< Nehemiah 6 >

1 And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, )
Habari zilipofika kwa Sanbalati, Tobia, Geshemu Mwarabu, na adui zetu wengine kwamba nimejenga tena ukuta na hakuna nafasi iliyobakia ndani mwake, ingawa mpaka wakati huo sikuwa nimeweka milango kwenye malango,
2 Sanaballat and Gossem Rent to me, saying: Come, and let us make a league together in the villages, in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Sanbalati na Geshemu wakanitumia ujumbe huu: “Njoo, tukutane katika mojawapo ya vijiji katika nchi tambarare ya Ono.” Lakini walikuwa wakikusudia kunidhuru.
3 And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come, and go down to you.
Kwa hiyo niliwatuma wajumbe kwao na majibu haya: “Kazi ninayoifanya ni kubwa sana, siwezi kuja. Kwa nini niiache kazi isimame nije kwenu?”
4 And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I answered them after the same manner.
Mara nne walinitumia ujumbe wa namna iyo hiyo, na kila mara niliwapa jibu lile lile.
5 And Sanaballat sent his servant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this manner:
Basi, mara ya tano, Sanbalati akamtuma msaidizi wake kwangu akiwa na ujumbe wa aina ile ile, naye alikuwa amechukua mkononi mwake barua isiyofungwa,
6 It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore thou buildest the wall, and hast a mind to set thyself king over them: for which end
iliyokuwa imeandikwa: “Habari imeenezwa miongoni mwa mataifa, naye Geshemu anasema kwamba ni kweli, kuwa wewe na Wayahudi mnafanya hila ya kuasi, ndiyo sababu mnajenga ukuta. Zaidi ya hayo, kufuatana na taarifa hizi, karibuni utakuwa mfalme wao,
7 Thou hast also set up prophets, to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things: therefore come now, that we may take counsel together.
na hata umewateua manabii wafanye tangazo hili kukuhusu wewe huko Yerusalemu: ‘Yuko mfalme katika Yuda!’ Sasa taarifa hii itarudishwa kwa mfalme. Basi njoo, tufanye shauri pamoja.”
8 And I sent to them, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart.
Nilimpelekea jibu hili: “Hakuna jambo kama hilo unalosema linalofanyika. Unalitunga tu kwenye kichwa chako.”
9 For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more:
Wote walikuwa wakijaribu kutuogopesha, wakifikiri hivi: “Mikono ya watu italegea kiasi kwamba hawataweza kufanya kazi, nayo haitakamilika.” Lakini niliomba, “Ee Mungu, sasa nitie mikono yangu nguvu.”
10 And I went into the house of Samaia the son of Delaia, the son of Metabeel privately. And he said: Let us consult together in the house of God in the midst of the temple: and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to kill thee, and in the night they will come to slay thee.
Siku moja nilikwenda nyumbani kwa Shemaya mwana wa Delaya, mwana wa Mehetabeli, ambaye alikuwa amefungwa ndani ya nyumba yake. Akasema, “Tukutane katika nyumba ya Mungu, ndani ya Hekalu, na tufunge milango ya Hekalu, kwa sababu watu wanakuja kukuua. Naam, wanakuja usiku kukuua.”
11 And I said: Should such a man as I Bee? and who is there that being as I am, would go into the temple, to save his life? I will not go in.
Lakini nikasema, “Je, mtu kama mimi akimbie? Au mtu kama mimi aende Hekaluni kuokoa maisha yake? Sitakwenda!”
12 And I understood that God had not sent him, but that he had spoken to me as if he had been prophesying, and Tobias, and Sanaballat had hired him.
Nilitambua kwamba Mungu hakumtuma, bali alitabiri dhidi yangu kwa sababu Tobia na Sanbalati walikuwa wamemwajiri.
13 For he had taken money, that I being afraid should do this thing, and sin, and they might have some evil to upbraid me withal.
Alikuwa ameajiriwa kunitisha ili kwa kufanya jambo hili nitende dhambi, kisha waweze kuniharibia jina langu na kuniaibisha.
14 Remember me, O Lord, for Tobias and Sanaballat, according to their works of this kind: and Noadias the prophet, and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.
Ee Mungu wangu, wakumbuke Tobia na Sanbalati kwa sababu ya yale waliyotenda. Pia kumbuka nabii mke Noadia na manabii wengine ambao wamekuwa wakijaribu kunitisha.
15 But the wall was finished the five and twentieth day of the month of Elul, in two and fifty days.
Basi ukuta ukakamilika siku ya ishirini na tano mwezi wa Eluli, kazi ambayo ilichukua siku hamsini na mbili.
16 And it came to pass when all our enemies heard of it, that all nations which were round about us, were afraid, and were cast down within themselves, for they perceived that this work was the work of God.
Adui zetu wote waliposikia kuhusu hili, mataifa yote yaliyotuzunguka yakaogopa na kupoteza ujasiri, kwa sababu yalitambua kuwa kazi hii imefanyika kwa msaada wa Mungu wetu.
17 Moreover in those days many letters were sent by the principal men of the Jews to Tobias, and from Tobias there came letters to them.
Pia katika siku hizo wakuu wa Yuda walikuwa wakituma barua nyingi kwa Tobia, nayo majibu yaliyotoka kwa Tobia yaliendelea kuwajia.
18 For there were many in Judea sworn to him, because he was the son in law of Sechenias the son of Area, and Johanan his son had taken to wife the daughter of Mosollam the son of Barachias.
Kwa kuwa watu wengi katika Yuda walikuwa wamemwapia Tobia, kwani alikuwa mkwewe Shekania mwana wa Ara, na Yehohanani mwanawe alikuwa amemwoa binti wa Meshulamu mwana wa Berekia.
19 And they praised him also before me, and they related my words to him: And Tobias sent letters to put me in fear.
Zaidi ya hayo, walikuwa wakiniarifu jinsi Tobia alivyo mtu mwema, nao walimwambia kila kitu nilichosema. Naye Tobia alituma barua za kunitisha.

< Nehemiah 6 >