2 Bakonzi 18
1 Tango Oze, mwana mobali ya Ela, mokonzi ya Isalaele, akokisaki mibu misato na bokonzi, Ezekiasi, mwana mobali ya Akazi, mokonzi ya Yuda, akomaki mokonzi.
After King Hoshea had been ruling Israel for almost three years, Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, began to rule Judah.
2 Ezekiasi azalaki na mibu tuku mibale na mitano ya mbotama tango akomaki mokonzi, mpe akonzaki mibu tuku mibale na libwa na Yelusalemi. Kombo ya mama na ye ezalaki « Abi. » Abi azalaki mwana mwasi ya Zakari.
He was 25 years old when he became the king [of Judah] and he ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of [a man whose name was] Zechariah.
3 Ezekiasi asalaki makambo ya sembo na miso ya Yawe ndenge Davidi, koko na ye, asalaki.
Hezekiah did things that Yahweh considered to be right, like his ancestor King David had done.
4 Alongolaki bisambelo ya likolo ya bangomba, abukaki makonzi ya bule ya banzambe ya bikeko, mpe akataki likonzi ya bule ya nzambe mwasi Ashera. Abukaki-bukaki nyoka ya ebende oyo Moyize asalaki, pamba te kino na tango wana, bana ya Isalaele bazalaki kotumba ansa mpo na nyoka yango mpe kobenga yango « Nekushitani. »
He destroyed the places where people worshiped Yahweh on the tops of hills, and he broke into pieces the stone pillars [for worshiping the goddess Asherah]. He also broke into pieces the bronze [replica/statue of a] snake that Moses had made. He did that because the people had named it Nehushtan, and they were burning incense in front of it to honor it.
5 Ezekiasi atiaki motema na ye epai na Yawe, Nzambe ya Isalaele. Mokonzi moko te akokanaki na ye kati na bakonzi nyonso ya Yuda, ezala liboso to sima na ye.
Hezekiah trusted in Yahweh, the God whom the Israelis [worshiped.] There was no king who ruled Judah before him or after him who was as [devoted to Yahweh as] he was.
6 Atikalaki ya kokangama na Yawe mpe atikaki te kolanda Ye; abatelaki mitindo oyo Yawe apesaki na nzela ya Moyize.
He remained loyal to Yahweh and never disobeyed him. He carefully obeyed all the commandments that Yahweh had given to Moses.
7 Yawe azalaki elongo na ye mpe azalaki kolonga na makambo nyonso oyo azalaki kosala. Atombokelaki mokonzi ya Asiri mpe aboyaki kosalela ye.
Yahweh always (helped/was with) him. He was successful in everything that he did. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to (pay taxes to him/do what the king of Assyria wanted him to do).
8 Alongaki bato ya Filisitia mpe alandaki bango kino na Gaza, abebisaki engumba mpe etuka na yango, mpe abotolaki bingumba batonga makasi mpe bandako milayi ya bakengeli.
His army defeated [the soldiers of] Philistia as far [south] as Gaza [city] and the nearby villages. They conquered the entire area, from the smallest watchtower to the largest cities surrounded by walls.
9 Tango Ezekiasi akokisaki mibu minei na bokonzi, oyo ezalaki mobu ya sambo ya bokonzi ya Oze, mwana mobali ya Ela, mokonzi ya Isalaele, Salimanasari, mokonzi ya Asiri, abundisaki Samari mpe azingelaki yango.
After King Hezekiah had been ruling Judah for almost four years, and when King Hoshea had been ruling Israel for almost seven years, [the army of] King Shalmaneser of Assyria invaded Israel and surrounded Samaria [city].
10 Bato ya Asiri babotolaki Samari sima na mibu misato ya bitumba, na mobu ya motoba ya bokonzi ya Ezekiasi, oyo ezalaki mobu ya libwa ya bokonzi ya Oze, mokonzi ya Isalaele.
In the third year they captured the city. That was when Hezekiah has been ruling Judah for almost six years, and when Hoshea had been ruling Israel for almost nine years.
11 Mokonzi ya Asiri amemaki bato ya Isalaele na bowumbu na Asiri mpe atiaki bango na Ala, na ngambo ya ebale Abori, na etuka ya Gozani mpe na bingumba ya Medi.
