Numeri 22
1 Aisraeli anayenda kupita ku zigwa za Mowabu nakamanga misasa yawo tsidya lina la Yorodani moyangʼanana ndi Yeriko.
Abako-Israyeli basuka lapho baya emagcekeni aseMowabi bamisa izihonqo zabo zisekele umfula iJodani ngaphetsheya kweJerikho.
2 Tsono Balaki mwana wa Zipori anaona zonse zimene Aisraeli anachitira Aamori,
UBhalaki indodana kaZiphori wabona konke okwenziwa ngu-Israyeli kuma-Amori,
3 ndipo Amowabu anaopa anthuwo chifukwa analipo ambiri. Amowabuwo anachita mantha kwambiri mpaka ananjenjemera chifukwa cha Aisraeli.
ngakho uMowabi wesaba ngoba abantu bako-Israyeli babebanengi kakhulu. Ngempela uMowabi watshaywa luvalo ngenxa yokwesaba abako-Israyeli.
4 Iwo anati kwa akuluakulu a ku Midiyani, “Gulu ili lidzabudula zonse zimene zatizungulira monga momwe ngʼombe yothena imathera udzu wa ku tchire.” Tsono Balaki mwana wa Zipori, yemwe anali mfumu ya Mowabu pa nthawi imeneyo,
AmaMowabi athi ebadaleni bamaMidiyani, “Ixuku leli lizahuquluza konke esilakho, njengenkabi isidla utshani emadlelweni.” Ngakho uBhalaki indodana kaZiphori, owayeyinkosi yamaMowabi ngalesosikhathi,
5 anatumiza amithenga kwa Balaamu mwana wa Beori, yemwe anali ku Petori, pafupi ndi mtsinje, mʼdziko la kwawo kuti akamuyitane. Balaki anati: “Taonani, anthu ochokera ku Igupto abwera, adzaza dziko lonse ndipo akufuna kuchita nane nkhondo.
wathumela izithunywa ukuyabiza uBhalamu indodana kaBheyori, owayehlala ePhethori eduzane lomfula iYufrathe elizweni lakibo lomdabuko. UBhalaki wathi, “Kulabantu abanengi kakhulu abavela eGibhithe; bagcwele ilizwe lonke njalo bahlezi eduze kwami.
6 Tsopano bwera, utemberere anthu amenewa chifukwa ndi amphamvu kwambiri kuposa ine. Mwina ndingadzawagonjetse ndi kuwatulutsira kunja kwa dzikoli chifukwa ndikudziwa kuti amene umawadalitsa amadalitsika, ndipo amene umawatemberera amatembereredwa.”
Woza khathesi uzeletha isithuko phezu kwabo, ngoba balamandla kulami. Mhlawumbe ngalokho ngingabehlula ngibaxotshe elizweni. Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi labo obabusisayo bayabusiseka, njalo labo obaqalekisayo bayaqalekiswa.”
7 Akuluakulu a Mowabu ndi akuluakulu a Midiyani ananyamuka atatenga ndalama zokalipirira mawula. Atafika kwa Balaamu, anamuwuza zomwe Balaki ananena.
Abadala bamaMowabi labamaMidiyani basuka, bathatha imbadalo yokuhlahlula. Bathe befika kuBhalamu, bamtshela lokho okwatshiwo nguBhalaki.
8 Balaamu anawawuza kuti, “Mugone konkuno usiku uno, ndipo ndikuyankhani zomwe Yehova andiwuze.” Choncho akuluakulu a Amowabu anagona kwa Balaamu.
“Lalani lapha okwalamuhla,” watsho uBhalamu kubo, “Ngizalilethela impendulo engizayiphiwa nguThixo.” Ngakho amakhosana amaMowabi ahlala laye.
9 Mulungu anabwera kwa Balaamu namufunsa kuti, “Kodi anthu ali ndi iwewa ndani?”
UNkulunkulu weza kuBhalamu wambuza wathi, “Amadoda la olawo ngobani?”
