Enyi watu wangu, sikilizeni sheria yangu, Tegeni masikio kwa maneno ya kinywa changu.
> Hear my law, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
Na nifunue kinywa changu kwa mithali, Niyatamke mafumbo ya kale.
I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
Mambo tuliyoyasikia na kuyafahamu, Ambayo baba zetu walituambia.
Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
Hayo hatutawaficha wana wao, Huku tukiwaambia kizazi kingine, Sifa za Bwana, na nguvu zake, Na mambo yake ya ajabu aliyoyafanya.
We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, His strength, and his wondrous works that he has done.
Maana alikaza ushuhuda katika Yakobo, Na sheria aliiweka katika Israeli. Aliyowaamuru baba zetu Wawajulishe wana wao,
For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;
Ili kizazi kingine wawe na habari, Ndio hao wana watakaozaliwa. Wasimame na kuwaambia wana wao
That the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; Who should arise and tell their children,
Wamwekee Mungu tumaini lao. Wala wasiyasahau matendo ya Mungu, Bali wazishike amri zake.
That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,
Naam, wasiwe kama baba zao, Kizazi cha ukaidi na uasi. Kizazi kisichojitengeneza moyo, Wala roho yake haikuwa amini kwa Mungu.
And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that didn't make their hearts loyal, Whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
Wale Waefraimu, wenye silaha, wapiga upinde, Walirudi nyuma siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.
Hawakulishika agano la Mungu; Wakakataa kuenenda katika sheria yake;
They didn't keep God's covenant, And refused to walk in his law.
Wakayasahau matendo yake, Na mambo yake ya ajabu aliyowaonyesha.
They forgot his doings, His wondrous works that he had shown them.
Mbele ya baba zao alifanya mambo ya ajabu, Katika nchi ya Misri, konde la Soani.
He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Aliipasua bahari akawavusha; Aliyasimamisha maji mfano wa chungu.
He split the sea, and caused them to pass through; He made the waters stand as a heap.
Akawaongoza kwa wingu mchana, Na usiku kucha kwa nuru ya moto.
In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, And all night with a light of fire.
Akapasua miamba jangwani; Akawanywesha maji mengi kama maji ya vilindi.
He split rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Akatokeza na vijito gengeni, Akatelemsha maji kama mito.
He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
Lakini wakazidi kumtenda dhambi, Walipomwasi Aliye juu katika nchi ya kiu.
Yet they still went on to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
Wakamjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao Kwa kutaka chakula kwa tamaa zao.
They tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.
Naam, walimwamba Mungu, wakasema, Je! Mungu aweza kuandika meza jangwani?
Yes, they spoke against God. They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Tazama, aliupiga mwamba; Maji yakabubujika, ikafurika mito. Pia aweza kutupa chakula? Atawaandalia watu wake nyama?
Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, Streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?"
Hivyo Bwana aliposikia akaghadhibika; Moto ukawashwa juu ya Yakobo, Hasira nayo ikapanda juu ya Israeli.
Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, Anger also went up against Israel,
Kwa kuwa hawakumwamini Mungu, Wala hawakuutumainia wokovu wake.
Because they didn't believe in God, And didn't trust in his salvation.
Lakini aliyaamuru mawingu juu; Akaifungua milango ya mbinguni;
Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven.
Akawanyeshea mana ili wale; Akawapa nafaka ya mbinguni.
He rained down manna on them to eat, And gave them food from the sky.
Mwanadamu akala chakula cha mashujaa; Aliwapelekea chakula cha kuwashibisha.
Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
Aliuelekeza upepo wa mashariki mbinguni; Akaiongoza kusi kwa uweza wake.
He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
Akawanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, Na ndege wenye mbawa, Kama mchanga wa bahari.
He rained also flesh on them as the dust; Winged birds as the sand of the seas.
Akawaangusha kati ya matuo yao, Pande zote za maskani zao.
He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Around their habitations.
Wakala wakashiba sana; Maana aliwaletea walivyovitamani;
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
Hawakuachana na matakwa yao. Ila chakula chao kikali ki vinywani mwao
They didn't turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
Hasira ya Mungu ikapanda juu yao, Akawaua waliokuwa wanono; Akawaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
When the anger of God went up against them, Killed some of the fattest of them, And struck down the young men of Israel.
Pamoja na hayo wakazidi kutenda dhambi, Wala hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
For all this they still sinned, And didn't believe in his wondrous works.
Kwa hiyo akazikomesha siku zao kama pumzi, Na miaka yao kwa hofu ya kuwasitusha.
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, And their years in terror.
Alipowaua ndipo walipokuwa wakimtafuta; Wakarudi wakamtaka Mungu kwa bidii.
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
Wakakumbuka kuwa Mungu ni mwamba wao, Na Mungu Aliye juu ni mkombozi wao.
