2 Nyakati 20
1 Ikawa baada ya jambo hili, Wamoabu na Waamoni, pamoja na baadhi ya Wameuni wakaja ili wapigane vita na Yehoshafati.
After these things, the sons of Moab, and the sons of Ammon, and with them some from the Ammonites, gathered together so that they might fight against him.
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).
And messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying: “A great multitude has arrived against you, from those places that are across the sea, and from Syria. And behold, they are standing together at Hazazon-tamar, which is Engedi.”
3 Yehoshafati akaogopa, akaazimu kumtafuta Bwana, na akatangaza kwa Yuda wote kufunga.
Then Jehoshaphat, being terrified with fear, gave himself entirely to petitioning the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all of Judah.
4 Watu wa Yuda wakakusanyika pamoja ili kutafuta msaada kutoka kwa Bwana. Wakaja kutoka kila mji wa Yuda ili kumtafuta.
And Judah gathered together to pray to the Lord. Moreover, everyone from their cities came to beseech him.
5 Kisha Yehoshafati akasimama katika kusanyiko la Yuda na Yerusalemu katika Hekalu la Bwana, mbele ya ua mpya,
And when Jehoshaphat had stood up in the midst of the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new atrium,
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.
he said: “O Lord, God of our fathers, you are God in heaven, and you rule over all the kingdoms of the Gentiles. In your hand is strength and power, and 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, put to death all the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel? And you gave it to the offspring of your friend Abraham, for all time.
8 Wameishi ndani yake na humo wamekujengea mahali patakatifu kwa ajili ya Jina lako, wakisema:
And they lived in it. And they built a Sanctuary to your name in it, 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 evils will have fallen upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand in your sight before this house, in which your name is invoked, and we will cry out to you in our tribulations. And you will heed us and accomplish our salvation.’
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 therefore, behold the sons of Ammon, and of Moab, and mount Seir, through whose lands you did not permit Israel to cross when they were departing from Egypt. Instead, they turned aside from them, and they did not put them to death.
11 tazama jinsi wanavyotulipa kwa kuja kututupa nje ya milki uliyotupa sisi kuwa urithi.
They are doing the contrary, and they are striving to cast us from the possession which you delivered to us.
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.”
Therefore, will you, our God, not judge them? Certainly, in us there is not enough strength so that we would be able to withstand this multitude, which rushes against us. But although we do not know what we ought to do, we have this alone remaining, that we direct our eyes to you.”
13 Watu wote wa Yuda pamoja na wake zao, watoto wao na wadogo wao wakasimama pale mbele za Bwana.
Truly, all of Judah was standing before the Lord with their little ones and wives and 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.
But there was Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from the sons of Asaph, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord went, in the midst of the crowd.
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: “Pay attention, all of Judah, and you who live in Jerusalem, and you, king Jehoshaphat. Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid. Neither should you be dismayed by this multitude. For the fight 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, you shall descend against them. For they will ascend along the incline named Ziz, and will find them at the summit of the torrent, which is opposite 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.’”
It will not be you who will fight. Instead, only stand with confidence, and you will see the help of the Lord over you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid. Neither should you be dismayed. Tomorrow you shall go forth against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
18 Yehoshafati akainamisha uso wake chini, nao watu wote wa Yuda na Yerusalemu wakaanguka chini ili kuabudu mbele za Bwana.
Then Jehoshaphat, and Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell prone on the ground before the Lord, and they adored him.
19 Ndipo baadhi ya Walawi kutoka kwa Wakohathi na kwa wana wa Kora wakasimama na kumsifu Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa sauti kuu sana.
And the Levites from the sons of Kohath, and from the sons of Korah, were praising the Lord, the God of Israel, with a great voice, on high.
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.
And when they had risen up in the morning, they went out through the desert of Tekoa. And as they were setting out, Jehoshaphat, standing in their midst, said: “Listen to me, men of Judah and all inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be secure. Believe in his prophets, and everything will come to prosperity.”
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.”
And he gave counsel to the people. And he appointed the singing men of the Lord, so that they would praise him by their companies, and so that they would go before the army, and with one voice say: “Confess to the Lord. For his mercy is eternal.”
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.
And when they had begun to sing praises, the Lord turned their ambushes upon themselves, that is, those of the sons of Ammon, and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who had gone forth so that they might fight against Judah. And they were struck down.
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 sons of Ammon and of Moab rose up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, so that they might slay and destroy them. And when they had perpetrated this work, now also turning upon themselves, they cut one another with wounds.
24 Yuda walipofika katika mnara wa ulinzi wa jangwani, wakaliangalia lile jeshi kubwa, wakaona ni maiti tupu zimetapakaa ardhini, wala hakuna yeyote aliyenusurika.
Then, when Judah had gone to the high point that looks out toward the desert, they saw, from far away, the entire wide region filled with dead bodies. Neither was there anyone who was left alive and had been able to escape death.
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.
Therefore, Jehoshaphat went, and all the people with him, in order to take away the spoils of the dead. And they found, among the dead bodies, diverse equipment, and also garments, and very precious vessels. And they despoiled these, to such an extent that they were unable to carry everything. Neither could they, over three days, take away the spoils because of the magnitude of the plunder.
26 Siku ya nne wakakusanyika katika Bonde la Beraka kwa maana huko ndiko walikomsifu Bwana. Ndiyo sababu linaitwa Bonde la Beraka mpaka leo.
Then, on the fourth day, they were gathered together in the Valley of Blessing. For they had blessed the Lord there, and therefore they called that place the Valley of Blessing, even to the present 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.
And every man of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, returned, with Jehoshaphat before them, to Jerusalem, with great rejoicing. For the Lord had granted to them gladness concerning their enemies.
28 Wakaingia Yerusalemu na kwenda hekaluni mwa Bwana wakiwa na vinubi, zeze na tarumbeta.
And they entered into Jerusalem with psalteries, and harps, and trumpets, into the house of the Lord.
29 Hofu ya Mungu ikazipata falme zote za nchi waliposikia jinsi Bwana alivyokuwa amepigana dhidi ya adui za Israeli.
Then the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands, when they had heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 Ufalme wa Yehoshafati ukawa na amani, kwa kuwa Mungu wake alikuwa amemstarehesha pande zote.
And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet. And God granted to him peace on all sides.
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.
And so Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. And he was thirty-five years old when he had begun to reign. Then he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
32 Alienenda katika njia za Asa baba yake wala hakwenda kinyume chake. Alifanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana.
And he walked in the way of his father, Asa, and he did not decline from it, doing the things that were pleasing before the Lord.
33 Hata hivyo mahali pa juu pa kuabudia hapakuondolewa, na watu wakawa bado hawajaelekeza mioyo yao kwa Mungu wa baba zao.
Yet truly, he did not take away the high places, and the people still had not directed their heart to the Lord, 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.
But the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the first and the last, have been written in the words of Jehu, the son of Hanani, which he digested into the books of the kings of Israel.
35 Hatimaye Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda akafanya urafiki na Ahazia mfalme wa Israeli ambaye alifanya maovu sana.
After these things, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, formed a friendship with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, whose works were very impious.
36 Akaungana naye kutengeneza meli nyingi za kwenda Tarshishi, nazo zilitengenezwa huko Esion-Geberi.
And he was a partner in the making of ships, which would go to Tarshish. And they made the fleet at Eziongeber.
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, from Mareshah, prophesied to Jehoshaphat, saying: “Because you have made a pact with Ahaziah, the Lord has struck your works, and the ships have been broken, and they have not been able to go to Tarshish.”
