< 1 Kings 20 >

1 Ben-hadad, king of Aram, called up his entire army. Together with thirty-two kings and their assembled horses and chariots, he marched to besiege Samaria, to fight against it.
Awo Benikadadi kabaka w’e Busuuli n’akuŋŋaanya eggye lye lyonna wamu ne bakabaka amakumi asatu mu babiri n’embalaasi n’amagaali gaabwe, bonna ne bambuka okuzingiza Samaliya n’okulwana nakyo.
2 He sent messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, in the city to tell him, “This is what Ben-hadad says:
N’atuma ababaka mu kibuga eri Akabu kabaka wa Isirayiri ng’agamba nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Benikadadi nti,
3 Your silver and gold belong to me now, and your best wives and children also belong to me!”
‘Effeeza yo ne zaabu yo byange ate era ne bakyala bo abasinga obulungi n’abaana bo nabo bange.’”
4 “It's as you say, my lord the king,” the king of Israel replied. “I am yours, as well as everything that belongs to me.”
Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’addamu nti, “Nga bw’ogambye, mukama wange kabaka, nze ne bye nnina byonna bibyo.”
5 The messengers returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: I have sent you a message demanding you give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.
Ababaka ne baddayo ewa Akabu nate ne bamugamba nti, “Kino Benikadadi ky’agamba nti, ‘Natuma nga njagala ffeeza yo ne zaabu yo, n’abakyala bo n’abaana bo.
6 But around this time tomorrow I'm going to send my men to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take and carry away everything you see as valuable.”
Naye olunaku lw’enkya essaawa nga zino nzija kuweereza abakungu bange banoonyeemu mu lubiri lwo ne mu nnyumba z’abakungu bo, era bajja kutwala ebibyo byonna eby’omuwendo.’”
7 The king of Israel called all the elders of the land and told them, “Look how this man is trying to cause trouble! When he demanded my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I didn't say no.”
Awo kabaka wa Isirayiri n’ayita abakadde bonna ab’ensi, n’abagamba nti, “Mulabe omusajja ono bw’anoonya emitawaana! Bwe yatumya bakyala bange n’abaana bange wamu ne ffeeza yange ne zaabu yange, sabimumma.”
8 All the elders and all the people present responded, “Don't listen to him. Don't agree to his demands.”
Abakadde n’abantu bonna ne bamuddamu nti, “Tomuwuliriza wadde okukkiriziganya naye.”
9 So the king told Ben-hadad's messengers, “Tell my lord the king: Everything you demanded at first your servant will do, but I cannot agree to this latest demand.” The messengers took the reply back to him.
Awo kabaka n’addamu ababaka ba Benikadadi nti, “Mutegeeze mukama wange kabaka nti, ‘Omuddu wo nzija kukola byonna bye walagidde ku ntandikwa, naye kino eky’oluvannyuma siyinza kukikola.’”
10 Ben-hadad responded to him, “May the gods do as much to me and more if there remains enough dust in Samaria to give my subjects a handful each!”
Awo Benikadadi n’aweereza obubaka obulala eri Akabu nti, “Bakatonda bankole bwe batyo n’okukirawo, enfuufu ya Samaliya bwe teebune mu bibatu by’abasajja bonna abangoberera.”
11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him this: A man putting on his armor should not brag like one who is taking it off.”
Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Mumugambe nti, ‘Eyeesiba ebyokulwanyisa aleme okwenyumiriza ng’oyo abyesumulula.’”
12 Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents. He immediately gave the order to his officers, “Get ready to attack!” So they prepared to attack the city.
Benikadadi bwe yawulira obubaka obwo, ng’ali mu kutamiira ne bakabaka abalala mu weema zaabwe, n’alagira abasajja be nti, “Mweteeketeeke okulumba.” Ne beeteekateeka okulumba ekibuga.
13 At the same time a prophet came up to Ahab, king of Israel, and told him, “This is what the Lord says: You see this massive army? Just watch, because I will make you victorious today, and you will be convinced that I am the Lord.”
