2 Wafalme 4
1 Mke wa mmoja wa wana wa manabii akamlilia Elisha, akamwambia, “Mtumishi wako, mume wangu, amekufa, nawe unajua alikuwa anamcha Bwana. Lakini sasa yule anayemdai anakuja kuchukua wanangu wawili kama watumwa wake.”
One day the widow of one of [Yahweh’s] prophets came to Elisha and cried out to him, “My husband, who worked with you, is dead. You know that he revered Yahweh [very much]. But now a man to whom he owed a lot of money has come to me. [And because I cannot pay back the money, he is threatening] to take away my two sons to be his slaves [as payment for what I owe him]!”
2 Elisha akamjibu, “Nitawezaje kukusaidia? Niambie, una nini ndani ya nyumba yako?” Akasema, “Mtumishi wako hana kitu chochote kabisa, isipokuwa mafuta kidogo.”
Elisha replied, “What can I do to help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” She replied, “We have only a container of [olive] oil; we have nothing else.”
3 Elisha akasema, “Zunguka kwa majirani zako wote ukaombe vyombo vitupu. Usiombe vichache.
Elisha said, “Go to your neighbors and borrow from them as many empty jars as you can.
4 Kisha ingia ndani na ujifungie mlango, wewe na wanao. Mimina mafuta kwenye vyombo vyote, na kila kimoja kinapojaa, kiweke kando.”
Then take the jars into your house with your sons. Shut the door. Then pour olive oil from your container into the other jars. When each jar is full, set it aside [and fill another jar. Keep doing that until all the jars are full].”
5 Yule mjane akaondoka na kujifungia ndani, yeye na wanawe. Wao wakamletea vyombo, naye akaendelea kumimina mafuta.
[So she did what Elisha told her to do]. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she kept filling them.
6 Vyombo vyote vilipojaa, akamwambia mwanawe, “Niletee chombo kingine.” Lakini mwanawe akajibu, “Hakuna chombo kingine kilichobaki.” Basi mafuta yakakoma kutiririka.
Soon all the jars were full. So she said to one of her sons, “Bring me another jar!” But he replied, “There are no more jars!” And then the olive oil stopped flowing.
7 Yule mwanamke akaenda akamwambia yule mtu wa Mungu, naye mtu wa Mungu akasema, “Nenda ukayauze hayo mafuta ulipe madeni yako. Wewe na wanao mnaweza kuishi kwa kile kinachosalia.”
When she told Elijah [what had happened], he said to her, “Now sell the jars of oil. And [with the money you get, ] pay what you owe, and there will be enough extra money to keep buying food for yourself and your sons.” [So she did that].
8 Siku moja Elisha akaenda Shunemu. Huko kulikuwa na mwanamke mmoja mwenye cheo, ambaye alimsisitiza Elisha aje kula chakula. Kwa hiyo kila mara alipitia pale, akaingia humo ili ale.
One day Elisha went to Shunem [town]. There was a wealthy woman who lived there [with her husband]. One day she invited Elisha to her house for a meal. [Elisha went there and] from then on, every time Elisha was in Shunem, he went to their house to eat a meal.
9 Akamwambia mumewe, “Ninajua kwamba huyu mtu ambaye anakuja kwetu mara kwa mara ni mtu mtakatifu wa Mungu.
One day the woman said to her husband, “I am sure that this man who often comes here is a prophet [who brings messages] from God.
10 Tutengeneze chumba kidogo juu darini na tuweke ndani yake kitanda na meza, kiti na taa kwa ajili yake. Kisha anaweza kukaa humo kila mara akija kwetu.”
I think we should make a small room for him on our [flat] roof, and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it. If we do that, whenever he comes here, he will have a place to stay.” [So they did that].
11 Siku moja Elisha alipofika, akapanda chumbani kwake na kulala humo.
One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to that room to rest.
