< Kings IV 18 >
1 And it came to pass in the third year of Osee son of Ela king of Israel [that] Ezekias son of Achaz king of Juda began to reign.
Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Hoshea mwana wa Ela mfalme wa Israeli, Hezekia mwana wa Ahazi mfalme wa Yuda alianza kutawala.
2 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name [was] Abu, daughter of Zacharias.
Alikuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na mitano alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu kwa miaka ishirini na tisa. Mama yake aliitwa Abiya binti Zekaria.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David did.
Akafanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana, kama Daudi baba yake alivyofanya.
4 He removed the high places, and broke in pieces the pillars, and utterly destroyed the groves, and the brazen serpent which Moses made: because until those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Neesthan.
Akapaondoa mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, akazivunja sanamu, akakatakata nguzo za Ashera. Akavunja vipande vipande ile nyoka ya shaba Mose aliyotengeneza, kwa kuwa hadi siku hizo wana wa Israeli walikuwa wanaifukizia uvumba (ilikuwa ikiitwa Nehushtani).
5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; and after him there was not any like him amongst the kings of Juda, nor amongst those that were before him.
Hezekia aliweka tumaini lake kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. Hapakuwepo na mfalme mwingine wa kufanana naye miongoni mwa wafalme wa Yuda, kabla yake au baada yake.
6 And he clave to the Lord, he departed not from following him; and he kept his commandments, as many as he commanded Moses.
Alishikamana na Bwana kwa bidii wala hakuacha kumfuata; alishika amri ambazo Bwana alikuwa amempa Mose.
7 And the Lord was with him; and he was wise in all that he undertook: and he revolted from the king of the Assyrians, and served him not.
Naye Bwana alikuwa pamoja naye, akafanikiwa katika kila alichokifanya. Aliasi dhidi ya mfalme wa Ashuru, wala hakumtumikia.
8 He struck the Philistines [even] to Gaza, and to the border of it, from the tower of the watchmen even to the strong city.
Kuanzia mnara wa ulinzi hadi kwenye mji wenye ngome, aliwashinda Wafilisti, hadi kufikia Gaza na himaya yake yote.
9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of King Ezekias (this is the seventh year of Osee son of Ela king of Israel, ) [that] Salamanassar king of the Assyrians came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
Mwaka wa nne wa Mfalme Hezekia, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa saba wa Hoshea mwana wa Ela kutawala Israeli, Shalmanesa mfalme wa Ashuru alikwenda kuishambulia Samaria na kuuzunguka kwa majeshi.
10 And he took it at the end of three years, in the sixth year of Ezekias, (this [is] the ninth year of Osee king of Israel, when Samaria was taken.)
Baada ya miaka mitatu Waashuru wakautwaa. Kwa hiyo Samaria ulitekwa katika mwaka wa sita wa utawala wa Mfalme Hezekia, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa tisa wa utawala wa Hoshea mfalme wa Israeli.
11 And the king of the Assyrians carried away the Samaritans to Assyria, and put them in Alae and in Abor, [by] the river Gozan, and [in] the mountains of the Medes;
Mfalme wa Ashuru akawahamishia Waisraeli huko Ashuru na akawaweka Hala, na Gozani karibu na Mto Habori, na katika miji ya Wamedi.
12 because they listened not to the voice of the Lord their God, and transgressed his covenant, [even] in all things that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and listened not [to them], nor did [them].
Hili lilitokea kwa sababu hawakumtii Bwana Mungu wao, lakini walikuwa wamevunja agano lake, yale yote ambayo Mose mtumishi wa Bwana aliwaamuru. Hawakuzisikiliza amri wala kuzitimiza.
13 And in the fourteenth year of king Ezekias came up Sennacherim king of the Assyrians against the strong cities of Juda, and took them.
Katika mwaka wa kumi na nne wa utawala wa Mfalme Hezekia, Senakeribu mfalme wa Ashuru akaishambulia miji yote ya Yuda yenye ngome na kuiteka.
14 And Ezekias king of Juda sent messengers to the king of the Assyrians to Lachis, saying, I have offended; depart from me: whatever you shall lay upon me, I will bear. And the king of Assyria laid upon Ezekias king of Juda [a tribute of] three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.
