2 Nyakati 10
1 Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu, kwa kuwa Waisraeli wote walikuwa wamekwenda huko kumfanya yeye kuwa mfalme.
All the people of Israel went to Shechem [city] in order to appoint Rehoboam to be their king. So Rehoboam also went there.
2 Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati aliposikia hili (alikuwa bado yuko Misri alikokuwa amekimbilia awe mbali na Mfalme Solomoni), akarudi kutoka Misri.
Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had fled to Egypt [to escape] from King Solomon. But when he heard [about the people wanting to appoint Rehoboam to be their king], he returned [to Israel] from Egypt
3 Kwa hiyo wakatuma watu kumwita Yeroboamu, yeye na kusanyiko lote la Israeli wakamwendea Rehoboamu na kumwambia,
So the [leaders of the northern tribes] summoned him, and he went with them [to talk] to Rehoboam. They said to Rehoboam,
4 “Baba yako aliweka nira nzito, lakini sasa tupunguzie kazi za kikatili na nira nzito aliyoweka juu yetu, nasi tutakutumikia.”
“Your father [Solomon] forced us to work very hard for him. If you do not force us to work that hard, and if you charge us less taxes than we were paying to him, we will serve you [faithfully].”
5 Rehoboamu akajibu, “Nendeni kwa muda wa siku tatu na kisha mnirudie.” Basi watu wakaenda zao.
He replied, “Come back three days from now [and I will give you my answer].” So those leaders [and Jeroboam] left.
6 Kisha Mfalme Rehoboamu akataka shauri kwa wazee ambao walimtumikia Solomoni baba yake wakati wa uhai wake akawauliza, “Mnanishauri nini katika kuwajibu watu hawa?”
Then King Rehoboam consulted his older men who had advised his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, “What shall I say to answer these men?”
7 Wakajibu, “Kama leo utakuwa mtumishi wa watu hawa na kuwahudumia na kuwapa jibu linaloridhisha, watakuwa watumishi wako daima.”
They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and do things that will please them, and if you say kind things to them when you answer them, they will always serve you.”
8 Lakini Rehoboamu akakataa shauri alilopewa na wazee na akataka ushauri kwa vijana wanaume rika lake waliokuwa wakimtumikia.
But he ignored what the older men advised him to do. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him, who were now his advisors.
9 Akawauliza, “Ninyi ushauri wenu ni nini? Tutawajibuje watu hawa wanaoniambia, ‘Ifanye nyepesi nira baba yako aliyoweka juu yetu?’”
He said to them, “How should I answer the men who are asking me to reduce the [work and taxes] that my father required from them?”
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.
The young men who had grown up with him replied, “[Those men] have said that your father forced them to work very hard for him, so they want you to reduce the [work and taxes] that your father required from them. But this is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.
11 Baba yangu aliweka nira nzito juu yenu, mimi nitaifanya hata iwe nzito zaidi. Baba yangu aliwachapa kwa mijeledi; mimi nitawachapa kwa nge.’”
What I mean is that my father required you to [work hard and pay high taxes]. But I will make those loads heavier. [It was as though] my father whipped you, but I will whip you with whips that have pieces of metal in them.’”
12 Siku tatu baadaye, Yeroboamu na watu wote wakamrudia Rehoboamu, kama mfalme alivyokuwa amesema, “Rudini kwangu baada ya siku tatu.”
Three days later, Jeroboam and all the leaders came to King Rehoboam again, which is what he had told them to do.
13 Mfalme akawajibu watu kwa ukatili. Akikataa shauri alilopewa na wazee,
The king ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the Israeli leaders.
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.”
[He told them what the younger men had advised.] He said, “My father put heavy burdens [of work and taxes] on you, but I will put heavier burdens on you. [It was as though] he beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have pieces of metal in them!”
15 Kwa hiyo mfalme hakuwasikiliza watu, kwa kuwa jambo hili lilitoka kwa Mungu ili kutimiza neno ambalo Bwana alikuwa amenena kwa Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati kupitia Ahiya Mshiloni.
So the king did not pay any attention to the Israeli leaders. But this happened in order that what Yahweh had told the prophet Ahijah about Jeroboam would happen.
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.
When the Israeli leaders realized that the king did not pay any attention to what they said, they shouted, “We do not want anything to do with this descendant of King David! We will not pay attention to what this grandson of Jesse says! You people of Israel, let’s go home! As for this descendant of David, he can rule his own kingdom!” So the Israeli leaders returned to their homes.
17 Lakini kwa habari ya Waisraeli waliokuwa wakiishi katika miji ya Yuda, Rehoboamu akaendelea kuwatawala bado.
And [after that, the only Israeli] people whom Rehoboam ruled over were those who lived in the territory of [the tribes of] Judah [and Benjamin].
18 Mfalme Rehoboamu akamtuma Adoniramu 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.
Then King Rehoboam went with Adoniram [to talk to the Israeli people]. Adoniram was the man who supervised [all the men who were] forced to work [for Rehoboam]. But the Israeli people killed him by throwing stones at him. When that happened, King Rehoboam quickly got in his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem.
19 Hivyo Israeli wakaasi dhidi ya nyumba ya Daudi hadi leo.
Ever since that time, [the people of the northern tribes of] Israel have been rebelling against the descendants of [King] David.
