< Numbers 24 >
1 And Balaam saw that it was good in the sight of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Basi Balaamu alipoona imempendeza Bwana kubariki Israeli, hakuendelea tena kutafuta uchawi kama nyakati nyingine, bali aligeuza uso wake kuelekea nyikani.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling [in tents] according to his tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Balaamu alipotazama nje na kuona Israeli amepiga kambi kabila kwa kabila, Roho wa Mungu akawa juu yake,
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,
naye akatoa ujumbe wake: “Ujumbe wa Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ujumbe wake yeye ambaye jicho lake linaona vizuri;
4 He saith, who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:
ujumbe wake yeye ambaye husikia maneno ya Mungu, ambaye huona maono kutoka kwa Mwenyezi, ambaye huanguka kifudifudi, na ambaye macho yake yamefunguka:
5 How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel!
“Tazama jinsi yalivyo mazuri mahema yako, ee Yakobo, maskani yako, ee Israeli!
6 Like valleys are they spread forth, like gardens by the river side, Like aloe-trees which Jehovah hath planted, like cedars beside the waters.
“Kama mabonde, yanaenea, kama bustani kando ya mto, kama miti ya udi iliyopandwa na Bwana, kama mierezi kando ya maji.
7 Water shall flow out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in great waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
Maji yatatiririka kutoka ndoo zake; mbegu yake itakuwa na maji tele. “Mfalme wake atakuwa mkuu kuliko Mfalme Agagi; ufalme wake utatukuka.
8 God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite [them] in pieces.
“Mungu alimleta kutoka Misri; yeye ana nguvu kama nyati. Anayararua mataifa yaliyo adui zake, na kuvunja mifupa yao vipande vipande; huwachoma kwa mishale yake.
9 He stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Hujikunyata na kuvizia kama simba, kama simba jike; nani anayethubutu kumwamsha? “Abarikiwe kila akubarikiye, na alaaniwe kila akulaaniye!”
10 Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times!
Ndipo hasira ya Balaki ikawaka dhidi ya Balaamu. Akapiga mikono yake pamoja, akamwambia Balaamu, “Nilikuita uje kuwalaani adui zangu, lakini umewabariki mara hizi tatu.
11 And now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.
Sasa ondoka upesi uende nyumbani! Mimi nilisema nitakuzawadia vizuri sana, lakini Bwana amekuzuia usizawadiwe.”
12 And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers whom thou sentest to me, saying,
Balaamu akamwambia Balaki, “Je, hukumbuki jinsi nilivyowaambia wajumbe uliowatuma kwangu? Niliwaambia hivi,
13 If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah to do good or bad out of my heart: what Jehovah shall say, that will I speak?
‘Hata ikiwa Balaki angenipa jumba lake la kifalme likiwa limejazwa fedha na dhahabu, nisingeweza kufanya kitu chochote kwa matakwa yangu, kikiwa kizuri au kibaya, kwenda kinyume na agizo la Bwana, nami imenipasa kusema tu kile Bwana atakachosema’?
14 And now behold, I go to my people: come, I will admonish thee what this people will do to thy people at the end of days.
Sasa ninarudi kwa watu wangu. Lakini njoo, nikuonye kuhusu kile watu hawa watakachowatenda watu wako siku zijazo.”
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,
Kisha Balaamu akatoa ujumbe wake: “Ujumbe wa Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ujumbe wake yeye ambaye jicho lake linaona vizuri;
16 He saith, who heareth the words of God, who knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:
ujumbe wake yeye ambaye husikia maneno ya Mungu, ambaye ana maarifa kutoka kwa Aliye Juu Sana, huona maono kutoka Mwenyezi, ambaye huanguka kifudifudi na ambaye macho yake yamefunguka:
17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.
“Namwona yeye, lakini si sasa; namtazama yeye, lakini si karibu. Nyota itatoka kwa Yakobo, fimbo ya ufalme itainuka kutoka kwa Israeli. Atawaponda Wamoabu vipaji vya nyuso na mafuvu yote ya wana wa Shethi.
18 And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, — they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.
Edomu itamilikiwa, Seiri, adui wake, itamilikiwa, lakini Israeli atakuwa na nguvu.
19 And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.
Mtawala atakuja kutoka kwa Yakobo na kuangamiza walionusurika katika mji.”
20 And he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.
Kisha Balaamu akawaona watu wa Amaleki, na kutoa ujumbe wake: “Amaleki ilikuwa ya kwanza miongoni mwa mataifa, lakini mwisho wake itaangamizwa milele.”
21 And he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed in the rock;
Kisha akawaona Wakeni, akatoa ujumbe wake: “Makao yenu ni salama, kiota chenu kiko kwenye mwamba.
22 But the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
Hata hivyo ninyi Wakeni mtaangamizwa Ashuru atakapowachukua mateka.”
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?
Ndipo akatoa ujumbe wake: “Lo, ni nani atakayeweza kuishi wakati Mungu atakapofanya hili?
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber, and he also shall be for destruction.
Meli zitakuja kutoka pwani za Kitimu, zitaitiisha Ashuru na Eberi, lakini nao pia wataangamizwa.”
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Kisha Balaamu akainuka na kurudi nyumbani kwake, naye Balaki akashika njia yake.