The king of Assyria commanded that the people of Israel be taken to Assyria. Some of them were taken to Halah [town], some were taken to a place near the Habor [River] in [the] Gozan [region], and some were taken to cities where the Mede people-group live.
12 Makambo oyo esalemaki mpo ete bato ya Isalaele batosaki te Yawe, Nzambe na bango, mpe babukaki boyokani na Ye; elingi koloba ete batosaki te makambo nyonso oyo Moyize, mosali na Nzambe, atindaki bango.
That happened because the Israelis did not obey Yahweh their God. They disobeyed the agreement that Yahweh had made with their ancestors, and all the laws that Moses, the man who served Yahweh [very well], had told them to obey. They would not obey those laws; they would not even listen to them.
13 Tango mokonzi Ezekiasi akokisaki mibu zomi na minei na bokonzi, Senakeribe, mokonzi ya Asiri, abundisaki bingumba nyonso ya Yuda, oyo batonga makasi mpe abotolaki yango.
After King Hezekiah had been ruling Judah for almost 14 years, [the army of] King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked all the cities in Judah that had walls around them. They [did not capture Jerusalem, but they] captured all the other cities.
14 Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, atindaki sango oyo epai ya mokonzi ya Asiri, na Lakishi: « Nasali mabe, bima na mboka na ngai; nakofuta yo nyonso oyo okosenga ngai. » Mokonzi ya Asiri akatelaki Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, mpako ya motuya ya bakilo nkoto zomi ya palata mpe bakilo nkoto moko ya wolo.
King Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib, while Sennacherib was in Lachish, saying “What I have done was wrong. Please [tell your soldiers to] stop attacking us. If you do that, I will pay you whatever you tell me to.” So the king of Assyria said that Hezekiah must pay to him (ten tons/9,000 kg.) of silver and (one ton/900 kg.) of gold.
15 Ezekiasi apesaki ye palata nyonso oyo ezalaki kati na Tempelo ya Yawe mpe kati na bibombelo ya ndako ya mokonzi.
So Hezekiah gave to him all the silver that was in the temple and that was stored in the king’s palace.
16 Na tango wana, Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, alongolaki wolo oyo asalelaki mpo na kolatisa bikuke mpe mabaya oyo esimbaka bikuke ya Tempelo ya Yawe, mpe apesaki yango epai ya mokonzi ya Asiri.
Hezekiah’s men also stripped the gold from the doors of the temple and the gold that he himself had put on the doorposts, and he sent all that gold to the king of Assyria.
17 Wuta na Lakishi, mokonzi ya Asiri atindaki epai ya mokonzi Ezekiasi, na Yelusalemi, mokonzi ya mampinga na ye, mokonzi ya bakalaka ya lokumu, mokonzi ya basoda oyo bakengelaka ye, mpe mampinga ya basoda ya nguya. Tango bakomaki na Yelusalemi mpe batelemaki pene ya nzela oyo ememaka mayi na liziba ya mayi ya monene, oyo ezali na nzela ya elanga ya moto oyo atiaka langi na bilamba,
But the king of Assyria sent a large army with some of his important officials from Lachish [city] to [persuade] King Hezekiah [to surrender]. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they stood alongside the aqueduct/channel in which water flows from the upper pool into Jerusalem, near the road to the field where the women wash clothes.
18 babelelaki mokonzi. Mpe Eliakimi, mwana mobali ya Ilikia, mobateli biloko ya ndako ya mokonzi; Shebina, mokomi mikanda; mpe Yoa, mwana mobali ya Azafi mpe mobombi mikanda, babimaki mpo na kokutana na bango.
They sent a message requesting King Hezekiah to come to them, but the king sent three of his officials [to talk to them]. He sent Hilkiah’s son Eliakim, who supervised the palace; Shebna, the official secretary; and Asaph’s son Joah, who communicated the king’s messages to the people.
19 Mokonzi ya basoda oyo bakengelaka mokonzi ya Asiri alobaki na bango: « Boloba na Ezekiasi: ‹ Tala makambo oyo mokonzi monene, mokonzi ya Asiri, alobi: ‘Otie elikya na yo na nini?
One of Sennacherib’s important officials told them to take this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the king of Assyria, the great king, says: ‘What are you trusting in [to rescue you] [RHQ]?
