1I would like to heal Israel.
But when I try to, Ephraim’s sins
are brought out into the open.
The crimes of Samaria
are made known to everyone.
The people tell lies.
They break into houses and steal.
They rob others in the streets.
2But they do not realize
that I remember all the evil things they do.
Their sins pile up and cover them.
I am always aware of their sins.
3“Their evil conduct even makes the king glad.
Their lies make the princes happy.
4But all the people are unfaithful to the king.
Their anger against him burns
like the coals in an oven.
The baker does not even need to stir up the fire
until the dough is ready.”
5On special days to honor our king,
the princes get drunk with wine.
And the king enjoys the party.
He joins hands with those
who pretend to be faithful to him.
6Their hearts are as hot as an oven.
They make evil plans to get rid of him.
Their anger burns like a slow fire all night.
In the morning it blazes out like a flaming fire.
7All of them are as hot as an oven.
They destroy their rulers.
All their kings fall from power.
But none of them calls on the Lord for help.
8The people of Ephraim mix with the nations.
They are like a thin loaf of bread
that is baked on only one side.
9People from other lands make them weaker and weaker.
But they don’t realize it.
Their hair is becoming gray.
But they don’t even notice it.
10The pride of Israel proves that they are guilty.
But in spite of everything,
they don’t return to the Lord their God.
They don’t go to him for help.
11The Lord says,
“The people of Ephraim are like a dove.
They are easily tricked.
They do not have any sense at all.
First they call out to Egypt for help.
Then they turn to Assyria.
12When they send for help,
I will throw my net over them.
I will capture them like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them gathering like birds,
I will catch them.
13How terrible it will be for them!
They have wandered away from me.
So they will be destroyed.
That’s because they have refused to obey me.
I long to save them.
But they tell lies about me.
14They do not cry out to me from their hearts.
Instead, they just lie on their beds and sob.
They cut themselves when they pray to their gods
for grain and fresh wine.
But they turn away from me.
15I brought them up and made them strong.
But they make evil plans against me.
16I am the Most High God. But they do not turn to me.
They are like a bow that does not shoot straight.
Their leaders will be killed by swords.
They will die because they have spoken too proudly.
The people of Egypt
will make fun of them.”
1Pamene ndichiritsa Israeli,
machimo a Efereimu amaonekera poyera
ndiponso milandu ya Samariya sibisika.
Iwo amachita zachinyengo,
mbala zimathyola nyumba,
achifwamba amalanda anthu katundu mʼmisewu.
2Koma sazindikira kuti Ine
ndimakumbukira zoyipa zawo zonse.
Azunguliridwa ndi zolakwa zawo;
ndipo sizichoka mʼmaso mwanga.
3“Anthuwa amasangalatsa mfumu ndi zoyipa zawozo,
akalonga amasekerera mabodza awo.
4Onsewa ndi anthu azigololo,
otentha ngati moto wa mu uvuni,
umene wophika buledi sasonkhezera
kuyambira pamene akukanda buledi mpaka atafufuma.
5Pa tsiku la chikondwerero cha mfumu yathu
akalonga amaledzera ndi vinyo,
ndipo amalowa mʼgulu la anthu achipongwe.
6Mitima yawo ili ngati uvuni;
amayandikira Mulungu mwachiwembu.
Ukali wawo umanyeka usiku wonse,
mmawa umayaka ngati malawi a moto.
7Onsewa ndi otentha ngati uvuni,
amapha olamulira awo.
Mafumu awo onse amagwa,
ndipo palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe amandiyitana Ine.
8“Efereimu wasakanikirana ndi mitundu ya anthu ena;
Efereimu ndi buledi amene wapsa mbali imodzi.
9Alendo atha mphamvu zake,
koma iye sakuzindikira.
Tsitsi lake layamba imvi
koma iye sakudziwa.
10Kunyada kwake Israeli kukumutsutsa,
koma pa zonsezi
iye sakubwerera kwa Yehova Mulungu wake
kapena kumufunafuna.
11“Efereimu ali ngati nkhunda
yopusa yopanda nzeru.
Amayitana Igupto
namapita ku Asiriya.
12Akamadzapita, ndidzawakola ndi ukonde wanga;
ndidzawagwetsa pansi ngati mbalame zamumlengalenga.
Ndikadzamva kuti asonkhana pamodzi
ndidzawakola.
13Tsoka kwa iwo,
chifukwa andisiya Ine!
Chiwonongeko kwa iwo,
chifukwa andiwukira!
Ndimafunitsitsa kuwapulumutsa
koma amayankhula za Ine monama.
14Iwo salirira kwa Ine kuchokera pansi pa mtima,
koma amalira mofuwula ali pa bedi pawo.
Amadzichekacheka chifukwa chofuna tirigu ndi vinyo watsopano,
koma amandifulatira.
15Ine ndinawaphunzitsa ndikuwalimbitsa,
koma amandikonzera chiwembu.
16Iwo satembenukira kwa Wammwambamwamba;
ali ngati uta woonongeka.
Atsogoleri awo adzaphedwa ndi lupanga
chifukwa cha mawu awo achipongwe.
Motero iwo adzasekedwa
mʼdziko la Igupto.
