Numbers 22
1 And the children of Israel moved forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan [by] Jericho.
Watu wa Israeli wakasafiri mpaka wakaweka kambi kwenye uwanda wa Moabu karibu na Yeriko, kwenye upande mwingine wa mto Yorodani kutoka mji ule.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Balaki mwana wa Zippori aliona yote ambayo Israeli aliwafanyia Waamori. Moabu aliogopa sana hao watu kwa sababu walikuwa wengi sana,
3 And Moab was greatly afraid of the people, because they [were] many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
na Moabu alIwahofia wana wa Israeli.
4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] around us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.
Mfalme wa Moabu akawaambia wazee wa Midiani, “Huu umati utakula kila kitu tulicho nacho na maksai hula nyasi za kondeni.” Sasa Balaki mwana wa Zippori alikuwa mfalme wa Moabu.
5 He sent messengers therefore to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there has a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Akatuma wajumbe kwenda kwa Balamu mwana wa Beori, kule Petho ambayo iko karibu na mto Frati, katika nchi ya taifa lake na watu wake. Akamwita na kumwambia, “Tazama, Kuna taifa ambalo wamekuja hapa tokea Misiri. Wanafunika uso wa dunia na sasa wananifuatia mimi.
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, Curse for me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: it may be I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Tafadhali naomba uje unilaanie hili taifa, kwa sababu wana nguvu kuliko mimi. Labda nitaweza kuwavamia na kuwafukuza watoke katika nchi yangu. Najua kuwa yeyote unayembariki hubarikiwa na yeyote unayemlaani atalaaniwa.”
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
Kwa hiyo wazee wa Moabu na wale wa Midiani wakaondoka, pamoja nao wakachukua malipo ya uganga. Wakafika kwa Balaamu wakamwambia maneno ya Balaki.
8 And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
Balaamu akawaambia, “Bakini hapa usiku wa leo. Kesho nitawaletea atakachoniambia BWANA.” Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakabaki na Balaamu kwa usiku huo.
9 And God came to Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee?
Mungu akaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Ni akina nani hawa waliokuja kwako?”
10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent to me, [saying],
Balaamu akamjibu Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori, Mfalme wa Moabu amewatuma kwangu. Alisema,
11 Behold, [there has] a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse them for me: it may be I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
'Tazama hawa watu waliotoka Misri wanafunika uso wa nchi yangu. Sasa naomba uje unilaanie hawa watu. Labada nitaweza kuwa kuwashinda na kuwafukuza.'”
12 And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed.
Mungu akamjiu Balaam, “Usiambatane na hao wanaume. Na usiwalaani hawa wana wa Israeli kwa sababu wamebarikiwa.”
13 And Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Depart into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
Balaamu akaamka asubuhi na kuwaambia wale viongozi wa Balaki, “Rudini nchini kwenu kwa sababu BWANA amenikataza kuambatana nanyi.”
14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakaondoka na kurudi kwa Balaki. Wakamwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuambatana nasi.”
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
Balaki akatuma viongozi wengine waliokuwa wanaheshimiwa zaidi kuliko kundi lile la awali.
16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming to me:
Wakaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori anasema hivi, 'Tafadhali hebu kitu chochote kisikuzuie kuja kwangu,
17 For I will promote thee to very great honor, and I will do whatever thou sayest to me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse this people for me.
kwa sababu nitakulipa malipo mazuri sana na kukupa heshima kubwa, nami nitakufanyia chochote utakachoniambia. Tafadhali sana uje unilaanie hawa watu.'”
18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Balaamu akawajibu watu wa Balaki akawaambia, “Hata kama Balaki atanipa ikulu yake ikiwa imejaa fedha na dhahabu, sitaweza kufanya dhidi ya maneno ya BWANA, Mungu wangu na kufanya pungufu au zaidi ya kile anachoniambia.
19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say to me more.
Sasa basi, tafadhali subirini hapa usiku wa leo pia, ili kwamba nipate kujifunza kitu zaidi ambacho BWANA ananiambia.”
20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call thee, rise [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say to thee, that shalt thou perform.
BWANA akaja kwa Balaamu usiku ule na kumwambia, “kwa kuwa hawa watu wamekuja kukuita, inuka uende nao. Lakini utafanya tu kile nitakachokuambia kufanya.”
