Numbers 22
1 The people of Israel traveled on until they camped in the plains of Moab near Jericho, on the other side of the Jordan River from the city.
Kisha Waisraeli wakasafiri katika tambarare za Moabu na kupiga kambi kando ya Mto Yordani, ngʼambo ya Yeriko.
2 Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Basi Balaki mwana wa Sipori, aliona mambo yale yote ambayo Israeli aliwatendea Waamori,
3 Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was in terror of the people of Israel.
Moabu aliogopa, kwa kuwa walikuwepo watu wengi sana. Hakika, Moabu alijawa na hofu kubwa kwa sababu ya Waisraeli.
4 The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This multitude will eat up all that is around us as an ox eats up the grass in a field.” Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
Wamoabu wakawaambia wazee wa Midiani, “Umati huu wa watu unakwenda kuramba kila kitu kinachotuzunguka, kama maksai arambavyo majani ya shambani.” Kwa hiyo Balaki mwana wa Sipori, ambaye alikuwa mfalme wa Moabu wakati huo,
5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, at Pethor which is by the Euphrates River, in the land of his nation and his people. He called him and said, “Look, a nation has come here from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and they are right now next to me.
akatuma wajumbe kwenda kumwita Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ambaye alikuwa huko Pethori, karibu na Mto Frati, katika nchi yake ya kuzaliwa. Balaki akasema: “Taifa limekuja kutoka Misri, nao wamefunika uso wa nchi, nao wametua karibu nami.
6 So please come now and curse this nation for me, because they are too strong for me. Perhaps then I can manage to attack them and drive them out of the land. I know that whomever you bless will be blessed, and whomever you curse will be cursed.”
Sasa uje kuwalaani watu hawa, kwa kuwa wana nguvu sana kuniliko. Kisha huenda nikaweza kuwashinda na kuwatoa nje ya nchi. Kwa kuwa ninajua kwamba, wale unaowabariki wanabarikiwa na wale unaowalaani wanalaaniwa.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left, taking payment for divination. They came to Balaam and spoke to him Balak's words.
Wazee wa Moabu na wa Midiani wakaondoka, wakiwa wamechukua ada ya uaguzi. Walipokwenda kwa Balaamu, wakamweleza kile Balaki alikuwa amesema.
8 Balaam said to them, “Stay here tonight. I will bring you what Yahweh says to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam that night.
Balaamu akawaambia, “Mlale hapa usiku huu, nami nitawaletea jibu lile Bwana atakalonipa.” Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakakaa naye.
9 God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men who came to you?”
Mungu akamjia Balaamu na kumuuliza, “Watu gani hawa walio pamoja nawe?”
10 Balaam answered God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me. He said,
Balaamu akamwambia Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Sipori, mfalme wa Moabu, alinipelekea ujumbe huu:
11 'Look, the people who have come from Egypt cover the surface of my land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will manage to fight them and drive them out.'”
‘Taifa ambalo limekuja kutoka Misri limefunika uso wa nchi. Sasa uje unilaanie hao watu. Kisha huenda nitaweza kupigana nao na kuwafukuza.’”
12 God replied to Balaam, “You must not go with those men. You must not curse the people of Israel because they have been blessed.”
Lakini Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Usiende pamoja nao. Hupaswi kulaani watu hao, kwa kuwa wamebarikiwa.”
13 Balaam rose up in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, “Go back to your land because Yahweh refuses to allow me to go with you.”
Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaamu akaamka, akawaambia wakuu wa Balaki, “Rudini katika nchi yenu, kwa kuwa Bwana amenikataza nisiende pamoja nanyi.”
14 So the leaders of Moab left and went back to Balak. They said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakarudi kwa Balaki na kumwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuja pamoja nasi.”
15 Balak sent again more leaders who were even more honored than the first group.
Kisha Balaki akatuma wakuu wengine, wengi zaidi na wanaoheshimiwa zaidi kuliko wale wa kwanza.
16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “Balak son of Zippor says this, 'Please let nothing stop you from coming to me,
Wakafika kwa Balaamu na kumwambia: “Balaki mwana wa Sipori amesema hivi: Usiruhusu kitu chochote kikuzuie kuja kwangu,
17 because I will pay you extremely well and give you great honor, and I will do whatever you tell me to do. So please come and curse this people for me.'”
kwa sababu nitakulipa vizuri sana na kufanya lolote usemalo. Njoo unilaanie watu hawa.”
18 Balaam answered and said to Balak's men, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yahweh, my God, and do less or more than what he tells me.
Lakini Balaamu akawajibu, “Hata kama Balaki angenipa jumba lake la kifalme likiwa limejazwa fedha na dhahabu, singeweza kufanya kitu chochote kikubwa au kidogo ili kutenda kitu nje ya agizo la Bwana Mungu wangu.
19 Now then, please wait here tonight too, so that I may learn anything further that Yahweh says to me.”
Mlale hapa usiku huu kama wale wengine walivyofanya, nami nitatafuta ni nini kingine Bwana atakachoniambia.”
20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you to do.”
