Waamuzi 12

1 Watu wa Efraimu wakaita majeshi yao, wakavuka kwenda Zafoni, wakamwambia Yefta, “Kwa nini mmekwenda kupigana na Waamoni bila kutuita ili twende pamoja nawe? Basi tutaichoma moto nyumba yako, pamoja nawe ukiwa ndani yake.”

And behold, a sedition rose up in Ephraim. Then, while passing by toward the north, they said to Jephthah: “When you were going to fight against the sons of Ammon, why were you unwilling to summon us, so that we might go with you? Therefore, we will burn down your house.”

2 Yefta akajibu, “Mimi na watu wangu tulikuwa na ugomvi mkubwa na Waamoni, hata ingawa niliwaita hamkuniokoa katika mkono wao.

And he answered them: “I and my people were in a great conflict against the sons of Ammon. And I called you, so that you might offer assistance to me. And you were not willing to do so.

3 Nilipoona kuwa hamkunipa msaada nikauhatarisha uhai wangu na nikavuka kupigana na Waamoni. Naye Bwana akanipatia ushindi dhidi yao. Sasa kwa nini mnanijia leo ili kupigana nami?”

And discerning this, I put my life in my own hands, and I crossed to the sons of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hands. What am I guilty of, that you would rise up in battle against me?”

4 Ndipo Yefta akakusanya watu wa Gileadi pamoja na kupigana na Efraimu. Wagileadi wakawashinda Efraimu, kwa kuwa Waefraimu walisema, “Ninyi Wagileadi ni watoro mliotoroka toka Efraimu na Manase.”

And so, calling to himself all the men of Gilead, he fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck down Ephraim, because he had said, “Gilead is a fugitive from Ephraim, and he lives in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

5 Wagileadi wakaviteka vivuko vya Yordani dhidi ya hao Waefraimu, kisha ilikuwa yeyote yule aliyenusurika katika Efraimu aliposema, “Niache nivuke,” hao watu wa Gileadi walimuuliza, “Je wewe ni Mwefraimu?” Kama alijibu “Hapana,”

And the Gileadites occupied the fords of the Jordan, along which Ephraim was to return. And when anyone from the number of Ephraim had arrived, fleeing, and had said, “I beg that you permit me to pass,” the Gileadites would say to him, “Could you be an Ephraimite?” And if he said, “I am not,”

6 walimwambia, “Sawa, sema ‘Shibolethi.’” Iwapo alitamka, “Sibolethi,” kwa sababu hakuweza kutamka hilo neno sawasawa, walimkamata na kumuua hapo kwenye vivuko vya Yordani. Waefraimu 42,000 waliuawa wakati huo.

they would ask him, then say ‘Shibboleth,’ which is translated as ‘ear of grain.’ But he would answer ‘Sibboleth,’ not being able to express the word for an ear of grain in the same letters. And immediately apprehending him, they would cut his throat, at the same crossing point of the Jordan. And in that time of Ephraim, forty-two thousand fell.

7 Yefta akawa mwamuzi wa Waisraeli kwa muda wa miaka sita. Basi Yefta akafa, akazikwa katika mmojawapo wa miji ya Gileadi.

And so Jephthah, the Gileadite, judged Israel for six years. And he died, and he was buried in his city in Gilead.

8 Baada yake, Ibzani wa Bethlehemu akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli.

After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9 Alikuwa na wana thelathini na binti thelathini. Akawaoza binti zake kwa watu wengine nje ya ukoo wake, na kuwatwalia wanawe wanawake thelathini toka nje ya ukoo wake. Ibzani akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa muda wa miaka saba.

He had thirty sons, and the same number of daughters, whom he sent away to be given to husbands. And he accepted wives for his sons of the same number, bringing them into his house. And he judged Israel for seven years.

10 Ibzani akafa, akazikwa huko Bethlehemu.

And he died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.

11 Baada yake Eloni, Mzabuloni, akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli, naye akawaamua kwa muda wa miaka kumi.

After him succeeded Elon, a Zebulunite. And he judged Israel for ten years.

12 Kisha Eloni akafa, akazikwa katika Aiyaloni, katika nchi ya Zabuloni.

And he died, and he was buried in Zebulun.

13 Baada yake, Abdoni mwana wa Hileli, Mpirathoni, akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli.

After him, Abdon, the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

14 Naye akazaa wana arobaini na wana wa wanawe thelathini waliopanda punda sabini. Akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa muda wa miaka minane.

And he had forty sons, and from them thirty grandsons, all riding upon seventy young donkeys. And he judged Israel for eight years.

15 Ndipo Abdoni mwana wa Hileli, Mpirathoni, akafa, naye akazikwa huko Pirathoni katika Efraimu, katika nchi ya vilima ya Waamaleki.

And he died, and he was buried at Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, on the mountain of Amalek.