Joshua 23
1 After many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
Na baada ya siku nyingi, kipindi ambacho Yahweh alikuwa ameipa Israeli pumziko kutoka maadui zao waliowazunguka,
2 Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, “I am old and well advanced in years.
Joshua alikuwa mzee sana. Yoshua aliwaita Waisraeli wote, na wazee wao, na viongozi, na waamuzi, na kwa maafisa, na kisha akawaambia, “Mimi nimezeeka sana.
3 You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you.
Mmeshaona kila kitu ambacho Yahweh Mungu wenu ameshafanya kwa mataifa haya yote kwa ajili yenu, kwa kuwa ni Yahweh Mungu wenu ambaye amewapigania ninyi.
4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.
Tazama! Nimeshawakabidhi kwenu mataifa yaliyosalia ili kuyateka kwa ajili ya kupata urithi ya makabila yenu, sambasamba na mataifa yote ambayo tayari nimeshayaangamiza, tangu Yordani hadi Bahari kuu katika upande wa magharibi.
5 The LORD your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as the LORD your God spoke to you.
Yahweh Mungu wenu atayaondoa. Atayafukuzia mbali kutoka kwenu. Ataiteka nchi yao, nanyi mtaimiliki nchi yao, kama vile Yahweh Mungu wenu alivyowaahidi ninyi.
6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left;
Hivyo, iweni jasiri, ili kwamba mtunze na kuyafanya yale yote yaliyoandikwa katika kitabu cha sheria ya Musa, msikengeuke upande wa kulia wala upande wa kushoto,
7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;
basi msichanganyikane na mataifa haya ambayo yamesalia miongoni mwenu, wala msiyataje majina ya miungu yao, wala msiape kwayo, wala msiiabudu, wala msiipigie magoti.
8 but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
Badala yake, mnatakiwa kumshika sana Yahweh Mungu wenu kama vile mlivyofanya siku hii ya leo.
9 “For the LORD has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.
Kwa kuwa Yahweh ameyafukuzia mbali mbele yenu mataifa makubwa yenye nguvu. Hakuna hata mmoja aliyeweza kusimama mbele yenu hata siku hii ya leo.
10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.
Mtu yeyote mmoja wa kwenu atawafanya watu elfu wakimbie mbali, kwa kuwa Yahweh Mungu wenu, ndiye anayepigania ninyi, kama vile alivyowaahidi.
11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.
Zingatieni kwa uangalifu ili mmpende Yahweh Mungu wenu.
12 “But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;
Lakini kama mkiegeuka na kushikamana na watu walioalia wa mataifa haya waliobaki miongoni mwenu, au kuoana nao, au kama mkishirikiana pamoja nao, na wao pamoja nanyi,
13 know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
jueni kwa hakika kwamba Yahweh Mungu wenu hatayafukuzia mbali mataifa haya yatoke kati yenu. Badala yake, watakuwa kitanzi na mtego kwenu, viboko migongoni mwenu na miiba machoni mwenu, mpaka pale mtakapoangamia katika nchi hii nzuri ambayo Yahweh Mungu wenu amewapeni ninyi.
14 “Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.
Na sasa ninaenda katika njia ya dunia yote, na mnajua kwa moyo na roho zenu zote kwamba hakuna hata neno moja ambalo halijatimia kati ya mambo yote mazuri ambayo Yahweh Mungu wenu aliyaahidi juu yenu. Vitu hivi vyote vimetokea kwa ajili yenu. Hakuna hata moja lililoshindikana.
15 It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which the LORD your God spoke to you, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you,
Lakini kama kila neno ambalo Yahweh Mungu wenu alilowaahidi limekwisha kutimia, hivyo Yahweh atawaletea juu yenu mabaya yote mpaka pale atakapokuwa amewaangamiza katika nchi hii nzuri ambayo Yahweh Mungu wenu amewapeni ninyi.
16 when you disobey the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the LORD’s anger will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.”
Atafanya hivi kama mtalivunja agano la Yahweh Mungu wenu, ambalo aliwaagizeni kulitunza. Kama mtaenda na kuiabudu miungu mingine na kuiinamia, ndipo hasira ya Yahweh itawaka kinyume nanyi, na ninyi mtaangamia upesi katika nchi nzuri ambayo amekwisha kuwapeni ninyi.”