20 Okanisi ete maloba ya pamba ekoki kozwa esika ya mayele mpe makasi ya bitumba? Otie penza elikya na nani mpo ete otombokela ngai?
You say that you have weapons to fight us, and some country promises [to help you], [and that will enable you to defeat us, ] but that is only talk [RHQ]. Who do you think will help you to rebel against my [soldiers from Assyria]?
21 Tala, ozali nde kotia elikya na Ejipito oyo ezali lokola mwa nzete ya bambu oyo ebukana, oyo etobolaka mpe ezokisaka loboko ya moto oyo ayekamelaka yango! Faraon, mokonzi ya Ejipito, azalaka nde bongo mpo na bato nyonso oyo batielaka ye motema!’
Listen to me! You are relying on [the army of] Egypt. But that is like [MET] using a broken reed for a walking stick on which you could lean. But it would pierce the hand of anyone who would lean on it! That is what the king of Egypt would be like for anyone who relied on him [for help].
22 Tango mosusu bokoloba na ngai: ‘Totiaka elikya na biso kati na Yawe, Nzambe na biso.’ Boni! Ezali ye te oyo Ezekiasi alongolaki bisambelo na ye ya likolo ya bangomba mpe bitumbelo na ye tango alobaki na Yuda mpe na Yelusalemi: ‘Kati na Yelusalemi, bosengeli kogumbama liboso ya etumbelo oyo?’
But perhaps you will say to me, “No, we are (relying on/trusting in) Yahweh our God [to help us].” [I would reply, ] “Is he not the one whom you [insulted by] tearing down his shrines and altars and forcing everyone in Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah to worship only in front of the altar [in Jerusalem]?”’
23 Sik’oyo, nabondeli yo, beta mondenge na nkolo na ngai, mokonzi ya Asiri: ‘Nakopesa yo bampunda nkoto mibale soki okoki kopesa basoda mpo ete batambolisa yango!
So I suggest that you make a deal between you and my master/boss, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses, but [I do not think that] you are able to find 2,000 of your men who can ride on them!
24 Okokoka ndenge nini kokimisa ata mokonzi moko kaka, kati na bakonzi ya basoda ya nkolo na ngai, yo oyo otiaka elikya na yo kati na Ejipito mpo na bashar mpe bato oyo batambolisaka yango?
You are expecting the king of Egypt to send chariots and men riding horses [to assist you]. But they certainly would not [RHQ] be able to resist/defeat even the most insignificant/unimportant official in the army of Assyria!
25 Boni, okanisi ete ngai nayei kobundisa mpe kobebisa esika oyo na ndingisa ya Yawe te? Ezali Ye moko Yawe nde alobaki na ngai ete nabundisa mokili oyo mpe nabebisa yango.’ › »
Furthermore, (do you think that we have come to destroy Jerusalem without Yahweh’s help?/do not think that we have come to Jerusalem without Yahweh’s help.) [RHQ] It is Yahweh himself who told us to come here and destroy this land!”
26 Eliakimi, mwana mobali ya Ilikia, Shebina mpe Yoa balobaki na mokonzi ya basoda oyo bakengelaka mokonzi: — Tobondeli yo, loba na basali na yo na lokota ya Arami, pamba te tososolaka yango; koloba na biso na lokota ya Ebre te, noki te bato oyo bazali na likolo ya mir bakoyoka.
Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the official from Assyria, “Sir, please speak to us in your Aramaic language, because we understand it. Do not speak to us in our Hebrew language, because the people who are standing on the wall will understand it [and be frightened].”
27 Mokonzi ya basoda oyo bakengelaka mokonzi azongisaki: — Bokanisi ete nkolo na ngai atindi ngai koloba maloba oyo kaka epai na mokonzi na bino mpe epai na bino? Te! Maloba yango ezali mpe mpo na bato oyo batelemi na likolo ya mir, oyo bakolia nyei na bango mpe komela masuba na bango elongo na bino?
But the official replied, “Do you think [RHQ] that my master sent me to say these things only to you and not to the people who are standing on the wall? [If you reject this message, ] the [people in this city] will soon need to eat their own dung and drink their own urine, just like you will, [because there will be nothing more for you to eat or drink].”
