1 Wafalme 12
1 Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu, kwa kuwa Waisraeli wote walikuwa wamekwenda huko kumfanya yeye kuwa mfalme.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2 Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati aliposikia hili (alikuwa bado yuko Misri alikokuwa amekimbilia awe mbali na Mfalme Solomoni), akarudi kutoka Misri.
And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (now he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;
3 Kwa hiyo wakatuma watu kumwita Yeroboamu, yeye na kusanyiko lote la Israeli wakamwendea Rehoboamu na kumwambia,
and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
4 “Baba yako aliweka nira nzito juu yetu, lakini sasa tupunguzie kazi za kikatili na nira nzito aliyoweka juu yetu, nasi tutakutumikia.”
Thy father made our yoke grievous; and now lighten thou the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5 Rehoboamu akajibu, “Nendeni kwa muda wa siku tatu na kisha mnirudie.” Basi watu wakaenda zao.
And he said to them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
6 Kisha Mfalme Rehoboamu akataka shauri kwa wazee ambao walimtumikia Solomoni baba yake wakati wa uhai wake akawauliza, “Mnanishauri nini katika kuwajibu watu hawa?”
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, How do ye advise to return answer to this people?
7 Wakajibu, “Kama leo utakuwa mtumishi wa watu hawa na kuwahudumia na kuwapa jibu linaloridhisha, watakuwa watumishi wako daima.”
And they spoke to him saying, If this day thou wilt be a servant to this people, and wilt serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
8 Lakini Rehoboamu akakataa shauri alilopewa na wazee na akataka ushauri kwa vijana wanaume rika lake waliokuwa wakimtumikia.
But he forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, that stood before him.
9 Akawauliza, “Ninyi ushauri wenu ni nini? Tutawajibuje watu hawa wanaoniambia, ‘Ifanye nyepesi nira baba yako aliyoweka juu yetu?’”
And he said to them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people who have spoken to me saying, Lighten the yoke which thy father put upon us?
10 Wale vijana wa rika lake wakamjibu, “Waambie watu hawa waliokuambia, ‘Baba yako aliweka nira nzito juu yetu, lakini ifanye nira yetu nyepesi,’ kuwa, ‘Kidole changu kidogo ni kinene kuliko kiuno cha baba yangu.
And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people that have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us, — thus shalt thou say to them: My little [finger] is thicker than my father's loins;
11 Baba yangu aliweka nira nzito juu yenu, mimi nitaifanya hata iwe nzito zaidi. Baba yangu aliwachapa kwa mijeledi, mimi nitawachapa kwa nge.’”
and whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12 Siku tatu baadaye, Yeroboamu na watu wote wakamrudia Rehoboamu, kama mfalme alivyokuwa amesema, “Rudini kwangu baada ya siku tatu.”
And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed saying, Come again to me on the third day.
13 Mfalme akawajibu watu kwa ukatili. Akikataa shauri alilopewa na wazee,
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him;
14 akafuata shauri la vijana wa rika lake na kusema, “Baba yangu alifanya nira yenu kuwa nzito, mimi nitaifanya kuwa nzito zaidi. Baba yangu aliwachapa kwa mijeledi, mimi nitawachapa kwa nge.”
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15 Kwa hiyo mfalme hakuwasikiliza watu, kwa kuwa jambo hili lilitoka kwa Bwana, ili kutimiza neno ambalo Bwana alikuwa amenena kwa Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati kupitia Ahiya Mshiloni.
So the king hearkened not to the people; for it was brought about by Jehovah, that he might give effect to his word, which Jehovah spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16 Israeli wote walipoona kuwa mfalme amekataa kuwasikiliza, wakamjibu mfalme: “Tuna fungu gani kwa Daudi? Sisi hatuna urithi kwa mwana wa Yese. Nendeni kwenye mahema yenu, ee Israeli! Angalia nyumba yako mwenyewe, ee Daudi!” Hivyo Waisraeli wakaenda kwenye mahema yao.
And all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them; and the people answered the king saying, What portion have we in David? And [we have] no inheritance in the son of Jesse: To your tents, O Israel! Now see to thine own house, David! And Israel went to their tents.