Basi Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda akamtumia ujumbe mfalme wa Ashuru huko Lakishi akisema: “Nimefanya makosa. Ondoka katika nchi yangu, nami nitakulipa chochote unachokitaka kwangu.” Mfalme wa Ashuru akamtoza Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda talanta 300 za fedha, na talanta thelathini za dhahabu.
15 And Ezekias gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house.
Basi Hezekia akampa fedha yote iliyopatikana ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana na katika hazina ya jumba la mfalme.
16 At that time Ezekias cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple, and [from] the pillars which Ezekias king of Juda [had] overlaid with gold, and gave it to the king of the Assyrians.
Wakati huu Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda akabandua dhahabu yote iliyokuwa imefunika milango na miimo ya Hekalu la Bwana, akampa mfalme wa Ashuru.
17 And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan and Raphis and Rapsakes from Lachis to king Ezekias with a strong force against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem, and stood by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is by the way of the fuller's field.
Mfalme wa Ashuru akamtuma jemadari wake mkuu, na afisa wake mkuu, na jemadari wa jeshi, pamoja na jeshi kubwa kutoka Lakishi hadi kwa Mfalme Hezekia huko Yerusalemu. Wakaja Yerusalemu na kusimama kwenye mfereji wa Bwawa la Juu, lililojengwa katika barabara iendayo kwenye Uwanja wa Dobi.
18 And they cried to Ezekias: and there came to him Heliakim the son of Chelcias the steward, and Somnas the scribe, and Joas the son of Saphat the recorder.
Wakaagiza mfalme aitwe. Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia aliyekuwa msimamizi wa jumba la mfalme, Shebna aliyekuwa katibu, na Yoa mwana wa Asafu mwandishi wakawaendea.
19 And Rapsakes said to them, Say now to Ezekias, Thus says the king, the great king of the Assyrians, What [is] this confidence wherein you trust?
Yule jemadari wa jeshi akawaambia, “Mwambieni Hezekia: “‘Hili ndilo asemalo mfalme mkuu, mfalme wa Ashuru: Ni wapi unapoweka hili tumaini lako?
20 You have said, (but [they are] mere words, ) [I have] counsel and strength for war. Now then in whom do you trust, that you have revolted from me?
Unasema mnayo mikakati na nguvu za kijeshi, lakini unasema maneno matupu tu. Je, wewe unamtegemea nani, hata ukaniasi mimi?
21 See now, are you trusting for yourself on this broken staff of reed, [even] upon Egypt? whoever shall stay himself upon it, it shall even go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharao king of Egypt to all that trust on him.
Tazama sasa, unaitegemea Misri, fimbo ile ya mwanzi uliopasuka, ambayo huuchoma na kuujeruhi mkono wa mtu akiiegemea! Hivyo ndivyo alivyo Farao mfalme wa Misri, kwa wote wanaomtegemea.
22 And whereas you have said to me, We trust on the Lord God: [is] not this he, whose high places and altars Ezekias has removed, and has said to Juda and Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
Nawe kama ukiniambia, “Tunamtumainia Bwana Mungu wetu”: je, siyo yeye ambaye Hezekia aliondoa mahali pake pa juu pa kuabudia miungu na madhabahu zake, akiwaambia Yuda na Yerusalemu, “Ni lazima mwabudu mbele ya madhabahu haya katika Yerusalemu”?
23 And now, I pray you, make and agreement with my lord the king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you shall be able on your part to set riders upon them.
“‘Njooni sasa, fanyeni mapatano na bwana wangu, mfalme wa Ashuru: Nitakupa farasi elfu mbili, kama unaweza kuwapandisha waendesha farasi juu yao!
24 How then will you turn away the face of one petty governor, from amongst the least of my lord's servants? whereas you trust for yourself on Egypt for chariots and horsemen.
Utawezaje kumzuia hata afisa mmoja aliye mdogo kati ya maafisa wa bwana wangu, ijapo unategemea Misri kwa magari ya vita na wapanda farasi?
25 And now have we come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Zaidi ya hayo, je, nimekuja kushambulia na kuangamiza mahali hapa pasipo neno kutoka kwa Bwana? Bwana mwenyewe ndiye aliniambia niishambulie nchi hii na kuiangamiza.’”
