2 Nyakati 18

1 Basi, Yehoshafati alikuwa na mali nyingi sana na heshima. Naye akafanya urafiki na Ahabu kwa mwanawe kumwoa binti wa Ahabu.

Now Josaphat was rich and very glorious, and was joined by affinity to Achab.

2 Baada ya miaka kadhaa akashuka kumtembelea Ahabu huko Samaria. Ahabu akachinja ngʼombe na kondoo wengi kwa ajili yake na watu aliokuwa amefuatana nao. Kisha Ahabu akamshawishi Yehoshafati kukwea pamoja naye ili kuishambulia Ramoth-Gileadi.

And he went down to him after some years to Samaria: and Achab at his coming killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people that came with him: and he persuaded him to go up to Ramoth Galaad.

3 Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli akamuuliza Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda, “Je, utakwenda pamoja nami kupigana dhidi ya Ramoth-Gileadi?” Yehoshafati akamjibu mfalme wa Israeli, “Mimi ni kama wewe, watu wangu ni kama watu wako, farasi wangu ni kama farasi wako. Tutakuwa pamoja nawe vitani.”

And Achab king of Israel said to Josaphat king of Juda: Come with me to Ramoth Galaad. And he answered him: Thou art as I am, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the war.

4 Lakini Yehoshafati pia akamwambia mfalme wa Israeli, “Kwanza tafuta shauri la Bwana.”

And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, at present the word of the Lord.

5 Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akawaleta pamoja manabii wanaume wapatao mia nne, akawauliza, “Je, twende vitani dhidi ya Ramoth-Gileadi, au niache?” Wakajibu, “Naam, nenda kwa kuwa Mungu ataiweka Ramoth-Gileadi mkononi mwa mfalme.”

So the king of Israel gathered together of the prophets four hundred men, and he said to them: Shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or shall we forbear? But they said: Go up, and God will deliver it into the king’s hand.

6 Lakini Yehoshafati akauliza, “Je, hayuko nabii wa Bwana hapa ambaye tunaweza kumuuliza?”

And Josaphat said: Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire also of him?

7 Mfalme wa Israeli akamjibu Yehoshafati, “Bado yupo mtu mmoja ambaye kupitia yeye twaweza kumuuliza shauri la Bwana, lakini namchukia kwa sababu huwa hatabiri jambo lolote jema kunihusu mimi, lakini kila mara hunitabiria mabaya tu. Yeye ni Mikaya mwana wa Imla.” Yehoshafati akajibu, “Mfalme hapaswi kusema hivyo.”

And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: There is one man, of whom we may ask the will of the Lord: but I hate him, for he never prophesieth good to me, but always evil: and it is Micheas the son of Jemla. And Josaphat said: Speak not thus, O king.

8 Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akamwita mmoja wa maafisa wake na kusema, “Mlete Mikaya mwana wa Imla mara moja.”

And the king of Israel called one of the eunuchs, and said to him: Call quickly Micheas the son of Jemla.

9 Wakiwa wamevalia majoho yao ya kifalme, mfalme wa Israeli na Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda walikuwa wameketi juu ya viti vyao vya kifalme katika sakafu ya kupuria, kwenye ingilio la lango la Samaria, pamoja na manabii wote wakiwa wakitabiri mbele yao.

Now the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, both sat on their thrones, clothed in royal robes, and they sat in the open court by the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 Wakati huu Sedekia mwana wa Kenaana alikuwa ametengeneza pembe za chuma, akatangaza, “Hivi ndivyo Bwana asemavyo, ‘Kwa hizi pembe utawapiga na kuwarudisha Waaramu nyuma mpaka wameangamizwa.’”

And Sedecias the son of Chanaana made him horns of iron, and said: Thus saith the Lord: With these shalt thou push Syria, till thou destroy it.

11 Manabii wengine wote walikuwa wanatabiri kitu hicho hicho, wakisema, “Ishambulie Ramoth-Gileadi na uwe mshindi. Kwa kuwa Bwana ataitia mkononi mwa mfalme.”

And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, and said: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and thou shalt prosper, and the Lord will deliver them into the king’s hand.

12 Mjumbe aliyekuwa amekwenda kumwita Mikaya akamwambia, “Tazama, manabii wote kama mtu mmoja wanatabiri ushindi kwa mfalme. Neno lako na likubaliane na lao, nawe unene mema kuhusu mfalme.”

And the messenger that went to call Micheas, said to him: Behold the words of all the prophets with one mouth declare good to the king: I beseech thee therefore let not thy word disagree with them, and speak thou also good success.

13 Lakini Mikaya akasema, “Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, nitamwambia kile tu Bwana atakachoniambia.”

And Micheas answered him: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever my God shall say to me, that will I speak.

14 Alipofika, mfalme akamuuliza, “Mikaya, je, twende vitani dhidi ya Ramoth-Gileadi au niache?” Akamjibu, “Shambulia na ushinde, kwa kuwa watatiwa mkononi mwako.”

So he came to the king: and the king said to him: Micheas, shall we go to Ramoth Galaad to fight, or forbear? And he answered him: Go up, for all shall succeed prosperously, and the enemies shall be delivered into your hands.

15 Mfalme akamwambia, “Je, ni mara ngapi nitakuapisha ili usiniambie kitu chochote ila kweli tu kwa jina la Bwana?”

And the king said: I adjure thee again and again to say nothing but the truth to me, in the name of the Lord.

