2 Wafalme 23

1 Kisha mfalme akawaita pamoja wazee wote wa Yuda na Yerusalemu.

Then the king sent, —and there were gathered unto him, all the elders of Judah, and Jerusalem;

2 Akapanda kwenda hekaluni mwa Bwana pamoja na watu wa Yuda, watu wa Yerusalemu, makuhani na manabii, watu wote wakubwa kwa wadogo. Akasoma wakiwa wanasikia maneno yote ya Kitabu cha Agano, ambacho kilikuwa kimepatikana katika Hekalu la Bwana.

and the king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great, —and he read in their ears, all the words of the book of the covenant, which had been found in the house of Yahweh.

3 Mfalme akasimama karibu na nguzo, na kufanya upya agano mbele za Bwana: yaani kumfuata Bwana na kuzishika amri zake, maagizo na sheria kwa moyo wake wote na kwa roho yake yote, hivyo kuyathibitisha maneno ya agano yaliyoandikwa katika kitabu hiki. Kisha watu wote wakajifunga wenyewe kwa kiapo katika agano.

And the king took his stand by the pillar, and solemnised a covenant before Yahweh—to follow Yahweh, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all [their] heart and with all [their] soul, to confirm the words of this covenant, written in this book. And all the people took their stand in the covenant.

4 Mfalme akamwamuru Hilkia kuhani mkuu, makuhani waliomfuata kwa cheo, na mabawabu kuondoa kutoka kwenye Hekalu la Bwana vyombo vyote vilivyofanywa kwa ajili ya Baali na Ashera na jeshi lote la mianga ya angani! Akavichoma nje ya Yerusalemu katika mashamba ya Bonde la Kidroni, na kuyachukua hayo majivu mpaka Betheli.

Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the entrance-hall, to bring forth, out of the temple of Yahweh, all the vessels that had been made for Baal and for the Sacred Stem, and for all the army of the heavens, —and he burned them up outside Jerusalem, in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel;

5 Akawafukuza makuhani wa kipagani waliokuwa wameteuliwa na wafalme wa Yuda kufukiza uvumba katika mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu katika miji ya Yuda na ile iliyozunguka Yerusalemu, yaani wale waliofukiza uvumba kwa Baali, kwa jua na mwezi, kwa makundi ya nyota, na jeshi lote la angani.

and he put down the idol-priests, whom the kings of Judah had appointed, so that incense might be burned in the high places, in the cities of Judah, and round about Jerusalem, —them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the army of the heavens;

6 Akaiondoa nguzo ya Ashera kutoka kwenye Hekalu la Bwana, na kuipeleka kwenye Bonde la Kidroni nje ya Yerusalemu, akaiteketeza huko. Akaisaga hadi ikawa unga na kusambaza hilo vumbi juu ya makaburi ya watu wa kawaida.

and he brought forth the Sacred Stem out of the house of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem, into the Kidron ravine, and burned it in the Kidron ravine, and crushed it to powder, —and cast the powder upon the graves of the sons of the people;

7 Akabomoa pia nyumba za mahanithi wa mahali pa ibada za miungu, zilizokuwa ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana na mahali wanawake walipofuma kwa ajili ya Ashera.

and he brake down the houses of the male devotees, which were in the house of Yahweh, —where the women did weave houses to the Sacred Stem;

8 Yosia akawaleta makuhani wote wa Bwana kutoka miji yote ya Yuda, na kunajisi mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, kuanzia Geba hadi Beer-Sheba, mahali pote ambapo hao makuhani wa miungu walifukiza uvumba. Akabomoa mahali pa kuwekea vitu vya ibada za miungu palipokuwa katika malango, kwenye ingilio la Lango la Yoshua, mtawala wa mji, lililoko upande wa kushoto wa lango la mji.

and be brought in all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where, the priests, had burned incense, from Geba unto Beer-sheba, —and brake down the high places of the gates, that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the governor of the city, which were on one’s left hand, in the gate of the city;