17 Lakini kwa habari ya Waisraeli waliokuwa wakiishi katika miji ya Yuda, Rehoboamu akaendelea kuwatawala bado.
But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 Mfalme Rehoboamu akamtuma Adoramu, aliyekuwa msimamizi wa wale waliofanya kazi ngumu kwa kulazimishwa, lakini Israeli wote wakampiga kwa mawe hadi akafa. Hata hivyo, Mfalme Rehoboamu, akafanikiwa kuingia kwenye gari lake na kutorokea Yerusalemu.
And king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the levy; but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. And king Rehoboam hastened to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 Hivyo Israeli wakaasi dhidi ya nyumba ya Daudi hadi leo.
And Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day.
20 Waisraeli wote waliposikia kwamba Yeroboamu amerudi, wakatuma watu na kumwita kwenye kusanyiko na kumfanya mfalme juu ya Israeli yote. Ni kabila la Yuda peke yake lililobaki kuwa tiifu kwa nyumba ya Daudi.
And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, that they sent and called him to the assembly, and made him king over all Israel: none followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
21 Ikawa Rehoboamu alipofika Yerusalemu, akakusanya nyumba yote ya Yuda na kabila la Benyamini, wanaume wapiganaji 180,000, kufanya vita dhidi ya nyumba ya Israeli na kuurudisha tena ufalme kwa Rehoboamu mwana wa Solomoni.
And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men apt for war, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22 Lakini neno hili la Mungu likamjia Shemaya mtu wa Mungu:
But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23 “Mwambie Rehoboamu mwana wa Solomoni mfalme wa Yuda, na nyumba yote ya Yuda na Benyamini, na watu wengine wote,
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remainder of the people, saying,
24 ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Msipande kupigana dhidi ya ndugu zenu, Waisraeli. Nendeni nyumbani, kila mmoja wenu, kwa kuwa hili nimelitenda mimi.’” Kwa hiyo wakalitii neno la Bwana na kurudi nyumbani, kama Bwana alivyokuwa ameagiza.
Thus saith Jehovah: Go not up, nor fight with your brethren, the children of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing is from me. And they hearkened to the word of Jehovah, and returned to depart, according to the word of Jehovah.
25 Kisha Yeroboamu akajenga Shekemu akaizungushia ngome katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu na akaishi huko. Akatoka huko, akaenda akajenga Penueli.
And Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
26 Yeroboamu akawaza moyoni mwake, “Sasa inawezekana ufalme ukarudi katika nyumba ya Daudi.
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David.
27 Kama watu hawa watapanda kwenda kutoa dhabihu katika Hekalu la Bwana huko Yerusalemu, mioyo yao itamrudia bwana wao, Rehoboamu mfalme wa Yuda. Wataniua mimi na kurudi kwa Mfalme Rehoboamu.”
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Baada ya kutafuta shauri, mfalme akatengeneza ndama wawili wa dhahabu. Akawaambia watu, “Ni gharama kubwa kwenu kukwea kwenda Yerusalemu. Hii hapa miungu yenu, ee Israeli, iliyowapandisha kutoka Misri.”
And the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold. And he said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt!
29 Ndama mmoja akamweka Betheli na mwingine Dani.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
30 Nalo jambo hili likawa dhambi, watu wakawa wanaenda hadi Dani kumwabudu huyo aliyewekwa huko.
And this thing became a sin; and the people went [to worship] before the one, as far as Dan.
31 Yeroboamu akajenga madhabahu mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu na kuwateua makuhani kutoka watu wa aina zote, ijapokuwa hawakuwa Walawi.
And he made a house of high places, and made priests from all classes of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
32 Pia Yeroboamu akaweka sikukuu katika siku ya kumi na tano ya mwezi wa nane, kama sikukuu iliyokuwa ikifanyika huko Yuda, na akatoa dhabihu juu ya madhabahu. Akafanya hivyo huko Betheli akitoa dhabihu kwa ndama alizotengeneza. Huko Betheli akawaweka makuhani, na pia katika sehemu za juu za kuabudia miungu alizozitengeneza.
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made; and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
33 Katika siku ya kumi na tano ya mwezi wa nane, mwezi aliouchagua mwenyewe, alitoa dhabihu juu ya madhabahu aliyokuwa amejenga huko Betheli. Kwa hiyo akaweka sikukuu kwa ajili ya Waisraeli na akapanda madhabahuni kutoa sadaka.
And he offered upon the altar that he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and he made a feast for the children of Israel, and he offered upon the altar, burning incense.