16 Ndipo Mikaya akajibu, “Niliona Israeli wote wametawanyika vilimani kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, naye Bwana akasema, ‘Watu hawa hawana bwana. Mwache kila mmoja aende nyumbani kwa amani.’”

Then he said: I saw all Israel scattered in the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no masters: let every man return to his own house in peace.

17 Mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia Yehoshafati, “Sikukuambia kwamba huwa hatabiri jambo lolote jema kunihusu bali mabaya tu?”

And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: Did I not tell thee that this man would not prophesy me any good, but evil?

18 Mikaya akaendelea, “Kwa hiyo lisikie neno la Bwana: Nilimwona Bwana ameketi juu ya kiti chake cha enzi pamoja na jeshi lote la mbinguni likiwa limesimama upande wa kulia na wa kushoto.

Then he said: Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on the right hand and on the left.

19 Naye Bwana akasema, ‘Ni nani atakayemshawishi Ahabu, mfalme wa Israeli, ili aishambulie Ramoth-Gileadi na kukiendea kifo chake huko?’ “Mmoja akapendekeza hili na mwingine lile.

And the Lord said: Who shall deceive Achab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth Galaad? And when one spoke in this manner, and another otherwise:

20 Mwishoni, roho akajitokeza, akasimama mbele za Bwana na kusema, ‘Nitamshawishi.’ “Bwana akauliza, ‘Kwa njia gani?’

There came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means wilt thou deceive him?

21 “Akasema, ‘Nitakwenda na kuwa roho ya uongo katika vinywa vya manabii wake wote.’ “Bwana akasema, ‘Utafanikiwa katika kumshawishi. Nenda ukafanye hivyo.’

And he answered: I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive, and shalt prevail: go out, and do so.

22 “Kwa hiyo sasa Bwana ameweka roho ya kudanganya ndani ya vinywa vya hawa manabii wako wote. Bwana ameamuru maafa kwa ajili yako.”

Now therefore behold the Lord hath put a spirit of lying in the mouth of all thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.

23 Kisha Sedekia mwana wa Kenaana akatoka na kumpiga Mikaya kofi usoni. Akauliza, “Huyo Roho kutoka kwa Bwana alipita njia gani alipotoka kwangu ili kusema nawe?”

And Sedecias the son of Chanaana came, and struck Micheas on the cheek and said: Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak to thee?

24 Mikaya akajibu, “Utagundua siku hiyo utakapokwenda kujificha kwenye chumba cha ndani.”

And Micheas said: Thou thyself shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go in from chamber to chamber, to hide thyself.

25 Kisha mfalme wa Israeli akaagiza, “Mchukueni na mkamrudishe kwa Amoni mtawala wa mji na kwa Yoashi mwana wa mfalme.

And the king of Israel commanded, saying: Take Micheas, and carry him to Amen the governor of the city, and to Joas the son of Amelech,

26 Mkaseme, ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo mfalme: Mwekeni mtu huyu gerezani na asipewe chochote ila mkate na maji mpaka nitakaporudi salama.’”

And say: Thus saith the king: Put this fellow in prison, and give him bread and water in a small quantity till I return in peace.

27 Mikaya akasema, “Kama utarudi salama, basi Bwana hajanena kupitia kwangu.” Kisha akaongeza kusema, “Zingatieni maneno yangu, enyi watu wote!”

And Micheas said: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said: Hear, all ye people.

28 Basi mfalme wa Israeli na Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda wakaenda Ramoth-Gileadi.

So the king of Israel and Josaphat king of Juda went up to Ramoth Galaad.

29 Mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia Yehoshafati, “Nitaingia vitani nikiwa nimejibadilisha, lakini wewe uvae majoho yako ya kifalme.” Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akajibadilisha na kwenda vitani.

And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: I will change my dress, and so I will go to the battle, but put thou on thy own garments. And the king of Israel having changed his dress, went to the battle.

30 Wakati huu, mfalme wa Aramu alikuwa amewaagiza majemadari thelathini na wawili wa magari ya vita, “Msipigane na yeyote, mdogo au mkubwa, isipokuwa mfalme wa Israeli.”

Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his cavalry, saying: Fight ye not with small, or great, but with the king of Israel only.

31 Wakati wale majemadari wa magari ya vita walipomwona Yehoshafati, wakafikiri, “Hakika huyu ndiye mfalme wa Israeli.” Kwa hiyo wakageuka ili wamshambulie, lakini Yehoshafati akapiga kelele, naye Bwana akamsaidia. Mungu akawaondoa kwake,

So when the captains of the cavalry saw Josaphat, they said: This is the king of Israel. And they surrounded him to attack him: but he cried to the Lord, and he helped him, and turned them away from him.

32 wale majemadari wakaona kwamba hakuwa mfalme wa Israeli nao wakaacha kumfuatilia.

For when the captains of the cavalry saw, that he was not the king of Israel, they left him.

33 Lakini mtu fulani akavuta upinde pasipo lengo na kumpiga mfalme wa Israeli katikati ya kiungio cha mavazi yake ya chuma, mfalme akamwambia mwendesha gari lake, “Geuza gari na uniondoe mimi katika mapigano, nimejeruhiwa.”

And it happened that one of the people shot an arrow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the neck and the shoulders, and he said to his chariot man: Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.

34 Vita vikaendelea mchana kutwa, naye mfalme wa Israeli akajitegemeza ndani ya gari lake kuwaelekea Waaramu hadi jioni. Basi jioni yake akafa.

And the fight was ended that day: but the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and died at the sunset.