Zaburi 78
1 Watu wangu, sikieni mafundisho yangu, sikilizeni maneno ya kinywa changu.
[A Psalm] of instruction for Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law: incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
2 Nitafungua kinywa changu katika mifano; nitaimba kuhusu mambo yaliyofichika yahusuyo yaliyopita.
I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings [which have been] from the beginning.
3 Haya ni mambo ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza mambo ambayo mababu zetu wametuambia sisi. Hatutawaficha uzao wao.
All which we have heard and known, and our fathers have declared to us.
4 Tutawaambia kizazi kijacho kuhusu sifa anazostahili Yahwe kwa matendo yake, nguvu zake, na maajabu ambayo ameyafanya.
They were not hid from their children to a second generations; [the fathers] declaring the praises of the Lord, and his mighty acts, and his wonders which he wrought.
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.
And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children:
6 Aliamuru hivi ili kwamba kizazi kijacho kiweze kuzijua amri zake, ili wawafundishe wana ambao bado hawajazaliwa.
that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare 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 on God, and not forget the works of God, but diligently seek 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.
That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which set not its heart aright, and its spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 Waefraimu walikuwa na silaha na upinde, lakini walikimbia siku ya vita.
The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting [with] the bow, 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 would not walk in his law.
11 Walisahau matendo yake, mambo ya ajabu ambayo yeye amewaonesha wao.
And they forgot his benefits, and his miracles which he [had] showed them;
12 Walisahau mambo ya ajabu aliyofayafanya machoni pa mababu zao katika nchi ya Misri, katika ardhi ya Soani.
the miracles which he wrought before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanes.
13 Aliigawa bahari na akawaongoza katikati ya bahari; aliyafanya maji yasimame kama kuta.
He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as [in] a bottle.
14 Wakati wa mchana aliwaongoza kwa wingu na usiku wote kwa nuru ya moto.
And he guided them with a cloud by day, 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 a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.
16 Alifanya maporomoko ya maji kutiririka tokea mwambani na aliyafanya maji yatiririke kama mito.
And he brought water out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down as rivers.
17 Lakini bado waliendelea kutenda dhambi dhidi yake, wakiasi dhidi ya Aliye Juu katika jangwa.
And they sinned yet more against him; they provoked the Most High in the wilderness.
18 Walimjaribu Mungu mioyoni mwao kwa kuomba chakula cha kuwatosheleza hamu zao.
And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.
19 Waliongea dhidi ya Mungu; walisema, “Kweli Mungu anaweza kuweka meza ya chakula kwa ajili yetu jangwani?
They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to 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?”
Forasmuch as he struck the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?
21 Yahwe aliposikia haya, alikasirika; moto wake uliwaka dhidi ya Yakobo, hasira yake ikamshambulia Israeli,
Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath 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 clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 Aliwanyeshea mana ili wale, na aliwapa nafaka kutoka mbinguni.
and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.
25 Watu walikula mikate ya malaika. Aliwatumia chakula kingi.
Man ate angels' bread; he sent them provision to the full.
26 Alisababisha upepo wa mashariki kupiga mawinguni, na kwa uweza wake aliuongoza upepo wa kusini.
He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the southwest wind.
27 Aliwanyeshea nyama kama mavumbi, na ndege kama wingi wa mchanga wa baharini.
And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.
28 Walianguka katikati ya kambi yao, na maeneo yote karibu na hema zao.
And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.
29 Hivyo walikula na walishiba. Maana aliwapa kile walichokitamani sana.
So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.
30 Lakini walikuwa bado hawajatosheka; chakula chao kilikuwa bado kinywani mwao.
They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,
31 Ndipo hasira ya Mungu iliwashambulia na kuwaua wenye nguvu kati yao. Aliwaangusha chini vijana wa Israeli.
then the indignation of God rose up against them, and killed the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.
32 Licha ya hili, waliendelea kutenda dhambi na hawakuyaamini matendo yake ya ajabu.
In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.
33 Hivyo Mungu alizikatisha siku zao; miaka yao ilijawa na hofu.
And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years with anxiety.
34 Wakati wowote Mungu alipowataabisha, nao waligeuka na kumtafuta yeye kwa bidii.
When he killed them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.
35 Walikumbuka kuwa Mungu alikuwa mwamba wao na kuwa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana alikuwa mwokozi wao.
And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
36 Lakini walimsifia tu kwa vinywa vyao na kumdanganya kwa maneno yao.
Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to 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 steadfast 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 is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy [them]: yes, he will frequently turn away his wrath, and will not kindle all his anger.
39 Alikumbuka kuwa waliumbwa kwa mwili, upepo ambao hupita nao haurudi.
And he remembered that they are flesh; a wind that passes away, and returns not.
