< Joshua 22 >

1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
Ndipo Yoshua akawaita Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase,
2 and said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, and have hearkened to my voice in all that I commanded you.
naye akawaambia, “Mmeshafanya yale yote Mose mtumishi wa Bwana aliyowaamuru, nanyi mmenitii kwa kila jambo nililowaamuru.
3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, and ye have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your God.
Kwa muda mrefu sasa, hadi siku hii ya leo, hamkuwaacha ndugu zenu, bali ninyi mmetimiza ile kazi Bwana Mungu wenu aliyowapa.
4 And now Jehovah your God hath given rest to your brethren, as he said unto them; and now return, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.
Sasa kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wenu amewapa ndugu zenu pumziko kama alivyoahidi, rudini nyumbani mwenu katika nchi ile ambayo Mose mtumishi wa Bwana aliwapa ngʼambo ya Yordani.
5 Only, take great heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Lakini mwe waangalifu sana kushika amri na sheria zile Mose mtumishi wa Bwana alizowapa: yaani kumpenda Bwana Mungu wenu na kuenenda katika njia zake zote, kutii amri zake, kushikamana naye kwa uthabiti na kumtumikia kwa moyo wenu wote na roho yenu yote.”
6 And Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.
Ndipo Yoshua akawabariki na kuwaaga waende zao, nao wakaenda nyumbani mwao.
7 And to half the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given [inheritance] in Bashan, and to the other half thereof had Joshua given among their brethren on this side the Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them also,
(Kwa nusu ya kabila la Manase Mose alikuwa amewapa eneo katika Bashani na ile nusu nyingine ya hilo kabila Yoshua aliwapa eneo upande wa magharibi ya Yordani pamoja na ndugu zao). Yoshua alipowaaga waende zao nyumbani, aliwabariki,
8 and spoke to them, saying, Return unto your tents with much wealth and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with copper, and with iron, and with clothing, in very great quantity; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
akisema, “Rudini nyumbani mwenu na utajiri wenu mwingi, yaani makundi makubwa ya mifugo, mkiwa na fedha, dhahabu, shaba na chuma, pia wingi wa nguo, nanyi mkagawane na ndugu zenu hizo nyara zilizotoka kwa adui zenu.”
9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the country of Gilead, into the land of their possession, of which they had become possessed, according to the word of Jehovah through Moses.
Kwa hiyo Wareubeni, Wagadi na hiyo nusu ya kabila la Manase wakawaacha Waisraeli huko Shilo katika nchi ya Kanaani ili kurudi Gileadi, nchi yao wenyewe waliyoipata sawasawa na agizo la Bwana kupitia Mose.
10 And they came to the districts of the Jordan that are in the land of Canaan; and the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of grand appearance.
Walipofika Gelilothi karibu na Yordani, katika nchi ya Kanaani, Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase wakajenga madhabahu ya fahari kubwa huko kando ya Yordani.
11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the districts of the Jordan, separately from the children of Israel.
Waisraeli wengine waliposikia kwamba Wareubeni, Wagadi na ile nusu ya kabila la Manase walikuwa wamejenga madhabahu kwenye mpaka wa Kanaani huko Gelilothi karibu na Yordani kwenye upande wa Israeli,
12 And when the children of Israel heard [of it], the whole assembly of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.
kusanyiko lote la Israeli wakakusanyika huko Shilo ili wakapigane vita dhidi yao.
13 And the children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
Kwa hiyo Waisraeli wengine wakamtuma Finehasi mwana wa kuhani Eleazari katika nchi ya Gileadi, kwa Wareubeni, Wagadi na hiyo nusu ya kabila la Manase.
14 and with him ten princes, of each father's house a prince, out of all the tribes of Israel; and each of them was head of a father's house, of the thousands of Israel.
Wakatuma pamoja naye watu kumi ambao ni viongozi, mmoja kwa kila kabila la Israeli, kila mmoja aliyekuwa kiongozi katika mgawanyiko wa jamaa miongoni mwa koo za Israeli.
15 And they came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and spoke with them, saying,
Walipofika Gileadi, kwa Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase, wakawaambia:
16 Thus saith the whole assembly of Jehovah: What wickedness is this which ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that ye have built yourselves an altar, rebelling this day against Jehovah?
“Kusanyiko lote la Bwana lasema: ‘Je, mmewezaje kuacha kumwamini Mungu wa Israeli jinsi hii? Mmewezaje kumwacha Bwana na kujijengea madhabahu dhidi yake na kumwasi?
17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us? from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the assembly of Jehovah.
Je, dhambi ya Peori haikutosha? Hata ingawa kulikuja tauni juu ya kusanyiko la Bwana, mpaka leo hii hatujatakasika kutokana na dhambi hiyo!
18 And ye turn away this day from following Jehovah; and it will be, that since ye rebel this day against Jehovah, to-morrow he will be wroth with the whole assembly of Israel.
Je, sasa ndiyo mnamwacha Bwana? “‘Kama mkimwasi Bwana leo, kesho atalikasirikia kusanyiko lote la Israeli.
19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession is unclean, come over into the land of the possession of Jehovah, where Jehovah's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession amongst us; but rebel not against Jehovah, and rebel not against us, in building for yourselves an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.