21 And Balaam rose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaamu akainuka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake, akaenda pamoja na viongozi wa Moabu.
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.
Lakini kwa sababu alienda, hasira za Mungu zikawaka. Malaika wa BWANA akasimama barabarani kama adui wa Balaamu, aliyekuwa akimpanda yule punda. Watumishi wawili wa Balaamu walikuwa pamoja naye.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
Yule punda alimwona yule malaika wa BWANA akiwa amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga mkononi mwake. Yule punda akageuka na kwenda shambani. Balaamu akampiga yule punda ili arudi barabarani.
24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side.
Sasa malaika wa BWANA akasimama kwenye njia nyembamba katikati ya mashamba ya mizabibu, na kushoto kwake kulikuwa na ukuta.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
Yule punda akamwona yule malaika wa BWANA tena. Akasogea zaidi ukutani na kuubana mguu wa Balaamu ukutani. Balaamu akampiga tena yule punda.
26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where [was] no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
Yule malaika wa BWANA akasogea mbele zaidi kwenye eneo jingine jembamba zaidi ambalo haikuwezekana kugeuka upande mwingine.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
Yule Punda akamwona tena yule malaika wa BWANA, akalala chini ya Balaamu. Hasira za Balaamu zikawaka, akampiga yule punda kwa fimbo yake.
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Kisha BWANA akafungua kinywa cha punda na akaongea. Akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekukosea nini kiasi kwamba umenipiga mara tatu?”
29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee.
Balaamu akamjibu yule punda, “Ni kwa sababu umenitendea kwa ujinga. Natamani kama ningekuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu, kama ningekuwa nao, sasa hivi ningekuwa nimekuua.”
30 And the ass said to Balaam, [Am] not I thy ass, upon which thou hast rid ever since [I was] thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, Nay.
Yule punda akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi si punda wako ambaye umenipanda maishani mwako mwote mpaka hivi sasa? Je, nimewahi kuwa na tabia ya kukufanyia hivi hapo awali?” Balaamu akasema “hapana.”
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Basi BWANA akafungua macho ya Balaamu, na akamwona malaika wa BWANA amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga mkononi mwake. Balaamu akainamisha kichwa chake chini.
32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why hast thou smitten thy ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:
Yule malaika wa BWANA akamwambia, “Kwa nini umempiga punda wako mara tatu? Tazama, Nimekuja kama adui yako kwa sababu matendo yako kwangu yamekuwa maovu.
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
Yule punda aliniona na akageuka kutoka kwangu mara tatu. Kama asingekuwa amegeuka kutoka kwangu, hakika ningekuwa nimekua na yeye kumwacha hai.
34 And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displeaseth thee, I will return again.
Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa BWANA, nimetenda dhambi. Sikujua kuwa ulisimama kinyume na mimi barabarani. Kwa hiyo sasa, kama haikupendezi, Nitageuka.”
35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak to thee, that thou shalt speak: So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Lakini yule malaika wa BWANA akamwambia Balaamu, “endelea na wale watu. Lakini utasema maneno nitakayokwambia tu.”Kwa hiyo Balaamu akaendelea na wale vioingozi wa Balaki.
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost limit.
Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu alikuwa amekuja, alienda kukutana naye kule mjini Moabu pale Amoni, ambao uko mpakani.
37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? why camest thou not to me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?
Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi sikutuma watu kukuita? Basi kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Je, mimi sina uwezo wa kukufanya uheshimike?”
38 And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Ndipo Balaamu alipomjibu Balaki, “Tazama, mimi nimekuja kwako. Je mimi sina mamlaka ya kusema chochote? Mimi ninaweza kusema maneno ambayo Mungu ameweka kinywani mwangu.”
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth.
Balaamu akaenda na Balaki, na Wakafika Kiriathi Huzothi.
40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that [were] with him.
Kisha Balaki akatoa sadaka ya maksai na kondoo na kumpatia Balaamu baadhi ya hiyo nyama na wale viongozi waliokuwa pamoja naye.
41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and conducted him to the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost [part] of the people.
Kesho yake asubuhi, Balaki akampeleka Balaamu mpaka juu mahali pa Baali. Kule juu Balaamu aliweza kuona sehemu tu ya kambi za Waisraeli.
