2 Bassekabaka 18
1 Mu mwaka ogwokusatu ogw’obufuzi bwa Koseya mutabani wa Era kabaka wa Isirayiri, Keezeekiya mutabani wa Akazi kabaka wa Yuda, n’atandika okufuga.
After King Hoshea had been ruling Israel for almost three years, Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, began to rule Judah.
2 Yali wa myaka amakumi abiri mu etaano, we yatandikira okufuga, n’afugira emyaka amakumi abiri mu mwenda mu Yerusaalemi, n’erinnya lya nnyina ye yali Abi muwala wa Zekkaliya.
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 N’akola ebirungi mu maaso ga Mukama nga jjajjaawe Dawudi bwe yakola.
Hezekiah did things that Yahweh considered to be right, like his ancestor King David had done.
4 N’aggyawo ebifo ebigulumivu n’amenyaamenya amayinja amoole, n’atema n’empagi eza Baasera. N’amenyaamenya omusota ogw’ekikomo Musa gwe yakola, kubanga ne mu biro ebyo Abayisirayiri baagwoterezangako obubaane.
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 Keezeekiya yeesiga Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri, ne wataba n’omu eyamwenkana ku bakabaka bonna aba Yuda mu abo abaamusooka ne mu abo abamuddirira.
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 N’anywerera ku Mukama, n’ataleka kumugoberera, era n’akuuma n’amateeka Mukama ge yawa Musa.
He remained loyal to Yahweh and never disobeyed him. He carefully obeyed all the commandments that Yahweh had given to Moses.
7 Mukama n’abeera wamu naye, era n’abeera n’omukisa mu buli kye yakolanga. N’agyemera kabaka w’e Bwasuli, n’agaana okumuweereza.
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 N’awangula Abafirisuuti, mu buli kigo na buli kibuga ekyaliko bbugwe, okuva e Gaza n’okutuuka ku nsalo zaakyo.
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 Mu mwaka ogwokuna ogw’obufuzi bwa Keezeekiya, ate nga gwe mwaka ogw’omusanvu ogw’obufuzi bwa Koseya mutabani wa Era, kabaka wa Isirayiri, Salumaneseri kabaka w’e Bwasuli n’alumba Samaliya n’akizingiza.
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 Bwe wayitawo emyaka esatu, mu mwaka ogw’omukaga ogw’obufuzi bwa Keezeekiya, ate nga gwe mwaka ogw’omwenda ogwa Koseya kabaka wa Isirayiri, Samaliya ne kiwambibwa.
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 Kabaka w’e Bwasuli n’atwala Abayisirayiri e Bwasuli mu buwaŋŋanguse, n’abateeka mu Kala, ne mu Kaboli ku mugga gw’e Gozani ne mu bibuga by’Abameedi,
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 kubanga tebagondera ddoboozi lya Mukama Katonda waabwe, naye baasobya endagaano ye, n’ebyo byonna Musa omuddu wa Katonda bye yalagira. Naye ne batabiwulirizza wadde okubigondera.
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 Awo mu mwaka ogw’ekkumi n’ena ogw’obufuzi bwa kabaka Keezeekiya, Sennakeribu kabaka w’e Bwasuli n’alumba ebibuga byonna ebyaliko bbugwe ebya Yuda, n’abiwamba.
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 Awo Keezeekiya kabaka wa Yuda n’aweereza obubaka eri kabaka w’e Bwasuli e Lakisi ng’agamba nti, “Nnyonoonye mu maaso go; ddayo ondeke. Nnaakusasula byonna by’ononsalira.” Kabaka w’e Bwasuli n’awooza ku Keezeekiya kabaka wa Yuda ttani kkumi eza ffeeza ne ttani emu eya zaabu.
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 Keezeekiya n’amuwa ffeeza yonna eyali mu yeekaalu ya Mukama n’eyo eyali mu mawanika ag’omu lubiri.
So Hezekiah gave to him all the silver that was in the temple and that was stored in the king’s palace.
16 Mu kiseera ekyo Keezeekiya kabaka wa Yuda n’aggyako zaabu gwe yali atadde ku nzigi ne ku minyolo egya yeekaalu ya Mukama, n’amuwa kabaka w’e Bwasuli.
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 Kabaka w’e Bwasuli n’atuma Talutani, omuduumizi we ow’oku ntikko, Labusalisi, omukulu wa bakungu, ne Labusake omuduumizi we alwanira ku ttale n’eggye eddene, okuva e Lakisi okugenda ewa kabaka Keezeekiya e Yerusaalemi. Ne batuuka e Yerusaalemi, ne bakoma awali olusalosalo olw’ekidiba eky’engulu ekiri ku kkubo ery’Ennimiro ey’Omwozi w’Engoye.
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 Awo ne bayita kabaka, naye Eriyakimu mutabani wa Kirukiya eyali ssabakaaki, Sebuna omuwandiisi ne Yowa mutabani wa Asafu omujjukiza ne bagenda gye bali.
