2 Nyakati 20
1 Ikawa baada ya jambo hili, Wamoabu na Waamoni, pamoja na baadhi ya Wameuni wakaja ili wapigane vita na Yehoshafati.
Then, after this, the Moabites and Ammonites, as well as some of the Meunites, came to attack Jehoshaphat.
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).
Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A large army is coming to fight you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. They have already reached Hazazon-tamar,” (otherwise called En-gedi).
3 Yehoshafati akaogopa, akaazimu kumtafuta Bwana, na akatangaza kwa Yuda wote kufunga.
Jehoshaphat was afraid, and went to ask the Lord what to do. He also ordered everyone throughout Judah to fast.
4 Watu wa Yuda wakakusanyika pamoja ili kutafuta msaada kutoka kwa Bwana. Wakaja kutoka kila mji wa Yuda ili kumtafuta.
So the people of Judah gathered in Jerusalem to pray to the Lord—in fact, they came from all the towns of Judah to commit themselves to him.
5 Kisha Yehoshafati akasimama katika kusanyiko la Yuda na Yerusalemu katika Hekalu la Bwana, mbele ya ua mpya,
Jehoshaphat stood before the assembled people of Judah and Jerusalem at the Temple, in front of the new courtyard,
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 said, “Lord, God of our forefathers, aren't you the God of heaven? Don't you rule over all earthly kingdoms? You possess strength and power, and no one can stand against 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?
Our God, didn't you drive out before your people Israel those who living in this land? Didn't you give this land to the descendants of your friend Abraham forever?
8 Wameishi ndani yake na humo wamekujengea mahali patakatifu kwa ajili ya Jina lako, wakisema:
They are living in the land and have built a Temple for you here to honor you, 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 disaster strikes us, whether it's invasion or judgment, disease or famine, we will stand in front of this Temple and before you, for this Temple is yours. We will cry out to you to help us in our suffering, and you will hear us and save us.’
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,
Look, here come the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, those very countries you did not let Israel invade when they came out of Egypt. Israel left them alone and did not destroy them.
11 tazama jinsi wanavyotulipa kwa kuja kututupa nje ya milki uliyotupa sisi kuwa urithi.
See how they're rewarding us, coming to steal the land you gave us to possess forever!
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, won't you punish them, because we don't have the power to confront such a great army that is marching against us? We don't know what to do. We're looking to you for help.”
13 Watu wote wa Yuda pamoja na wake zao, watoto wao na wadogo wao wakasimama pale mbele za Bwana.
All the men of Judah stood before the Lord, together with their wives and children and babies.
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 Spirit of the Lord came over Jahaziel while he was standing there in the assembly. He was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from the descendants of Asaph.
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.
He said, “Listen, everyone from Judah, people of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord has to say to you: Don't be afraid or discouraged because of this large army. This isn't your battle—it's God's!
16 Kesho shukeni kukabiliana nao. Watakwea kwa kupandia Genge la Sisi, nanyi mtawakuta mwisho wa bonde, kabla ya Jangwa la Yerueli.
Tomorrow march down to face them. You will see them coming up the pass at Ziz—you'll find them at the end of the valley in front of the desert 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.’”
But you do not need to fight this battle. Just stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem! Don't be afraid or discouraged! March down to face them, 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 down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell to the ground before the Lord, worshiping 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.
Then the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, shouting loudly.
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 got up early the next morning and went to the desert of Tekoa. As they left, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Listen to me, people of Judah and Jerusalem. Trust in the Lord your God, and you will be vindicated; trust in his prophets, and you will be successful.”
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.”
After discussion with the people, he appointed singers to praise the Lord for his glorious, holy goodness. They led the way at the front of the army, singing, “Praise the Lord, for his trustworthy love lasts 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.
As soon as they started singing and praising, the Lord ambushed the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who were coming to attack Judah, and they were defeated.
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.
The men of Ammon and Moab turned on the men from Mount Seir, killing all of them. Once they'd finished wiping out the army from Seir, they turned on each other, destroying themselves.
24 Yuda walipofika katika mnara wa ulinzi wa jangwani, wakaliangalia lile jeshi kubwa, wakaona ni maiti tupu zimetapakaa ardhini, wala hakuna yeyote aliyenusurika.
So when the men of Judah came to the watchtower in the desert, they looked out to see the enemy army and all they saw were corpses lying on the ground! No one had 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 collect the plunder, they found a great deal of cattle, equipment, clothing, and other valuable articles, more than they could carry. It took three days to collect the plunder because there was so much of it.
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 gathered in the Valley of Blessing. They gave it this name because this was where they blessed the Lord. It is still called the Valley of Blessing 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 all the men of Judah and Jerusalem celebrated as they returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, full of joy for the Lord's victory over their enemies.
28 Wakaingia Yerusalemu na kwenda hekaluni mwa Bwana wakiwa na vinubi, zeze na tarumbeta.
They entered Jerusalem and went straight to the Temple of Lord, accompanied by music from harps, lyres, and trumpets.
29 Hofu ya Mungu ikazipata falme zote za nchi waliposikia jinsi Bwana alivyokuwa amepigana dhidi ya adui za Israeli.
All the kingdoms around were in awe of God when they 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.
Jehoshaphat and his kingdom were at peace, for God gave him rest—there were no attacks from any direction.
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, having become king when he was thirty-five years, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.
32 Alienenda katika njia za Asa baba yake wala hakwenda kinyume chake. Alifanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana.
Jehoshaphat followed the way of his father Asa and did not turn away from it. He did what was right in the Lord's sight.
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 removed, and the people were not committed to the God of their forefathers.
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.
The rest of what Jehoshaphat did, from beginning to end, is written down in the chronicles of Jehu, son of Hanani, recorded 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.
Later in his life, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, allied himself with Ahaziah, king of Israel, who did wicked things.
36 Akaungana naye kutengeneza meli nyingi za kwenda Tarshishi, nazo zilitengenezwa huko Esion-Geberi.
They agreed to work together and send ships to Tarshish. The ships were built 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.
But Eliezer, son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you're doing.” The ships were wrecked and couldn't sail to Tarshish.
