2 Wafalme 18
1 Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Hoshea mwana wa Ela mfalme wa Israeli, Hezekia mwana wa Ahazi mfalme wa Yuda alianza kutawala.
And it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea' the son of Elah the king of Israel, that Hezekiah, the son of Achaz the king of Judah, became king.
2 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.
Twenty and five years old was he when he became king, and twenty and nine years did he reign in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah.
3 Akafanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana, kama Daudi baba yake alivyofanya.
And he did what is right in the eyes of the Lord, in accordance with all that David his father had done.
4 Akapaondoa mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, akazivunja sanamu, akakatakata nguzo za Ashera. Akavunja vipande vipande ile nyoka ya shaba Mose aliyotengeneza, kwa kuwa hadi siku hizo wana wa Israeli walikuwa wanaifukizia uvumba (ilikuwa ikiitwa Nehushtani).
He it was that removed the high-places, and broke the statues, and cut down the groves, and stamped in pieces the copper serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days were the children of Israel burning incense to it; and he called it Nechushtan.
5 Hezekia aliweka tumaini lake kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. Hapakuwepo na mfalme mwingine wa kufanana naye miongoni mwa wafalme wa Yuda, kabla yake au baada yake.
In the Lord the God of Israel did he trust; and after him there was not his like among all the kings of Judah, nor among those that were before him.
6 Alishikamana na Bwana kwa bidii wala hakuacha kumfuata; alishika amri ambazo Bwana alikuwa amempa Mose.
And he adhered to the Lord, and turned not away from following him; but he kept his commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.
7 Naye Bwana alikuwa pamoja naye, akafanikiwa katika kila alichokifanya. Aliasi dhidi ya mfalme wa Ashuru, wala hakumtumikia.
And the Lord was with him; whithersoever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8 Kuanzia mnara wa ulinzi hadi kwenye mji wenye ngome, aliwashinda Wafilisti, hadi kufikia Gaza na himaya yake yote.
He it was that smote the Philistines, as far as Gazzah, and its territory, from the tower of the watchmen up to the fortified city.
9 Mwaka wa nne wa Mfalme Hezekia, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa saba wa Hoshea mwana wa Ela kutawala Israeli, Shalmanesa mfalme wa Ashuru alikwenda kuishambulia Samaria na kuuzunguka kwa majeshi.
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea' the son of Elah the king of Israel, that Shalmanesser the king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
10 Baada ya miaka mitatu Waashuru wakautwaa. Kwa hiyo Samaria ulitekwa katika mwaka wa sita wa utawala wa Mfalme Hezekia, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa tisa wa utawala wa Hoshea mfalme wa Israeli.
And they captured it at the end of three years, —in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea' the king of Israel, was Samaria captured.
11 Mfalme wa Ashuru akawahamishia Waisraeli huko Ashuru na akawaweka Hala, na Gozani karibu na Mto Habori, na katika miji ya Wamedi.
And the king of Assyria led away Israel as exiles unto Assyria, and transported them to Chalach and to Chabor, by the river of Gozan, and to the cities of Media;
12 Hili lilitokea kwa sababu hawakumtii Bwana Mungu wao, lakini walikuwa wamevunja agano lake, yale yote ambayo Mose mtumishi wa Bwana aliwaamuru. Hawakuzisikiliza amri wala kuzitimiza.
Because they had not obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, but had transgressed his covenant, all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; and had not obeyed, nor done accordingly.
13 Katika mwaka wa kumi na nne wa utawala wa Mfalme Hezekia, Senakeribu mfalme wa Ashuru akaishambulia miji yote ya Yuda yenye ngome na kuiteka.
And in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib the king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and seized on them.
14 Basi Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda akamtumia ujumbe mfalme wa Ashuru huko Lakishi akisema: “Nimefanya makosa. Ondoka katika nchi yangu, nami nitakulipa chochote unachokitaka kwangu.” Mfalme wa Ashuru akamtoza Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda talanta 300 za fedha, na talanta thelathini za dhahabu.
