Yoshua 9
1 Basi ikawa wafalme wote waliokuwa magharibi mwa Yordani waliposikia juu ya haya yote, wale waliokuwa katika nchi ya vilima, upande wa magharibi mwa vilima na katika pwani yote ya hiyo Bahari Kuu, hadi kufikia Lebanoni (wafalme wa Wahiti, Waamori, Wakanaani, Waperizi, Wahivi na Wayebusi),
All the kings west of the Jordan heard what had happened. These included the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who lived in the hill country, the lowlands, and along the coast as far as Lebanon.
2 wakajiunga pamoja ili kupigana vita dhidi ya Yoshua na Israeli.
So they gathered to fight together as a united army against Joshua and the Israelites.
3 Hata hivyo, watu wa Gibeoni waliposikia juu ya hayo yote Yoshua aliyowatendea watu wa Yeriko na Ai,
But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 nao wakaamua kufanya hila: Wakajifanya kama wajumbe wakiwa na punda waliobebeshwa mizigo wakiwa na magunia yaliyochakaa na viriba vya mvinyo vikuukuu vyenye nyufa zilizozibwa.
they decided on a cunning plan. They sent messengers to Joshua, their donkeys wearing worn-out saddles and carrying old wineskins that were torn and patched.
5 Walivaa miguuni mwao viatu vilivyoraruka na kushonwa kisha wakavaa nguo kuukuu. Chakula chao kilikuwa mkate uliokauka na kuingia koga.
They put on worn sandals that had been mended and wore old clothes. All their bread was dry and moldy.
6 Ndipo wakamwendea Yoshua kambini huko Gilgali wakamwambia yeye pamoja na watu wa Israeli, “Tumetoka katika nchi ya mbali, fanyeni mkataba nasi.”
They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and told him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a land far away, so please make a treaty with us.”
7 Basi watu wa Israeli wakawaambia hao Wahivi, “Lakini huenda mnakaa karibu nasi, twawezaje basi kufanya mapatano nanyi?”
But the Israelites said to the Hivites, “Maybe you live close by. If you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”
8 Wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sisi ni watumishi wako.” Yoshua akawauliza, “Ninyi ni nani, nanyi mnatoka wapi?”
“We are your servants,” they replied. “But who are you? Where do you come from?” Joshua asked.
9 Nao wakamjibu: “Watumishi wako wametoka nchi ya mbali sana kwa ajili ya umaarufu wa Bwana Mungu wenu. Kwa kuwa tumesikia taarifa zake: hayo yote aliyofanya huko Misri,
“Your servants have come from a land far away,” they replied. “For we have heard of the reputation of the Lord your God, and reports of all that he did in Egypt,
10 pia yale yote aliyowatendea wafalme wawili wa Waamori mashariki ya Yordani; huyo Sihoni mfalme wa Heshboni na Ogu mfalme wa Bashani, aliyetawala huko Ashtarothi.
and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth.
11 Basi wazee wetu na wale wote wanaoishi katika nchi yetu walituambia, ‘Chukueni chakula cha safari; nendeni mkakutane na watu hao na kuwaambia, “Sisi tu watumishi wenu, fanyeni mapatano nasi.”’
So our leaders and everyone who lives in our land told us: Take what you need with you for the journey. Go and meet with them, and tell them, ‘We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’
12 Mkate huu wetu ulikuwa wa moto tulipoufunga siku tulipoanza safari kuja kwenu, lakini sasa angalia jinsi ulivyokauka na kuota ukungu.
Look at this bread. It was warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come here. But now it's dry and moldy, as you can see.
13 Viriba hivi vya mvinyo vilikuwa vipya tulipovijaza, lakini ona jinsi vilivyo na nyufa. Nguo zetu na viatu vimechakaa kwa ajili ya safari ndefu.”
These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look at them now—they're split and damaged. These clothes of ours and our sandals are all worn out because the journey took so long.”
14 Basi watu wa Israeli wakavikagua vyakula vyao bila kupata shauri kutoka kwa Bwana.
The Israelites tried some of the food. However, they did not consult the Lord.
