The LORD's Controversy
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Lisikieni neno la Bwana, enyi wana wa Israeli; kwa maana Bwana ana mateto nao wakaao katika nchi, kwa sababu hapana kweli, wala fadhili, wala kumjua Mungu katika nchi.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Hapana neno ila kuapa kwa uongo, na kuvunja ahadi, na kuua, na kuiba, na kuzini; huruka mpaka, na damu hugusana na damu.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
Kwa ajili ya hayo nchi itaomboleza, na kila mtu akaaye ndani yake atadhoofika, pamoja na wanyama wa kondeni na ndege wa angani; naam, samaki wa baharini pia wataondolewa.
4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
Walakini asishindane mtu, wala mtu asikemee; maana watu wako ni kama wao washindanao na kuhani.
5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
Na wewe utajikwaa wakati wa mchana, na nabii naye atajikwaa pamoja nawe wakati wa usiku; nami nitamwangamiza mama yako.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Watu wangu wanaangamizwa kwa kukosa maarifa; kwa kuwa wewe umeyakataa maarifa, mimi nami nitakukataa wewe, usiwe kuhani kwangu mimi; kwa kuwa umeisahau sheria ya Mungu wako, mimi nami nitawasahau watoto wako.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
Kadiri walivyozidishwa, kwa kadiri iyo hiyo walinitenda dhambi; nami nitageuza utukufu wao kuwa aibu.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
Hujilisha dhambi ya watu wangu, hujifurahisha moyo kwa uovu wao.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
Hata itakuwa, kama walivyo watu, ndivyo atakavyokuwa kuhani; nami nitawaadhibu kwa ajili ya njia zao, na kuwalipa kwa matendo yao.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
Nao watakula, lakini hawatashiba; watafanya zinaa, lakini hawataongezeka; kwa sababu wameacha kumwangalia Bwana.
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
Uzinzi na divai na divai mpya huondoa fahamu za wanadamu.
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
Watu wangu hutaka shauri kwa gongo lao, na fimbo yao huwahubiri mambo; maana roho ya uzinzi imewakosesha, nao wamekwenda kuzini mbali na Mungu wao.
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
Hutoa dhabihu juu ya vilele vya milima, na kufukiza uvumba juu ya vilima, chini ya mialoni na milibua na miela, kwa kuwa uvuli wake ni mwema; kwa sababu hiyo binti zenu huzini, na bibi arusi zenu hufanya uasherati.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
Sitawaadhibu binti zenu wazinipo, wala bibi arusi zenu wafanyapo uasherati; maana wao wenyewe huenda kando pamoja na wanawake wazinzi, hutoa dhabihu pamoja na makahaba; na watu hawa wasiofahamu wataangamia.
15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Ingawa wewe, Israeli, unafanya uzinzi, lakini asiasi Yuda; nanyi msiende Gilgali wala msipande mpaka Beth-Aveni, wala msiape mkisema, Aishivyo Bwana.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Kwa maana Israeli ametenda kwa ukaidi, kama ndama mkaidi; sasa je! Bwana atawalisha kama mwana-kondoo katika mahali penye nafasi!
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Efraimu amejiungamanisha na sanamu; mwache.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
Kileo chao kimegeuka kuwa uchungu; huzini daima; wakuu wake hupenda aibu.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Upepo umemfunikiza kwa mbawa zake; nao watatahayarika kwa sababu ya dhabihu zao.
