< 2 Nyakati 20 >
1 Ikawa baada ya jambo hili, Wamoabu na Waamoni, pamoja na baadhi ya Wameuni wakaja ili wapigane vita na Yehoshafati.
After this, the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Watu fulani wakaja wakamwambia Yehoshafati, “Jeshi kubwa linakuja dhidi yako kutoka Edomu tokea ngʼambo ile nyingine ya Bahari. Tayari liko Hasason-Tamari” (yaani En-Gedi).
Then some came who told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea from Syria. Behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).
3 Yehoshafati akaogopa, akaazimu kumtafuta Bwana, na akatangaza kwa Yuda wote kufunga.
Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek the LORD. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 Watu wa Yuda wakakusanyika pamoja ili kutafuta msaada kutoka kwa Bwana. Wakaja kutoka kila mji wa Yuda ili kumtafuta.
Judah gathered themselves together to seek help from the LORD. They came out of all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.
5 Kisha Yehoshafati akasimama katika kusanyiko la Yuda na Yerusalemu katika Hekalu la Bwana, mbele ya ua mpya,
Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the LORD’s house, before the new court;
6 akasema: “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa baba zetu, si wewe ndiwe uliye Mungu mbinguni? Si wewe ndiwe utawalaye juu ya falme zote za mataifa? Uweza na nguvu viko mkononi mwako, wala hakuna yeyote awezaye kushindana nawe.
and he said, “LORD, the God of our fathers, are not you God in heaven? Are not you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so that no one is able to withstand you.
7 Je, si wewe, Ee Mungu wetu, uliyewafukuza wenyeji wa nchi hii mbele ya watu wako Israeli, ukawapa wazao wa Abrahamu, rafiki yako, hata milele?
Did not you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the offspring of Abraham your friend forever?
8 Wameishi ndani yake na humo wamekujengea mahali patakatifu kwa ajili ya Jina lako, wakisema:
They lived in it, and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying,
9 ‘Kama maafa yakitujia, ikiwa ni upanga, hukumu, tauni, au njaa, tutasimama mbele zako, mbele ya Hekalu hili ambalo limeitwa kwa Jina lako na kukulilia katika shida yetu, nawe utatusikia na kutuokoa.’
‘If evil comes on us—the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’
10 “Lakini sasa hawa watu wa kutoka Amoni, Moabu na Mlima Seiri, ambao hukuwaruhusu Israeli wazivamie nchi zao wakati walitoka Misri, hivyo wakageukia mbali nao na hawakuwaangamiza,
Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned away from them, and did not destroy them;
11 tazama jinsi wanavyotulipa kwa kuja kututupa nje ya milki uliyotupa sisi kuwa urithi.
behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
12 Ee Mungu wetu, je, wewe hutawahukumu? Kwa kuwa sisi hatuna uwezo wa kukabiliana na jeshi hili kubwa linalokuja kutushambulia. Sisi hatujui la kufanya, bali macho yetu yanakutazama wewe.”
Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13 Watu wote wa Yuda pamoja na wake zao, watoto wao na wadogo wao wakasimama pale mbele za Bwana.
All Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Ndipo Roho wa Bwana akaja juu ya mtu mmoja jina lake Yahazieli mwana wa Zekaria, mwana wa Benaya, Mwana wa Yeieli, mwana wa Matania, Mlawi mzao wa Asafu alipokuwa amesimama katika kusanyiko.
Then the LORD’s Spirit came on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly;
15 Akasema: “Sikilizeni, enyi Yuda wote nanyi nyote mkaao Yerusalemu, nawe Mfalme Yehoshafati! Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo kwenu, ‘Msiogope wala msifadhaike kwa sababu ya jeshi hili kubwa. Kwa maana vita hivi si vyenu, bali ni vya Mungu.
and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat. The LORD says to you, ‘Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 Kesho shukeni kukabiliana nao. Watakwea kwa kupandia Genge la Sisi, nanyi mtawakuta mwisho wa bonde, kabla ya Jangwa la Yerueli.
Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 Hamtahitaji kupigana vita hivi. Kaeni kwenye nafasi zenu, simameni imara na mkaone wokovu Bwana atakaowapatia, enyi Yuda na Yerusalemu. Msiogope, wala msifadhaike. Kesho tokeni mwende mkawakabili, naye Bwana atakuwa pamoja nanyi.’”
You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”
18 Yehoshafati akainamisha uso wake chini, nao watu wote wa Yuda na Yerusalemu wakaanguka chini ili kuabudu mbele za Bwana.
Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
19 Ndipo baadhi ya Walawi kutoka kwa Wakohathi na kwa wana wa Kora wakasimama na kumsifu Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa sauti kuu sana.