40 Mara ngapi wameasi dhidi yake jangwani na kumuhuzunisha nyikani!
How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] anger him in a dry land!
41 Tena na tena walimjaribu Mungu na wakamtilia mashaka Mtakatifu wa Israeli.
Yes, they turned back, 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, the day in which he delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.
43 alipofanya ishara za kutisha katika Misri na maajabu yake katika konde la Soani.
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanes:
44 Aligeuza mito ya Wamisri kuwa damu ili wasipate kunywa kutoka katika vijito vyao.
and had changed their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they should not drink.
45 Alituma makundi ya inzi yaliyowavamia na vyura ambao walisambaa katika nchi yao.
He sent against them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; and the frog, and it spoiled them.
46 Aliwapa mazao yao panzi na kazi yao nzige.
And he gave their fruit to the canker worm, and their labours to the locust.
47 Aliiharibu mizabibu yao kwa mvua ya mawe na miti ya mikuyu kwa mvua ya mawe zaidi.
He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost.
48 Aliinyeshea mifugo yao mvua ya mawe na alirusha radi ya umeme ikapiga mifugo yao. Ukali wa hasira yake ulielekea dhidi yao.
And he gave up their cattle to hail, and their substance to the fire.
49 Alituma gadhabu, uchungu na taabu kama wakala aletaye maafa.
He sent out against them the fury of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels.
50 Aliifanyia njia hasira yake; hakuwakinga dhidi ya kifo bali aliwakabidhi kwa pigo.
He made a way for his wrath; he spared not their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death;
51 Aliwaua wazaliwa wote wa kwanza katika Misri, wazaliwa wa kwanza wa nguvu zao katika mahema ya Hamu.
and struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt; the first fruits of their labours in the tents of Cham.
52 Aliwaongoza nje watu wake mwenyewe kama kondoo na aliwaelekeza kupitia jangwani kama kundi.
And he removed his people like sheep; he led them as a flock in the wilderness.
53 Aliwaongoza salama na pasipo na woga, lakini bahari iliwaelemea adui zao.
And he guided them with hope, and they feared not: but the sea covered their enemies.
54 Kisha aliwaleta mpaka wa nchi yake takatifu, kwenye mlima huu ambao aliutwaa kwa mkono wake wa kuume.
And he brought them in to the mountain of his sanctuary, this mountain which his right hand had purchased.
55 Aliwafukuza mataifa mbele yao na akawapa urithi wao. Aliwakalisha makabila ya Israeli katika mahema yao.
And he cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, 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 provoked 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.
And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow.
58 Kwa maana walimkasirisha kwa mahali pao pa juu na walimgadhabisha hata akawa na hasira ya wivu kwa miungu yao.
And they provoked him with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Mungu aliposikia hili, alikasirika na alimkataa kabisa Israeli.
God heard and lightly regarded [them], and greatly despised Israel.
60 Alipaacha patakatifu pa Shilo, na hema alikoishi kati ya watu.
And he rejected the tabernacle of Selom, his tent where he lived amongst men.
61 Aliruhusu nguvu zake kutekwa na kuutoa utukufu wake mkononi mwa adui.
And he gave their strength into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
62 Aliukabidhi upanga watu wake, na aliukasirikia urithi wake.
And he gave his people to the sword; and disdained 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 mourned not.
64 Makuhani wao waliangushwa kwa upanga, na wajane wao hawakulia.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for.
65 Kisha Bwana aliamshwa kama aliyetoka usingizini, kama shujaa apigaye kelele kwa sababu ya mvinyo.
So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] as a mighty man who has been heated with wine.
66 Aliwarudisha adui zake nyuma; aliwaweka kwenye aibu ya milele.
And he struck his enemies in the hinder parts: he brought on them a perpetual reproach.
67 Aliikataa hema ya Yusufu, na hakulichagua kabila la Efraimu.
And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
68 Alilichagua kabila la Yuda na Mlima Sayuni aliyoupenda.
but chose the tribe of Juda, the mount Sion which he loved.
69 Alipajenga patakatifu pake kama mbinguni, na kama nchi aliyoiimarisha milele.
And he built his sanctuary as [the place] of unicorns; he founded it for ever on the earth.
70 Alimchagua Daudi, mtumishi wake, alimchukua kutoka zizi la kondoo.
He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep.
71 Alimtoa kutoka katika kufuata kondoo pamoja na wana wao, na kumweka kuwa mchungaji wa Yakobo, watu wake, na Israeli, urithi wake.
He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Daudi aliwachunga kwa uadilifu wa moyo wake, naye aliwaongoza kwa ujuzi wa mikono yake.
So he tended them in the innocency of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