Mu kiseera ekyo ne wabaawo nnabbi eyajja eri Akabu kabaka wa Isirayiri n’alangirira nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Olaba eggye lino eddene? Nzija kulikuwa mu mukono gwo leero, otegeere nga nze Mukama.’”
14 “But who's going to do this?” Ahab asked. The prophet answered, “This is what the Lord says: It will be the young officers under the district commanders.” “And who's going to start the battle?” he asked. The prophet replied, “You are!”
Akabu n’abuuza nti, “Anakikola atya?” Nnabbi n’addamu nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Abavubuka bo ab’abaduumizi b’amasaza, bajja kukubeera.’” Akabu ne yeeyongera okubuuza nti, “Ani anasooka okulumba?” Nnabbi n’addamu nti, “Ggwe.”
15 So Ahab called up the 232 young officers of the district commanders, and assembled the 7,000 soldiers that made up Israel's army.
Awo Akabu n’ayita abavubuka ab’abaduumizi b’amasaza, ne bawera ebikumi bibiri mu asatu mu babiri. Era n’akuŋŋaanya ne Isirayiri yenna, bonna awamu ne baba kasanvu.
16 They left at noon while Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kings with him were busy getting drunk in their tents.
Ne batabaala mu ttuntu nga Benikadadi ne bakabaka amakumi asatu mu ababiri be yali alagaanye nabo bali mu kutamiira.
17 The young officers of the district commanders took the lead. The scouts Ben-hadad had sent out came and reported to him, “Enemy soldiers are advancing from Samaria.”
Abavubuka b’abaduumizi b’amasaza be baasooka okulumba. Naye Benikadadi yali atumye ababaka okuketta, ne bamutegeeza nti, “Waliwo abasajja abajja nga bava Samaliya.”
18 “If they're coming in peace, take them alive,” he ordered. “If they're coming to attack, take them alive.”
N’ayogera nti, “Bwe baba bazze na mirembe, mubawambe, ne bwe baba nga baze ku lutalo, era mubawambe.”
19 The young officers of the district commanders advanced from the city, followed by the army.
Abavubuka b’abaduumizi b’amasaza ne bafuluma ne balumba okuva mu kibuga, nga n’eggye libagoberera.
20 Each man killed his opponent, and the Arameans ran away. The Israelites chased them, but Ben-hadad, king of Aram, escaped on horseback with his cavalry.
Buli omu ku bo n’atta gwe yayolekera. Abasuuli ne badduka, nga n’Abayisirayiri bwe babagoba, naye Benikadadi kabaka w’e Busuuli n’awonera ku mbalaasi n’abamu ku basajjabe abeebagala embalaasi.
21 Then the king of Israel came out and attacked the horses and chariots. He inflicted a great defeat on the Arameans.
Awo kabaka wa Isirayiri n’abagobera ddala era n’awamba embalaasi n’amagaali, era Abasuuli bangi ne bafa.
22 Later on the prophet came to the king of Israel and told him, “Go and reinforce your defenses, and check what you need to do, because in the spring the king of Aram will come and attack you again.”
Awo ebyo nga biwedde, nnabbi n’agenda eri kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amugamba nti, “Weenyweze, olabe ekiteekwa okukolebwa, kubanga omwaka ogunaddirira kabaka w’e Busuuli ajja kukulumba nate.”
23 In the meantime the king of Aram's officers told him, “Their gods are gods of the mountains. That's why they could defeat us. But if we fight them in the lowlands, we can beat them.
Mu kiseera ekyo, abakungu ba kabaka w’e Busuuli ne bamuwa amagezi nti, “Bakatonda b’Abayisirayiri bakatonda ba nsozi, era kyebavudde batusinza amaanyi. Naye bwe tunaabalwanyisizza mu lusenyi, mazima ddala tunaabasinza amaanyi.
