< Yoswa 9 >
1 Bakabaka baamawanga gonna agaali emitala w’omugga Yoludaani ku nsozi ne mu bikko ne ku lubalama lw’ennyanja ennene okwolekera Lebanooni; omwo nga mwe muli Abakiiti, n’Abamoli, n’Abakanani, n’Abaperezi, n’Abakiivi, n’Abayebusi bonna bwe baawulira ebibaddewo
All the kings west of the Jordan heard what had happened. These included the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who lived in the hill country, the lowlands, and along the coast as far as Lebanon.
2 ne beekobaana okulwana ne Yoswa n’Abayisirayiri.
So they gathered to fight together as a united army against Joshua and the Israelites.
3 Naye abatuuze b’omu Gibyoni bwe baawulira Yoswa ky’akoze Yeriko ne Ayi
But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 ne basala amagezi ne bateekateeka emmere n’ebyokunywa ne babissa mu bisawosawo ebikadde ebitungiriretungirire ne babiteeka ku ndogoyi zaabwe, ne bambala ebigoye ebiyulifuyulifu
they decided on a cunning plan. They sent messengers to Joshua, their donkeys wearing worn-out saddles and carrying old wineskins that were torn and patched.
5 n’engatto entungirire, emmere yaabwe yonna yali nkalu ate nga yakukula.
They put on worn sandals that had been mended and wore old clothes. All their bread was dry and moldy.
6 Ne bagenda eri Yoswa mu lusiisira e Girugaali ne bamugamba wamu n’Abayisirayiri nti, “Ffe tuva mu nsi yeewala, twagala tukole nammwe endagaano.”
They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and told him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a land far away, so please make a treaty with us.”
7 Naye Abayisirayiri ne bagamba Abakiivi nti, “Mmwe abatabeera mu ffe tukola tutya nammwe endagaano?”
But the Israelites said to the Hivites, “Maybe you live close by. If you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”
8 Ne baddamu nti, “Ffe tuli baddu bo.” Yoswa n’abagamba nti, “Mmwe baani era muva wa?”
“We are your servants,” they replied. “But who are you? Where do you come from?” Joshua asked.
9 Ne baddamu nti, “Tuzze lwa Mukama Katonda wammwe; twawulira byonna bye yakola e Misiri,
“Your servants have come from a land far away,” they replied. “For we have heard of the reputation of the Lord your God, and reports of all that he did in Egypt,
10 era n’ebyo bye yakola bakabaka ababiri Abamoli abaabeeranga emitala wa Yoludaani, Sikoni kabaka w’e Kesuboni ne Ogi kabaka we Basani abaabeeranga mu Asitaloosi.
and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth.
11 Abakulembeze n’abantu b’ewaffe bonna beebaatugamba nti, ‘Mwesibire entanda mugende musisinkane Abayisirayiri mubagambe nti, “Ffe tuli baddu bammwe kale tukole nammwe endagaano.”’
So our leaders and everyone who lives in our land told us: Take what you need with you for the journey. Go and meet with them, and tell them, ‘We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’
12 Kale laba emmere yaffe eno we twaviira eka ng’ekyayokya naye olw’olugendo oluwanvu kaakano yiino yonna nkalu era ekukudde n’okukula.
Look at this bread. It was warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come here. But now it's dry and moldy, as you can see.
13 Ensawo z’omwenge zino ez’amaliba zaali mpya era nga zijjudde omwenge, naye kaakano laba n’okwabika zaabise; ebyambalo n’engatto zaffe byonna byabise olw’olugendo oluwanvu lwe tutambudde.”
These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look at them now—they're split and damaged. These clothes of ours and our sandals are all worn out because the journey took so long.”
14 Abayisirayiri, awatali kumala kubuuza eri Mukama, ne bakkiriza okulya ku mmere y’abatambuze bano.
The Israelites tried some of the food. However, they did not consult the Lord.