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 Awo Labusake n’abagamba nti, “Mutegeeze Keezeekiya nti, “‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera kabaka omukulu, kabaka w’e Bwasuli nti, Kiki kye weesiga?
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 Olowooza nti ebigambo obugambo, kakoddyo akalaga amaanyi n’obuvumu mu kulwana? Ani gwe weesiga, n’okujeema n’onjeemera?
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 Laba nno, weesize Misiri, olumuli olwo olwatifu, oluyinza okufumita omukono gw’omuntu ne lumuleetako ekiwundu. Bw’atyo bw’ali Falaawo, ye kabaka w’e Misiri eri abo bonna abamwesiga.
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 Ate era bw’oŋŋamba nti, “Twesize Mukama Katonda waffe,” oyo si y’omu Keezeekiya gwe yaggyirawo ebifo ebigulumivu n’ebyoto, ng’agamba Yuda ne Yerusaalemi nti, “Munaasinzizanga mu maaso g’ekyoto kino mu Yerusaalemi”?
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 “‘Kale nno, jjangu oteese ne mukama wange kabaka w’e Bwasuli, nange n’akuwa embalaasi enkumi bbiri bw’onooba ng’olina abeebagazi.
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 Onooyinza otya okuwangula omu ku baserikale ba mukama wange asembayo, bw’onooba nga weesiga amagaali n’abeebagala embalaasi ab’e Misiri?
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 Olowooza nti nnyinza okujja okutabaala ekifo kino n’okukizikiriza awatali kigambo kya Mukama? Mukama yennyini yaŋŋambye nyambuke nzikirize ensi eno.’”
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 Awo Eriyakimu mutabani wa Kirukiya, Sebuna ne Yowa ne bagamba Labusake nti, “Tukwegayiridde yogera eri abaddu bo mu lulimi Olusuuli, kubanga tulutegeera. Toyogera naffe mu lulimi olw’Abayudaaya ng’abantu bonna abali ku bbugwe bawuliriza.”
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 Naye Labusake n’abaddamu nti, “Mulowooza nti mukama wange yantuma eri mukama wammwe n’eri mmwe okwogera ebigambo bino, so si eri abasajja abatudde ku bbugwe, abali mu kabi nammwe kubanga okufaanana nga mmwe bagenda kulya empitambi yaabwe n’okunywa omusulo gwabwe?”
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 Awo Labusake n’ayimirira n’akoowoola mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka mu lulimi olw’Abayudaaya nti, “Muwulire ekigambo kya kabaka omukulu, kabaka w’e Bwasuli!
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 Bw’ati bw’ayogera kabaka nti, ‘Keezeekiya tabalimbanga, kubanga taliyinza kubalokola mu mukono gwange.
‘Do not allow Hezekiah to deceive you. He will not be able to rescue you from my power [MTY].
30 Temuganya Keezeekiya kubasendasenda mwesige Mukama ng’agamba nti, Mukama alibalokola, era n’ekibuga kino tekiriweebwayo mu mukono gwa kabaka w’e Bwasuli.’
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 “Temuwuliriza Keezeekiya. Bw’ati bw’ayogera kabaka w’e Bwasuli nti, ‘Mutabagane nange mujje gye ndi, buli omu ku mmwe anywe okuva mu muzabbibu ggwe, buli muntu ku mutiini gwe, na buli muntu anywe amazzi ag’omu kidiba kye 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 okutuusa lwe ndijja ne mbatwala mu nsi efaanana ensi yammwe, ensi ey’eŋŋaano n’omwenge omusu, ensi ey’emigaati n’ennimiro ez’emizabbibu, ensi ey’amafuta aga zeyituuni n’omubisi gw’enjuki, mube balamu muleme okufa.’ “Temuwuliriza Keezeekiya kubanga abawabya bw’agamba nti, ‘Mukama alibalokola.’
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 Waliwo katonda n’omu owa baamawanga eyali alokodde ensi ye mu mukono gwa kabaka w’e Bwasuli?
The gods that people of other nations worship have never rescued them from the power [MTY] of the king of Assyria [RHQ]!
34 Bali ludda wa bakatonda b’e Kamasi n’ab’e Alupadi? Bali ludda wa bakatonda b’e Sefavayimu, ab’e Kena n’ab’e Yiva? Baali balokodde Samaliya mu mukono gwange?
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 Ani ku bakatonda abo bonna ab’ensi ezo eyali alokodde ensi ye mu mukono gwange, mulyoke mulowooze nti Mukama alirokola Yerusaalemi mu mukono gwange?”
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 Naye abantu ne basirika ne bataddamu kigambo na kimu, kubanga kabaka yali alagidde nti, “Temumuddamu.”
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 Awo Eriyakimu mutabani wa Kirukiya, eyali ssabakaaki, ne Sebuna omuwandiisi ne Yowa mutabani wa Asafu omujjukiza ne bagenda eri Keezeekiya nga bayuzizza engoye zaabwe, ne bamutegeeza ebigambo Labusake bye yali ayogedde.
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.