24 You should do this: remove each of the kings from their positions and replace them with commanders.
Kola bw’oti, ggyawo bakabaka bonna mu bifo byabwe eby’okuduumira, osseewo abaduumizi abalala.
25 You also have to raise another army to replace the one you lost—horse for horse, chariot for chariot. Then we can fight them in the lowlands and we will definitely beat them.” Ben-hadad listened to their advice and did as they said.
Oteekwa okufuna eggye ery’enkana liri lye wafiirwa, embalaasi edde mu kifo ky’embalaasi, n’eggaali mu kifo ky’eggaali, tulyoke tulwane nabo mu lusenyi, olwo tunaabasinzizza ddala amaanyi.” N’abawuliriza era n’akola bw’atyo.
26 When spring came Ben-hadad called up the Aramean army and went to attack Israel at Aphek.
Omwaka ogwaddirira Benikadadi n’akuŋŋaanya Abasuuli, n’ayambuka mu Afeki okulwana ne Isirayiri.
27 The Israelite army was also called up and provided with supplies. They went to confront the Arameans. But when the Israelites set up their camp opposite the enemy they looked like couple of flocks of goats in comparison with the Aramean army that filled the whole land.
Awo abantu ba Isirayiri nabo ne bakuŋŋaana ne baweebwa entanda yaabwe, ne bagenda okubasisinkana. Abayisirayiri ne basiisira okuboolekera ne bafaanana ng’ebisibo bibiri ebitono eby’embuzi, naye Abasuuli ne babuna ensi yonna.
28 Then the man of God came to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: Because the Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is only a god of the mountains and not of the valleys,’ I will make you victorious over the whole of this massive army. Then you will be convinced that I am the Lord.”
Awo omusajja wa Katonda n’asembera, n’agamba kabaka wa Isirayiri nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Olw’okuba Abasuuli balowooza nga Mukama Katonda wa ku nsozi so si Katonda wa mu biwonvu, ndigabula eggye lino eddene mu mukono gwo, otegeere nga nze Mukama.’”
29 The armies camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle took place. The Israelites killed 100,000 of the Aramean infantry in one day.
Ne basiisira nga boolekaganye okumala ennaku musanvu, ku lunaku olw’omusanvu ne balumbagana. Abayisirayiri ne batta abaserikale ab’ebigere Abasuuli emitwalo kkumi mu lunaku lumu.
30 The rest ran away to the town of Aphek, where a wall collapsed on 27,000 of those that remained. Ben-hadad also ran to the town and hid in an inside room.
Abalala ne baddukira mu kibuga Afeki, era eyo bbugwe w’ekibuga ekyo gye yagwira ku bantu emitwalo musanvu ku baali bawonyeewo. Benikadadi naye nadduka ne yeekweka mu kibuga mu kimu ku bisenge eby’omunda.
31 Ben-hadad's officers said to him, “Look, we've heard that the Israelite kings are merciful. Let's surrender to the king of Israel, wearing sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads. Maybe he will let you live.”
Abakungu be ne bamugamba nti, “Laba, tuwulidde nti bakabaka b’ennyumba ya Isirayiri, ba kisa, twesibe ebibukutu mu biwato byaffe, tuzingirire emige ku mitwe gyaffe tugende ewa kabaka wa Isirayiri, oboolyawo anaakusaasira.”
32 So wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads, they went and surrendered to the king of Israel, and told him, “Your servant Ben-hadad asks, ‘Please let me live.’” The king replied “Is he still alive? I think of him as my brother.”
Ne beesiba ebibukutu mu biwato byabwe, ne bazingirira emige ku mitwe gyabwe, ne balaga ewa kabaka wa Isirayiri, ne bamugamba nti, “Omuddu wo Benikadadi agamba nti, ‘Nkwegayiridde tonzita.’” Kabaka n’ababuuza nti, “Akyali mulamu? Oyo muganda wange.”
33 The men thought this was a good sign and they immediately took the king at his word, saying, “Yes, Ben-hahad is your brother.” “Go and fetch him!” said the king. So Ben-hadad came out of hiding and surrendered to Ahab, who pulled him up into his chariot.
