2 Nyakati 29
1 Hezekia alikuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na mitano alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu kwa miaka ishirini na tisa. Mama yake aliitwa Abiya binti Zekaria.
Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became the king [of Judah]. He ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of [a man whose name was] Zechariah.
2 Akafanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana kama Daudi baba yake alivyofanya.
Hezekiah did things that Yahweh considered to be right, like his ancestor King David had done.
3 Katika mwezi wa kwanza wa mwaka wa kwanza wa utawala wa alifungua milango ya Hekalu la Bwana, na kuikarabati.
During March of the first year that Hezekiah was ruling Judah, he unlocked the doors of the temple, and his workers repaired them.
4 Akawaingiza makuhani na Walawi ndani na kuwakutanisha katika uwanja upande wa mashariki
Then he gathered the priests and other descendants of Levi in the area on the east side of the temple,
5 na kusema: “Nisikilizeni mimi, enyi Walawi! Jitakaseni nafsi zenu sasa, mkaitakase na nyumba ya Bwana, Mungu wa baba zenu. Ondoeni uchafu wote kutoka mahali patakatifu.
and he said to them, “You descendants of Levi, listen to me! Consecrate yourselves. And then consecrate the temple of Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors [worshiped/belonged to]. Remove from the temple all the things that are not pleasing to God.
6 Baba zetu hawakuwa waaminifu, walifanya maovu machoni pa Bwana Mungu wetu na wakamwacha yeye. Wakageuza nyuso zao mbali na Maskani ya Bwana wakamgeuzia visogo vyao.
Our ancestors disobeyed God; they did many things that he considered to be evil, things that were not pleasing to him. They abandoned this place where Yahweh lives, and they have turned away from him.
7 Pia walifunga milango ya ukumbi wa Hekalu na kuzima taa zake. Hawakufukiza uvumba wala kutoa sadaka yoyote ya kuteketezwa katika mahali patakatifu kwa Mungu wa Israeli.
They locked the doors of the temple and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn any incense, and they did not offer any sacrifices that were to be completely burned [on the altar].
8 Kwa hiyo, hasira ya Bwana ikashuka juu ya Yuda na Yerusalemu, naye akawa amewafanya kitu cha kutisha, cha kushangaza na kitu cha kufanyia mzaha kama mnavyoona kwa macho yenu wenyewe.
Therefore, Yahweh has become very angry with us people of Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah, and he has caused other people to become frightened and horrified [when they hear what Yahweh did to punish us]. And they ridicule us. You know this very well.
9 Hii ndiyo sababu baba zetu wameanguka kwa upanga na ndiyo sababu wana wetu na binti zetu, pia wake zetu wamekuwa mateka.
That is why our fathers have been killed in battles, and our sons and daughters and our wives have been captured and taken [to other countries].
10 Sasa ninadhamiria moyoni mwangu kuweka Agano na Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, ili hasira yake kali igeuziwe mbali nasi.
But now I intend to make an agreement with Yahweh, our God, in order that he will no longer be angry with us.
11 Wanangu, basi msipuuze jambo hili sasa, kwa kuwa Bwana amewachagua ninyi msimame mbele zake na kumtumikia, mkawe watumishi wake na mkamfukizie uvumba.”
[You who are like] my sons, do not waste any time. [Do immediately what Yahweh wants you to do.] Yahweh has chosen you to stand in his presence and offer sacrifices and burn incense.”
12 Ndipo Walawi wafuatao wakaanza kazi: Kutoka kwa Wakohathi, Mahathi mwana wa Amasai na Yoeli mwana wa Azaria; kutoka kwa Wamerari, Kishi mwana wa Abdi na Azaria mwana wa Yahaleleli; kutoka kwa Wagershoni, Yoa mwana wa Zima na Edeni mwana wa Yoa;
Then these descendants of Levi started to work [in the temple]: From the descendants of Kohath there were Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah. From the descendants of Merari there were Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel. From the descendants of Gershon there were Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah.
13 kutoka kwa wana wa Elisafani, Shimri na Yeieli; kutoka kwa wana wa Asafu, Zekaria na Matania;
From the descendants of Elizaphan there were Shimri and Jeiel. From the descendants of Asaph there were Zechariah and Mattaniah.
14 kutoka kwa wana wa Hemani, Yehieli na Shimei; kutoka kwa wana wa Yeduthuni, Shemaya na Uzieli.
From the descendants of Heman there were Jehiel and Shimei. From the descendants of Jeduthun there were Shemaiah and Uzziel.
15 Walipomaliza kuwakusanya ndugu zao na kujiweka wakfu, wakaingia ndani ili kutakasa Hekalu la Bwana, kama vile mfalme alivyokuwa ameagiza, kwa kufuata neno la Bwana.