9 Ingawa makuhani wa mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu hawakuhudumu katika madhabahu ya Bwana katika Yerusalemu, walikula mikate isiyotiwa chachu miongoni mwa ndugu zao.

howbeit, the priests of the high places came not up unto the altar of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, save only that they did eat unleavened bread in the midst of their brethren;

10 Kisha mfalme akanajisi Tofethi, palipokuwa katika Bonde la Ben-Hinomu, ili mtu yeyote asiweze kupatumia kumtoa kafara mwanawe au binti yake katika moto kwa mungu Moleki.

and he defiled Topheth, which was in the valley of the son of Hinnom, —so that no man might cause his son or his daughter to pass through the fire unto Molech;

11 Akaondoa kutoka kwenye ingilio la Hekalu la Bwana wale farasi ambao wafalme wa Yuda walikuwa wamewaweka wakfu kwa ajili ya jua. Walikuwa kwenye ua karibu na chumba cha afisa aliyeitwa Nathan-Meleki. Basi Yosia akayachoma moto yale magari yaliyokuwa yamewekwa wakfu kwa jua.

and he did away with the horses, which the kings of Judah had devoted to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Yahweh, near the chamber of Nathan-melech the courtier, which was in the suburbs, also, the chariots of the sun, burned he with fire;

12 Alizivunja madhabahu ambazo wafalme wa Yuda walikuwa wamezijenga kwenye paa la ghorofa ya Ahazi, pia madhabahu alizokuwa amezijenga Manase katika nyua mbili za Hekalu la Bwana. Akaziondoa huko, akazivunja vipande vipande, na kutupa hicho kifusi katika Bonde la Kidroni.

and, the altars which were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, also the altars which Manasseh had made, in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, did the king break down, —and hurried away from thence, and cast out the powder of them into the Kidron ravine;

13 Mfalme pia akanajisi mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu, palipokuwa mashariki ya Yerusalemu upande wa kusini wa Kilima cha Uharibifu, pale ambapo Solomoni mfalme wa Israeli alikuwa amejenga kwa ajili ya Ashtorethi mungu mke chukizo la Wasidoni, kwa ajili ya Kemoshi mungu chukizo la Wamoabu, na kwa ajili ya Moleki mungu chukizo la watu wa Amoni.

and, the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of destruction, which Solomon king of Israel had built unto Ashtoreth—the abomination of the Zidonians, and unto Chemosh—the abomination of the Moabites, and unto Milcom—the disgusting thing of the sons of Ammon, did the king defile;

14 Yosia akapasua yale mawe ya kuabudiwa na kuzikatakata nguzo za Ashera. Kisha akafunika hayo maeneo kwa mifupa ya wanadamu.

and he brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Sacred Stems, —and filled their place with human bones:

15 Hata madhabahu yaliyokuwa huko Betheli, mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu palipokuwa pamejengwa na Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati, ambaye aliwafanya Israeli watende dhambi, alibomoa hata hayo madhabahu na mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu. Alipateketeza kwa moto hapo mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu na kupasaga hadi pakawa vumbi, na kuichoma hiyo nguzo ya Ashera pia.

moreover also, the altar that was in Bethel, the high place which Jeroboam son of Nebat made, wherewith he caused, Israel, to sin, —even that altar, and the high place, brake he down, —and burned the high place, crushing it to powder, and burned a Sacred Stem.

16 Kisha Yosia akatazama huku na huko, naye alipoona makaburi yaliyokuwa huko kwenye kilima, akaamuru mifupa itolewe humo na akaichoma juu ya madhabahu ya Betheli ili kupanajisi. Hili lilitokea kulingana na neno la Bwana lililosemwa na mtu wa Mungu ambaye alitangulia kusema mambo haya.

And, when Josiah turned, and saw the graves which were there, in the mount, he sent and took the bones out of the graves, and burned upon the altar, and defiled it, —according to the word of Yahweh, which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.

