Joshua 9
1 All the kings west of the Jordan heard what had happened. These included the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who lived in the hill country, the lowlands, and along the coast as far as Lebanon.
Kisha wafalme wote walioishi ng'ambo ya mto Yordani katika nchi ya milima, na katika nchi za chini katika pwani za Bahari Kuu mbele ya Lebanoni - Wahiti, Waamori, Wakanaani, Waperizi, Wahivi na Wayebusi -
2 So they gathered to fight together as a united army against Joshua and the Israelites.
hawa waliungana pamoja chini ya amri moja kuinua vita dhidi ya Yoshua na Israeli.
3 But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
Waliposikia wenyeji wa Gibeoni juu ya mambo aliyoyafanya Yoshua katika Yeriko na Ai,
4 they decided on a cunning plan. They sent messengers to Joshua, their donkeys wearing worn-out saddles and carrying old wineskins that were torn and patched.
walipanga mpango wa udanganyifu. Walienda kama wajumbe. Walichukua magunia yaliyochakaa na kuyaweka juu ya punda. Walichukua pia viriba vilivyochakaa na kuchanika chanika na vilivyozibwa zibwa.
5 They put on worn sandals that had been mended and wore old clothes. All their bread was dry and moldy.
Walivaa miguuni mwao viatu vilivyozeeka na kutoboka toboka, na walivaa nguo kuukuu, zilichanika chanika. Na mikate yote katika chombo ilikuwa mikavu na yenye uvundo.
6 They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and told him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a land far away, so please make a treaty with us.”
Kisha wakamwendea Yoshua katika kambi huko Giligali na wakamwambia yeye pamoja wa watu wa Israeli wakisema, “
7 But the Israelites said to the Hivites, “Maybe you live close by. If you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”
Tumesafiri kutoka nchi ya mbali, basi fanyeni agano nasi.” Watu wa Israeli wakawaamba Wahivi, “Huenda mnaishi karibu nasi. Twawezeje kufanya agano nanyi?”
8 “We are your servants,” they replied. “But who are you? Where do you come from?” Joshua asked.
Wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sisi ni watumishi wako.”Yoshua akawauliza, “Ninyi ni akina nani? Mnatokea wapi?
9 “Your servants have come from a land far away,” they replied. “For we have heard of the reputation of the Lord your God, and reports of all that he did in Egypt,
Wakamwambia, “Watumishi wako wamekuja hapa kutokea nchi ya mbali, kwasababu ya jina la Yahweh Mungu wako. Tumesikia habari kumhusu na kuhusu kila kitu alichokifanya Misri -
10 and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth.
na kila kitu alichokifanya kwa wafalme wawili wa Waamori katika upande mwingine wa Yordani - kwa mfalme Sihoni wa Heshiboni, na kwa Ogu wa Bashani aliyekuwa katika Ashitarothi.
11 So our leaders and everyone who lives in our land told us: Take what you need with you for the journey. Go and meet with them, and tell them, ‘We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’
Wazee wetu na wenyeji wote wa nchi yetu walituambia,” Chukueni chakula mikononi mwenu kwa ajili ya safari. Nendeni mkakutane nao, na kisha muwambie, “Sisi ni watumishi wenu. Fanyeni agano pamoja nasi.”
12 Look at this bread. It was warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come here. But now it's dry and moldy, as you can see.
Huu ni mkate wetu, ulikuwa wa moto tulipouchukua kutoka katika nyumba zetu katika siku ile tulipotoka kuja kwenu. Lakini sasa, tazama, imekuwa kavu na yenye ukungu.
13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look at them now—they're split and damaged. These clothes of ours and our sandals are all worn out because the journey took so long.”
Viriba hivi vilikuwa vipya tulipovijaza, na tazama, sasa vinavuja. Nguo zetu na viatu vyetu vimechakaa na kuwa vikuukuu kwasababu ya safari ndefu.”
14 The Israelites tried some of the food. However, they did not consult the Lord.
kwahiyo, Waisraeli wakatwaa sehemu ya vyakula vyao, lakini walifanya hivyo bila ya kumwuliza Yahweh ili awaongoze.