When those men had gathered their fellow descendants of Levi and had consecrated themselves, they entered the temple in order to consecrate it. That was what the king had commanded them to do, and they were also obeying what Yahweh had commanded.
16 Makuhani wakaingia patakatifu pa Hekalu la Bwana ili kupatakasa. Wakatoa nje penye ua wa Hekalu la Mungu kila kitu kichafu walichokikuta kwenye Hekalu la Bwana. Walawi wakavichukua na kuvipeleka nje katika Bonde la Kidroni.
The priests entered the temple to consecrate it. They brought out into the courtyard of the temple everything that they had found in the temple that was not pleasing to Yahweh. Then the descendants of Levi took those things down to the Kidron Valley [and burned them there].
17 Walianza kazi ya utakaso siku ya kwanza ya mwezi wa kwanza na kufikia siku ya nane ya mwezi huo wakawa wamefikia kwenye ukumbi wa Bwana. Kwa siku zingine nane wakalitakasa Hekalu lenyewe la Bwana wakakamilisha katika siku ya kumi na sita ya mwezi huo wa kwanza.
The priests and other descendants of Levi started this work on the first day of March and finished purifying the courtyard [of the temple] on the eighth day of that month, and they finished purifying the temple one week later.
18 Kisha wakaingia ndani kwa Mfalme Hezekia kutoa habari na kusema: “Tumelitakasa Hekalu lote la Bwana, madhabahu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa pamoja na vyombo vyake vyote, meza ya kupanga mikate iliyowekwa wakfu, pamoja na vyombo vyake vyote.
Then they went to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have purified all parts of the temple, and the altar where sacrifices are completely burned, and all the items used at the altar, the table on which the priests place the sacred bread, and the things [used at that table].
19 Tumeviandaa na kuvitakasa vyombo vyote vile ambavyo Mfalme Ahazi, kwa kukosa uaminifu kwake, aliviondoa wakati alipokuwa mfalme. Sasa viko mbele ya madhabahu ya Bwana.”
While Ahaz was our king, he disobeyed what Yahweh had commanded, and he removed from the temple many things [that should be there], but now we have brought them back and placed them in front of the sacred altar.”
20 Ndipo Mfalme Hezekia akainuka asubuhi na mapema, akakusanya pamoja maafisa wa mji wakakwea hekaluni mwa Bwana.
Early the next morning, King Hezekiah gathered together the city officials, and they went to the [courtyard of the] temple.
21 Wakaleta mafahali saba, kondoo dume saba, wana-kondoo dume saba na mabeberu saba kuwa sadaka ya dhambi kwa ajili ya ufalme, kwa ajili ya mahali patakatifu na kwa ajili ya Yuda. Mfalme akawaamuru makuhani, wazao wa Aroni, kuvitoa vitu hivyo sadaka katika madhabahu ya Bwana.
They took with them seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs, and seven male goats to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of all the people in the kingdom of Judah, and in order to purify the temple. The king commanded that the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, should offer those animals to be sacrificed to Yahweh on the altar.
22 Hivyo wakachinja wale mafahali, nao makuhani wakachukua ile damu na kuinyunyiza kwenye madhabahu, halafu wakawachinja wale kondoo dume saba na kunyunyiza hiyo damu yao kwenye madhabahu, kisha wakawachinja wale wana-kondoo dume na kunyunyiza damu yao kwenye madhabahu.
So first the priests slaughtered those bulls, and took their blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar.
23 Wale mabeberu waliokuwa kwa ajili ya sadaka ya dhambi wakaletwa mbele ya mfalme na kusanyiko nao wakaweka mikono yao juu hao mabeberu.
The goats that were slaughtered to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of the people were brought to the king and the others who were there. Then the king and those who were present laid their hands on those goats.
24 Ndipo makuhani wakawachinja hao mabeberu na kuweka damu yao kwenye madhabahu kwa ajili ya sadaka ya dhambi ili kufanya upatanisho kwa ajili ya Israeli yote, kwa sababu mfalme alikuwa ameamuru hiyo sadaka ya kuteketezwa na hiyo sadaka ya dhambi kwa ajili ya Israeli yote.
Then the priests slaughtered those goats and splashed their blood on the altar in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins that all the Israeli people had committed. The priests did that because the king had commanded that offerings that would be completely burned [on the altar] and other sacrifices should be made for all the people of Israel.
25 Akawaweka Walawi kwenye Hekalu la Bwana wakiwa na matoazi, vinubi na zeze kama ilivyoagizwa na Daudi na Gadi mwonaji wa mfalme pamoja na nabii Nathani kwani hili lilikuwa limeamriwa na Bwana kupitia manabii wake.
