2 Nyakati 34
1 Yosia alikuwa na miaka minane alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu miaka thelathini na mmoja.
Josiah was eight years old when he became the king [of Judah]. He ruled from Jerusalem for 31 years.
2 Akafanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana na kuenenda katika njia za Daudi baba yake, hakugeuka upande wa kuume wala wa kushoto.
He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh and conducted his life like his ancestor King David had done. He fully obeyed [IDM] all the laws of God.
3 Katika mwaka wa nane wa utawala wake, alipokuwa angali bado mdogo, alianza kumtafuta Mungu wa Daudi baba yake. Katika mwaka wake wa kumi na mbili alianza kusafisha mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu pa Yuda na Yerusalemu, akiondoa nguzo za Ashera, sanamu za kuchonga na vinyago vya kusubu.
When he had been ruling for almost eight years, while he was still a young man, he began to worship God like his ancestor [King] David had done. Four years later, he began to get rid of all the pagan shrines on hilltops in Jerusalem and in [other places in] Judah, and the poles to [honor the goddess] Asherah, and the carved idols and statues of gods.
4 Mbele ya macho yake, wakazibomoa madhabahu za Mabaali, wakazivunja madhabahu za kufukizia uvumba zilizokuwa zimesimama juu yake, wakazivunja nguzo za Ashera, sanamu na vinyago. Hivi alivivunja vipande vipande na kuvisambaza juu ya makaburi ya waliokuwa wamevitolea kafara.
While he directed them, his workers tore down the altars where people worshiped Baal. They smashed the altars that were near those altars, where people burned incense. They smashed the poles [honor the goddess] Asherah and the idols and statues. They smashed them to bits and scattered the bits over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to them.
5 Akachoma mifupa ya makuhani wao juu ya madhabahu zao na kwa njia hiyo akaitakasa Yuda na Yerusalemu.
They burned the bones of the priests [who had offered sacrifices]; they burned them on their own altars. In that way Josiah caused Jerusalem and other places in Judah to be acceptable places to worship Yahweh again.
6 Katika miji ya Manase, Efraimu na Simeoni, hadi Naftali na kwenye magofu yanayoizunguka,
In the towns in [the tribes of] Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far [north] as [the tribe of] Naphtali and in the ruins around all those towns,
7 akavunja madhabahu na nguzo za Ashera na kuzipondaponda hizo sanamu hadi zikawa unga na kukata vipande vipande madhabahu zote za kufukizia uvumba katika Israeli yote. Kisha akarudi Yerusalemu.
Josiah’s [workers] tore down the pagan altars and the poles to [honor the goddess] Asherah, and crushed the idols to powder. They also smashed to pieces all the altars for burning incense throughout Israel. Then Josiah returned to Jerusalem.
8 Katika mwaka wa kumi na nane wa utawala wa Yosia, ili kutakasa nchi na Hekalu, akawatuma Shafani, mwana wa Azalia na Maaseya mtawala wa mji, pamoja na Yoa mwana wa Yoahazi, mwandishi ili kukarabati Hekalu la Bwana Mungu wake.
When Josiah had been ruling for almost 18 years, he [did something else to] cause the land and the temple to be acceptable places to worship Yahweh. He sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the governor of the city and Joah the son of Joahaz, who wrote on a scroll what happened in the city, to repair the temple of Yahweh.
9 Wakamwendea Hilkia kuhani mkuu na kumpa fedha ambazo zilikuwa zimeletwa ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana ambazo Walawi waliokuwa mabawabu walikuwa wamezikusanya kutoka kwa watu wa Manase, Efraimu na mabaki wote wa Israeli kutoka kwa watu wote wa Yuda na Benyamini na wakazi wa Yerusalemu.
They went to Hilkiah the Supreme Priest and gave him the money that had been brought to the temple. That was the money that the descendants of Levi who guarded the doors of the temple had collected from the people of [the tribes of] Manasseh and Ephraim and [other places in northern] Israel, and also from all the people in Jerusalem and other places in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
10 Kisha wakazikabidhi hizo fedha kwa watu waliowekwa ili kusimamia kazi ya Hekalu la Bwana. Hawa watu waliwalipa wafanyakazi waliokarabati na kutengeneza Hekalu lipate kurudi katika hali yake.
Then Hilkiah gave some of the money to the men who had been appointed to supervise the work of repairing the temple. The supervisors paid the men who did the repair work.
11 Wakawapa pia mafundi seremala na waashi fedha ili kununua mawe yaliyochongwa, mbao kwa ajili ya kufungia na boriti kwa ajili ya majengo ambayo wafalme wa Yuda walikuwa wameyaacha yakawa magofu.
