1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
Ufunuo aliouona nabii Habakuki.
2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Ee Bwana, nilie hata lini, wewe usitake kusikia? Nakulilia kwa sababu ya udhalimu, ila hutaki kuokoa.
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Mbona wanionyesha uovu, na kunitazamisha ukaidi? Maana uharibifu na udhalimu u mbele yangu; kuna ugomvi, na mashindano yatokea.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Kwa sababu hiyo sheria imelegea, wala hukumu haipatikani; kwa maana watu wabaya huwazunguka wenye haki; kwa sababu hiyo hukumu ikipatikana imepotoka.
5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you .
Angalieni, enyi mlio kati ya mataifa, katazameni, kastaajabuni sana; kwa maana mimi natenda tendo siku zenu, ambalo hamtaliamini hata mkiambiwa.
6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.
Kwa maana, angalieni, nawaondokesha Wakaldayo, taifa lile kali, lenye haraka kupita kiasi; wapitao katikati ya dunia, ili wayamiliki makao yasiyo yao.
7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Hao ni watu wa kutisha sana, wa kuogofya sana; hukumu yao na ukuu wao hutoka katika nafsi zao wenyewe.
8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
Farasi zao ni wepesi kuliko chui, ni wakali kuliko mbwa-mwitu wa jioni; na wapanda farasi wao hujitapa naam, wapanda farasi wao watoka mbali sana; huruka kama tai afanyaye haraka ale.
9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
Waja wote ili kufanya udhalimu; nyuso zao zimeelekezwa kwa bidii yao kama upepo wa mashariki, nao hukusanya mateka kama mchanga.
10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
Naam, huwadhihaki wafalme, na wakuu ni kitu cha kudharauliwa kwake; huidharau kila ngome; kwa maana hufanya chungu ya mavumbi, na kuitwaa.
11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
Kisha atapita kwa kasi, kama upepo, atapita na kuwa ana hatia; yeye ambaye nguvu zake ni mungu wake.
12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Ee Bwana, Mungu wangu, mtakatifu wangu, wewe si wa milele? Hatutakufa. Ee Bwana, umemwandikia hukumu, nawe, Ee Jabali, umemweka imara ili aadhibishwe.
13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Wewe uliye na macho safi hata usiweze kuangalia uovu, wewe usiyeweza kutazama ukaidi, mbona unawaangalia watendao kwa hila; na kunyamaza kimya, hapo mtu mwovu ammezapo mtu aliye mwenye haki kuliko yeye;
14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
na kufanya wanadamu kuwa kama samaki wa baharini, kama vitu vitambaavyo, ambavyo havina mtawala?
15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
Yeye huwatoa wote kwa ndoana yake, huwakamata katika wavu wake, na kuwakusanya katika juya lake; ndiyo sababu afurahi na kupendezwa.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
Kwa sababu hiyo huutolea wavu wake sadaka, na kulifukizia uvumba juya lake; kwa sababu kwa vitu vile fungu lake limenona, na chakula chake kimekuwa tele.
17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
Je! Atawatoa walio katika wavu wake, asiache kuwaua watu wa mataifa daima?