28 Boye mokonzi ya basoda oyo bakengelaka mokonzi atelemaki mpe agangaki makasi na lokota ya Ebre: — Boyoka maloba ya mokonzi monene, mokonzi ya Asiri!
Then the official stood up and shouted in the Hebrew language [to the people sitting on the wall]. He said, “Listen to this message from the great king, the king of Assyria. He says,
29 Tala makambo oyo mokonzi alobi: « Tika ete Ezekiasi akosa bino te, pamba te akokoka te kokangola bino na loboko na ngai!
‘Do not allow Hezekiah to deceive you. He will not be able to rescue you from my power [MTY].
30 Bondima te ete Ezekiasi atinda bino kotia elikya na Yawe tango azali koloba: ‹ Solo, Yawe akokangola biso. Engumba oyo ekokweya te na maboko ya mokonzi ya Asiri. ›
Do not allow him to persuade you to rely on Yahweh, saying that Yahweh will rescue you, and that the army of Assyria will never capture this city!’
31 Boyokela Ezekiasi te, pamba te tala makambo oyo mokonzi ya Asiri alobi: Bosala boyokani ya kimia elongo na ngai mpe boya epai na ngai; bongo moko na moko kati na bino akolia mbuma ya elanga na ye ya vino, ya nzete na ye ya figi, mpe akomela mayi ya libulu na ye
“Do not pay attention to what Hezekiah says! This is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Come out of the city and surrender to me. If you do that, I will arrange for each of you to drink the juice from your own grapevines, and to eat figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells.
32 liboso ete naya kozwa bino mpo na komema bino na mokili oyo ekokana na oyo ya bino, mokili oyo etonda na ble mpe na vino ya sika, mokili ya mapa mpe ya bilanga ya vino, mokili ya banzete ya olive mpe ya mafuta ya nzoyi. Boye, bokozala na bomoi, bokokufa te! Bondima Ezekiasi te, pamba te azali kokosa bino tango azali koloba: ‹ Yawe akokangola biso. ›
You will be able to do that until we come and take you to a land that is like your land—a land where there is grain to make bread and vineyards to [produce grapes for making] wine. It will be a land that has plenty of olive trees and honey. If you do what the king of Assyria commands, you will not die. You will continue to live. ‘Do not allow Hezekiah to persuade you to trust in Yahweh saying that he will rescue you!
33 Boni, ezali na nzambe ya ekolo songolo, oyo alonga kokangola ekolo na ye na loboko ya mokonzi ya Asiri?
The gods that people of other nations worship have never rescued them from the power [MTY] of the king of Assyria [RHQ]!
34 Wapi banzambe ya Amati mpe ya Aripadi? Wapi banzambe ya Sefarivayimi, ya Ena, ya Iva? Boni, balongaki kokangola Samari na loboko na ngai?
Why were the gods of Hamath and Arpad [cities] unable to rescue their people from the king of Assyria [RHQ]? What happened to the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah, [towns that we completely destroyed and their gods disappeared] [RHQ]? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power?
35 Kati na banzambe nyonso ya bikolo oyo, nani azalaki na makoki ya kokangola mokili na ye na maboko na ngai? Bongo ndenge nini Yawe akoka solo kokangola Yelusalemi na maboko na ngai? »
No, none of the gods of the countries [that my army attacked] rescued their people [RHQ] from me! So why do you think that Yahweh will rescue you people of Jerusalem from my power [MTY]?’”
36 Kasi bato batikalaki kimia mpe bazongiselaki ye ata liloba moko te, pamba te mokonzi apesaki mitindo: — Bopesa ye eyano te!
But the people [who were listening] stayed silent. No one said anything, because King Hezekiah had told them, “[When the official from Assyria talks to you, ] do not answer him.”
37 Boye Eliakimi, mwana mobali ya Ilikia mpe mobateli biloko ya ndako ya mokonzi; Shebina, mokomi mikanda; mpe Yoa, mwana mobali ya Azafi mpe mobombi mikanda, bayaki epai ya Ezekiasi na bilamba epasuka, mpe bayebisaki ye makambo oyo mokonzi ya basoda oyo bakengelaka mokonzi ya Asiri alobaki.
Then Eliakim the palace administrator and Shebna the court secretary and Joah the royal historian went back to Hezekiah with their clothes torn [because they were extremely distressed], and they told him what the official from Assyria had said.
