2 Ebyomumirembe 20
1 Bwe wayitawo ebbanga, Abamowaabu n’Abamoni nga bali wamu n’abamu ku Bamoni ne balumba Yekosafaati okumulwanyisa.
Later [armies from] Moab and Ammon and some soldiers from [the] Meun [area in Edom] came [to fight] against Jehoshaphat’s [army].
2 Abasajja abamu ne bagenda ne bategeeza Yekosafaati nti, “Eggye ddene eriva e Busuuli okuva emitala w’Ennyanja ey’Omunnyo, likulumbye, era lituuse mu Kazazonutamali, ye Engedi,”
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 Yekosafaati n’atya nnyo n’amalirira okwebuuza ku Mukama, era n’alangirira okusiiba mu Yuda yonna.
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 Yuda yonna n’ekuŋŋaana okunoonya okubeerwa okuva eri Mukama okuva mu bibuga byonna ebya Yuda.
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 Awo Yekosafaati n’ayimirira mu maaso g’ekkuŋŋaaniro lya Yuda ne Yerusaalemi, mu yeekaalu ya Mukama mu maaso g’oluggya olupya,
Then Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the people of Judah in front of the new courtyard of the temple,
6 n’ayogera nti, “Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa bajjajjaffe, si ggwe Katonda ow’omu ggulu? Si ggwe ofuga obwakabaka bwonna mu nsi? Obuyinza n’amaanyi biri mu mukono gwo, n’okubaawo ne watabaawo n’omu ayinza okuyimirira mu maaso go.
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 Ayi Katonda waffe, si ggwe wagobamu abatuuze abaali mu nsi eno mu maaso g’abantu bo Isirayiri, n’ogiwa ezzadde lya Ibulayimu mukwano gwo okugibeerangamu emirembe gyonna?
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 Era bagibaddemu ne bazimbamu ekifo ow’okusinziza erinnya lyo, nga boogera nti,
We have lived here and have built a temple where we, your people, worship you. We said,
9 ‘Bwe tulituukibwako akabi konna, oba ekitala eky’okusala omusango, oba lumbe, oba njala, tunaayimiriranga mu maaso go, ne mu maaso ga yeekaalu eno okuli erinnya lyo, ne tukukaabiriranga mu kulumwa kwaffe n’otuwulira era n’otulokola.’
'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 “Naye kaakano laba, abasajja ba Amoni ne Mowaabu n’ab’oku Lusozi Seyiri, ab’omu kibangirizi kye wagaana Isirayiri okulumba bwe baava mu nsi y’e Misiri, era babeewala ne batagenda kubazikiriza,
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 laba bwe baagala okutusasula nga batugobaganya mu kifo kye watuwa ng’omugabo gwaffe.
[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 Ayi Katonda waffe, toobasalire musango? Kubanga tetulina maanyi ga kulwana na ggye lino eddene eritulumbye. Tetumanyi kya kukola, wabula amaaso gaffe gatunuulidde ggwe.”
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 Abasajja bonna aba Yuda, wamu ne bakyala baabwe, n’abaana baabwe, n’abaana abasemberayo ddala obuto, ne bayimirira mu maaso ga Mukama.
All the men of Judah and their wives and children and babies were standing there in the presence of Yahweh [while Jehoshaphat prayed].
14 Awo Omwoyo wa Mukama n’akka ku Yakaziyeeri mutabani wa Zekkaliya, muzzukulu wa Benaya muzzukulu wa Yeyeri, muzzukulu wa Mattaniya, Omuleevi ow’ezzadde lya Asafu ng’ayimiridde wakati mu lukuŋŋaana.
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 N’ayogera nti, “Kabaka Yekosafaati, ne Yuda yenna, n’abatuuze ba Yerusaalemi, kino Mukama ky’abagamba nti, ‘Temutya era temuggwaamu mwoyo olw’eggye eryo eddene, kubanga olutalo si lwammwe, naye lwa Katonda.
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 Enkya muserengete mubasisinkane; laba bajja kwambukira awalinnyirwa e Zizi, era munaabasisinkana ekiwonvu we kikoma mu ddungu lya Yerweri.
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 Tekijja kubeetagisa kulwana lutalo luno. Mubeere mu bifo byammwe, mube bagumu mulabe obuwanguzi Mukama bw’anaabawa mmwe Yuda ne Yerusaalemi. Temutya wadde okuggwaamu omwoyo; enkya mugende mubasisinkane, Mukama anaabeera nammwe.’”
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 Awo Yekosafaati n’avuunama amaaso ge ku ttaka, era ne Yuda yenna n’abatuuze bonna ab’e Yerusaalemi ne bavuunama wansi mu maaso ga Mukama ne bamusinza.
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 Abamu ku Baleevi, Abakokasi n’abalala nga Bakoola ne bayimirira okutendereza Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri, n’eddoboozi ery’omwanguka.
