< Waamuzi 1 >

1 Baada ya kifo cha Yoshua, Waisraeli wakamuuliza Bwana, “Ni nani atakayetangulia kupanda mbele yetu kwa ajili ya kupigana na Wakanaani?”
After Joshua died, the Israeli people asked Yahweh, “Which [of our tribes] should attack the Canaan people-group first?”
2 Bwana akajibu, “Yuda ndiye atakayetangulia; nimewapa hiyo nchi mikononi mwao.”
Yahweh replied, “I will enable the tribe of Judah to defeat [IDM] the Canaan people-group.”
3 Ndipo watu wa Yuda wakawaambia Wasimeoni ndugu zao, “Pandeni pamoja nasi katika nchi tuliyopewa, ili tupate kupigana na Wakanaani. Sisi pia tutakwenda pamoja nanyi katika sehemu yenu mliyopewa.” Basi Wasimeoni wakaenda pamoja nao.
The men of Judah went to their fellow Israelis, [the men] from the tribe of Simeon, and said to them, “Come and help us to fight the Canaan people-group [in order that we can take from them] the land [that Yahweh] allotted to us. If you do that, we will go with you [and help you] conquer the people in the land [that Yahweh promised to give to] you.” So the men from the tribe of Simeon went with the men of the tribe of Judah.
4 Yuda aliposhambulia, Bwana akawatia Wakanaani na Waperizi mikononi mwao, nao wakawaua watu 10,000 huko Bezeki.
When the men of those two tribes attacked, Yahweh enabled them to defeat 10,000 men of the Canaan people-group and the Periz people-group [DOU] at Bezek [city].
5 Huko ndiko walipomkuta huyo Adoni-Bezeki, nao wakapigana naye na kuwafanya Wakanaani na Waperizi wakimbie.
During the battle they found Adoni-Bezek, the leader of the city,
6 Adoni-Bezeki pia alikimbia, nao wakamfuata na kumkamata, wakamkata vidole vyake gumba vya mikono na vya miguu.
but he [tried to] run away. The Israelis pursued him and caught him. Then they cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
7 Ndipo Adoni-Bezeki akasema, “Nimewatendea wafalme sabini kama nilivyotendewa na kuwalisha makombo ya chakula chini ya meza yangu. Sasa Mungu amenilipa haya, kama yale niliyowatendea.” Wakamleta Yerusalemu, naye akafa huko.
Adoni-Bezek said, “[My army captured] 70 kings. We cut off their thumbs and big toes. After that, [we forced] those kings to eat scraps that fell from our table. Now God has (paid me back for/done to me like) [what we did to them].” Then the men of Judah took Adoni-Bezek to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 Watu wa Yuda wakashambulia pia Yerusalemu na kuiteka. Wakaupiga mji kwa upanga na kuuchoma kwa moto.
The army of Judah fought against the men of Jerusalem, and they captured the city. With their swords they killed [the people who lived there] and they burned [the houses in] the city.
9 Baada ya hayo, watu wa Yuda wakateremka kupigana na Wakanaani walioishi katika nchi ya vilima, yaani, Negebu na nchi chini ya vilima vya magharibi.
Later, the men of Judah went down to fight the Canaan people-group who lived in the hilly area, in the desert to the south, and in the foothills [to the west].
10 Yuda wakakabiliana na Wakanaani walioishi Hebroni (ambayo hapo kwanza iliitwa Kiriath-Arba) na kuwashinda Sheshai, Ahimani na Talmai.
The men of Judah also went to fight against the Canaan people-group who lived in Hebron [city], which at that time was named Kiriath-Arba. They defeated [the armies of kings] Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11 Kutoka huko wakasonga mbele kukabiliana na watu walioishi Debiri (ambao hapo kwanza uliitwa Kiriath-Seferi.)
Then they left that area and went to fight against the people living in Debir [city], which was previously named Kiriath-Sepher.
12 Kalebu akasema, “Nitamwoza binti yangu Aksa kwa mtu atakayeweza kupigana na kuteka Kiriath-Seferi.”
[Before they attacked the city], Caleb said to them, “If one of you attacks and captures Kiriath-Sepher, I will allow him to marry my daughter.”
13 Basi Othnieli mwana wa Kenazi, ndugu mdogo wa huyo Kalebu, akawashinda, kwa hiyo Kalebu akamtoa binti yake Aksa akaolewa naye.
