Hosea 11

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

1 “Wakati Israeli alipokuwa mtoto, nilimpenda, nilimwita mwanangu kutoka Misri.

2 But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

2 Lakini kadiri nilivyomwita Israeli, ndivyo walivyokwenda mbali nami. Walitoa dhabihu kwa Mabaali na kufukiza uvumba kwa vinyago.

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.

3 Mimi ndiye niliyemfundisha Efraimu kutembea, nikiwashika mikono; lakini hawakutambua kuwa ni mimi niliyewaponya.

4 I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

4 Niliwaongoza kwa kamba za huruma ya kibinadamu, kwa vifungo vya upendo; niliondoa nira shingoni mwao nami nikainama kuwalisha.

5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?

5 “Je, hawatarudi Misri, nayo Ashuru haitawatawala kwa sababu wamekataa kutubu?

6 A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.

6 Panga zitametameta katika miji yao, zitaharibu makomeo ya malango yao na kukomesha mipango yao.

7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.

7 Watu wangu wamedhamiria kuniacha. Hata kama wakimwita Yeye Aliye Juu Sana, kwa vyovyote hatawainua.

8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

8 “Efraimu, ninawezaje kukuacha? Ee Israeli, ninawezaje kukutoa? Nitawezaje kukutendea kama Adma? Nitawezaje kukufanya kama Seboimu? Moyo wangu umegeuka ndani yangu, huruma zangu zote zimeamshwa.

9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man—the Holy One among you—and I will not come in wrath.

9 Sitatimiza hasira yangu kali, wala sitageuka na kumharibu Efraimu. Kwa kuwa mimi ndimi Mungu, wala si mwanadamu, Aliye Mtakatifu miongoni mwenu. Sitakuja kwa ghadhabu.

10 They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.

10 Watamfuata Bwana; atanguruma kama simba. Wakati angurumapo, watoto wake watakuja wakitetemeka kutoka magharibi.

11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.

11 Watakuja wakitetemeka kama ndege wakitoka Misri, kama hua wakitoka Ashuru. Nitawakalisha katika nyumba zao,” asema Bwana.

12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

12 Efraimu amenizunguka kwa uongo, nyumba ya Israeli kwa udanganyifu. Naye Yuda ni mkaidi dhidi ya Mungu, hata kinyume cha yule mwaminifu Aliye Mtakatifu.