baba hupata rehema.
Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”
4
Mimi nitawaponya kurudi nyuma kwao; nitawapenda kwa ukunjufu wa moyo; kwa maana hasira yangu imemwacha.
I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
5
Nitakuwa kama umande kwa Israeli; naye atachanua maua kama nyinyoro, na kuieneza mizizi yake kama Lebanoni.
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
6
Matawi yake yatatandaa, na uzuri wake utakuwa kama uzuri wa mzeituni, na harufu yake kama Lebanoni.
His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
7
Na wao wakaao chini ya uvuli wake watarejea; watafufuka kama ngano, na kuchanua maua kama mzabibu; harufu yake itakuwa kama harufu ya divai ya Lebanoni.
They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8
Efraimu atasema, Mimi nina nini tena na sanamu? Mimi nimeitika, nami nitamwangalia. Mimi ni kama mberoshi wenye majani mabichi. Kwangu mimi yamepatikana matunda yako.
O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.
9
Ni nani aliye na hekima, naye atayafahamu mambo haya? Ni nani aliye na busara, naye atayajua? Kwa maana njia za Bwana zimenyoka, nao wenye haki watakwenda katika njia hizo; bali waasio wataanguka ndani yake.
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.