2 Ihe E Mere 20
1 Mgbe oge nta gasịrị, eze ndị Moab na nke ndị Amọn, na ndị ọzọkwa, bịara ibuso Jehoshafat na ndị Juda agha.
Later [armies from] Moab and Ammon and some soldiers from [the] Meun [area in Edom] came [to fight] against Jehoshaphat’s [army].
2 Ụfọdụ ndị mmadụ bịara gwa Jehoshafat sị, “Lee, igwe usuu ndị agha na-abịa imegide gị site nʼEdọm, nakwa nʼofe osimiri Nnu (osimiri nwụrụ anwụ). Ha erutela Hazezọn Tama, ebe a na-akpọkwa En-Gedi.”
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is coming to attack your army. They are coming from [the] Edom [region], from the eastern side of the [Dead] Sea. They have already come to Hazazon-Tamar!” Another name for that place is En-Gedi.
3 Jehoshafat tụrụ egwu nke ukwuu, kpebiekwa ịchọ inyeaka Onyenwe anyị. Nʼihi nke a, ọ kpọsara obubu ọnụ nye ndị Juda niile.
Jehoshaphat became very afraid, so he decided to ask Yahweh [what he should do]. He also proclaimed that all [the people of] Judah should fast.
4 Ndị Juda zukọtara ịchọ inyeaka Onyenwe anyị; nʼezie, ha sitere nʼobodo niile nke Juda bịa ịchọ ihu Onyenwe anyị.
The people of Judah gathered together to request Yahweh to help them. They came [to Jerusalem] from every town in Judah to seek help from Yahweh.
5 Mgbe ahụ, Jehoshafat guzoro nʼetiti nzukọ ndị Juda na Jerusalem nʼụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị nʼihu ogige ọhụrụ ahụ,
Then Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the people of Judah in front of the new courtyard of the temple,
6 sị; “O Onyenwe anyị, Chineke nna nna anyị ha, ọ bụghị gị bụ Chineke onye bi nʼeluigwe? Ọ bụkwa gị na-achị alaeze niile nke mba dị iche iche. Ike na ume dị nʼaka gị, ọ dịkwaghị onye pụrụ iguzogide gị.
and he prayed this: “Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors belonged to, you are surely the God who [rules from] heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. You have great power, and no one can successfully oppose you.
7 O Chineke anyị, ọ bụghị gị onwe gị chụpụrụ ndị bi nʼala, site nʼihu ndị gị Izrel, were ya nye ụmụ ụmụ Ebraham, bụ enyi gị nwoke?
Our God, you expelled the people who lived in this land while your Israeli people advanced, and you certainly gave it to us who are descendants of your friend Abraham, to belong to us forever.
8 Ha ebiela nʼime ya wukwaa ebe nsọ nʼime nye nʼAha gị na-asị,
We have lived here and have built a temple where we, your people, worship you. We said,
9 ‘Ọ bụrụ na ihe ọjọọ adakwasị anyị, maọbụ mma agha, ma nke ikpe ọmụma, maọbụ ajọọ ọrịa na-efe efe, maọbụ oke ụnwụ, anyị ga-eguzo nʼihu gị nʼụlọnsọ a nke a kpọkwasịrị Aha gị, kpọkuo gị nʼime nsogbu anyị, gị onwe gị ga-aza anyị, zọpụtakwa anyị.’
'If we experience disasters, either from our enemies attacking us or from you punishing us, or if we experience a plague or a famine, we will stand in your presence in front of this temple that is built to honor you, and we will cry out to you when we are distressed/suffering, and you will hear us and will rescue us.'
10 “Ugbu a lee, ndị ikom si Amọn, na Moab, na nʼugwu Sia, ndị ị na-ekweghị ka ndị Izrel banye nʼoke ala ha mgbe ha si nʼIjipt pụta, kama ha sitere nʼakụkụ ọzọ gabiga si otu a chebe ndị a ndụ.