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 Ne bakeera mu makya ne bagenda mu ddungu lya Tekowa. Bwe baali nga bagenda Yekosafaati n’ayimirira n’abagamba nti, “Mumpulirize, Yuda n’abantu ab’e Yerusaalemi! Mube n’okukkiriza mu Mukama Katonda wammwe munaanywezebwa; mukkirize bannabbi be, munaalaba omukisa.”
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 Awo bwe yamala okwebuuza ku bantu, n’alonda abasajja ab’okuyimbira Mukama, n’okumutendereza olw’ekitiibwa ky’obutuukirivu bwe, abakulemberamu eggye, nga boogera nti, “Mwebaze Mukama kubanga okwagala kwe kubeerera emirembe gyonna.”
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 Awo bwe batandika okuyimba n’okutendereza, Mukama n’ataayiza abasajja ba Amoni, n’aba Mowaabu, n’ab’oku Lusozi Seyiri, abaali balumbye Yuda, ne bawangulwa.
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 Abasajja ba Amoni n’aba Mowaabu ne bagolokokera ku basajja ab’oku Lusozi Seyiri ne babazikiriza, era bwe baamala okubazikiriza, ne bakyukiragana ne battiŋŋana.
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 Awo abasajja aba Yuda bwe baatuuka ku munaala ogw’eddungu, ne batunuulira eggye eddene, laba nga bonna mirambo egigudde, nga tewaliwo n’omu eyawonyeewo.
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 Yekosafaati n’abantu be bwe bajja okutwala omunyago, basangawo ebintu bingi n’engoye nnyingi, n’eby’obugagga bingi, okusinga n’ebyo bye baali basobola okwetikka. Baamala ennaku ssatu nga babisomba, olw’obungi bwabyo.
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 Ku lunaku olwokuna ne bakuŋŋaanira mu kiwonvu ekya Beraka, okutendereza Mukama, kyekyava kituumibwa Ekiwonvu kya Beraka, ne leero.
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 Oluvannyuma, buli musajja wa Yuda n’owa Yerusaalemi, nga bakulemberwamu Yekosafaati, ne baddayo e Yerusaalemi nga basanyuse, kubanga Mukama yali abawadde essanyu olw’okuwangula abalabe baabwe.
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 Ne bayingira Yerusaalemi, ne bagenda mu yeekaalu ya Mukama nga bakutte entongooli, n’ennanga, n’amakondeere.
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they went to the temple, [playing] harps and lutes and trumpets.
29 Entiisa ya Mukama n’ejja ku bwakabaka bwonna obw’omu mawanga, bwe baawulira nga Mukama yalwana n’abalabe ba Isirayiri.
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 Era obwakabaka bwa Yekosafaati ne buba n’emirembe, kubanga Katonda we yamuwa emirembe enjuuyi zonna.
Then there was peace in the kingdom that was ruled by Jehoshaphat, because God had caused the surrounding nations not to attack it.
31 Yekosafaati n’afuga Yuda. Yalina emyaka amakumi asatu mu etaano we yafuukira kabaka wa Yuda, era n’afugira emyaka amakumi abiri mu etaano mu Yerusaalemi, ne nnyina erinnya lye nga ye Azuba muwala wa Siruki.
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 N’atambulira mu kkubo lya Asa kitaawe, n’atalivaamu, era n’akola ebyali ebirungi mu maaso ga Mukama.
He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh, like his father Asa had done, and he did not stop doing those things.
33 Naye ebifo ebigulumivu teyabiggyaawo, so n’abantu ne bataweerayo ddala mitima gyabwe eri Katonda wa bajjajjaabwe.
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 Ebyafaayo ebirala ebyaliwo mu mulembe gwa Yekosafaati, okuva ku ntandikwa ye okutuusa ku nkomerero ye, byawandiikibwa mu bitabo bya Yeeku mutabani wa Kanani, era biri ne mu kitabo ekya bassekabaka ba Isirayiri.
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 Bwe waayitawo ebbanga, Yekosafaati kabaka wa Yuda n’akola endagaano ne Akaziya kabaka wa Isirayiri, omukozi w’ebibi.
During his reign, Jehoshaphat made a treaty with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, who was a very wicked king.
36 N’ateesa naye okuzimba ebyombo ebyamaguzi biseeyeeyenga okugenda e Talusiisi, era ne babizimbira mu Eziyonigeba.
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 Mu kiseera ekyo Eryeza mutabani wa Dodavaku ow’e Malesa n’ayogera ebyobunnabbi eri Yekosafaati ng’agamba nti, “Kubanga okoze endagaano ne Akaziya, n’omwegattako, Mukama alizikiriza by’okoze.” Era ebyombo ne bimenyekamenyeka, ne bitasobola kugenda Talusiisi.
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.