They remembered that God was their rock, The Most High God their redeemer.
Lakini walimdanganya kwa vinywa vyao, Wakamwambia uongo kwa ndimi zao.
But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied to him with their tongue.
Kwa maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, Wala hawakuwa waaminifu katika agano lake.
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.
Lakini Yeye, kwa kuwa anayo rehema, Husamehe uovu wala haangamizi. Mara nyingi huipishia mbali ghadhabu yake, Wala haiwashi hasira yake yote.
But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn't destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, And didn't stir up all his wrath.
Akakumbuka ya kuwa wao ni kiwiliwili, Upepo upitao wala haurudi.
He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes away, and doesn't come again.
Walimwasi jangwani mara ngapi? Na kumhuzunisha nyikani!
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, And grieved him in the desert!
Wakarudi nyuma wakamjaribu Mungu; Wakampa mpaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
They turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Hawakuukumbuka mkono wake, Wala siku ile alipowakomboa na mtesi.
They didn't remember his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
Alivyoziweka ishara zake katika Misri, Na miujiza yake katika konde la Soani.
How he set his signs in Egypt, His wonders in the field of Zoan,
Aligeuza damu mito yao, Na vijito wasipate kunywa.
Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.
Aliwapelekea mainzi wakawala, Na vyura wakawaharibu.
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.
Akawapa tunutu mazao yao, Na nzige kazi yao.
He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust.
Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe, Na mikuyu yao kwa mawe ya barafu.
He destroyed their vines with hail, Their sycamore-fig trees with frost.
Akaacha ng'ombe zao wapigwe kwa mvua ya mawe, Na makundi yao kwa umeme.
He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Akawapelekea ukali wa hasira yake, Ghadhabu, na uchungu, na taabu, Kundi la malaika waletao mabaya.
He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, And a band of angels of evil.
Akiifanyizia njia hasira yake; Wala hakuziepusha roho zao na mauti, Bali aliiachia tauni uhai wao;
He made a path for his anger. He didn't spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,
Akampiga kila mzaliwa wa kwanza wa Misri, Malimbuko ya nguvu katika hema za Hamu.
And struck all the firstborn in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
Bali aliwaongoza watu wake kama kondoo, Akawachunga kama kundi jangwani.
But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Hao akawachukua salama wala hawakuogopa, Bali bahari iliwafunikiza adui zao.
He led them safely, so that they weren't afraid, But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Akawapeleka hadi mpaka wake mtakatifu, Mlima alioununua kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
Akawafukuza mataifa mbele yao, Akawapimia urithi kwa kamba, Na kuwakalisha kabila za Israeli katika hema zao.
He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Lakini walimjaribu Mungu Aliye juu, wakamwasi, Wala hawakuzishika shuhuda zake.
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And didn't keep his testimonies;
Bali walirudi nyuma, wakahaini kama baba zao; Wakaepea kama upinde usiofaa.
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Wakamkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu, Wakamtia wivu kwa sanamu zao.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
Mungu akasikia, akaghadhibika, Akamkataa Israeli kabisa.
When God heard this, he was angry, And greatly abhorred Israel;
Akaiacha maskani ya Shilo, Hema aliyoiweka katikati ya wanadamu;
So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men;
Akaziacha nguvu zake kutekwa, Na fahari yake mkononi mwa mtesi.
And delivered his strength into captivity, His glory into the adversary's hand.
Akawatoa watu wake wapigwe kwa upanga; Akaughadhibikia urithi wake.
He also gave his people over to the sword, And was angry with his inheritance.
Moto ukawala vijana wao, Wanawali wao hawakuimbiwa nyimbo za arusi,
Fire devoured their young men; Their virgins had no wedding song.
Makuhani wao walianguka kwa upanga, Wala wajane wao hawakuomboleza.
Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows couldn't weep.
Ndipo Bwana alipoamka kama aliyelala usingizi, Kama shujaa apigaye kelele sababu ya mvinyo;
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
Akawapiga watesi wake akawarudisha nyuma, Akawatia aibu ya milele.
He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
Ila akaikataa hema ya Yusufu; Wala hakuichagua kabila ya Efraimu.
Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, And didn't choose the tribe of Ephraim,
Bali aliichagua kabila ya Yuda, Mlima Sayuni alioupenda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
Akajenga patakatifu pake kama vilele, Kama dunia aliyoiweka imara milele.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he has established forever.
Akamchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, Akamwondoa katika mazizi ya kondoo.
He also chose David his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
Nyuma ya kondoo wanyonyeshao alimwondoa, Awachunge Yakobo watu wake, na Israeli urithi wake.
From following the ewes that have their young, He brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, And Israel, his inheritance.
Akawalisha kwa ukamilifu wa moyo wake, Na kuwaongoza kwa busara ya mikono yake.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.