You would not allow our Israeli ancestors to enter the countries of Ammon and Moab and Edom when they were traveling from Egypt [to Canaan]. So our ancestors turned away from those areas and did not attack the people there and did not destroy them. But now they are coming here [to attack us].
11 Lee ihe ha ji akwụ anyị ụgwọ bụ ịchọ ka ha chụpụ anyị nʼala a i nyere anyị ka ọ bụrụ ihe nketa anyị.
[We did not destroy them. But now] look at how they are repaying us by trying to expel us from the land that you gave to our ancestors to belong to them [and their descendants forever]
12 O Chineke anyị, ọ bụ na ị gaghị ekpe ha ikpe? Nʼihi na ike adịghị nʼime anyị iguzogide igwe mmadụ ndị a bara ụba na-abịa ịlụso anyị ọgụ. Anyị amakwaghị ihe anyị ga-eme, kama ọ bụ na gị ka anya anyị na-adịkwasị.”
So, our God, please punish them, because we do not have enough power to resist/defeat this huge army that is coming to attack us. We do not know what to do. But we are pleading for you to help us.”
13 Ndị ikom Juda niile, ha na ndị nwunye ha, na ụmụ ha, na ụmụntakịrị ha guzoro nʼihu Onyenwe anyị.
All the men of Judah and their wives and children and babies were standing there in the presence of Yahweh [while Jehoshaphat prayed].
14 Mgbe ahụ, mmụọ Nsọ Onyenwe anyị dakwasịrị Jahaziel nwa Zekaraya, nwa Benaya, nwa Jeiel, nwa Matanaya, bụ onye Livayị, onye si nʼikwu Asaf, dịka o guzo nʼetiti mkpọkọta ahụ.
Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Benaiah, who was the son of Jeiel, who was the son of Mattaniah. He was a descendant of Levi and a descendant of Asaph. He stood up in front of the whole group that was gathered there,
15 Ọ sịrị, “Geenụ m ntị, unu ndị Juda niile na ndị bi na Jerusalem, na gị eze Jehoshafat. Nke a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị na-asị unu. ‘Unu atụla ụjọ, maọbụ daa mba, nʼihi usuu ndị agha a niile dị unu nʼihu. Ọ bụghị unu ka agha a dịịrị, kama ọ bụ Chineke nwe ya.
and said, “King Jehoshaphat and all you who live in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah, listen! This is what Yahweh says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this huge army [that is coming to attack you], because it is not you who [will win] this battle. It is God [who will win it].
16 Echi pụọnụ izute ha. Ha ga arịgota site nʼụzọ warawara nrigo Ziz, unu ga-ahụ ha na nsọtụ ndagwurugwu dị tupu e ruo nʼọzara Jeruel.
Tomorrow march down toward them. They will be climbing up through Ziz Pass [north of En-Gedi]. You will meet them at the end of the gorge near the Jeruel Desert.
17 Ọ bụghị unu ka ọ dịrị ịlụ agha a, kama werenụ ọnọdụ unu, guzosienụ ike ka unu jiri anya unu hụ nzọpụta Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu ga-enye unu, unu ndị Juda na Jerusalem. Unu atụla egwu, unu adakwala mba. Pụkwuru ha nʼihu agha mgbe chi echi bọrọ, Onyenwe anyị ga-anọnyekwara unu.’”
But you will not need to fight this battle. You soldiers from Jerusalem and other places in Judah, just take your positions, and then stand still and watch [what will happen]. You will see Yahweh rescue you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. March toward them tomorrow, and Yahweh will be with you.’”
18 Mgbe ahụ, Jehoshafat, na ndị Juda na ndị Jerusalem niile dara nʼala kelee Onyenwe anyị, kpọọ isiala nye ya.
Jehoshaphat prostrated himself with his face touching the ground, and all the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah [who were there] knelt down to worship Yahweh.
