Joshua 9
1 Zvino madzimambo ose aigara kumavirira kweJorodhani navaiva munyika yamakomo, mujinga mamakomo kumadokero, mumahombekombe ose eGungwa Guru kusvikira kuRebhanoni (madzimambo avaHiti, navaAmori, navaKenani, navaPerizi, navaHivhi navaJebhusi) vakanzwa nezvazvo.
And when these things were heard, all the kings across the Jordan, who lived among the mountains and plains, along the coastline and shores of the great sea, also those who were living near Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,
2 Vakaungana pamwe chete kuti varwisane naJoshua navaIsraeri.
gathered themselves together, so that they might fight against Joshua and Israel, with one mind and with the same resolve.
3 Asi vanhu veGibheoni pavakanzwa zvakanga zvaitwa Jeriko neAi naJoshua,
But those who were living in Gibeon, hearing all that Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 vakafunga zano: Vakaenda senhume nembongoro dzavo dzakatakura masaga akasakara nehomwe dzewaini dzakasakara, dzakatsemuka dzikasonanidzwazve.
planning cleverly, took for themselves provisions, placing old sacks upon their donkeys, and wineskins that had torn and been sewed up,
5 Varume vakapfeka shangu dzakasakara. Zvingwa zvose zvembuva yavo zvakanga zvakaoma nokuvhuvha.
and having very old shoes, which had been sewn with patches indicating their age, and being clothed in old garments, having also loaves, which they carried as food for the journey, which were hard and broken into pieces.
6 Ipapo vakaenda kuna Joshua mumusasa paGirigari ndokubva vati kwaari nokuvarume veIsraeri, “Tabva kunyika iri kure; zvino itai sungano nesu.”
And they traveled to Joshua, who at that time was staying in the camp at Gilgal. And they said to him, and to all of Israel with him, “We have come from a far away land, desiring to make peace with you.” And the sons of Israel responded to them, and said,
7 Zvino varume veIsraeri vakati kuvaHivhi, “Asi zvichida munogara pedyo nesu. Tingagoita sungano nemi sei?”
“Perhaps instead, you live in the land which ought to be ours by lot, and we would be unable to form a pact with you.”
8 Ivo ndokuti kuna Joshua, “Tiri varanda venyu.” Asi Joshua akavabvunza achiti, “Ndimi vanaani uye munobvepi?”
But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them: “But who are you? And where are you from?”
9 Ivo vakati kwaari, “Varanda venyu vabva kunyika iri kure kure nokuda kwomukurumbira waJehovha Mwari wenyu. Nokuti takanzwa nezvake: zvose zvaakaita muIjipiti,
They responded: “Your servants have arrived, from a very far away land, in the name of the Lord, your God. For we have heard about the fame of his power, all the things that he has done in Egypt,
10 uye nezvose zvaakaita kumadzimambo maviri avaAmoni kumabvazuva eJorodhani nokuna Sihoni mambo weHeshibhoni, naOgi mambo weBhashani, aitonga muAshitaroti.
and to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan: Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Zvino vakuru vedu navagari vose vomunyika yedu vakati kwatiri, ‘Torai mbuva yerwendo rwenyu; muende munosangana navo muti kwavari, “Tiri varanda venyu; itai sungano nesu.”’
And our elders, and all the inhabitants of our land, have said to us: ‘Take in hand provisions for the very long journey, and meet with them, and say: We are your servants; form a pact with us.’
12 Zvingwa zvedu izvi zvakanga zvichidziya patakazvitora mudzimba dzedu zuva ratakasimuka tichiuya kuno. Asi zvino chionai kuoma nokuvhuvha kwazvaita.
Lo, the loaves were taken up warm when we departed from our houses, so that we might come to you. Now they have become dry and broken, due to age.
13 Uye homwe dzewaini idzi dzaiva itsva patakadzizadza, asi chionai kubvaruka kwadzaita. Uye mbatya dzedu neshangu dzedu zvasakara nokuda kworwendo rurefu refu.”
These wineskins were new when we filled them, now they are torn and broken. The garments we are wearing, and the shoes we have on our feet, due to the great length of the distance, have become worn and are nearly consumed.”