17 Mfalme akauliza, “Lile kaburi lenye mnara wa ukumbusho ninaloliona ni kwa ajili gani?” Watu wa mji wakasema, “Hii ni alama ya kaburi la mtu wa Mungu aliyekuja kutoka Yuda, naye akanena dhidi ya hii madhabahu ya Betheli mambo yale yale uliyoifanyia leo.”

Then said he—What is yonder erection, which I do see? And the men of the city said unto him—The grave of the man of God, who came in out of Judah, and proclaimed these things, which thou hast done, concerning the altar of Bethel.

18 Akasema, “Liacheni, msiliguse. Msimruhusu mtu yeyote kuiondoa mifupa yake.” Basi wakaiacha mifupa yake pamoja na ile ya yule nabii ambaye alikuwa amekuja kutoka Samaria.

And he said—Let him rest, let, no man, disturb his bones. So they let his bones rest, with the bones of the prophet who came in out of Samaria.

19 Kama alivyokuwa amefanya huko Betheli, Yosia akabomoa na kunajisi mahali pa kuabudia miungu kwenye mahali pa juu ambapo wafalme wa Israeli walikuwa wamejenga ndani ya miji ya Samaria, ambayo ilikuwa imemghadhibisha Bwana.

Moreover also, all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made, so as to provoke Yahweh to anger, did Josiah remove, —and he did to them according to all the doings which he had done in Bethel;

20 Yosia akawachinja makuhani wote wa mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu katika madhabahu zao wenyewe, na kuchoma mifupa ya wanadamu juu yake. Kisha akarudi Yerusalemu.

and he sacrificed all the priests of the high places, who were there, by the altars, and burned human bones thereupon, —and returned to Jerusalem.

21 Mfalme akatoa agizo hili kwa watu wote: “Adhimisheni Pasaka kwa Bwana Mungu wenu, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Kitabu hiki cha Agano.”

Then did the king command all the people, saying, Keep ye a passover unto Yahweh, your God, —such as is written in this book of the covenant.

22 Hapakuwahi kuwepo na adhimisho lingine la Pasaka kama hilo tangu nyakati za Waamuzi walioongoza Israeli, wala katika nyakati zote za wafalme wa Israeli na wafalme wa Yuda.

Surely there had not been held such a passover as this, from the days of the Judges who judged Israel, —nor all the days of the kings of Israel, and the kings of Judah;

23 Lakini katika mwaka wa kumi na nane wa utawala wa Mfalme Yosia, Pasaka hii iliadhimishwa kwa Bwana huko Yerusalemu.

save only, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, when this passover was held unto Yahweh, in Jerusalem.

24 Zaidi ya hayo, Yosia akawaondoa waaguzi, wanaoabudu mizimu, sanamu za kuagulia, sanamu za kuabudiwa, na vitu vingine vyote vya machukizo vilivyoonekana huko Yuda na Yerusalemu. Aliyafanya haya ili kutimiza matakwa ya sheria iliyoandikwa ndani ya kile kitabu ambacho Hilkia kuhani alikipata ndani ya Hekalu la Bwana.

Moreover also, them who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the household gods, and the manufactured gods, and the abominations which were to be seen in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah consume, —that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of Yahweh.

25 Kabla wala baada ya Mfalme Yosia hapakuwepo na mfalme mwingine yeyote ambaye alimpenda Bwana kwa moyo wake wote, kwa roho yake yote, na kwa nguvu zake zote, sawasawa na Sheria yote ya Mose.

And, like him, was no king, before him, who turned unto Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, —neither, after him, arose one, like him.

26 Hata hivyo, Bwana hakuacha ghadhabu yake iliyowaka dhidi ya Yuda kwa sababu ya yale yote ambayo Manase alikuwa amefanya kumghadhibisha.