And Hezekiah the king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have sinned; retire from me: what thou wilt impose on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah the king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 Basi Hezekia akampa fedha yote iliyopatikana ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana na katika hazina ya jumba la mfalme.
And Hezekiah gave up all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16 Wakati huu Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda akabandua dhahabu yote iliyokuwa imefunika milango na miimo ya Hekalu la Bwana, akampa mfalme wa Ashuru.
At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the door-sills which Hezekiah the king of Judah had overlaid, and gave the same to the king of Assyria.
17 Mfalme wa Ashuru akamtuma jemadari wake mkuu, na afisa wake mkuu, na jemadari wa jeshi, pamoja na jeshi kubwa kutoka Lakishi hadi kwa Mfalme Hezekia huko Yerusalemu. Wakaja Yerusalemu na kusimama kwenye mfereji wa Bwawa la Juu, lililojengwa katika barabara iendayo kwenye Uwanja wa Dobi.
And the king of Assyria sent Tharthan and Rub-sariss and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a strong army against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem; and when they were come up, they came and halted by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is on the highway of the washer's field.
18 Wakaagiza mfalme aitwe. Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia aliyekuwa msimamizi wa jumba la mfalme, Shebna aliyekuwa katibu, na Yoa mwana wa Asafu mwandishi wakawaendea.
And they called for the king, when there came out to them Elyakim the son of Chilkiyahu, who was superintendent over the house, and Shebnah the scribe, and Yoach the son of Assaph the recorder.
19 Yule jemadari wa jeshi akawaambia, “Mwambieni Hezekia: “‘Hili ndilo asemalo mfalme mkuu, mfalme wa Ashuru: Ni wapi unapoweka hili tumaini lako?
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus hath said the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherewith thou hast trusted?
20 Unasema mnayo mikakati na nguvu za kijeshi, lakini unasema maneno matupu tu. Je, wewe unamtegemea nani, hata ukaniasi mimi?
Thou saidst, but it was only a word uttered with the lips, [I have] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom didst thou trust, that thou rebelledst against me?
21 Tazama sasa, unaitegemea Misri, fimbo ile ya mwanzi uliopasuka, ambayo huuchoma na kuujeruhi mkono wa mtu akiiegemea! Hivyo ndivyo alivyo Farao mfalme wa Misri, kwa wote wanaomtegemea.
Now, behold, thou trustedst thee upon yon cracked reed-staff, upon Egypt, which, if a man lean on it, will enter into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh the king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22 Nawe kama ukiniambia, “Tunamtumainia Bwana Mungu wetu”: je, siyo yeye ambaye Hezekia aliondoa mahali pake pa juu pa kuabudia miungu na madhabahu zake, akiwaambia Yuda na Yerusalemu, “Ni lazima mwabudu mbele ya madhabahu haya katika Yerusalemu”?
But if ye should say unto me, In the Lord our God have we trusted: is he not the one whose high-places and whose altars Hezekiah hath removed, when he said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Before this altar shall ye prostrate yourselves in Jerusalem?
23 “‘Njooni sasa, fanyeni mapatano na bwana wangu, mfalme wa Ashuru: Nitakupa farasi elfu mbili, kama unaweza kuwapandisha waendesha farasi juu yao!
And now, I pray thee, enter into a contest with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24 Utawezaje kumzuia hata afisa mmoja aliye mdogo kati ya maafisa wa bwana wangu, ijapo unategemea Misri kwa magari ya vita na wapanda farasi?
How then wilt thou turn back the face of a single chieftain among the least of my master's servants, while thou hast put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen!
25 Zaidi ya hayo, je, nimekuja kushambulia na kuangamiza mahali hapa pasipo neno kutoka kwa Bwana? Bwana mwenyewe ndiye aliniambia niishambulie nchi hii na kuiangamiza.’”
