< Waamuzi 5 >

1 Ndipo Debora na Baraka mwana wa Abinoamu wakaimba wimbo huu:
On that day, Deborah sang this song, along with Barak:
2 “Wakuu katika Israeli wanapoongoza, wakati watu wanapojitoa kwa hiari yao wenyewe: mhimidini Bwana!
“When the leaders of the Israeli people really lead them, and the people follow them, [it is time to] praise Yahweh!
3 “Sikieni hili, enyi wafalme! Sikilizeni, enyi watawala! Nitamwimbia Bwana, nitaimba; kwa wimbo nitamhimidi Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli.
Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you leaders! I will sing to Yahweh. With this song I will praise Yahweh, the God we Israelis worship.
4 “Ee Bwana, ulipotoka katika Seiri, ulipopita katika mashamba ya Edomu, nchi ilitetemeka, mbingu nazo zikamwaga, naam, mawingu yakamwaga maji.
O Yahweh, when you came from Seir, when you marched from that land [better known as] Edom, the earth shook, and rain poured down from the skies.
5 Milima ilitetemeka mbele za Bwana, hata ule wa Sinai, mbele za Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli.
The mountains shook when you came, just like Sinai Mountain shook when you appeared there, because you are Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis worship.
6 “Katika siku za Shamgari mwana wa Anathi, katika siku za Yaeli, barabara kuu hazikuwa na watu; wasafiri walipita njia za kando.
“When Shamgar was our leader and when Jael ruled us, [we were afraid to walk on] the main roads; instead, caravans of travelers walked on winding [less traveled] roads [to avoid being molested].
7 Mashujaa walikoma katika Israeli, walikoma mpaka mimi, Debora, nilipoinuka, nilipoinuka kama mama katika Israeli.
People left their small villages, [and moved into the walled cities] until I, Deborah, became their leader. [I became like] a mother to the Israeli people.
8 Walipochagua miungu migeni, vita vilikuja katika malango ya mji, hapakuonekana ngao wala mkuki miongoni mwa mashujaa 40,000 katika Israeli.
When the Israeli people [abandoned Yahweh and] chose new gods, enemies attacked the gates of the cities, and then [they took away] the shields and spears from 40,000 Israeli soldiers. Not one shield or spear was left.
9 Moyo wangu u pamoja na wakuu wa Israeli, pamoja na wale wanaojitoa wenyewe kwa hiari yao miongoni mwa watu. Mhimidini Bwana!
I am thankful for the leaders and soldiers who volunteered [to fight]. Praise Yahweh [for them!]
10 “Nanyi mpandao punda weupe, mkiketi juu ya matandiko ya thamani, nanyi mtembeao barabarani, fikirini
“You wealthy people who ride on donkeys, sitting on nice padded saddles, and you people who just walk on the road, you all listen!
11 juu ya sauti za waimbaji mahali pa kunyweshea maji. Wanasimulia matendo ya haki ya Bwana, matendo ya haki ya mashujaa wake katika Israeli. “Ndipo watu wa Bwana walipoteremka malangoni pa mji.
Listen to the voices of the singers who gather at the places where [the animals drink] water. They tell about how Yahweh acted righteously when he enabled the Israeli warriors to conquer [their enemies]. “Yahweh’s people marched down to the gates of our city.
12 ‘Amka, amka! Debora! Amka, amka, uimbe! Ee Baraka! Inuka, chukua mateka wako uliowateka, ee mwana wa Abinoamu.’
The people came to my house and shouted, ‘Deborah, wake up! Wake up and start singing!’ They also shouted, ‘Barak, son of Abinoam, get up, and capture our enemies!’
13 “Ndipo mabaki ya watu wakashuka dhidi ya wenye nguvu, watu wa Bwana, wakashuka dhidi ya mashujaa wenye nguvu.
Later, some of the Israeli people came down [from Tabor Mountain] with us, their leaders. These men who belonged to Yahweh came with me to fight their strong enemies.
14 Kutoka Efraimu wakaja watu, ambao chimbuko lao ni Amaleki; Benyamini akiwa miongoni mwa watu waliokufuata. Kutoka Makiri wakashuka viongozi, na kutoka Zabuloni wale washikao fimbo ya jemadari.
Some came from the tribe descended from Ephraim. They came from land that once belonged to the descendants of Amalek. And men from the tribe descended from Benjamin followed them. Troops from the group descended from Makir also came down, and officers from the tribe descended from Zebulun came down, carrying staffs.
15 Wakuu wa Isakari walikuwa pamoja na Debora; naam, Isakari alikuwa pamoja na Baraka, wakija nyuma yake kwa mbio wakielekea bondeni. Katika jamaa za Reubeni, palikuwa na kujihoji kukubwa moyoni.
Leaders from the tribes descended from Issachar joined Barak and me. They followed Barak, rushing down into the valley. But men from the tribe descended from Reuben could not decide whether or not to join us.
16 Kwa nini ulikaa katikati ya mazizi ya kondoo kusikiliza sauti ya filimbi zinazoita makundi? Kwa jamaa za Reubeni, palikuwa na kujihoji kukubwa moyoni.