15 Ndipo Yoshua akafanya mapatano ya amani pamoja nao kuwaacha waishi, nao viongozi wa kusanyiko wakathibitisha kwa kiapo.
Then Joshua made a treaty with them, promising to spare their lives, and the leaders of the assembly swore an oath to guarantee it.
16 Siku ya tatu baada ya hao kufanya mapatano na Wagibeoni, Waisraeli wakapata habari kuwa hao watu ni jirani zao waliokuwa wanaishi karibu nao.
Three days after they had made the treaty, the Israelites learned that the Gibeonites lived nearby, right among them!
17 Ndipo wana wa Israeli wakasafiri na siku ya tatu wakafika kwenye miji yao ya Gibeoni, Kefira, Beerothi na Kiriath-Yearimu.
The Israelites left to go to the Gibeonite towns, and arrived there on the third day. The towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.
18 Lakini Waisraeli hawakuwashambulia kwa kuwa viongozi wa kusanyiko walikuwa wamewaapia kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. Kusanyiko lote likanungʼunika dhidi ya hao viongozi,
But the Israelites did not attack them because of the treaty sworn by the leaders of the assembly in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. At this all the Israelites protested against the leaders.
19 lakini viongozi wote wakawajibu, “Tumeshawaapia kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa hiyo hatuwezi kuwagusa sasa.
But the leaders replied to the people, “We swore to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, so we cannot lay a hand on them now.
20 Hivi ndivyo tutakavyowafanyia: Tutawaacha waishi, ili ghadhabu isije juu yetu kwa kuvunja kiapo tulichowaapia.”
So this is what we're going to do to them. We'll let them live, so that we won't be punished for breaking the oath that we swore to them.”
21 Wakaendelea kusema, “Waacheni waishi, lakini wawe wapasua kuni na wachota maji kwa ajili ya jamii yote.” Hivyo ahadi waliyoweka viongozi kwao ikawa hivyo.
The leaders concluded, “Let them live.” So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water-carriers in service to the entire assembly, as the Israelite leaders had ordered.
22 Kisha Yoshua akawaita Wagibeoni na kuwaambia, “Kwa nini mmetudanganya kwa kutuambia, ‘Tunaishi mbali nanyi,’ wakati ambapo ninyi mnaishi karibu nasi?
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them, “Why did you trick us? You told us, ‘We live a long way from you,’ but you live right next door to us!
23 Sasa mko chini ya laana: Daima mtakuwa wapasua kuni na wachota maji kwa ajili ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu.”
Consequently you are under a curse. From now on you shall forever be servants, woodcutters and water-carriers for the house of my God.”
24 Wakamjibu Yoshua, “Watumwa wako waliambiwa waziwazi jinsi Bwana Mungu wenu alivyomwamuru mtumishi wake Mose kuwapa ninyi nchi hii yote na kuwaangamiza wakazi wake wote toka mbele zenu. Kwa hiyo tuliogopa mno kwa ajili ya uhai wetu kwa sababu yenu, ndiyo maana tukafanya neno hili.
They answered Joshua, “We your servants were told very clearly that the Lord your God had ordered Moses to give you all this land, and that all its inhabitants were to be wiped out before you. So we really feared for our lives because of you. That's why we did what we did.
25 Sasa tupo mikononi mwako. Tufanyieni lolote mnaloona kuwa jema na haki kwako.”
Now we're in your hands. Do to us what you think is right and just.”
26 Kwa hiyo Yoshua akawaokoa mikononi mwa Waisraeli, nao hawakuuawa.
Joshua did as he had said. He saved them from the Israelites, so that they did not kill them.
27 Siku hiyo Yoshua akawafanya Wagibeoni wapasua kuni na wachota maji kwa ajili ya jamii na kwa ajili ya madhabahu ya Bwana mahali pale ambapo Bwana angepachagua. Hivyo ndivyo walivyo hadi hivi leo.
That day Joshua made them woodcutters and water-carriers in service to the entire assembly and for the altar of the Lord wherever the Lord should choose. That is what they do right up to this very day.