10 Balaamu anayankha Mulungu kuti, “Balaki mwana wa Zipori, mfumu ya Mowabu, ananditumizira uthenga uwu:
UBhalamu wathi kuNkulunkulu, “UBhalaki indodana kaZiphori inkosi yamaMowabi ungithumele lelizwi elithi:
11 ‘Taonani, anthu amene achokera ku dziko la Igupto adzaza dziko lonse. Tsopano bwera udzawatemberere mʼmalo mwanga. Mwina ndidzatha kumenyana nawo ndi kuwatulutsa.’”
‘Kulabantu abavele eGibhithe abagcwele elizweni lonke. Woza masinyane uzongiqalekisela lababantu. Mhlawumbe ngingaba lakho ukubalwisa ngibaxotshe lapha.’”
12 Koma Mulungu anawuza Balaamu kuti, “Usapite nawo. Usawatemberere anthu amenewo chifukwa ndi odalitsika.”
Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathi kuBhalamu, “Ungahambi labo. Ungabaqalekisi lababantu, ngoba babusisiwe.”
13 Mmawa mwake Balaamu anadzuka ndi kuwuza akuluakulu a Balaki aja kuti, “Bwererani ku dziko la kwanu chifukwa Yehova sanandilole kuti ndipite nanu.”
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo uBhalamu wavuka esithi kumakhosana kaBhalaki, “Buyelani ezweni lenu, ngoba uThixo walile ukuthi ngihambe lani.”
14 Kotero akuluakulu a Mowabu anabwerera kwa Balaki ndi kukanena kuti, “Balaamu wakana kubwera nafe.”
Ngakho amakhosana amaMowabi abuyela kuBhalaki athi, “UBhalamu walile ukubuya lathi.”
15 Kenaka Balaki anatumanso akuluakulu ena ambiri ndi olemekezeka kwambiri kuposa oyamba aja ndipo
Ngakho uBhalaki wathumela amanye amakhosana amanengi njalo adumileyo kulawakuqala.
16 anafika kwa Balaamu nati; “Zomwe Balaki mwana wa Zipori akunena ndi izi: ‘Usalole kuti china chilichonse chikulepheretse kubwera kwa ine,
Eza kuBhalamu afika athi: “Nanku okutshiwo nguBhalaki indodana kaZiphori: Akungabi lalutho olungakuvimbela ukuza kimi,
17 chifukwa ndidzakulipira bwino kwambiri ndipo ndidzakuchitira chilichonse chimene unganene. Bwera ndipo uwatemberere anthu amenewa mʼmalo mwanga.’”
ngoba ngizakunika umvuzo omuhle njalo ngenze konke okutshoyo. Woza uzongiqalekisela lababantu.”
18 Koma Balaamu anayankha atumiki a Balaki kuti, “Ngakhale Balaki atandipatsa nyumba yaufumu yodzaza ndi siliva ndi golide sindingachite chilichonse chachikulu kapena chachingʼono kuposa kuchita lamulo la Yehova Mulungu wanga.
Kodwa uBhalamu wabaphendula wathi, “Loba uBhalaki enganginika isigodlo sakhe sigcwele isiliva legolide, angingeke ngenze ulutho olukhulu loba oluncane oluphambene lelizwi likaThixo uNkulunkulu wami.
19 Tsopano mukhale kuno usiku uno monga ena anachitira, ndidzaona chimene Yehova adzandiwuza.”
Khathesi hlalani lapha okwalobubusuku njengalokhu okwenziwe ngabanye, mina ngizadingisisa ukuthi kuyini okunye uThixo azangitshela khona.”
20 Usiku umenewo Mulungu anabwera kwa Balaamu ndipo anati, “Popeza anthu awa abwera kudzakuyitana, nyamuka, pita nawo koma ukachite zokhazo zimene ndikuwuze.”
Ngalobobusuku uNkulunkulu weza kuBhalamu wathi, “Njengoba ethunywe ukuzakubiza, hamba lawo, kodwa wenze lokho kuphela engizakutshela khona.”