Now am I come up without the Lord ['s will] against this place to destroy it? The Lord hath said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
26 Ndipo Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia, Shebna na Yoa wakamwambia yule jemadari wa jeshi, “Tafadhali zungumza na watumishi wako kwa lugha ya Kiaramu, kwa kuwa tunaifahamu. Usiseme nasi kwa Kiebrania watu walioko juu ya ukuta wakiwa wanasikia.”
Then said Elyakim the son of Chilkiyahu, and Shebnah, and Yoach, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, we pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jewish language before the ears of the people that are on the wall.
27 Lakini yule jemadari wa jeshi akajibu, “Je, bwana wangu amenituma kutoa ujumbe huu kwa bwana wenu na kwenu tu? Je, hakunituma pia kwa watu walioketi ukutani, ambao, kama ninyi, itawabidi kula mavi yao na kunywa mikojo yao wenyewe?”
But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master then sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? is it not rather to the men who sit on the wall, that they may eat their own excrement, and drink their own urine with you?
28 Kisha yule jemadari wa jeshi akasimama na kuita kwa lugha ya Kiebrania, akasema: “Sikieni neno la mfalme mkuu, mfalme wa Ashuru!
Then stood Rabshakeh up and called out with a loud voice in the Jewish language, and spoke, and said, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
29 Hili ndilo asemalo mfalme: Msikubali Hezekia awadanganye. Hawezi kuwaokoa mkononi mwangu.
Thus hath said the king. Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand;
30 Msikubali Hezekia awashawishi kumtumaini Bwana kwa kuwaambia, ‘Hakika Bwana atatuokoa. Mji huu hautaangukia mikononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru.’
Neither let Hezekiah induce you to trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given up into the hand of the king of Assyria:
31 “Msimsikilize Hezekia. Hili ndilo mfalme wa Ashuru asemalo: Fanyeni amani nami na mje kwangu. Kisha kila mmoja wenu atakula kutoka kwa mzabibu wake na mtini wake mwenyewe, na kunywa maji kutoka kisima chake mwenyewe,
Hearken not to Hezekiah; for thus hath said the king of Assyria, Make a treaty of peace with me, and come out to me, and eat ye every man of his own vine, and every man of his fig-tree, and drink ye every man the waters of his cistern;
32 mpaka nije nikawapeleke katika nchi iliyo kama nchi yenu wenyewe, nchi ya nafaka na divai mpya, nchi ya mkate na mashamba ya mizabibu, nchi ya mizeituni na asali. Chagueni uzima, sio mauti! “Msimsikilize Hezekia, kwa kuwa anawapotosha asemapo, ‘Bwana atatuokoa.’
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil-olive trees, and of honey, that ye may live, and not die; and hearken not unto Hezekiah; for he will mislead you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.
33 Je, yuko mungu wa taifa lolote aliyewahi kuokoa nchi yake kutoka mkononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru?
Have the gods of the nations delivered in anywise each his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Iko wapi miungu ya Hamathi na ya Arpadi? Iko wapi miungu ya Sefarvaimu, Hena na Iva? Je, imeokoa Samaria kutoka mkononi mwangu?
Where are the gods of Chamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvayim, Hena', and 'Ivvah? have they then delivered Samaria out of my hand?
35 Ni yupi miongoni mwa miungu yote ya nchi hizi ameweza kuokoa nchi yake mkononi mwangu? Inawezekanaje basi Bwana aiokoe Yerusalemu mkononi mwangu?”
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
36 Lakini wale watu wakakaa kimya, wala hawakujibu lolote, kwa kuwa mfalme alikuwa amewaamuru, “Msimjibu lolote.”
But the people remained silent, and answered him not a word; for it was the king's command, saying, Ye shall not answer him.
37 Kisha Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia msimamizi wa jumba la kifalme, Shebna katibu, na Yoa mwana wa Asafu, mwandishi wakamwendea Hezekia, nguo zao zikiwa zimeraruliwa, na kumwambia yale jemadari wa jeshi aliyoyasema.
Then came Elyakim the son of Chilkiyah, who was superintendent over the house, and Shebnah the scribe, and Yoach the son of Assaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent; and they told unto him the words of Rabshakeh.