15 Then Joshua made a treaty with them, promising to spare their lives, and the leaders of the assembly swore an oath to guarantee it.
Yoshua akafanya amani pamoja nao na kufanya agano pamoja nao ili waishi. Viongozi wa watu nao pia wakawaapia.
16 Three days after they had made the treaty, the Israelites learned that the Gibeonites lived nearby, right among them!
Siku tatu baada ya Waisraeli kufanya agano pamoja nao, waligundua kuwa walikuwa ni majirani zao na ya kwamba waliishi karibu nao.
17 The Israelites left to go to the Gibeonite towns, and arrived there on the third day. The towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.
Kisha watu wa Israeli walisafiri na kufika katika miji yao katika siku ya tatu. Miji yao ilikuwa Gibeoni, Kefira, Beerothi, na Kiriathi Yearimu.
18 But the Israelites did not attack them because of the treaty sworn by the leaders of the assembly in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. At this all the Israelites protested against the leaders.
Watu wa Israeli wahakushambulia kwasababu viongozi wao walikuwa wamewaapia mbele za Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli. Waisraeli wote walikuwa wananung'unika kinyume na viongozi wao.
19 But the leaders replied to the people, “We swore to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, so we cannot lay a hand on them now.
Lakini viongozi wote waliawaambia watu wote wa Israeli, “Tumeapa kwa Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli kwa ajili yao, na sasa hatuwezi kuwadhuru.
20 So this is what we're going to do to them. We'll let them live, so that we won't be punished for breaking the oath that we swore to them.”
Hiki ndicho tutakachowafanyia: Tutawaacha waishi ili tuepuke ghadhabu ambayo yaweza kuja juu yetu kwasababu ya kiapo tulichowaapia.”
21 The leaders concluded, “Let them live.” So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water-carriers in service to the entire assembly, as the Israelite leaders had ordered.
Viongozi wakawaambia watu, “Waacheni waishi.” Hivyo Wagibeoni wakawa wakata kuni na wachota maji wa Waisraeli wote, kama vile viongozi walivyosema juu yao.
22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them, “Why did you trick us? You told us, ‘We live a long way from you,’ but you live right next door to us!
Yoshua aliwaita na kuwaambia, “Kwanini mlitudanya wakati mliposema, “Tuko mbali sana nanyi' wakati mnaishi hapa hapa miongoni mwetu?
23 Consequently you are under a curse. From now on you shall forever be servants, woodcutters and water-carriers for the house of my God.”
Na kwasababu hii, mmelaaniwa na baadhi yenu mtakuwa watumwa siku zote, wenye kukata kuni na kuchota maji kwa ajli ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu.”
24 They answered Joshua, “We your servants were told very clearly that the Lord your God had ordered Moses to give you all this land, and that all its inhabitants were to be wiped out before you. So we really feared for our lives because of you. That's why we did what we did.
Walimjibu Yoshua na kusema, “Ni kwasababu watumishi wako waliambiwa kwamba Yahweh Mungu wenu alimwagiza Musa mtumishi wake kuwapa ninyi nchi yote, na kuwateteza wenyeji wote wa nchi mbele yenu - hivyo tuliogopa kwasababu yenu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu. Ndio maana tulifanya jambo hili.
25 Now we're in your hands. Do to us what you think is right and just.”
Tazama sasa, mnatumiliki chini ya utawala wenu. Chochote kilichochema na haki kwenu kutufanyia, fanyeni.”
26 Joshua did as he had said. He saved them from the Israelites, so that they did not kill them.
Basi Yoshua aliwafanyia hivi: aliwaondoa katika mamlaka ya watu wa Israeli, na Waisraeli hawakuwaua.
27 That day Joshua made them woodcutters and water-carriers in service to the entire assembly and for the altar of the Lord wherever the Lord should choose. That is what they do right up to this very day.
Siku hiyo Yoshua aliwafanya Wagibeoni kuwa wakata kuni na wachotaji wa maji kwa jamii, na kwa madhabahu ya Yahweh hadi leo katika sehemu ambayo Yahweh huichagua.