Why did you men stay at your sheep pens, waiting to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks of sheep to come to the pens? Men in the tribe descended from Reuben could not decide whether they would join us to fight our enemies, or not.
17 Gileadi alikaa ngʼambo ya Yordani. Naye Dani, kwa nini alikaa kwenye merikebu siku nyingi? Asheri alikaa kwa utulivu ufuoni mwa bahari, akikaa kwenye ghuba zake ndogo.
Similarly, the men living in the Gilead area stayed at home, east of the Jordan River. And the men from the tribe descended from Dan, why did they stay home? The tribe descended from Asher sat by the seashore. They stayed in their coves.
18 Watu wa Zabuloni walihatarisha maisha yao, vilevile nao watu wa Naftali.
But men from the tribe descended from Zebulun risked (their lives/were ready to die fighting) on the battlefield, and men descended from Naphtali were ready to do that, also.
19 “Wafalme walikuja na kufanya vita; wafalme wa Kanaani walipigana huko Taanaki karibu na maji ya Megido, lakini hawakuchukua fedha wala nyara.
“The kings of Canaan fought us at Taanach, near the springs in Megiddo [Valley]. [But since they did not defeat us], they did not carry away any silver or other treasures from the battle.
20 Kutoka mbinguni nyota zilipigana, nyota kutoka njia zake zilipigana na Sisera.
[It was as though] the stars in the sky fought for us [and as though] those stars in their paths fought against Sisera.
21 Mto wa Kishoni uliwasomba, ule mto wa zamani, mto wa Kishoni. Songa mbele, ee nafsi yangu, kwa ujasiri!
The Kishon River swept them away— that river that has been there for ages. I will tell myself to be brave and continue marching on.
22 Ndipo kwato za farasi zikafanya mshindo: farasi wake wenye nguvu huenda mbio kwa kurukaruka.
The hooves of the horses of Sisera’s [army] pounded the ground. Those powerful horses kept galloping along.
23 Malaika wa Bwana akasema, ‘Merozi alaaniwe. Walaaniwe watu wake kwa uchungu, kwa kuwa hawakuja kumsaidia Bwana, kumsaidia Bwana dhidi ya hao wenye nguvu.’
The angel sent by Yahweh said, ‘Curse the people of Meroz [town], because they did not come to help Yahweh to defeat the mighty warriors [of Canaan].’
24 “Yaeli abarikiwe kuliko wanawake wote, mkewe Heberi, Mkeni, abarikiwe kuliko wanawake wote waishio kwenye mahema.
“But God is very pleased with Jael, the wife of Heber from the Ken people-group. He is more pleased with her than with all the other women who live in tents.
25 Aliomba maji, naye akampa maziwa; kwenye bakuli la heshima akamletea maziwa mgando.
Sisera asked for some water, but Jael gave him some milk. She brought him some yogurt/curds in a bowl that was suitable for kings.
26 Akanyoosha mkono wake akashika kigingi cha hema, mkono wake wa kuume ukashika nyundo ya fundi. Akampiga Sisera kwa nyundo, akamponda kichwa chake, akamvunjavunja na kumtoboa paji lake la uso.
Then, [when he was asleep], she reached for a tent peg with her left hand, and she reached for a hammer with her right hand. She hit Sisera hard with it and crushed his head. She pounded the tent peg right through his head.
27 Aliinama miguuni pa Yaeli, akaanguka; akalala hapo. Pale alipoinama miguuni pake, alianguka; pale alipoinamia, ndipo alipoanguka, akiwa amekufa.
He collapsed and fell dead at her feet.
28 “Kupitia dirishani mamaye Sisera alichungulia; nyuma ya dirisha alilia, akasema, ‘Mbona gari lake linachelewa kufika? Mbona vishindo vya magari yake vimechelewa?’
“Sisera’s mother looked out from her window. She waited for him to return. She said, ‘Why is he taking so long to come home in his chariot? Why don’t I hear the sound of the wheels of his chariot?’
29 Wanawake wenye busara kuliko wengine wote wakamjibu; naam, husema moyoni mwake,
One wise woman replied to her, and she [kept consoling herself by] repeating those words:
30 ‘Je, hawapati na kugawanya nyara: msichana mmoja au wawili kwa kila mtu, mavazi ya rangi mbalimbali kwa Sisera kuwa nyara, mavazi ya rangi mbalimbali yaliyotariziwa, mavazi yaliyotariziwa vizuri kwa ajili ya shingo yangu: yote haya yakiwa nyara?’
‘Perhaps they are dividing up the things and the people they captured after the battle. Each soldier will get one or two women. Sisera will get some beautiful robes, and some beautiful embroidered robes for me.’
31 “Adui zako wote na waangamie, Ee Bwana! Bali wote wakupendao na wawe kama jua lichomozavyo kwa nguvu zake.” Hivyo nchi ikawa na amani kwa miaka arobaini.
But [that is not what happened]! Yahweh, I hope that all your enemies will die as Sisera did! And I desire that all those who love you will be as strong as the sun when it rises!

< Waamuzi 5 >