19 Mgbe ahụ kwa, ndị Livayị si nʼagbụrụ Kohat na Kora jiri ike ha niile too Onyenwe anyị Chineke Izrel nʼabụ.
Then some descendants of Levi who were descendants of both Kohath and Korah stood up and loudly praised Yahweh, the God whom the Israelis [belonged to].
20 Nʼisi ụtụtụ, ha pụrụ gawa nʼọzara Tekoa. Ma mgbe ha na-apụ, Jehoshafat guzoro ọtọ sị, “Geenụ m ntị, unu ndị Juda na ndị bi na Jerusalem. Nweenụ okwukwe nʼime Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu, nwekwanụ ntụkwasị obi na ige ndị amụma ya ntị, ka ihe gaara unu nke ọma.”
Early the next morning the army left to go to the desert near Tekoa [town]. While they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said to the people, “You people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, listen to me! Trust in Yahweh our God; if you do that, you will be strong. Trust in [what] his prophets [have said]; if you do that, you will be successful.”
21 Mgbe ya na ndị ya gbasịrị izu, Jehoshafat họpụtara ndị ikom ndị ga-eji abụ too Onyenwe anyị nʼihi ebube ya na ịdị nsọ ya. Mgbe ha na-aga nʼihu ndị agha, ha na-abụ abụ na-asị: “Nyenụ Onyenwe anyị ekele, nʼihi na ịhụnanya ya na-adịgide ruo ebighị ebi.”
Then, after consulting with some of the people, he appointed some men to go in front of the army, singing to Yahweh and praising him because of his being holy and wonderful. They were singing, “Thank Yahweh, because he faithfully loves us forever.”
22 Mgbe ndị Juda malitere ịbụ abụ na ito otuto, Onyenwe anyị cheere ndị agha Amọn na nke ndị Moab, na ndị nke si nʼugwu Sia nʼụzọ, merie ha.
When they began to sing and praise Yahweh, Yahweh caused the soldiers from Ammon and Moab and Edom who were invading Judah to panic, with the result that they were defeated.
23 Ma ndị agha Amọn na Moab buru ụzọ lụso ndị agha si nʼugwu Sia ọgụ. Mgbe ha lakwara onwe ha nʼiyi, ọgụ dakwara nʼetiti ndị Moab na Amọn.
The soldiers from Ammon and Moab started to fight against the soldiers from Edom, and they completely annihilated the soldiers from Edom. After they finished slaughtering the men from Edom, they started to attack each other.
24 Mgbe ndị agha Juda rutere ebe ha ga-esi lepụ anya hụ ihe na-eme nʼọzara ahụ, ha lepụrụ anya ịhụ usuu ndị agha ahụ, ma ihe ha hụrụ bụ ozu ndị agha tọgbọcha nʼala. Ọ dịkwaghị otu nʼime ndị agha ahụ gbapụrụ na ndụ.
When the soldiers from Judah came to the place where they could look down over the desert, they looked toward that huge army [of their enemies], and they saw only corpses lying on the ground. No one had survived.
25 Ya mere Jehoshafat na ndị agha ya banyere nʼọgbọ agha ahụ kwakọrọ ihe nkwata nʼagha. Ha butere ọtụtụ ngwa agha, na uwe na ihe ndị ọzọ dị oke ọnụahịa ma ha enweghị ike ibutecha ihe niile. Ihe nkwata nʼagha hiri nne ruo na o were ha ụbọchị atọ ibutecha ha.
So Jehoshaphat and his soldiers went to take the possessions of their enemies, and they saw that there was a lot of equipment and clothing and other valuable things; there was more than they could carry away. There were very many things, with the result that it took three days for them to collect it all.
26 Nʼụbọchị nke anọ ha zukọtara na Ndagwurugwu Beraka ebe ha nọ too Onyenwe anyị otuto. Ọ bụ nke a mere e ji akpọ ebe ahụ Ndagwurugwu Beraka ruo taa.
The following day they gathered in Beracah Valley and praised Yahweh there. That is why that valley is still called Beracah, [which means praise.]
