Joshua 23
1 And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued, and Josue being now old, and far advanced in years:
Na baada ya siku nyingi, kipindi ambacho Yahweh alikuwa ameipa Israeli pumziko kutoka maadui zao waliowazunguka,
2 Josue called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for the princes, and for the judges, and for the masters, and said to them: I am old, and far 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 And you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath 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 And now since he hath divided to you by lot all the land, from the east of the Jordan unto the great sea, and many nations yet remain:
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 destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you.
Yahweh Mungu wenu atayaondoa. Atayafukuzia mbali kutoka kwenu. Ataiteka nchi yao, nanyi mtaimiliki nchi yao, kama vile Yahweh Mungu wenu alivyowaahidi ninyi.
6 Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor 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 Lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore 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 cleave ye unto the Lord your God: as you have done until this day.
Badala yake, mnatakiwa kumshika sana Yahweh Mungu wenu kama vile mlivyofanya siku hii ya leo.
9 And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and very strong, and no man shall be able to resist you.
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 of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised.
Mtu yeyote mmoja wa kwenu atawafanya watu elfu wakimbie mbali, kwa kuwa Yahweh Mungu wenu, ndiye anayepigania ninyi, kama vile alivyowaahidi.
11 This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God.
Zingatieni kwa uangalifu ili mmpende Yahweh Mungu wenu.
12 But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships:
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 ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumblingblock at your side, and stakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath 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 this day I am going into the way of all the earth, and you shall know with all your mind that of all the words which the Lord promised to perform for you, not one hath failed.
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 Therefore as he hath fulfilled in deed, what he promised, and all things prosperous have come: so Will he bring upon you all the evils he hath threatened, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath 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 shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he hath made with you, and shall have served strange gods, and adored them: then shall the indignation of the Lord rise up quickly and speedily against you, and you shall be taken away from this excellent land, which he hath delivered 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.”
