< Numbers 20 >
1 In March/April [of the next year], the Israeli people traveled/walked to the Zin Desert and (camped/set up their tents) near Kadesh [town]. While they/we were there, [Moses’/my older sister] Miriam died and was buried there.
Katika mwezi wa kwanza jumuiya yote ya Kiisraeli ilifika kwenye Jangwa la Sini, nao wakakaa Kadeshi. Miriamu akafa huko na kuzikwa.
2 There was no water for the people to drink there, so they came to Aaron and Moses/me.
Mahali hapo hapakuwa na maji kwa ajili ya jumuiya hiyo, nao wakakusanyika ili kumpinga Mose na Aroni.
3 They complained and said, “We wish that we had died in front of Yahweh’s Sacred Tent when our fellow Israelis died!
Watu wakagombana na Mose, na kusema, “Laiti tungelikufa wakati ndugu zetu walipoanguka na kufa mbele za Bwana!
4 (Did you bring us, who are Yahweh’s people, into this desert to die along with our livestock?/You brought us, who are Yahweh’s people, into this desert to die along with our livestock!) [RHQ]
Kwa nini mmeileta jumuiya ya Bwana kwenye jangwa hili, ili tufe humu, sisi na mifugo yetu?
5 Why did you bring us from Egypt to this miserable place [RHQ]? There is no grain, there are no figs, no grapes, and no pomegranates here. And there is no water for us to drink!”
Kwa nini mmetupandisha kutoka Misri mpaka mahali hapa pa kutisha? Hapa hakuna nafaka wala tini, zabibu au makomamanga. Wala hapa hakuna maji ya kunywa!”
6 Aaron and Moses/I turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Sacred Tent and prostrated themselves/ourselves on the ground. Then Yahweh appeared to them/us with his bright glory,
Mose na Aroni wakaondoka pale kwenye kusanyiko mpaka kwenye mlango wa Hema la Kukutania na kuanguka kifudifudi, nao utukufu wa Bwana ukawatokea.
7 and he said to Moses/me,
Bwana akamwambia Mose,
8 “You and Aaron must take Aaron’s walking stick with you and gather all the people together. While the people are watching, command that water will flow out of that [large] rock over there. Water for the people will flow from it; all they and all their livestock will have enough water to drink.”
“Chukua ile fimbo, na wewe na ndugu yako Aroni mkusanye kusanyiko pamoja. Nena na ule mwamba mbele ya macho yao, nao utatoa maji yake. Utatoa maji kutoka huo mwamba kwa ajili ya jumuiya ili wao na mifugo yao waweze kunywa.”
9 So Moses/I did what Yahweh told him/me to do. He/I took Aaron’s walking stick from the place in the Sacred Tent where it was kept.
Kwa hiyo Mose akaichukua hiyo fimbo kutoka pale ilipokuwa mbele za Bwana kama alivyomwagiza.
10 Then Aaron and he/I summoned all the people to gather at the rock. Then Moses/I shouted to them, “All you rebellious people, listen! Is it necessary for us to give you water from this rock?”
Mose na Aroni wakakusanya kusanyiko pamoja mbele ya huo mwamba, naye Mose akawaambia, “Sikilizeni, enyi waasi. Je, ni lazima tuwatoleeni maji kutoka mwamba huu?”
11 Then Moses/I raised his/my hand and [instead of speaking to the rock], he/I struck the rock two times with the walking stick. And water gushed/poured out. So all the people and their livestock drank all the water that they wanted.
Ndipo Mose akainua mkono wake na kuupiga mwamba mara mbili kwa fimbo yake. Maji yakabubujika, nayo jumuiya na mifugo yao wakanywa.
12 But Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses/me, “You did not believe that I could demonstrate my power to the Israeli people [and give them water without your striking the rock]. So you will not lead them into the land that I am giving to them!”
Lakini Bwana akamwambia Mose na Aroni, “Kwa sababu hamkuniamini mimi kiasi cha kuniheshimu kama mtakatifu machoni pa Waisraeli, hamtaiingiza jumuiya hii katika nchi ninayowapa.”
13 Later this place was called Meribah, [which means ‘arguing’], because there the Israeli people argued with Yahweh, and there he showed his power to them [by giving them water].
Haya yalikuwa maji ya Meriba, mahali pale ambapo Waisraeli waligombana na Bwana, naye akajionyesha mwenyewe huko kuwa mtakatifu katikati yao.
14 [While the people were] at Kadesh [town], Moses/I sent messengers to the king of Edom to tell him this: “Your relatives, the Israeli people, are sending you this message. You know the many troubles/hardships that have happened to us.
Mose akawatuma wajumbe kutoka Kadeshi kwenda kwa mfalme wa Edomu, akisema: “Hili ndilo ndugu yako Israeli asemalo: Wewe unafahamu juu ya taabu zote ambazo zimetupata.
