2 Wafalme 6
1 Wana wa manabii wakamwambia Elisha, “Tazama, mahali hapa tunapokutana nawe ni padogo sana kwetu.
Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha: “Behold, the place in which we live before you is too narrow for us.
2 Twendeni Yordani, mahali ambapo kila mmoja wetu anaweza kupata nguzo moja, nasi tujenge huko mahali petu pa kuishi.” Naye akawaambia, “Nendeni.”
Let us go as far as the Jordan, and let us each take from the forest a piece of timber, so that we may build for ourselves a place to live there.” And he said, “Go.”
3 Kisha mmoja wao akasema, “Je, tafadhali, huwezi kufuatana na watumishi wako?” Elisha akajibu, “Nitakuja.”
And one of them said, “Then you, too, should go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”
4 Naye akaenda pamoja nao. Basi wakaenda Yordani, nao wakaanza kukata miti.
And he went with them. And when they had arrived at the Jordan, they were cutting down wood.
5 Mmoja wao alipokuwa anakata mti, shoka lilitumbukia kwenye maji. Akalia, “Ee bwana wangu, shoka lilikuwa la kuazima!”
Then it happened that, while someone was cutting timber, the iron of the ax fell into the water. And he cried out and said: “Alas, alas, alas, my lord! For this thing was borrowed.”
6 Mtu wa Mungu akauliza, “Je, liliangukia wapi?” Alipomwonyesha mahali penyewe, Elisha akakata kijiti na kukitupa mahali pale, nalo shoka likaelea.
Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he indicated to him the place. Then he cut off a piece of wood, and he threw it in. And the iron floated up.
7 Akasema, “Lichukue.” Kisha yule mtu akanyoosha mkono wake, akalichukua.
And he said, “Take it.” And he extended his hand, and took it.
8 Wakati huo mfalme wa Aramu alikuwa akipigana vita na Israeli. Baada ya kukubaliana na maafisa wake, akasema, “Nitapiga kambi yangu mahali fulani na fulani.”
Now the king of Syria was fighting against Israel, and he took counsel with his servants, saying, “In this and that place, let us set up an ambush.”
9 Mtu wa Mungu akatuma ujumbe kwa mfalme wa Israeli: “Jihadhari usije ukapita mahali pale, kwa sababu Waaramu wanashuka huko.”
And so the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: “Take care not to pass by that place. For the Syrians are there in ambush.”
10 Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akatuma neno la tahadhari mahali pale alikokuwa ameelekezwa na mtu wa Mungu. Mara kwa mara Elisha alimwonya mfalme kwamba watu wawe macho kwenye maeneo kama hayo.
And so the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God had told him, and he prevented it. And he preserved himself, concerning that place, not merely once or twice.
11 Hili lilimfadhaisha sana mfalme wa Aramu. Akawaita maafisa wake, akawauliza, “Je, hamtaniambia ni nani miongoni mwenu aliye upande wa mfalme wa Israeli?”
And the heart of the king of Syria was disturbed over this matter. And calling together his servants, he said, “Why have you not revealed to me the one who is betraying me to the king of Israel?”
12 Mmoja wa maafisa wake akasema, “Mfalme bwana wangu, hakuna hata mmoja wetu. Lakini Elisha, yule nabii aliye Israeli, humwambia mfalme wa Israeli hata yale maneno unayozungumza katika chumba chako cha kulala.”
And one of his servants said: “By no means, my lord the king! Rather it is the prophet Elisha, who is in Israel, who is revealing to the king of Israel every word whatsoever that you will speak in your conclave.”
13 Mfalme akaagiza akisema, “Nendeni, mkatafute aliko, ili niweze kutuma watu kumkamata.” Taarifa ikarudi kwamba, “Yuko Dothani.”
And he said to them, “Go, and see where he is, so that I may send and capture him.” And they reported to him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
14 Ndipo akatuma farasi na magari ya vita na jeshi lenye nguvu huko. Walikwenda usiku na kuuzunguka mji.
Therefore, he sent horses, and chariots, and experienced soldiers to that place. And when they had arrived in the night, they encircled the city.
15 Kesho yake asubuhi na mapema, mtumishi wa mtu wa Mungu alipoamka na kutoka nje, jeshi, pamoja na farasi na magari ya vita, likawa limeuzunguka mji. Mtumishi wake akasema, “Ole wetu, bwana wangu! Tutafanya nini?”
Now the servant of the man of God, arising at first light, went out and saw the army all around the city, with horses and chariots. And he reported it to him, saying: “Alas, alas, alas, my lord! What shall we do?”
16 Nabii akajibu, “Usiogope. Wale walio pamoja nasi ni wengi zaidi kuliko wale walio pamoja nao.”
But he responded: “Do not be afraid. For there are more with us than with them.”
17 Kisha Elisha akaomba, “Ee Bwana, mfumbue macho huyu mtumishi ili apate kuona.” Ndipo Bwana akayafumbua macho ya yule mtumishi, naye akatazama na kuona vilima vimejaa farasi na magari ya moto, yamemzunguka Elisha pande zote.
And when Elisha had prayed, he said, “O Lord, open the eyes of this one, so that he may see.” And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, all around Elisha.
18 Wakati adui waliposhuka kumwelekea, Elisha akamwomba Bwana: “Wapige watu hawa kwa upofu.” Basi Mungu akawapiga kwa upofu, kama Elisha alivyoomba.
Then truly, the enemies descended to him. But Elisha prayed to the Lord, saying: “Strike, I beg you, this people with blindness.” And the Lord struck them, so that they would not see, in accord with the word of Elisha.