Othniel, who was the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz, captured the city. So Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him, to become his wife.
14 Siku moja Aksa alipokuja kwa Othnieli, alimsihi Othnieli amwombe baba yake, Kalebu, shamba. Aksa aliposhuka kutoka juu ya punda wake, Kalebu akamuuliza, “Je, wataka nikufanyie nini?”
When Acsah married Othniel, she told him to ask her father to give him a field. [But she decided to ask him herself. She rode to Caleb’s house on her donkey], and when she got off the donkey, Caleb [could see that something was troubling her. So he] asked her, “What do you want?”
15 Akamjibu, “Naomba unifanyie jambo moja la hisani. Kwa kuwa umenipa ardhi huko Negebu, nipe pia chemchemi za maji.” Ndipo Kalebu akampa chemchemi za juu na za chini.
She replied, “I want you to do a favor for me. You have given me some land in the southern desert, [but it is very dry there]. So please also give me some [land that has] springs of water.” So Caleb gave her some land on higher ground that had a spring, and some land on lower ground that also had a spring.
16 Wazao wa yule Mkeni, baba mkwe wa Mose, wakapanda pamoja na watu wa Yuda kutoka Mji wa Mitende, wakaenda kuishi miongoni mwa watu wa jangwa ya Yuda huko Negebu karibu na mji wa Aradi.
The people of the Ken people-group who were descendants of Moses’ father-in-law left Jericho, which was called ‘The City of Palm Trees’. They went with some of the men of Judah to live with them in the southern desert area, near Arad [city].
17 Basi watu wa Yuda wakaenda na Wasimeoni ndugu zao kushambulia Wakanaani waishio Sefathi, nao wakauangamiza huo mji kabisa. Kwa hiyo huo mji ukaitwa Horma
The men of Judah and their fellow Israelis from the tribe of Simeon defeated the people of the Canaan people-group who lived in Zephath [city]. They completely destroyed the city and gave it a new name, Hormah, [which means ‘complete destruction’].
18 Watu wa Yuda wakatwaa pia Gaza, Ashkeloni na Ekroni, kila mji na vijiji vyake vinavyouzunguka.
The men of Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron [cities] and all the land that is near those cities.
19 Bwana alikuwa pamoja na watu wa Yuda. Wakaimiliki nchi ya vilima, lakini hawakuweza kuwafukuza watu waliokaa katika hiyo tambarare, kwa sababu walikuwa na magari ya chuma.
Yahweh helped the men of Judah to capture the hilly area, but they could not force the people who were living in the plains to leave, because [those people had better weapons—] had iron chariots.
20 Kama vile Mose alivyoahidi, Kalebu alipewa Hebroni, naye akawafukuza wana watatu wa Anaki.
Hebron [city] was given to Caleb because Moses had promised him that he could have that city. And Caleb forced the three clans descended from Anak to leave that area.
21 Hata hivyo, Wabenyamini walishindwa kuwafukuza Wayebusi, waliokuwa wanaishi Yerusalemu; hivyo hadi leo Wayebusi huishi humo pamoja na Wabenyamini.
But the people of the tribe of Benjamin could not force the people of the Jebus people-group to leave Jerusalem. So, since that time the people of the Jebus people-group have lived in Jerusalem with the people of the tribe of Benjamin.
22 Basi nyumba ya Yosefu wakashambulia Betheli, naye Bwana alikuwa pamoja nao.
The men of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh went to fight against [the men of] Bethel [city], and Yahweh helped them.
23 Walipotuma watu kwenda kupeleleza Betheli (ambao hapo kwanza uliitwa Luzu),
They sent some spies to [find out everything that they could find out about] Bethel, which was previously called Luz.
24 wale wapelelezi wakaona mtu anatoka mjini, nao wakamwambia, “Tuonyeshe jinsi ya kuingia mjini nasi tutakutendea wema.”
The spies saw a man who was coming out of the city. They said to him, “If you show us a way to get into the city, we will be kind to you [and we will not kill you].”
25 Hivyo akawaonyesha, nao wakaupiga mji kwa upanga lakini wakamhifadhi hai yule mtu na jamaa yake yote.
So the man showed them a way to enter the city. The men of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh entered the city and killed all the people with their swords, but they did not kill the man [who showed them how to get into the city], and they did not kill his family.