They also gave some of the money to the carpenters and builders to buy the cut stones and the timber for the joists and the beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to decay.
12 Watu wakafanya kazi kwa uaminifu. Waliokuwa wamewekwa juu yao ili kuwaelekeza ni Yahathi na Obadia, Walawi wa uzao wa Merari, Zekaria na Meshulamu, waliotoka kwenye uzao wa Kohathi. Walawi wote waliokuwa na ufundi wa kupiga ala za uimbaji,
The workers did their work faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah, who were descendants of [Levi’s son] Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, who were descendants of [Levi’s son] Kohath. All the other descendants of Levi, those who played musical instruments well,
13 wakawa wasimamizi wa vibarua na kuwaongoza wale waliofanya kila aina ya kazi. Baadhi ya Walawi walikuwa waandishi, maafisa na mabawabu.
supervised all the workers as they did their various jobs. Some of the descendants of Levi were secretaries and some kept records and some guarded the gates [of the temple].
14 Wakati walikuwa wakizitoa nje fedha zilizokuwa zimetolewa kwenye Hekalu la Bwana, kuhani Hilkia akakipata kile Kitabu cha Sheria ya Bwana kilichokua kimetolewa kwa mkono wa Mose.
While they were giving to the supervisors the money that had been taken to the temple, Hilkiah the [Supreme] Priest found a scroll on which were written the laws that Yahweh had told Moses to give to the people.
15 Hilkia akamwambia Shafani mwandishi, “Nimekipata Kitabu cha Sheria ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana.” Akampa Shafani kile Kitabu.
So Hilkiah said to Shaphan, “I have found in the temple a scroll on which are written the laws [that God gave to Moses]!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.
16 Kisha Shafani akakipeleka kile Kitabu kwa mfalme na kumwambia, “Maafisa wako wanafanya kila kitu kama walivyokabidhiwa kufanya.
Shaphan [took the scroll] to the king and said to him, “Your officials are doing everything that you told them to do.
17 Wamelipa fedha zilizokuwa katika Hekalu la Bwana na wamewakabidhi wasimamizi na wafanyakazi.”
They have taken the money that was in the temple, and they have given it to the men who will supervise the workers who will repair the temple.”
18 Kisha Shafani mwandishi akamwarifu mfalme kuwa, “Kuhani Hilkia amenipa Kitabu.” Naye Shafani akakisoma mbele ya mfalme.
Then Shaphan said to the king, “[I have brought to you] a scroll [that] Hilkiah gave to me.” And Shaphan started to read it to the king.
19 Mfalme aliposikia yale maneno ya Sheria, akayararua mavazi yake.
When the king heard the laws [that were written in the scroll], he tore his clothes [because he was very dismayed/worried].
20 Akatoa maagizo haya kwa Hilkia, Ahikamu mwana wa Shafani, Abdoni mwana wa Mika, Shafani mwandishi na Asaya mtumishi wa mfalme,
Then he gave these instructions to Hilkiah, to Shaphan’s son Ahikam, to Micah’s son Abdon, to Shaphan, and to Asaiah the king’s special advisor:
21 “Nendeni mkamuulize Bwana kwa ajili yangu na kwa ajili ya mabaki walioko Israeli na Yuda kuhusu yale yaliyoandikwa ndani ya kitabu hiki ambacho kimepatikana. Hasira ya Bwana ni kubwa mno ambayo imemwagwa juu yetu kwa sababu baba zetu hawakulishika neno la Bwana wala hawajatenda kulingana na yale yote yaliyoandikwa katika Kitabu hiki.”
“Go and ask Yahweh for me, and for all his people who are still alive in Judah and Israel, about what is written in this scroll that has been found. Because [it is clear that] Yahweh is very angry with us because our ancestors disobeyed what Yahweh said; they did not obey the laws that are written on this scroll.”
22 Hilkia pamoja na wale wote mfalme aliokuwa amewatuma pamoja naye wakaenda kuzungumza na nabii mke aitwaye Hulda, aliyekuwa mke wa Shalumu mwana wa Tokhathi, mwana wa Hasra mtunzaji wa chumba cha mavazi. Hulda aliishi Yerusalemu, katika Mtaa wa Pili.
So Hilkiah and the others went to talk with a woman whose name was Huldah, who was a prophetess who lived in the newer part of Jerusalem. Her husband Shallum who was the son of Tikvah, took care of the robes that were worn [in the temple].