14 Varume veIsraeri vakaravira mbuva yavo asi havana kubvunza Jehovha.
And so they accepted this, because of their provisions, and they did not consult the mouth of the Lord.
15 Ipapo Joshua akaita sungano yorugare navo kuti vavarege vari vapenyu, uye vakuru veungano vakaisimbisa nemhiko.
And Joshua made peace with them, and entering into a pact, he promised that they would not be put to death. The leaders of the multitude also swore to them.
16 Zvino mushure mamazuva matatu vaita sungano navaGibheoni, vaIsraeri vakanzwa kuti vakanga vari vavakidzani, vagere pedyo navo.
Then, three days after the pact was formed, they heard that they lived in the vicinity, and that they would soon be among them.
17 Naizvozvo vaIsraeri vakasimuka vakasvika mumaguta avo zuva rechitatu: aiti Gibheoni, neKefira, neBheroti, neKiriati Jearimi.
And so the sons of Israel moved the camp, and they arrived at their cities on the third day, those which are called: Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 Asi vaIsraeri havana kuvarwisa, nokuti vakuru veungano vakanga vaita mhiko kwavari naJehovha, Mwari waIsraeri. Ungano yose yakapopotera vatungamiri,
And they did not strike them, because the leaders of the multitude had sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And so all of the common people murmured against the leaders.
19 asi vatungamiri vose vakapindura vachiti, “Takapika kwavari naJehovha, Mwari waIsraeri, zvino hatigoni kuita chinhu kwavari.
And they responded to them: “We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, and for that reason, we are not able to touch them.
20 Izvi ndizvo zvatichaita kwavari: Tichavarega vari vapenyu, kuitira kuti kutsamwa kwaMwari kurege kutiwira nokuda kwokuputsa mhiko yatakapika kwavari.”
But we shall do this to them: Certainly, let them be preserved so that they may live, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, since we would have sworn falsely.
21 Vakaenderera mberi vachiti, “Varegei vari vapenyu, asi ngavave vatemi vehuni navacheri vemvura veungano yose.” Naizvozvo zvakanga zvarehwa navatungamiri zvakaitwa.
But though they live, let them serve the entire multitude by cutting wood and carrying water.” And while they were discussing these things,
22 Ipapo Joshua akadana vaGibheoni akati kwavari, “Sei makatinyengedza muchiti, ‘Tinogara kure kure nemi,’ asi imi muchigara pedyo nesu?
Joshua called the Gibeonites, and he said to them: “Why would you be willing to deceive us by fraud, saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when you are in our midst?
23 Naizvozvo mava vanhu vakatukwa: Hamuchazofi makarega kuva vatemi vehuni navacheri vemvura veimba yaMwari wangu.”
Therefore, you shall be under a curse, and your stock shall not cease to be cutters of wood and carriers of water, into the house of my God.”
24 Ivo vakapindura Joshua vachiti, “Varanda venyu vakanga vaudzwa pachena kuti Jehovha Mwari wenyu akanga arayira Mozisi muranda wake sei kuti akupei nyika yose nokuparadza vose vageremo pamberi penyu. Naizvozvo taityira upenyu hwedu nokuda kwenyu, zvino ndicho chikonzero takaita izvi.
And they responded: “It was reported to us, your servants, that the Lord your God had promised his servant Moses that he would give you the entire land, and that he would destroy all its inhabitants. Therefore, we were very afraid, and we made a provision for our lives, compelled by the dread of you, and we undertook this counsel.
25 Zvino tava mumaoko enyu. Itai kwatiri chero zvamunoona zvakanaka uye zvakarurama.”
And now we are in your hand. Act toward us as it seems good and right to you.”
26 Naizvozvo Joshua akavaponesa kubva kuvaIsraeri, ivo vakasavauraya.
Therefore, Joshua did just as he had said, and he freed them from the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they would not be killed.
27 Zuva iroro Joshua akaita vaGibheoni vatemi vehuni navacheri vemvura yeungano neyearitari yaJehovha panzvimbo yaizosarudzwa naJehovha. Uye ndizvo zvavari kusvikira nanhasi.
And he decreed on that day, that they would be in the ministry of all the people and of the altar of the Lord, cutting wood and carrying water, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.