12 Akamwambia mtumishi wake Gehazi, “Mwite huyo Mshunami.” Hivyo akamwita, naye akaja akasimama mbele yake.
He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman that I want to speak to her.” [So the servant went and told her]. When she came [to the doorway of Elisha’s room],
13 Elisha akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Mwambie huyu mwanamke, ‘Umetaabika sana kwa ajili yetu. Sasa utendewe nini? Je, tunaweza kuzungumza na mfalme au jemadari wa jeshi kwa niaba yako?’” Akajibu, “Mimi ninaishi kwangu miongoni mwa watu wangu.”
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her that we both appreciate all the kind things that she has done for us. Then ask her what we can do for her. Ask, ‘Do you want [me to go to] the king or the army commander, to request something for you?’” [Gehazi told her, ] and she replied, “No, [he does not need to do that, because] my family/relatives are able to give me what I need.”
14 Elisha akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Je, ni nini kinachoweza kufanyika kwa ajili yake?” Gehazi akasema, “Hakika, hana mwana, na mume wake ni mzee.”
[Later, ] Elisha asked Gehazi, “What do you think that we can do for that woman?” He replied, “She does not have a son, and her husband is an old man. [So maybe we should ask Yahweh to enable her to have a son].”
15 Ndipo Elisha akasema, “Mwite huyo mwanamke.” Kwa hiyo akamwita, naye akaja akasimama mlangoni.
Elisha told Gehazi, “Call her back again.” [So Gehazi went and called her]. And when the woman returned, as she stood in the doorway,
16 Elisha akamwambia, “Mwaka ujao, wakati kama huu utabeba mwana mikononi mwako.” Yule mama akapinga, akasema, “La hasha, bwana wangu, usimpotoshe mtumishi wako, ee mtu wa Mungu!”
Elisha said to her, “About this time next year you will be holding your [infant] son in your arms.” But she protested, “O, sir, you are a prophet [who brings messages] from God, so please do not deceive/lie to me by saying things like that!”
17 Lakini yule mwanamke akapata mimba, na mwaka uliofuata wakati kama ule ule akamzaa mwana, kama vile Elisha alivyokuwa amemwambia.
But a few months later, the woman became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son at that time the following year, just like Elisha had predicted.
18 Mtoto akakua, naye siku moja akamwendea baba yake, ambaye alikuwa pamoja na wavunaji.
When the child was older, one day he went out to the fields to see his father, who was [working] with the men who were harvesting [grain].
19 Akamwambia baba yake, “Kichwa changu! Kichwa changu!” Baba yake akamwambia mtumishi, “Mchukue umpeleke kwa mama yake.”
[Suddenly] the boy exclaimed, “My head [hurts]! My head [hurts a lot]!” His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother!”
20 Baada ya mtumishi kumbeba na kumpeleka kwa mama yake, mtoto akaketi mapajani mwa mama yake mpaka adhuhuri, kisha akafa.
So the servant carried him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But at noontime the boy died.
21 Mama akampandisha na kumlaza juu ya kitanda cha yule mtu wa Mungu, kisha akafunga mlango, akatoka nje.
She carried him up [the steps] to the prophet’s room and laid him on the bed. She left him there and went out and shut the door.
22 Akamwita mume wake na kusema, “Tafadhali mtume mmoja miongoni mwa mtumishi pamoja na punda ili niweze kwenda kwa mtu wa Mungu haraka na kurudi.”
She then called out to her husband, saying, “Send to me one of the servants and a donkey, so that I can ride [on it] quickly to the prophet, and then come back!” [But she did not tell her husband that their son had died].
23 Mume wake akamuuliza, “Kwa nini uende kwake leo? Leo si mwandamo wa mwezi, wala si Sabato.” Mwanamke akasema, “Yote ni sawa.”
Her husband [called out to her and] said, “Why [do you want to go] today? This is not the day when we celebrate the Festival of the New Moon, and it is not a Sabbath day!” But she only replied, “[Just do what I requested and] everything will be all right.”
