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),
And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea opposite to Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 wakajiunga pamoja ili kupigana vita dhidi ya Yoshua na Israeli.
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 Hata hivyo, watu wa Gibeoni waliposikia juu ya hayo yote Yoshua aliyowatendea watu wa Yeriko na Ai,
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to 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 did work cunningly, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 Walivaa miguuni mwao viatu vilivyoraruka na kushonwa kisha wakavaa nguo kuukuu. Chakula chao kilikuwa mkate uliokauka na kuingia koga.
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 Ndipo wakamwendea Yoshua kambini huko Gilgali wakamwambia yeye pamoja na watu wa Israeli, “Tumetoka katika nchi ya mbali, fanyeni mkataba nasi.”
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make all of you a league with us.
7 Basi watu wa Israeli wakawaambia hao Wahivi, “Lakini huenda mnakaa karibu nasi, twawezaje basi kufanya mapatano nanyi?”
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Possibly all of you dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 Wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sisi ni watumishi wako.” Yoshua akawauliza, “Ninyi ni nani, nanyi mnatoka wapi?”
And they said unto Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are all of you? and from whence come all of you?
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,
And they said unto him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the LORD your God: for we have heard the fame of him, and 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 all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at 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.”’
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make all of you a league with us.
12 Mkate huu wetu ulikuwa wa moto tulipoufunga siku tulipoanza safari kuja kwenu, lakini sasa angalia jinsi ulivyokauka na kuota ukungu.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 Viriba hivi vya mvinyo vilikuwa vipya tulipovijaza, lakini ona jinsi vilivyo na nyufa. Nguo zetu na viatu vimechakaa kwa ajili ya safari ndefu.”
And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 Basi watu wa Israeli wakavikagua vyakula vyao bila kupata shauri kutoka kwa Bwana.
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15 Ndipo Yoshua akafanya mapatano ya amani pamoja nao kuwaacha waishi, nao viongozi wa kusanyiko wakathibitisha kwa kiapo.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them.
16 Siku ya tatu baada ya hao kufanya mapatano na Wagibeoni, Waisraeli wakapata habari kuwa hao watu ni jirani zao waliokuwa wanaishi karibu nao.
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 Ndipo wana wa Israeli wakasafiri na siku ya tatu wakafika kwenye miji yao ya Gibeoni, Kefira, Beerothi na Kiriath-Yearimu.
And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18 Lakini Waisraeli hawakuwashambulia kwa kuwa viongozi wa kusanyiko walikuwa wamewaapia kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. Kusanyiko lote likanungʼunika dhidi ya hao viongozi,
And the children of Israel stroke them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 lakini viongozi wote wakawajibu, “Tumeshawaapia kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa hiyo hatuwezi kuwagusa sasa.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 Hivi ndivyo tutakavyowafanyia: Tutawaacha waishi, ili ghadhabu isije juu yetu kwa kuvunja kiapo tulichowaapia.”
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto 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.
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 Kisha Yoshua akawaita Wagibeoni na kuwaambia, “Kwa nini mmetudanganya kwa kutuambia, ‘Tunaishi mbali nanyi,’ wakati ambapo ninyi mnaishi karibu nasi?
And Joshua called for them, and he spoke unto them, saying, Wherefore have all of you misled us, saying, We are very far from you; when all of you dwell among us?
23 Sasa mko chini ya laana: Daima mtakuwa wapasua kuni na wachota maji kwa ajili ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu.”
Now therefore all of you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water 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.
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told your servants, how that the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 Sasa tupo mikononi mwako. Tufanyieni lolote mnaloona kuwa jema na haki kwako.”
And now, behold, we are in your hand: as it seems good and right unto you to do unto us, do.
26 Kwa hiyo Yoshua akawaokoa mikononi mwa Waisraeli, nao hawakuuawa.
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
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.
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