Abasajja ne balowooza nti ako kabonero kalungi, era ne banguwa okwogera nti, “Weewaawo, muganda wo Benikadadi.” Kabaka n’ayogera nti, “Mugende mumuleete.” Benikadadi bwe yavaayo, Akabu n’amuleetera mu gaali lye.
34 Ben-hadad said to him, “I will return the towns my father took from your father, and you can organize your own places for trade in Damascus, like my father did in Samaria.” “By making this agreement I set you free,” Ahab replied. He made a treaty with Ben-hadad and let him go.
Awo Benikadadi n’agamba nti, “Ndikuddiza ebibuga kitange bye yawamba ku kitaawo, era olyessizaawo obutale obubwo ggwe mu Ddamasiko, nga kitange bwe yakola mu Samaliya.” Akabu n’addamu nti, “Nzija kukuleka ogende nga tukoze endagaano.” Era ne bakola endagaano, n’amuleka n’agenda.
35 Following a message he received from the Lord, one of the sons of the prophets said to his colleague, “Please hit me.” But the man refused to hit him.
Omu ku batabani ba bannabbi n’agamba munne nti, “Katonda alagidde onfumite n’ekyokulwanyisa kyo,” naye munne oyo n’agaana.
36 So the prophet told him, “Since you have not done what the Lord said, once you leave me a lion is going to kill you.” When the man left, a lion came and killed him.
Mutabani wa nnabbi n’ayogera nti, “Olw’obutagondera ddoboozi lya Mukama, bw’onooba wakava wano, empologoma eneekutta.” Awo bwe baali kyebajje baawukane, n’asanga empologoma era n’emutta.
37 The prophet found another man and said, “Please hit me!” So the man hit him, wounding him.
Mutabani wa nnabbi n’asanga omusajja omulala, n’amugamba nti, “Nfumita, nkwegayiridde.” Omusajja n’amufumita n’amuleetako ekiwundu.
38 Then the prophet went and stood beside the road, waiting for the king. He had disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.
Awo n’agenda n’alindirira kabaka mu kkubo, ne yeebuzaabuza ng’abisse ekiremba kye ku maaso ge.
39 As the king was passing by, he shouted out to the king: “Your servant had gone out fighting right in the middle of the battle, when all of a sudden a man came over with a prisoner and told me, ‘Guard this man! If for any reason he escapes, you will pay for his life with your life, or you will be fined a talent of silver.’
Kabaka bwe yali ng’ayitawo, mutabani wa nnabbi n’amukoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Omuddu wo yagenze wakati mu lutalo, ne wabaawo omuserikale eyandetedde omusibe n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Kuuma omusajja ono. Bw’anaabula ggw’onottibwa mu kifo kye, oba si kyo oteekwa okusasula kilo amakumi asatu mu nnya eza ffeeza.’
40 But while your servant was busy with other things, the man got away.” “So that will be your punishment then,” the king of Israel told him. “You have sentenced yourself.”
Omuddu wo bwe yali ng’atawaana erudda n’erudda, laba omusajja n’abula.” Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Ogwo musango gwo, era ogwesalidde.”
41 Then the prophet quickly took off the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets.
Awo mutabani wa nnabbi n’ayanguwa, okuggya ekiremba ku maaso ge, kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amutegeera nga y’omu ku bannabbi.
42 He told the king, “This is what the Lord says: You have let go a man I had decided should die. Therefore you will pay for his life with your life, your people for his people.”
N’agamba kabaka nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Otadde omusajja gwe namaliridde okutta. Noolwekyo ggw’ojja okufa mu kifo kye, n’abantu bo bafe mu kifo ky’abantu be.’”
43 The king of Israel went home to Samaria, sulking and infuriated.
Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’alaga mu lubiri lwe e Samaliya ng’aswakidde era nga munyiivu.

< 1 Kings 20 >