Usiku ule Bwana akamjia Balaamu na kumwambia, “Kwa kuwa watu hawa wamekuja kukuita wewe, nenda nao, lakini ufanye tu lile nitakalokuambia.”
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab.
Balaamu akaamka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake akaenda pamoja na wakuu wa Moabu.
22 But because he went, God's anger was kindled. The angel of Yahweh placed himself in the road as someone hostile to Balaam, who was riding on his donkey. Balaam's two servants were also with him.
Lakini Mungu alikasirika sana alipokwenda, naye malaika wa Bwana akasimama barabarani kumpinga. Balaamu alikuwa amepanda punda wake, na watumishi wake wawili walikuwa pamoja naye.
23 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. The donkey turned off the road and went into a field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road.
Wakati punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana akiwa amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga uliofutwa mkononi mwake, punda akageukia upande kuelekea shambani. Balaamu akampiga ili amrudishe barabarani.
24 Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow part of the road between some vineyards, with a wall on his right side and another wall on his left side.
Ndipo malaika wa Bwana akasimama katika njia nyembamba iliyo kati ya mashamba mawili ya mizabibu, yakiwa na kuta pande zote mbili.
25 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh again. She went against the wall and pinned Balaam's foot against it. Balaam struck her again.
Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alijisukumiza karibu na ukuta, na kugandamiza mguu wa Balaamu ukutani. Ndipo Balaamu akampiga tena punda.
26 The angel of Yahweh went further and stood in another narrow place where there was no way to turn to either side.
Kisha malaika wa Bwana akaendelea mbele na kusimama mahali pembamba ambapo hapakuwepo nafasi ya kugeuka, upande wa kulia wala wa kushoto.
27 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alilala chini Balaamu angali amempanda, naye Balaamu akakasirika na kumpiga kwa fimbo yake.
28 Then Yahweh opened the donkey's mouth so she could talk. She said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that induced you to strike me these three times?”
Kisha Bwana akakifungua kinywa cha punda, akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekutendea nini kinachokufanya unipige mara hizi tatu?”
29 Balaam replied to the donkey, “It was because you acted so stupidly with me. I wish there were a sword in my hand. If there were, by now I would have killed you.”
Balaamu akamjibu punda, “Umenifanya mjinga! Kama ningelikuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu, ningelikuua sasa hivi.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am not I your donkey on which you have ridden all your life long to this present day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such things to you before?” Balaam said, “No.”
Punda akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi si punda wako mwenyewe, ambaye umenipanda siku zote, hadi leo? Je, nimekuwa na tabia ya kufanya hivi kwako?” Akajibu, “Hapana.”
31 Then Yahweh opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. Balaam lowered his head and lay facedown.
Kisha Bwana akafungua macho ya Balaamu, naye akamwona malaika wa Bwana amesimama barabarani akiwa ameufuta upanga wake. Balaamu akainama, akaanguka kifudifudi.
32 The angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come as someone hostile to you because your actions before me have been wicked.
Malaika wa Bwana akamuuliza Balaamu, “Kwa nini umempiga punda wako mara tatu hizi? Nimekuja kukuzuia kwa sababu njia yako imepotoka mbele yangu.
33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you and spared her life.”
Punda aliniona na kunikwepa mara hizi tatu. Kama punda hangenikwepa, hakika ningekuwa nimeshakuua sasa, lakini ningemwacha punda hai.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned. I did not know that you stood against me in the road. So now, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”
Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa Bwana, “Nimetenda dhambi. Sikutambua kuwa umesimama barabarani kunizuia. Basi kama haikupendezi, nitarudi.”
35 But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go on ahead with the men. But you must only speak the words that I tell you.” So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.
Malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Uende na watu hao, lakini useme tu lile nikuambialo.” Kwa hiyo Balaamu akaenda na wale wakuu wa Balaki.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at a city in Moab at the Arnon, which is on the border.
Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu anakuja, akatoka kumlaki katika mji wa Moabu, katika mpaka wa Arnoni, ukingoni mwa nchi yake.
37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send men to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”
Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, sikukupelekea jumbe za haraka? Kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Hivi kweli mimi siwezi kukulipa?”
38 Then Balaam replied to Balak, “See, I have come to you. Do I now have any power to say anything? I can only say the words that God puts into my mouth.”
Balaamu akajibu, “Vema, sasa nimekuja kwako. Lakini kwani nina uwezo wa kusema tu chochote? Ni lazima niseme tu kile ambacho Mungu ataweka kinywani mwangu.”
39 Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiriath Huzoth.
Kisha Balaamu alikwenda na Balaki mpaka Kiriath-Husothi.
40 Then Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
Balaki akatoa dhabihu ya ngʼombe na kondoo; baadhi yake akampa Balaamu na wakuu waliokuwa pamoja naye.
41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam up to the high place of Baal. From there Balaam could see only a part of the Israelites in their camp.
Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaki akamchukua Balaamu mpaka Bamoth-Baali, na kutoka huko Balaamu akawaona baadhi ya watu.
