Zaburi 78
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu katika mifano; nitaimba kuhusu mambo yaliyofichika yahusuyo yaliyopita.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
4 Tutawaambia kizazi kijacho kuhusu sifa anazostahili Yahwe kwa matendo yake, nguvu zake, na maajabu ambayo ameyafanya.
We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.
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.
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;
6 Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
That the generation to come might know [them], even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell [them] to their children,
7 Kisha wangeweka tumaini lao katika Mungu na kutokusahau matendo yake bali wazishike amri zake.
That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,
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 might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.
10 Hawakutunza agano na Mungu, na walikataa kutii sheria yake.
They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them.
12 Walisahau mambo ya ajabu aliyofayafanya machoni pa mababu zao katika nchi ya Misri, katika ardhi ya Soani.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in 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 he made the waters to stand as a heap.
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.
15 Alipasua miamba jangwani, na aliwapa maji mengi, ya kutosha kujaza vina virefu vya bahari.
He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
16 Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
Yet went they on still to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.
19 Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu jangwani?
Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Tazama, wakati alipoupiga mwamba, maji yalibubujika, mito ikafurika. Lakini anaweza kutoa mkate tena? Ataweza kuleta nyama kwa watu wake?”
Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;
22 kwa sababu hawakumwamini Mungu na hawakuamini katika wokovu wake.
Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.
23 Lakini yeye bado aliziamuru mbingu juu na kufungua milango ya mbingu.
Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
And he rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven.
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent them food to the full.
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas:
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
And he let it 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 well filled; And he gave them their own desire.
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the fattest of them, And smote down the young men of Israel.
32 Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
For all this they sinned still, And believed not in his wondrous works.
33 Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in terror.
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly.
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.
37 Maana mioyo yao haikuwa thabiti kwake, na hawakuwa waaminifu kwa agano lake.
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful 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.
But he, being merciful, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
And they turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 Hawakufikiria kuhusu uweza wake, jinsi alivyo waokoa dhidi ya adui
They remembered not his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
43 alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
How he set his signs in Egypt, And his wonders in the field of Zoan,
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
And turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labor unto the locust.
47 Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na miti ya mikuyu kwa mvua ya mawe zaidi.
He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycomore-trees with frost.
48 Aliinyeshea mifugo yao mvua ya mawe na alirusha radi ya umeme ikapiga mifugo yao. Ukali wa hasira yake ulielekea dhidi yao.
He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,
51 Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Aliwaongoza nje watu wake mwenyewe kama kondoo na aliwaelekeza kupitia jangwani kama kundi.
But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
And he led them safely, so that they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had gotten.
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Lakini bado walimjaribu na walimkaidi Mungu Aliye Juu na hawakushika amri zake takatifu.
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And kept not his testimonies;
57 Hawakuwa waaminifu na walienenda katika hila kama baba zao; walikuwa sio wa kutegemewa kama upinde mbovu.
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 Kwa maana walimkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu na walimgadhabisha hata akawa na hasira ya wivu kwa miungu yao.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
When God heard [this], he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men;
61 Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary’s hand.
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
He gave his people over also unto the sword, And was wroth with his inheritance.
63 Moto uliwavamia vijana wao wa kiume, na vijana wao wa kike hawakuwa na nyimbo za harusi.
Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
Moreover he refused the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim,
68 Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which he loved.
69 Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:
71 Alimtoa kutoka katika kufuata kondoo pamoja na wana wao, na kumweka kuwa mchungaji wa 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.
72 Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo wake, naye aliwaongoza kwa ujuzi wa mikono yake.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
