A Half-baked Cake
1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
Wakati nitakapo kumponya Israeli, ndipo yafunuliwapo maovu ya Efraimu, na ubaya wa Samaria; maana wanatenda uongo, na mwivi huvunja nyumba za watu, na kundi la wanyang'anyi hushambulia nje.
2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
Wala hawafikiri mioyoni mwao ya kwamba naukumbuka uovu wao wote; sasa matendo yao wenyewe yamewazunguka pande zote; yako mbele za uso wangu.
3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
Humfurahisha mfalme kwa uovu wao, na wakuu wao kwa uongo wao.
4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
Hao wote ni wazinzi; wamekuwa kama tanuu iliyotiwa moto na mwokaji; huacha kuuchochea moto, tangu kuukanda unga hata umekwisha kutiwa chachu.
5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
Sikukuu ya mfalme wetu, wakuu walijitapisha kwa ukali wa divai; alinyosha mkono wake pamoja na wenye mzaha.
6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
Maana wamefanya moyo wao kuwa tayari kama tanuu, wakati waoteapo; hasira yao hulala usiku kucha; asubuhi yawaka kama moto utoao miali.
7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
Wote wamepata moto kama tanuu, nao hula makadhi wao; wafalme wao wote wameanguka; hakuna hata mmoja wao aniitaye mimi.
8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
Efraimu ajichanganya na mataifa; Efraimu ni mkate usiogeuzwa.
9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
Wageni wamekula nguvu zake, naye hana habari; naam, nywele za mvi zimeonekana huko na huko juu yake, naye hana habari.
10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
Na kiburi cha Israeli chamshuhudia mbele ya uso wake; ila hata hivyo hawakumrudia Bwana, Mungu wao, wala hawakumtafuta kwa ajili ya hayo yote.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Naye Efraimu amekuwa kama njiwa mpumbavu, asiye na fahamu; humwita Misri, huenda Ashuru.
12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Watakapokwenda nitatandika wavu wangu juu yao; nitawashusha kama ndege wa angani; nitawarudi, kama vile mkutano wao ulivyosikia.
13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
Ole wao! Kwa kuwa wamenikimbia; uharibifu na uwapate! Kwa kuwa wameniasi; ingawa ninataka kuwakomboa, hata hivyo wamenena uongo juu yangu.
14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
Wala hawakunililia kwa moyo, lakini wanalalamika vitandani mwao; hujikutanisha ili kupata nafaka na divai; huniasi mimi.
15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
Ingawa nimewafundisha na kuwatia nguvu mikono yao, hata hivyo hukusudia udhalimu juu yangu.
16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Wao hurudi, lakini si kwake Aliye juu; wamekuwa kama upinde usiotumainika; wakuu wao wataanguka kwa upanga, kwa sababu ya jeuri ya ndimi zao; jambo hili litakuwa kwao sababu ya kuchekwa katika nchi ya Misri.
