2 Nyakati 16
1 Katika mwaka wa thelathini na sita wa utawala wa Asa, Mfalme Baasha wa Israeli akashambulia Yuda na kuweka ngome mji wa Rama ili kumzuia yeyote asitoke wala kuingia nchi ya Mfalme Asa wa Yuda.
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2 Ndipo Asa akachukua fedha na dhahabu kutoka hazina ya Hekalu la Bwana na kutoka jumba lake mwenyewe la kifalme na kumpelekea Ben-Hadadi mfalme wa Aramu, ambaye alikuwa anatawala huko Dameski.
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the LORD’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,
3 Akasema, “Pawepo na mkataba kati yangu na wewe, kama ulivyokuwepo kati ya baba yangu na baba yako. Tazama, nimekuletea fedha na dhahabu. Sasa vunja mkataba wako na Baasha mfalme wa Israeli ili aniondokee mimi.”
“Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”
4 Ben-Hadadi akakubaliana na Mfalme Asa na kutuma majemadari wa majeshi yake dhidi ya miji ya Israeli. Wakashinda Iyoni, Dani, Abel-Maimu na miji yote ya hazina ya Naftali.
Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
5 Baasha aliposikia jambo hili, akasimamisha kujenga Rama na kuacha kazi yake.
When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Ndipo Mfalme Asa akawaleta watu wote wa Yuda, nao wakachukua mawe na miti ambayo Baasha alikuwa anavitumia huko Rama. Kwa vitu hivyo akajenga Geba na Mispa.
Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, with which Baasha had built; and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.
7 Ikawa wakati huo mwonaji Hanani akamjia Mfalme Asa wa Yuda na kumwambia: “Kwa sababu ulimtegemea mfalme wa Aramu nawe hukumtegemea Bwana Mungu wako, jeshi la mfalme wa Aramu limeponyoka mkononi mwako.
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.
8 Je, hukumbuki lililotendeka kwa Wakushi na Walibia, hawakuwa jeshi lenye nguvu na magari mengi ya vita na wapanda farasi? Hata hivyo, ulipomtegemea Bwana yeye aliwatia mkononi mwako.
Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.
9 Kwa kuwa macho ya Bwana hukimbiakimbia duniani kote ili kujionyesha mwenye nguvu kwa ajili ya wale ambao mioyo yao inamtegemea kwa ukamilifu. Umefanya jambo la upumbavu na kuanzia sasa na kuendelea utakuwa na vita.”
For the LORD’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
10 Asa akamkasirikia mwonaji kwa sababu ya jambo hili. Alikuwa ameghadhibika sana hata akamweka gerezani. Wakati huo huo Asa akaanza kuwatesa na kuwaonea baadhi ya watu kwa ukatili.
Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
11 Matukio ya utawala wa Asa, kuanzia mwanzo mpaka mwisho, yameandikwa katika kitabu cha wafalme wa Yuda na Israeli.
Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12 Katika mwaka wa thelathini na tisa wa utawala wake, Asa alipatwa na ugonjwa kwenye miguu yake. Ingawa ugonjwa wake ulimzidia sana, hata katika kuugua kwake hakutafuta msaada kutoka kwa Bwana bali kwa matabibu tu.
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great; yet in his disease he didn’t seek the LORD, but just the physicians.
13 Katika mwaka wa arobaini na moja wa utawala wa Asa, alikufa na kulala na baba zake.
Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14 Nao wakamzika katika kaburi lile alilokuwa amejichongea mwenyewe katika Mji wa Daudi. Wakamzika kwa jeneza lililowekwa vikolezi na mchanganyiko wa manukato ya aina mbalimbali yaliyotengenezwa kwa utaalamu wa mtengeneza marashi, nao wakawasha moto mkubwa kwa heshima yake.
They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David’s city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.