The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
20 Asubuhi na mapema wakaondoka kuelekea Jangwa la Tekoa. Walipoanza safari, Yehoshafati akasimama akasema, “Nisikilizeni, enyi Yuda, na watu wa Yerusalemu! Mwaminini Bwana Mungu wenu, hivyo mtathibitika, wasadikini manabii wake nanyi mtafanikiwa.
They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.”
21 Alipomaliza kushauriana na watu, Yehoshafati akawaweka watu wa kumwimbia Bwana na kumsifu katika utukufu wa utakatifu wake walipokuwa wametangulia mbele ya jeshi, wakisema: “Mshukuruni Bwana kwa kuwa upendo wake wadumu milele.”
When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his loving kindness endures forever.”
22 Walipoanza kuimba na kusifu, Bwana akaweka waviziao dhidi ya watu wa Amoni, Moabu na wale wa Mlima Seiri waliokuwa wamekuja kuishambulia Yuda, nao wakashindwa.
When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck.
23 Watu wa Amoni na Moabu wakawainukia watu wa Mlima Seiri ili kuwaua na kuwaangamiza kabisa. Baada ya kumaliza kuwachinja watu wa Seiri, wakaangamizana wao kwa wao.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other.
24 Yuda walipofika katika mnara wa ulinzi wa jangwani, wakaliangalia lile jeshi kubwa, wakaona ni maiti tupu zimetapakaa ardhini, wala hakuna yeyote aliyenusurika.
When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped.
25 Hivyo Yehoshafati na watu wake wakaenda kujitwalia nyara kutoka kwao, nao wakakuta humo wingi wa mifugo, mali, nguo na vitu vya thamani, ambavyo vilikuwa vingi zaidi ya vile walivyoweza kuchukua. Wakakusanya nyara kwa siku tatu kwa sababu zilikuwa nyingi mno.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their plunder, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. They took plunder for three days, it was so much.
26 Siku ya nne wakakusanyika katika Bonde la Beraka kwa maana huko ndiko walikomsifu Bwana. Ndiyo sababu linaitwa Bonde la Beraka mpaka leo.
On the fourth day, they assembled themselves in Beracah Valley, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place was called “Beracah Valley” to this day.
27 Kisha watu wote wa Yuda na Yerusalemu, wakiongozwa na Yehoshafati, wakarudi Yerusalemu wakiwa na furaha kwa kuwa Bwana alikuwa amewasababisha wafurahi juu ya adui zao.
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 Wakaingia Yerusalemu na kwenda hekaluni mwa Bwana wakiwa na vinubi, zeze na tarumbeta.
They came to Jerusalem with stringed instruments, harps, and trumpets to the LORD’s house.
29 Hofu ya Mungu ikazipata falme zote za nchi waliposikia jinsi Bwana alivyokuwa amepigana dhidi ya adui za Israeli.
The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 Ufalme wa Yehoshafati ukawa na amani, kwa kuwa Mungu wake alikuwa amemstarehesha pande zote.
So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
31 Hivyo Yehoshafati akatawala Yuda. Alikuwa na umri wa miaka thelathini na mitano alipoanza kutawala, akatawala katika Yerusalemu kwa miaka ishirini na mitano. Mama yake aliitwa Azuba binti Shilhi.
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
32 Alienenda katika njia za Asa baba yake wala hakwenda kinyume chake. Alifanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana.
He walked in the way of Asa his father, and did not turn away from it, doing that which was right in the LORD’s eyes.
33 Hata hivyo mahali pa juu pa kuabudia hapakuondolewa, na watu wakawa bado hawajaelekeza mioyo yao kwa Mungu wa baba zao.
However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
34 Matukio mengine ya utawala wa Yehoshafati, kuanzia mwanzo hadi mwisho, yameandikwa katika kitabu cha kumbukumbu cha Yehu mwana wa Hanani, ambazo zimeandikwa katika kitabu cha wafalme wa Israeli.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is included in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 Hatimaye Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda akafanya urafiki na Ahazia mfalme wa Israeli ambaye alifanya maovu sana.
After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly.
36 Akaungana naye kutengeneza meli nyingi za kwenda Tarshishi, nazo zilitengenezwa huko Esion-Geberi.
He joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber.
37 Ndipo Eliezeri mwana wa Dodavahu wa Maresha akatoa unabii dhidi ya Yehoshafati, akasema, “Kwa kuwa umeungana na Ahazia, Bwana ataangamiza vile mlivyotengeneza.” Zile meli zikavunjika na hazikuweza kungʼoa nanga ili kwenda Tarshishi.
Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” The ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.