24 Akatandika punda na kumwambia mtumishi wake, “Mwongoze huyo punda. Usinipunguzie mwendo mpaka nikuambie.”
So she [told the servant to] put saddles on [two] donkeys, and as they left, she said, “Hurry! Do not slow down unless t tell you to do that!”
25 Kwa hiyo akaenda na kumfikia huyo mtu wa Mungu katika Mlima Karmeli. Alipomwona kwa mbali, huyo mtu wa Mungu akamwambia mtumishi wake Gehazi, “Tazama, yule Mshunami!
As they approached Carmel Mountain, where Elisha was, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming!
26 Kimbia ukamlaki, umuulize, ‘Je, wewe hujambo? Mume wako hajambo? Mtoto wako ni mzima?’” Akasema, “Kila kitu ni sawasawa.”
Run to her, and ask her if everything is all right with her and her husband and with her child!” [So Gehazi ran to her and asked her, but she did not tell Gehazi anything.] She only said, “Yes, everything is fine.”
27 Alipomfikia huyo mtu wa Mungu pale mlimani, akashika miguu yake. Gehazi akaja ili amwondoe, lakini yule mtu wa Mungu akasema, “Mwache! Yuko katika uchungu mkubwa, lakini Bwana amenificha jambo hili na hajaniambia kwa nini.”
But when she came to where Elisha was, she [prostrated herself on the ground in front of Elisha and] took hold of his feet. Gehazi started to push her away, but Elisha said, “(Do not push her away/Leave her alone)! Something is troubling her very much, but Yahweh has not told me what it is.”
28 Yule mwanamke akasema, “Je, bwana wangu, mimi nilikuomba mwana? Je, sikukuambia, ‘Usiamshe matumaini yangu’?”
Then she said to Elisha, “O, sir, I did not ask you to enable me to give birth to a son [RHQ]. And I told you not to lie to me about that!” [RHQ]
29 Elisha akamwambia Gehazi, “Jikaze viuno, chukua fimbo yangu mkononi mwako na ukimbie. Ikiwa utakutana na mtu yeyote, usimsalimie, na mtu yeyote akikusalimu, usimjibu. Ilaze fimbo yangu juu ya uso wa mtoto.”
Then Elisha [realized that something must have happened to her son. So he] said to Gehazi, “Get ready [to leave immediately]. Take my staff/walking stick and go [to her home]. Do not [stop to] talk to anyone on the way. Go quickly [to where her son is] and lay the staff on the child’s face. [If you do that, perhaps Yahweh will enable him to be well].”
30 Lakini mama mtoto akasema, “Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo na wewe uishivyo, sitakuacha.” Kwa hiyo Elisha akainuka, akafuatana naye.
But the boy’s mother said, “Just [as certain] as Yahweh lives and you live, I will not go home if you do not go with me.” So Elisha returned with her [to her home].
31 Gehazi akatangulia mbele na kuilaza fimbo juu ya uso wa mtoto, lakini hapakuwa na sauti wala itikio. Hivyo Gehazi akarudi kukutana na Elisha, na kumwambia, “Mtoto hajaamka.”
Gehazi hurried quickly, and [when he got to the woman’s home, ] he laid the staff/walking stick on the child’s face, but the child did not move or say anything. So Gehazi returned to meet Elisha [along the road], and told him, “The child is still dead.”
32 Elisha alipofika kwenye ile nyumba, mtoto alikuwa amelala juu ya kitanda chake angali amekufa.
When Elisha reached the house, he saw that the boy was lying dead on his bed.
33 Akaingia ndani, akajifungia yeye na yule mtoto, akamwomba Bwana.
Elisha went into the room by himself and shut the door and prayed to Yahweh.
34 Kisha akapanda kitandani, akalala juu ya yule mtoto, mdomo wake juu ya mdomo wa mtoto, macho yake juu ya macho ya mtoto, mikono yake juu ya mikono ya mtoto. Naye alipojinyoosha juu yake, mwili wa mtoto ukapata joto.