15 Yoswa n’abakulembeze b’Abayisirayiri ne bakola nabo endagaano y’emirembe era ne beerayirira obutabakolako kabi konna.
Then Joshua made a treaty with them, promising to spare their lives, and the leaders of the assembly swore an oath to guarantee it.
16 Nga wayiseewo ennaku ssatu ng’endagaano ewedde okukola, Abayisirayiri ne bakivumbula ng’abantu abo baliraanwa baabwe.
Three days after they had made the treaty, the Israelites learned that the Gibeonites lived nearby, right among them!
17 Abayisirayiri ne bagenda okunoonyereza, ku lunaku olwokusatu ne batuuka mu bibuga by’abantu bano: Gibyoni, ne Kefira, ne Beroosi ne Kiriyasuyalimu.
The Israelites left to go to the Gibeonite towns, and arrived there on the third day. The towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.
18 Naye Abayisirayiri tebatta bantu bano kubanga abakulembeze baabwe baali baamala dda okwerayirira mu linnya lya Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri obutabatta. Abayisirayiri bonna ne beemulugunyiza abakulembeze baabwe.
But the Israelites did not attack them because of the treaty sworn by the leaders of the assembly in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. At this all the Israelites protested against the leaders.
19 Naye bo abakulembeze ne bakakata nti, “Twamala dda okwerayirira mu maaso ga Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri, tetuyinza kubatta.
But the leaders replied to the people, “We swore to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, so we cannot lay a hand on them now.
20 Tetuteekwa kubatta kubanga twalayira obutakikola, singa tukikola obusungu bwa Katonda bujja kutubuubuukirako.”
So this is what we're going to do to them. We'll let them live, so that we won't be punished for breaking the oath that we swore to them.”
21 Abakulembeze b’Abayisirayiri ne bagamba nti, “Temubatta.” Bwe batyo ne bafuuka baakwasanga nku era n’okukimanga amazzi g’Abayisirayiri ng’abakulembeze bwe babalagira.
The leaders concluded, “Let them live.” So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water-carriers in service to the entire assembly, as the Israelite leaders had ordered.
22 Yoswa n’ayita abantu abo n’ababuuza nti, “Naye lwaki mwatulimba nti muli b’ewala, so nga ate muli baliraanwa baffe?
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them, “Why did you trick us? You told us, ‘We live a long way from you,’ but you live right next door to us!
23 Kale nno kaakano mukolimiddwa, munaabeeranga baddu, baakwasanga nku era n’okukimanga amazzi mu nnyumba ya Katonda wange.”
Consequently you are under a curse. From now on you shall forever be servants, woodcutters and water-carriers for the house of my God.”
24 Yoswa ne bamuddamu nti, “Abaddu bo kino twakikola lwa kubanga twawulira nti, Mukama Katonda wo yalagira omuddu we Musa okubawa ensi eno era n’okuzikiriza bonna abagibeeramu, bwe tutyo ne tutya nnyo ne twagala okuwonya obulamu bwaffe kye kyatukozeseza ekintu kino.
They answered Joshua, “We your servants were told very clearly that the Lord your God had ordered Moses to give you all this land, and that all its inhabitants were to be wiped out before you. So we really feared for our lives because of you. That's why we did what we did.
25 Naye tuutuno kaakano tuli mu mukono gwo gw’omanyi eky’okutukolera.”
Now we're in your hands. Do to us what you think is right and just.”
26 Bw’atyo Yoswa n’awonya abantu bano mu mukono gw’Abayisirayiri, ne batabatta.
Joshua did as he had said. He saved them from the Israelites, so that they did not kill them.
27 Naye okuva olwo n’abafuula baakwasanga nku n’okukimiranga Abayisirayiri amazzi, era n’okuweerezanga ku kyoto kya Mukama mu kifo Mukama ky’anaalondanga okukiteekamu. Era bwe batyo bwe bakola ne leero.
That day Joshua made them woodcutters and water-carriers in service to the entire assembly and for the altar of the Lord wherever the Lord should choose. That is what they do right up to this very day.