15 You know that our ancestors went down to Egypt. You know that they stayed there for many years. They suffered because the [rulers of] Egypt caused them to become their slaves [and to work very hard].
Baba zetu walishuka Misri, nasi tumeishi huko miaka mingi. Wamisri walitutesa sisi na baba zetu,
16 “But when they called out to Yahweh, he heard them and sent an angel who brought them out of Egypt. Now we have set up our tents here at Kadesh, a town at the border of your land.
lakini tulipomlilia Bwana, alisikia kilio chetu na akamtuma malaika akatutoa Misri. “Sasa tupo hapa Kadeshi, mji ulio mpakani mwa nchi yako.
17 Please allow us to travel through your country. We will [be careful to] not walk through your fields and your vineyards. We will not even drink water from your wells. As we travel, we will stay on the king’s highway, [the main road that goes from the south to the north], and we will not leave that road until we have crossed the border [of your country in the north].”
Tafadhali turuhusu tupite katika nchi yako. Hatutapita katika shamba lolote, wala shamba la mizabibu, au kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chochote. Tutasafiri kufuata njia kuu ya mfalme, na hatutageuka kulia wala kushoto mpaka tuwe tumeshapita nchi yako.”
18 But the king of Edom refused. He replied, “Stay out of my country! If you try [to enter it], I will [send my army to] attack you!”
Lakini mfalme wa Edomu akajibu: “Hamtapita hapa; kama mkijaribu kupita, tutatoka na kuwashambulia kwa upanga.”
19 The Israeli messengers replied, “[If we travel through your country], we will stay on the main road. If we and any of our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We want only to travel through your country. We do not want anything else.”
Waisraeli wakajibu: “Sisi tutafuata njia kuu; tena ikiwa sisi au mifugo yetu tutakunywa tone la maji yenu, tutalilipia. Sisi tunataka tu kupita kwa miguu, wala si kitu kingine chochote.”
20 But the king replied, “No! Stay out of our country! We will not [allow you] to travel through our land!” Then he sent the strongest soldiers in his army to prevent the Israelis [from entering his country].
Watu wa Edomu wakajibu tena: “Hamwezi kupita hapa.” Ndipo watu wa Edomu wakatoka dhidi ya Waisraeli, jeshi kubwa lenye nguvu.
21 So, because [the king of] Edom refused to allow the Israelis to travel through his country, the Israelis turned [and traveled a different way].
Kwa kuwa Waedomu waliwakatalia Waisraeli kupita katika nchi yao, Israeli wakageuka, wakawaacha.
22 The Israeli people left Kadesh. They went to Hor Mountain,
Jumuiya yote ya Kiisraeli ikaondoka kutoka Kadeshi, wakafika kwenye Mlima Hori.
23 [which is at the border of Edom]. While they were there, Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses/me,
Kwenye Mlima Hori, karibu na mpaka wa Edomu, Bwana akamwambia Mose na Aroni,
24 “It is time for Aaron to die [EUP]. He will not enter the land that I am giving to you Israelis, because the two of you disobeyed me [when I told you to speak to the rock to cause] the water [to flow] at Meribah.
“Aroni atakusanywa pamoja na watu wake. Hataingia katika nchi ninayowapa Waisraeli, kwa sababu ninyi wawili mliasi dhidi ya agizo langu kwenye maji ya Meriba.
25 Now you, Moses, take Aaron and his son Eleazar up on Hor Mountain.
Watwae Aroni na Eleazari mwanawe, na uwapandishe juu katika Mlima wa Hori.
26 There you must remove Aaron’s robes [that he wears when he does the work of a priest], and put them on his son, Eleazar. Aaron will die up there.”
Mvue Aroni mavazi yake, na umvike Eleazari mwanawe, kwa maana Aroni atakusanywa pamoja na watu wake; atakufa huko.”
27 So Moses/I did what Yahweh commanded. The three of them/us climbed up Hor Mountain, while all the Israeli people watched.
Mose akafanya kama Bwana alivyomwagiza: Wakapanda Mlima Hori mbele ya macho ya jumuiya yote ya Kiisraeli.
28 At the top of the mountain, Moses/I took off the robes that Aaron wore [while he did the work of a priest] and put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Eleazar and Moses/I went back down.
Mose akamvua Aroni mavazi yake na kumvika mwanawe Eleazari mavazi hayo. Naye Aroni akafia pale juu ya mlima. Kisha Mose na Eleazari wakateremka kutoka mlimani.
29 When the Israeli people realized that Aaron had died, they all mourned for him for 30 days.
Jumuiya yote ilipofahamu kwamba Aroni amekufa, jamaa yote ya Kiisraeli wakamwomboleza kwa siku thelathini.