27 Emesịa, Jehoshafat duuru ndị Juda na Jerusalem niile laghachi na Jerusalem nʼọṅụ, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị emeelara ha ihe ha kwesiri iji ṅụrịa ọṅụ nʼebe ndị iro ha nọ.
Then while Jehoshaphat led them, all the soldiers who were from Jerusalem and other places in Judah returned to Jerusalem. They were happy because Yahweh had enabled them to defeat their enemies.
28 Ha ji une, na ụbọ akwara, na opi ike bata Jerusalem, gaa nʼụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị.
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they went to the temple, [playing] harps and lutes and trumpets.
29 Egwu Chineke dakwasịrị alaeze niile bi gburugburu, mgbe ha nụrụ otu Onyenwe anyị si lụọ ọgụ megide ndị iro Izrel niile.
People in the kingdoms of the nearby countries became very afraid when they heard how Yahweh had fought against the enemies of the Israelis.
30 Ya mere, udo dịrị nʼalaeze Jehoshafat, nʼihi na Chineke nyere ya udo.
Then there was peace in the kingdom that was ruled by Jehoshaphat, because God had caused the surrounding nations not to attack it.
31 Jehoshafat ghọrọ eze juda. Ọ gbara iri afọ atọ na ise mgbe ọ malitere ịbụ eze Juda. Ọ chịrị iri afọ abụọ na ise na Jerusalem. Aha nne ya bụ Azuba, nwa Shilhi.
Jehoshaphat continued to rule Judah. He was 35 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
32 O jere ije nʼụzọ niile nke Asa bụ nna ya, o sitekwaghị nʼime ha wezuga onwe ya, o mekwara ihe ziri ezi nʼanya Onyenwe anyị.
He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh, like his father Asa had done, and he did not stop doing those things.
33 Naanị na o wezugaghị ebe dị elu niile, nke mere na ndị mmadụ ka nọ na-ejighị obi ha niile tụkwasị na Chineke nke nna nna ha.
But he did not get rid of the shrines on the hilltops, and many of the people still did not faithfully do what the God whom their ancestors belonged to wanted.
34 Ihe banyere ihe ndị ọzọ niile mere nʼọchịchị Jehoshafat, site na mbido ruo na ngwụcha, ka e dere nʼakwụkwọ ihe mere nke Jehu nwa Hanani, nke e debanyere nʼime akwụkwọ akụkọ ndị eze Izrel.
A record of the other things that Jehoshaphat did while he ruled, from when he began to rule until he died, is in the scrolls written by [the prophet] Jehu, the son of Hanani. They are also in the scroll called ‘The History of the Kings of Israel.
35 Mgbe ihe ndị a gasịrị, Jehoshafat, bụ eze Juda jikọrọ onwe ha na Ahazaya, eze Izrel, onye ahụ omume ya jọrọ njọ.
During his reign, Jehoshaphat made a treaty with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, who was a very wicked king.
36 Ha kwekọrịtara ka ha na ya wuo ọtụtụ ụgbọ mmiri e ji azụ ahịa. Emesịa, ha wuru ụgbọ ndị a nʼEziọn Geba.
They agreed that their workers would build a fleet of ships to use to buy and sell [things with other countries]. After those ships were built at Ezion-Geber [on the Gulf of Aqaba],
37 Elieza nwa Dodavahu, onye Maresha buru amụma megide Jehoshafat, na-asị, “Nʼihi na i kwenyere ka gị na Ahazaya na-azụkọ ahịa, Onyenwe anyị ga-emebi ihe ndị a ị rụrụ.” Ụgbọ mmiri ahụ niile kpuru, ha enwekwaghị ike ijeru Tashish zụọ ahịa.
Eliezer the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah [city] warned Jehoshaphat. He said, “You have made an alliance with Ahaziah, [who is a wicked king]. Therefore, Yahweh will destroy the ships that your workers have made.” And the ships were wrecked, and were not able to sail to other countries.