21 Balaamu anadzuka mmawa, namanga bulu wake wamkazi ndipo anapita ndi akuluakulu a Mowabu.
UBhalamu wavuka ekuseni, wagada ubabhemi wakhe wahle wahamba lamakhosana amaMowabi.
22 Koma Mulungu anakwiya kwambiri pamene ankapita ndipo mngelo wa Yehova anayima pa njira kutsutsana naye. Balaamu anakwera bulu wake wamkazi ndipo antchito ake awiri anali naye.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathukuthela kakhulu ngokuhamba kwakhe, ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yajama phambi kwakhe yamvimbela. UBhalamu wayegade ubabhemi wakhe elezinceku zakhe ezimbili.
23 Pamene buluyo anaona mngelo wa Yehova atayima pa njira ndi lupanga mʼmanja mwake, anapatukira kumbali kwa msewu napita kutchire. Balaamu anamumenya kuti abwerere mu msewu.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo imi endleleni iphethe inkemba esandleni sayo, waphambuka endleleni waqonda iganga. UBhalamu wamtshaya ubabhemi embuyisela endleleni.
24 Kenaka mngelo wa Yehova anayima mʼkanjira kakangʼono pakati pa minda iwiri ya mpesa yokhala ndi makoma mbali zonse
Ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yayakuma emkhandlwini phakathi kwezivini ezimbili, kulemiduli inxa zonke.
25 Bulu uja ataona mngelo wa Yehova anadzipanikiza ku khoma, kukhukhuza phazi la Balaamu kukhomako. Ndipo pomwepo Balaamu anamenya buluyo kachiwiri.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo, ubabhemi wasondela emdulini, ehluzulela unyawo lukaBhalamu emdulini. Ngalokho wamtshaya njalo ubabhemi.
26 Kenaka mngelo wa Yehova anapita patsogolo ndi kuyima pamalo opanikizika pomwe panalibe poti nʼkutembenukira ku dzanja lamanja kapena lamanzere.
Ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yaya phambili yema emkhandlwini onciphileyo lapho okwakungelandlela yokuphendukela kwesokudla loba esenxele.
27 Buluyo ataonanso mngelo wa Yehova uja, anagona pansi Balaamu ali pa msana, ndipo iye anakwiya ndi kumumenya ndi ndodo yake.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo, ubabhemi walala phansi, uBhalamu wathukuthela kakhulu wamtshaya ubabhemi ngentonga yakhe.
28 Pamenepo Yehova anayankhulitsa bulu uja, ndipo buluyo anati kwa Balaamu, “Ndakuchitirani chiyani kuti mundimenye katatuka?”
Ngalokho uThixo wavula umlomo kababhemi, wathi kuBhalamu, “Kanti ngenzeni na kuwe uze ungitshaye okwamahlandla amathathu?”
29 Balaamu anati kwa buluyo, “Wandipusitsa, ndikanakhala ndi lupanga mʼmanja mwanga, ndikanakupha pomwe pano.”
UBhalamu waphendula ubabhemi wathi, “Ungenze isiwula! Ngabe bengilenkemba esandleni sami bengizakubulala khathesi.”
30 Buluyo anati kwa Balaamu, “Kodi sindine bulu wanu, amene mumakwera nthawi zonse kufikira lero? Kodi ndinakuchitiranipo zoterezi?” Iye anati “Ayi.”
Ubabhemi wathi kuBhalamu, “Kanti kangisubabhemi wakho na ovele uhlezi umgada insuku zonke kuze kube namhlanje? Kambe ngiyake ngikwenze lokhu kuwe na?” UBhalamu waphendula wathi, “Hatshi.”
31 Pomwepo Yehova anatsekula maso Balaamu ndipo anaona mngelo wa Yehovayo ali chiyimire pa njira ndi lupanga losolola. Tsono iye anawerama nalambira pamaso pake.
Ngakho uThixo wavula amehlo kaBhalamu, wabona ingilosi kaThixo imi endleleni iqaphise inkemba. Ngakho wakhothama wawa phansi ngobuso.