Howbeit, Yahweh turned not away from the glow of his great anger, wherewith his anger glowed against Judah—because of all the provocations wherewith, Manasseh, had provoked him.

27 Hivyo Bwana akasema, “Nitamwondoa Yuda mbele zangu kama nilivyomwondoa Israeli, nami nitaukataa Yerusalemu, mji niliouchagua, na Hekalu hili, ambalo nilisema, ‘Jina langu litakaa humo.’”

So Yahweh said: Even Judah, will I remove from my presence, as I have removed Israel, —and will reject this city, which I had chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house as to which I had said, My Name, shall be, there.

28 Matukio mengine ya utawala wa Yosia na yote aliyoyafanya, je, hayakuandikwa katika kitabu cha kumbukumbu za wafalme wa Yuda?

Now, the rest of the story of Josiah, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

29 Yosia alipokuwa mfalme, Farao Neko mfalme wa Misri akapanda mpaka Mto Frati kumsaidia mfalme wa Ashuru. Mfalme Yosia akatoka kwenda kupigana naye, lakini Neko akamkabili na kumuua huko Megido.

In his days, came up Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt, against the king of Assyria, unto the river Euphrates, —and, when King Josiah went against him, he slew him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him.

30 Watumishi wa Yosia wakauleta mwili wake katika gari la vita kutoka Megido hadi Yerusalemu, wakamzika kwenye kaburi lake mwenyewe. Nao watu wa nchi wakamchukua Yehoahazi mwana wa Yosia, wakamtia mafuta na kumfanya mfalme mahali pa baba yake.

And his servants conveyed him in a chariot, dead, from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre, —and the people of the land took Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made, him, king, in his father’s stead.

31 Yehoahazi alikuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na mitatu alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu kwa miezi mitatu. Jina la mama yake aliitwa Hamutali binti Yeremia kutoka Libna.

Twenty-three years old, was Jehoahaz when he began to reign, and, three months, reigned he in Jerusalem, —and, his mother’s name, was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, of Libnah.

32 Akafanya maovu machoni mwa Bwana, kama baba zake walivyofanya.

And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his, fathers, had done.

33 Farao Neko akamfunga kwa minyororo huko Ribla katika nchi ya Hamathi ili asiweze kutawala huko Yerusalemu, naye akatoza kodi ya talanta mia moja za fedha, na talanta moja ya dhahabu katika Yuda.

And Pharaoh-necoh put him in bonds at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, —and he laid a fine upon the land, a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

34 Farao Neko akamfanya Eliakimu mwana wa Yosia kuwa mfalme mahali pa baba yake Yosia, na kulibadilisha jina la Eliakimu kuwa Yehoyakimu. Lakini akamchukua Yehoahazi na kumpeleka Misri, naye akafia huko.

And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim son of Josiah king, instead of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, —and, Jehoahaz, took he away, so he entered Egypt, and died there.

35 Yehoyakimu akamlipa Farao Neko ile fedha na dhahabu aliyodai. Ili kuweza kufanya hivyo, Yehoyakimu akatoza nchi kodi na kulipiza fedha na dhahabu kutoka kwa watu wa nchi kulingana na makadrio ya mapato yao.

And, the silver and the gold, did Jehoiakim give unto Pharaoh, howbeit he assessed the land, that he might give the silver at the bidding of Pharaoh, —every man, according to his assessment, exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, that he might give it to Pharaoh-necoh.

36 Yehoyakimu alikuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na mitano alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu miaka kumi na mmoja. Jina la mama yake aliitwa Zebida binti Pedaya kutoka Ruma.

Twenty-five years old, was Jehoiakim when he began to reign, and, eleven years, reigned he in Jerusalem, —and, his mother’s name, was Zebudah daughter of Pedaiah, of Rumah.

37 Naye akafanya maovu machoni mwa Bwana, kama baba zake walivyokuwa wamefanya.

And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, —according to all that, his fathers, had done.