26 And Heliakim the son of Chelkias, and Somnas, and Joas, said to Rapsakes, Speak now to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it; and speak not with us in the Jewish language: and why do you speak in the ears of the people that are on the wall?
Ndipo Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia, Shebna na Yoa wakamwambia yule jemadari wa jeshi, “Tafadhali zungumza na watumishi wako kwa lugha ya Kiaramu, kwa kuwa tunaifahamu. Usiseme nasi kwa Kiebrania watu walioko juu ya ukuta wakiwa wanasikia.”
27 And Rapsakes said to them, Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? [has he] not [sent me] to the men who sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own water together with you.
Lakini yule jemadari wa jeshi akajibu, “Je, bwana wangu amenituma kutoa ujumbe huu kwa bwana wenu na kwenu tu? Je, hakunituma pia kwa watu walioketi ukutani, ambao, kama ninyi, itawabidi kula mavi yao na kunywa mikojo yao wenyewe?”
28 And Rapsakes stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jewish language, and spoke, and said, Hear the words of the great king of the Assyrians:
Kisha yule jemadari wa jeshi akasimama na kuita kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, akasema: “Sikieni neno la mfalme mkuu, mfalme wa Ashuru!
29 thus says the king, Let not Ezekias encourage you with words: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand.
Hili ndilo asemalo mfalme: Msikubali Hezekia awadanganye. Hawezi kuwaokoa mkononi mwangu.
30 And let not Ezekias cause you to trust on the Lord, saying, The Lord will certainly deliver us; this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of the Assyrians: listen not to Ezekias:
Msikubali Hezekia awashawishi kumtumaini Bwana kwa kuwaambia, ‘Hakika Bwana atatuokoa. Mji huu hautaangukia mikononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru.’
31 for thus says the king of the Assyrians, Gain my favour, and come forth to me, and every man shall drink [of the wine] of his own vine, and every man shall eat of his own fig tree, and shall drink water out of his own cistern;
“Msimsikilize Hezekia. Hili ndilo mfalme wa Ashuru asemalo: Fanyeni amani nami na mje kwangu. Kisha kila mmoja wenu atakula kutoka kwa mzabibu wake na mtini wake mwenyewe, na kunywa maji kutoka kisima chake mwenyewe,
32 until I come and remove you to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, and bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil, and honey, and you shall live and not die: and do not you listen to Ezekias, for he deceives you, saying, The Lord shall deliver you.
mpaka nije nikawapeleke katika nchi iliyo kama nchi yenu wenyewe, nchi ya nafaka na divai mpya, nchi ya mkate na mashamba ya mizabibu, nchi ya mizeituni na asali. Chagueni uzima, sio mauti! “Msimsikilize Hezekia, kwa kuwa anawapotosha asemapo, ‘Bwana atatuokoa.’
33 Have the Gods of the nations at all delivered each their own land out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians?
Je, yuko mungu wa taifa lolote aliyewahi kuokoa nchi yake kutoka mkononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru?
34 Where is the god of Haemath, and of Arphad? where is the god of Seppharvaim, Ana, and Aba? for have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
Iko wapi miungu ya Hamathi na ya Arpadi? Iko wapi miungu ya Sefarvaimu, Hena na Iva? Je, imeokoa Samaria kutoka mkononi mwangu?
35 Who [is there] amongst all the gods of the countries, who have delivered their countries out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
Ni yupi miongoni mwa miungu yote ya nchi hizi ameweza kuokoa nchi yake mkononi mwangu? Inawezekanaje basi Bwana aiokoe Yerusalemu mkononi mwangu?”
36 But [the men] were silent, and answered him not a word: for [there was] a commandment of the king, saying, You shall not answer him.
Lakini wale watu wakakaa kimya, wala hawakujibu lolote, kwa kuwa mfalme alikuwa amewaamuru, “Msimjibu lolote.”
37 And Heliakim the son of Chelcias, the steward, and Somnas the scribe, and Joas the son of Saphat the recorder came in to Ezekias, having tore their garments; and they reported to him the words of Rapsakes.
Kisha Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia msimamizi wa jumba la kifalme, Shebna katibu, na Yoa mwana wa Asafu, mwandishi wakamwendea Hezekia, nguo zao zikiwa zimeraruliwa, na kumwambia yale jemadari wa jeshi aliyoyasema.