19 Elisha akawaambia, “Hii sio njia yenyewe, na huu sio huo mji. Nifuateni mimi, nami nitawapeleka kwa huyo mtu mnayemtafuta.” Naye akawapeleka Samaria.
Then Elisha said to them: “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will reveal to you the man whom you are seeking.” Then he led them into Samaria.
20 Baada ya kuingia mjini, Elisha akasema, “Bwana, yafungue macho ya watu hawa ili wapate kuona.” Ndipo Bwana akayafungua macho yao, na walipotazama, kumbe hapo ndipo walipojikuta, ndani ya Samaria.
And when they had entered into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these ones, so that they may see.” And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw themselves to be in the midst of Samaria.
21 Wakati mfalme wa Israeli alipowaona, akamuuliza Elisha, “Je, baba yangu, niwaue?”
And the king of Israel, when he had seen them, said to Elisha, “My father, should I not strike them?”
22 Naye akajibu, “Usiwaue. Je, utawaua watu uliowateka kwa upanga wako mwenyewe na upinde wako? Wape chakula na maji ili wapate kula na kunywa, na kisha wamrudie bwana wao.”
And he said: “You should not strike them. For you did not capture them with your sword or bow, so that you might strike them. Instead, set bread and water before them, so that they may eat and drink, and then go to their lord.”
23 Basi akawaandalia karamu kubwa, na baada ya kula na kunywa, akawaaga nao wakarudi kwa bwana wao. Hivyo, vikosi kutoka Aramu vikakoma kuvamia nchi ya Israeli.
And a great preparation of foods was placed before them. And they ate and drank. And he dismissed them. And they went away to their lord. And the robbers of Syria no longer came into the land of Israel.
24 Baada ya kitambo kidogo, Ben-Hadadi mfalme wa Aramu akaandaa jeshi lake lote akapanda kwenda kuihusuru Samaria.
Now it happened that, after these things, Benhadad, the king of Syria, gathered together his entire army, and he ascended and was besieging Samaria.
25 Kukawa na njaa kuu katika mji. Samaria ilizingirwa kwa muda mrefu, kiasi kwamba kichwa cha punda kiliuzwa kwa shekeli themanini za fedha, na robo ya kibaba cha mavi ya njiwa kiliuzwa kwa shekeli tano za fedha.
And a great famine occurred in Samaria. And it was blockaded for a long time, until the head of a donkey was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and one fourth part of a pint of pigeons’ dung sold for five silver coins.
26 Wakati mfalme wa Israeli alipokuwa anapita juu ya ukuta, mwanamke mmoja akamlilia, “Bwana wangu mfalme, nisaidie!”
And as the king of Israel was passing by the wall, a certain woman cried out to him, saying, “Save me, my lord the king!”
27 Mfalme akajibu, “Ikiwa Bwana hakusaidii, nitakutolea wapi msaada? Je, ni kutoka kwenye sakafu ya kupuria? Au kwenye shinikizo la divai?”
And he said: “If the Lord does not save you, how am I able to save you? From the grain floor, or from the wine press?” And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” And she responded:
28 Kisha akamuuliza, “Kwani kuna nini?” Yule mwanamke akamjibu, “Huyu mwanamke aliniambia, ‘Mtoe mwanao ili tupate kumla leo, na kesho tutamla mwanangu.’
“This woman said to me: ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
29 Basi tukampika mwanangu na kumla. Siku iliyofuata nikamwambia, ‘Mtoe mwanao ili tupate kumla.’ Lakini akawa amemficha.”
Therefore, we cooked my son, and we ate him. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, so that we may eat him.’ But she concealed her son.”
30 Wakati mfalme aliposikia maneno ya yule mwanamke, alirarua mavazi yake. Naye alipoendelea kutembea ukutani, watu wakamtazama, na ndani ya mavazi yake alikuwa amevaa nguo ya gunia mwilini mwake.
When the king had heard this, he tore his garments, and he passed along the wall. And all the people saw the haircloth that he had worn underneath, beside his flesh.
31 Akasema, “Mungu na anitendee hivyo na kuzidi, ikiwa kichwa cha Elisha mwana wa Shafati kitabaki juu ya mabega yake leo!”
And the king said, “May God do these things to me, and may he add these other things, if the head of Elisha, the son of Shaphat, will remain on him this day!”
32 Wakati huu, Elisha alikuwa ameketi ndani ya nyumba yake, akiwa pamoja na wazee. Mfalme akatuma mjumbe kumtangulia, lakini kabla hajafika, Elisha akawaambia wale wazee, “Hammwoni huyu muuaji jinsi anavyotuma mtu kukata kichwa changu? Tazama, wakati mjumbe huyo atakapofika, fungeni mlango na mzuieni asiingie. Je, vishindo vya nyayo za bwana wake haviko nyuma yake?”
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And so he sent a man ahead. And before that messenger arrived, he said to the elders: “Do you not know that this son of a murderer is sending someone to cut off my head? Therefore, watch, and when the messenger arrives, close the door. And you shall not permit him to enter. For behold, the sound of his lord’s feet is behind him.”
33 Alipokuwa angali bado anazungumza nao, mjumbe akamfikia. Naye mfalme akasema, “Maafa haya yanatoka kwa Bwana. Kwa nini niendelee kumngoja Bwana zaidi?”
While he was still speaking to them, the messenger appeared who was sent to him. And he said: “Behold, such a great evil is from the Lord! What more should I expect from the Lord?”
