< Numbers 24 >
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with 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 he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; 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: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened;
naye akatoa ujumbe wake: “Ujumbe wa Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ujumbe wake yeye ambaye jicho lake linaona vizuri;
4 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes:
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, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel!
“Tazama jinsi yalivyo mazuri mahema yako, ee Yakobo, maskani yako, ee Israeli!
6 As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as 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 from his branches, and his seed shall be in many 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 who brought him forth out of Egypt is for him like the lofty horns of the wild-ox; he shall eat up the nations that are his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them through with his arrows.
“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 couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, and cursed be every one that curseth thee.
Hujikunyata na kuvizia kama simba, kama simba jike; nani anayethubutu kumwamsha? “Abarikiwe kila akubarikiye, na alaaniwe kila akulaaniye!”
10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto 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 Therefore now flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.'
Sasa ondoka upesi uende nyumbani! Mimi nilisema nitakuzawadia vizuri sana, lakini Bwana amekuzuia usizawadiwe.”
12 And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Spoke I not also to thy messengers that thou didst send unto me, saying:
Balaamu akamwambia Balaki, “Je, hukumbuki jinsi nilivyowaambia wajumbe uliowatuma kwangu? Niliwaambia hivi,
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaketh, 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 unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in 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: The saying of Balaam the son of Beor, and the saying of the man whose eye is opened;
Kisha Balaamu akatoa ujumbe wake: “Ujumbe wa Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ujumbe wake yeye ambaye jicho lake linaona vizuri;
16 The saying of him who heareth the words of God, and knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes:
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 see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Seth.
“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, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel doeth valiantly.
Edomu itamilikiwa, Seiri, adui wake, itamilikiwa, lakini Israeli atakuwa na nguvu.
19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.
Mtawala atakuja kutoka kwa Yakobo na kuangamiza walionusurika katika mji.”
20 And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to 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 looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: Though firm be thy dwelling-place, and though thy nest be set in the rock;
Kisha akawaona Wakeni, akatoa ujumbe wake: “Makao yenu ni salama, kiota chenu kiko kwenye mwamba.
22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? 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 after God hath appointed him?
Ndipo akatoa ujumbe wake: “Lo, ni nani atakayeweza kuishi wakati Mungu atakapofanya hili?
24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall come to 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.