32 Mngelo wa Yehova anamufunsa kuti, “Chifukwa chiyani wamenya bulu wako katatu? Taona, Ine ndabwera kudzakutsutsa chifukwa ulendo wakowu ndi woyipa pamaso panga.
Ingilosi kaThixo yambuza yathi, “Kungani utshaye ubabhemi wakho okwamahlandla amathathu na? Ngize lapha ukukuvimbela ngoba indlela yakho iyibutshapha phambi kwami.
33 Buluyu anandiona ndi kupatuka katatu aka. Akanakhala kuti sanapatuke, ndikanakupha tsopano, koma buluyu nʼkanamusiya ndi moyo.”
Ubabhemi ungibonile waphambuka okwamahlandla amathathu. Alubana kaphambukanga, ngabe khathesi sengikubulele wena, ngayekela ubabhemi.”
34 Balaamu anati kwa mngelo wa Yehova uja, “Ndachimwa. Sindinadziwe kuti munayima pa njira kunditsutsa. Tsopano ngati Inu simunakondwe, ineyo ndibwerera.”
UBhalamu wathi engilosini kaThixo, “Ngonile. Angizange nginanzelele ukuthi umi endleleni ukungivimbela. Nxa kungakuthokozisi khathesi, ngizabuyela emuva.”
35 Mngelo wa Yehova anati kwa Balaamu, “Pita ndi anthuwa koma ukayankhule zokhazo zimene ndikakuwuze.” Choncho Balaamu anapita ndi akuluakulu a Balaki.
Ingilosi kaThixo yathi kuBhalamu, “Hamba lawo lamadoda, kodwa ukhulume lokho engikutshela khona kuphela.” Ngakho uBhalamu wahamba lamakhosana kaBhalaki.
36 Balaki atamva kuti Balaamu akubwera, anapita kukakumana naye ku mzinda wa Mowabu umene unali mʼmalire a Arinoni, mʼmphepete mwa dziko lake.
Kwathi uBhalaki esizwa ukuthi uBhalamu uyeza, waphuma ukumhlangabeza edolobheni lamaMowabi emngceleni wase-Arinoni emaphethelweni elizwe lakhe.
37 Balaki anati kwa Balaamu, “Kodi sindinakutumizire uthenga woti ubwere msanga? Chifukwa chiyani sunabwere kwa ine? Kodi sindingathe kukulipira mokwanira?”
UBhalaki wathi kuBhalamu, “Angikuthumelanga ilizwi lokuphangisa na? Kungani ungezanga kimi? Kambe kangenelisi ukukupha umvuzo na?”
38 Balaamu anayankha Balaki kuti, “Taonani, ndabwera kwa inu lero, kodi ine ndili ndi mphamvu zoti nʼkuyankhula chilichonse? Inetu ndiyenera kuyankhula zokhazo zimene Mulungu wandiwuza.”
UBhalamu waphendula wathi, “Yebo, sengifikile kuwe khathesi. Kodwa angiyikukhuluma loba yini engiyifunayo. Ngizakhuluma lokho uNkulunkulu azakubeka emlonyeni wami kuphela.”
39 Pamenepo Balaamu anapita pamodzi ndi Balaki ku Kiriati-Huzoti.
Ngakho uBhalamu wahamba loBhalaki eKhiriyathi-Huzothi.
40 Balaki anapereka nsembe ngʼombe ndi nkhosa, ndipo anapereka zina kwa Balaamu ndi kwa akuluakulu omwe anali naye.
UBhalaki wenza umhlatshelo wenkomo lezimvu, njalo ezinye wazipha uBhalamu ezinye wazipha amakhosana ayehamba lawo.
41 Mmawa mwake Balaki anatenga Balaamu napita limodzi ku Bamoti Baala, ndipo kumeneko anakaonako gulu lina la Aisraeliwo.
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo uBhalaki wathatha uBhalamu waya eBhamothi-Bhali, kulapho abona khona izihonqo zabako-Israyeli.