Then he lay down on the boy’s body, and put his mouth on the boy’s mouth, and put his eyes on the boy’s eyes, and put his hands on the boy’s hands. Then the boy’s body started to become warm!
35 Elisha akajiondoa juu yake na kuanza kutembeatembea ndani ya chumba, kisha akarudi tena kitandani na kujinyoosha tena juu ya mtoto mara nyingine. Mtoto akapiga chafya mara saba, akafungua macho yake.
Elisha got up and walked back and forth in the room [several times]. Then he stretched his body on the boy’s body again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!
36 Elisha akamwita Gehazi na kumwambia, “Mwite huyo Mshunami.” Naye akafanya hivyo. Yule Mshunami alipokuja, Elisha akasema, “Mchukue mwanao.”
Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. He said, “Call the boy’s mother!” [So Gehazi went and called her, ] and when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!”
37 Akaingia ndani, akaanguka miguuni pa Elisha na kusujudu hadi nchi. Kisha akamchukua mwanawe na kutoka nje.
She [gratefully] prostrated herself at Elisha’s feet. Then she picked up her son and carried him downstairs.
38 Elisha akarudi Gilgali, nako huko kulikuwa na njaa katika eneo lile. Wakati wana wa kundi la manabii walipokuwa wanakutana naye, akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Teleka chungu kikubwa jikoni uwapikie manabii.”
Then Elisha returned to Gilgal. But at that time there was (a famine/very little food) in that area. One day as the group of prophets was sitting in front of Elisha [listening to what he was teaching], he said to his servant, “Put a large pot on [the stove] and make some stew for these men.”
39 Mmoja wao akatoka kwenda mashambani kuchuma mboga na akapata mtango mwitu. Akachuma matango na kujaza nguo yake aliyoikunja ili kubebea. Aliporudi, akayakatakata na kuyatumbukiza ndani ya chungu, ingawa hakuna aliyejua ni nini.
One of the prophets went out to the fields to gather some vegetables. But he gathered [only] some wild gourds and put them in his cloak and brought them back. He shredded them and put them in the pot, but he did not know that the gourds were poisonous.
40 Mchuzi ukagawiwa watu, lakini walipoanza kula, wakalia, “Ee mtu wa Mungu, kuna mauti ndani ya chungu.” Nao hawakuweza kula.
He served the stew to the prophets, but after the men had eaten only a couple bites, they cried out, “Elisha, there is something in the pot that will kill us!” So they would not eat it.
41 Elisha akasema, “Leteni unga.” Akauweka ndani ya chungu na kusema, “Wagawie watu ili wale.” Wala hapakuwa na kitu chochote chenye madhara ndani ya chungu.
Elisha said, “Bring me some flour.” [They brought him some, and] he threw it in the pot and he said, “It is all right now. You can eat it.” And they ate it, and it did not harm them.
42 Akaja mtu kutoka Baal-Shalisha, akimletea mtu wa Mungu mikate ishirini ya shayiri iliyookwa kutokana na nafaka ya kwanza, pamoja na masuke ya nafaka mpya. Elisha akasema, “Wape watu ili wale.”
One day a man from Baal-Shalishah [town] brought to Elisha a sack of freshly cut grain and 20 loaves of barley bread, made from the first grain that they harvested [that year]. Elisha said [to his servant], “Give it to the group of prophets, so that they can eat it.”
43 Mtumishi wake akamuuliza, “Nitawezaje kuandaa hii mbele ya watu mia?” Lakini Elisha akajibu, “Wape watu ili wale. Kwa maana hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: ‘Watakula na kusaza.’”
But his servant exclaimed, “Do you think that we can feed 100 of us prophets with only that much?” [RHQ] But Elisha replied, “Give it to the prophets so that they can eat it, because Yahweh says that there will be plenty for all of them, and there will be some left over!”
44 Basi akaiandaa mbele yao ile mikate, wakala na baadhi yake wakasaza, sawasawa na neno la Bwana.
After his servant gave it to the prophets, they ate [all that they wanted], and there was food left over, just as Yahweh had promised.