26 Yule mtu akaenda hadi nchi ya Wahiti, ambapo aliujenga mji na kuuita Luzu, ambao ndio jina lake hadi leo.
That man went to the area where the descendants of Heth lived, and built a city. He named the city Luz, and that is still the name of that city.
27 Lakini Manase hawakuwafukuza watu wa Beth-Shani na vijiji vyake, au watu wa Taanaki na vijiji vyake, au watu wa Dori na vijiji vyake, au watu wa Ibleamu na vijiji vyake, au watu wa Megido na vijiji vyake, lakini Wakanaani waliazimu kuishi katika nchi ile.
There were people of the Canaan people-group who lived in Beth-Shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, and Megiddo [cities] and in the surrounding villages. [The men of] the tribe of Manasseh did not force those people to leave those towns, because the people of the Canaan people-group were determined to stay there.
28 Israeli walipopata nguvu, wakawatia Wakanaani katika kazi ya kulazimishwa, lakini kamwe hawakuwafukuza watoke kabisa.
Later, the Israelis became (stronger/more numerous), and they forced the people of the Canaan people-group to work for them [as their slaves], but they did not force all the people of the Canaan people-group to leave their land.
29 Wala Efraimu hawakuwafukuza kabisa Wakanaani walioishi Gezeri, bali Wakanaani waliendelea kuishi humo miongoni mwao.
[The men of] the tribe of Ephraim did not force the people of the Canaan people-group to leave Gezer [city]. So the people of the Canaan people-group continued to live with the people of the tribe of Ephraim.
30 Vivyo hivyo Zabuloni hawakuwafukuza Wakanaani walioishi huko Kitroni, wala walioishi Nahaloli, ambao walibaki miongoni mwao; bali waliwatia katika kazi ya kulazimishwa.
[The men of] the tribe of Zebulun did nor compel the people of the Canaan people-group who were living in Kitron and Nahalol [cities] to leave. They stayed there and lived among the people of the tribe of Zebulun, but the people of Zebulun forced them to work for them as their slaves.
31 Wala Asheri hawakuwafukuza wale walioishi huko Ako, Sidoni, Alabu, Akzibu, Helba, Afeki wala Rehobu
[The men of] the tribe of Asher did not force the people of the Canaan people-group who lived in Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphek and Rehob [cities] to leave.
32 na kwa sababu ya jambo hili Waasheri wakaishi miongoni mwa Wakanaani, wenyeji wa nchi.
So the people of the tribe of Asher lived among them.
33 Wala Naftali hawakuwafukuza wale walioishi Beth-Shemeshi wala wale walioishi Beth-Anathi; lakini Naftali nao pia wakaishi miongoni mwa Wakanaani, wenyeji wa nchi, nao wale walioishi Beth-Shemeshi na Beth-Anathi wakawa watumishi wao katika kazi ya kulazimishwa.
[The men of] the tribe of Naphtali did not compel the people who lived in Beth-Shemesh and Beth-Anath [cities] to leave, so the people in those two cities continued to live there, but the people of the Canaan people-group were forced to work as the slaves of the people of the tribe of Naphtali.
34 Waamori wakawazuilia Wadani kwenye nchi ya vilima, kwa maana hawakuwaacha washuke kuingia kwenye sehemu tambarare.
The people of the Amor people-group forced the people of the tribe of Dan to live in the hills. They did not allow them to come down [and live] on the plain.
35 Waamori pia wakaendelea kukaa katika Mlima Heresi, katika Aiyaloni na Shaalbimu, lakini mkono wa nyumba ya Yosefu ukawalemea, nao wakashindwa hata wakalazimika kuingia katika kazi ya kulazimishwa.
The people of the Amor people-group were determined to stay in Heres Mountain and in Aijalon and Shaalbim [cities]. But when the Israelis became (stronger/more numerous), they forced the people of the Amor people-group to work as their slaves.
36 Mpaka wa Waamori ulikuwa kuanzia Genge la Akrabimu, kuendelea hadi Sela na kuelekea juu.
The land where the Amor people-group lived extended from Scorpion Pass [toward the west] beyond Sela [town], up into the hilly area.

< Waamuzi 1 >