23 Akawaambia, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: Mwambieni yule mtu aliyewatuma ninyi kwangu,
[When they told her what the king had said, ] she said to them, “This is what Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], says: ‘Go back and tell the king who sent you
24 ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: Nitaleta maafa juu ya mahali hapa na watu wake, laana zote zilizoandikwa ndani ya hicho kitabu ambazo zimesomwa mbele ya mfalme wa Yuda.
that this is what Yahweh says: “Listen to this carefully. I am going to cause a disaster to strike Jerusalem and all the people who live here. I will cause them to experience the curses that were written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah.
25 Kwa sababu wameniacha mimi na kufukiza uvumba kwa miungu mingine na kunighadhibisha kwa kazi yote ya mikono yao, hivyo hasira yangu itamwagwa juu ya mahali hapa, wala haitatulizwa.’
I will do that because they have rejected me, and they burn incense to [honor] other gods. They have caused me to become very angry because of all the idols that they have made (OR, because of all the wicked things that they have done), [and my anger is like] a fire that will not be extinguished.
26 Mwambieni mfalme wa Yuda, ambaye amewatuma kumuuliza Bwana, ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli kuhusu maneno uliyoyasikia:
The king of Judah sent you to ask what I, Yahweh, want. Go and tell him that this is what I, Yahweh, the God whom you Israelis worship, say about what you read:
27 Kwa kuwa moyo wako ulikuwa msikivu na ulijinyenyekeza mbele za Mungu uliposikia kile nilichosema dhidi ya mahali hapa na watu wake na kwa sababu ulijinyenyekeza mbele zangu na uliyararua mavazi yako na kulia mbele zangu, nimekusikia, asema Bwana.
“Because you heeded [what was written in the scroll], and you humbled yourself when you heard what I said to warn [about what would happen to] this city and the people who live here, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you.
28 Basi nitakukusanya kwa baba zako, nawe utazikwa kwa amani. Macho yako hayataona maafa yote nitakayoleta juu ya mahali hapa na juu ya wote wanaoishi hapa.’” Kwa hiyo wakampelekea mfalme jibu lake.
So I will allow you to die and be buried peacefully. I will cause a great disaster to strike this place and the people who live here, but you will not [be alive to] see it.”’” So they reported her reply to the king.
29 Kisha mfalme akawaita pamoja wazee wote wa Yuda na Yerusalemu.
Then the king summoned all the elders of Jerusalem and [other places in] Judea.
30 Akapanda kwenda hekaluni mwa Bwana pamoja na watu wa Yuda, watu wa Yerusalemu, makuhani na Walawi, watu wote, wakubwa kwa wadogo. Akasoma wakiwa wanasikia maneno yote ya Kitabu cha Agano, ambacho kilikuwa kimepatikana katika Hekalu la Bwana.
They went up together to the temple with the leaders of Judah and many other people of Jerusalem and the priests and other descendants of Levi, from the least important to the most important ones. And while they listened, the king read to them everything that was in the scroll containing God’s laws that had been found in the temple.
31 Mfalme akasimama karibu na nguzo yake na kufanya upya Agano mbele za Bwana ili kumfuata Bwana na kuzishika amri zake, maagizo na sheria kwa moyo wake wote na kwa roho yake yote na ili kuyatii maneno ya Agano yaliyoandikwa katika kitabu hiki.
Then the king stood next to the pillar [at the entrance to the temple, where kings stood when they announced something important], and while Yahweh was listening, he repeated his promise to very sincerely and completely obey Yahweh and all his commands and regulations and decrees that were written on the scroll.
32 Ndipo akamtaka kila mmoja katika Yerusalemu na Benyamini kuweka ahadi zao wenyewe kwa hilo Agano, watu wa Yerusalemu wakafanya hivyo kwa kufuata Agano la Bwana, Mungu wa baba zao.
Then the king said that everyone who lived in Jerusalem and from [the tribe of] Benjamin should promise that they also would obey those laws. And they did that, agreeing that they would keep the agreement that God, whom their ancestors had worshiped, had made with them.
33 Yosia akaondoa machukizo yote ya sanamu kutoka nchi yote iliyokuwa mali ya Waisraeli na akawataka wale wote waliokuwako katika Israeli wamtumikie Bwana Mungu wao. Kwa muda wote alioishi, hawakushindwa kumfuata Bwana, Mungu wa baba zao.
Josiah [instructed his workers to] remove all the detestable idols from everywhere in the land of the Israeli people, and he commanded that all the people from Israel who were there should worship [only] Yahweh their God. And as long as Josiah was alive, the people did what was pleasing to Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors [worshiped].