The king then told the descendants of Levi to stand in the temple with their cymbals and harps and lyres, obeying what David and his prophets Gad and Nathan had commanded. Those were things that Yahweh had told his prophets that the descendants of Levi should do.
26 Hivyo Walawi wakasimama tayari wakiwa na ala za uimbaji za Daudi na makuhani walikuwa na tarumbeta zao.
So the descendants of Levi [went and] stood in the temple, ready to play the musical instruments that King David had given to them. And the priests were ready to blow their trumpets.
27 Hezekia akatoa amri ya kutoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa madhabahuni. Walipoanza kutoa sadaka, wakaanza pia kumwimbia Bwana pamoja na tarumbeta na zile ala za uimbaji za Daudi mfalme wa Israeli.
Then Hezekiah told some of the priests to burn the animals that would be sacrificed on the altar. When they started to burn the animals, the people started to sing to [praise] Yahweh, while the other descendants of Levi were playing their instruments.
28 Kusanyiko lote wakaabudu kwa kusujudu, wakati waimbaji wakiwa wanaimba na wenye tarumbeta wakipiga tarumbeta zao. Yote haya yaliendelea mpaka walipomaliza kutoa ile dhabihu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa.
All the people who were there bowed to worship Yahweh, while the singers sang and the trumpeters blew their trumpets. They continued to do this until they had finished slaughtering all the animals that would be completely burned.
29 Kutoa sadaka kulipomalizika, mfalme na kila mtu aliyekuwepo pamoja naye wakapiga magoti na kuabudu.
When they finished making those offerings, the king and all those who were there knelt down and worshiped Yahweh.
30 Mfalme Hezekia na maafisa wake wakawaamuru Walawi kumsifu Bwana kwa maneno ya Daudi na ya Asafu mwonaji. Hivyo wakaimba sifa kwa furaha nao wakainamisha vichwa vyao na kuabudu.
Then King Hezekiah and his officials commanded the descendants of Levi to praise Yahweh, singing the songs [composed/written] by David and Asaph the prophet. So they sang songs joyfully and bowed their heads to worship.
31 Kisha Hezekia akasema, “Sasa mmejiweka wakfu kwa Bwana. Njooni mlete dhabihu na sadaka za shukrani Hekaluni mwa Bwana.” Hivyo kusanyiko likaleta dhabihu na sadaka za shukrani, nao wote waliokuwa na mioyo ya hiari wakaleta sadaka za kuteketezwa.
Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to Yahweh. So come close to the temple and bring animals to be sacrificed and other offerings to thank [Yahweh for what he has done for you].” And those who wanted to bring animals to be completely burned [on the altar] brought them.
32 Idadi ya sadaka za kuteketezwa zilizoletwa na kusanyiko zilikuwa mafahali sabini, kondoo dume 100 na wana-kondoo dume 200. Wote hawa walikuwa kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa kwa Bwana.
Altogether they brought 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
33 Wanyama waliowekwa wakfu kwa sadaka ya kuteketezwa walikuwa mafahali 600, pamoja na kondoo na mbuzi 3,000.
The other animals that they brought were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep and goats that were set apart to be sacrifices.
34 Lakini makuhani walikuwa wachache sana kuweza kuchuna wale wanyama wote wa sadaka za kuteketezwa, kwa hiyo ndugu zao Walawi wakawasaidia mpaka kazi ile ikakamilika na mpaka makuhani wengine walipowekwa wakfu, kwa kuwa Walawi walikuwa makini kujiweka wakfu kuliko walivyokuwa makuhani.
But there were not enough priests to remove the skins from the animals that would be completely burned [on the altar]. So their fellow descendants of Levi helped them until that work was finished, and until other priests had purified/consecrated themselves to do that work. It was necessary for them to do that because many of the priests had not yet performed the rituals to consecrate themselves for that work, like the descendants of Levi had done.
35 Kulikuwa na sadaka nyingi za kuteketezwa, pamoja na mafuta ya wanyama ya sadaka za amani na sadaka za kinywaji ambazo ziliambatana na sadaka za kuteketezwa. Kwa hiyo huduma ya Hekalu la Bwana ikarudishwa kwa upya.
In addition to the all the offerings that were completely burned [on the altar], the priests also burned the fat of the other animals that were sacrificed to maintain good fellowship with Yahweh, and the usual wine offerings. So the worship at the temple began again.
36 Hezekia pamoja na watu wote wakafurahi kwa sababu ya lile Mungu alilolifanya kwa ajili ya watu wake, kwa kuwa lilitendeka papo hapo.
And Hezekiah and all the other people of Judah celebrated, because God had enabled them to do all those things very quickly.