Kama nchi mnayomiliki imenajisika, vukeni mje katika nchi ya Bwana, mahali Maskani ya Bwana ilipo, nanyi mkajitwalie sehemu miongoni mwetu, lakini msije mkaasi dhidi ya Bwana wala dhidi yetu sisi kwa kujijengea madhabahu, zaidi ya madhabahu ya Bwana Mungu wetu.
20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing? and wrath fell on all the assembly of Israel, and he perished not alone in his iniquity.
Wakati Akani mwana wa Zera alipokosa uaminifu kwa vitu vilivyowekwa wakfu, je, ghadhabu haikulipata kusanyiko lote la Israeli? Hakuwa yeye peke yake aliyekufa kwa ajili ya dhambi yake.’”
21 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
Ndipo Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase walipowajibu viongozi wa koo za Israeli, wakisema:
22 The God of gods, Jehovah, the God of gods, Jehovah, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know [it]; if it is in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah, — save us not this day!
“Yeye Mwenye Nguvu, Mungu, Bwana! Yeye Mwenye Nguvu, Mungu, Bwana! Yeye anajua! Israeli na wajue! Kama huu umekuwa ni uasi au kukosa utii kwa Bwana, msituache hai siku hii ya leo.
23 — that we have built for ourselves an altar to turn from following Jehovah, and if it is to offer up burnt-offering and oblation on it, and if to offer peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it [from us];
Kama tumejijengea madhabahu yetu wenyewe ili kumwacha Bwana na kutoa sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za nafaka, au kutoa sadaka za amani juu yake, Bwana mwenyewe na atupatilize leo.
24 and if we have not done it from fear of this thing, saying, In future your children will speak to our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah the God of Israel?
“Sivyo! Tulifanya hivyo kwa hofu kwamba siku zijazo wazao wenu wanaweza wakawaambia wazao wetu, ‘Mna uhusiano gani na Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli?
25 Jehovah hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad, ye have no portion in Jehovah! And so shall your children make our children cease from fearing Jehovah.
Bwana ameifanya Yordani kuwa mpaka kati yetu na ninyi, ninyi Wareubeni na Wagadi! Hamna fungu kwa Bwana.’ Kwa hiyo wazao wenu wanaweza wakawasababisha wazao wetu wakaacha kumcha Bwana.
26 And we said, Let us now set to work to build an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice,
“Hii ndiyo sababu tulisema, ‘Tujiweke tayari na tujenge madhabahu, lakini si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa au dhabihu.’
27 but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we might do service to Jehovah before him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in future, Ye have no portion in Jehovah.
Badala yake, itakuwa ni ushahidi kati yetu na ninyi na vizazi vijavyo, kwamba tutamwabudu Bwana katika mahali patakatifu pake pamoja na sadaka zetu za kuteketezwa, dhabihu na sadaka za amani. Ndipo katika siku zijazo, wazao wenu hawataweza kuwaambia wazao wetu, ‘Ninyi hamna fungu katika Bwana.’
28 And we said, If it shall be that in future they so say to us and to our generations, we will say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you.
“Nasi tulisema, ‘Ikiwa wakati wowote watatuambia hilo, au kuwaambia uzao wetu, tutawajibu hivi: Angalieni nakala hii ya madhabahu ya Bwana, ambayo baba zetu waliijenga, si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa na dhabihu, bali kama ushahidi kati yetu na ninyi.’
29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against Jehovah, and turn this day from following Jehovah, in building an altar for burnt-offering, for oblation, and for sacrifice, besides the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle.
“Hili jambo la kumwasi Bwana na kumwacha siku hii ya leo kwa kujenga madhabahu kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, sadaka za nafaka na dhabihu, zaidi ya madhabahu ya Bwana Mungu wetu iliyo mbele ya maskani yake na liwe mbali nasi.”
30 And when Phinehas the priest and the princes of the assembly and the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their sight.
Wakati kuhani Finehasi na viongozi wa kusanyiko na wakuu wa koo za Israeli, waliposikia hayo waliyosema Wareubeni, Wagadi na Manase, wakaridhika.
31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that Jehovah is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against Jehovah: now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.
Naye Finehasi mwana wa kuhani Eleazari, akawaambia Wareubeni, Wagadi na Manase, “Leo tunajua kwamba Bwana yuko pamoja nasi, kwa sababu hamkukosa uaminifu kwa Bwana katika jambo hili. Sasa mmewaokoa Waisraeli na mkono wa Bwana.”
32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
Ndipo Finehasi, mwana wa kuhani Eleazari na viongozi wakarudi Kanaani kutoka kwenye kukutana kwao na Wareubeni na Wagadi huko Gileadi nao wakatoa taarifa kwa Waisraeli.
33 And the thing was good in the sight of the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God, and no more said that they would go up in warfare against them, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt.
Walifurahi kusikia taarifa hiyo, na wakamhimidi Mungu. Wala hawakuzungumza tena habari za kupigana vita dhidi yao ili kuharibu nchi ambayo Wareubeni na Wagadi waliishi.
34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad gave a name to the altar; for it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.
Nao Wareubeni na Wagadi wakayaita yale madhabahu Edi, yaani Shahidi: kwa kuwa itakuwa shahidi kati yetu na ninyi kwamba Bwana ndiye Mungu.

< Joshua 22 >