Hesabu 22
1 Kisha Waisraeli wakasafiri katika tambarare za Moabu na kupiga kambi kando ya Mto Yordani, ngʼambo ya Yeriko.
Then the children of Israel, journeying on, put up their tents in the lowlands of Moab, on the other side of Jordan at Jericho.
2 Basi Balaki mwana wa Sipori, aliona mambo yale yote ambayo Israeli aliwatendea Waamori,
Now Balak, the son of Zippor, saw what Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 Moabu aliogopa, kwa kuwa walikuwepo watu wengi sana. Hakika, Moabu alijawa na hofu kubwa kwa sababu ya Waisraeli.
And in Moab there was great fear of the people, because their numbers were so great: and the feeling of Moab was bitter against the children of Israel.
4 Wamoabu wakawaambia wazee wa Midiani, “Umati huu wa watu unakwenda kuramba kila kitu kinachotuzunguka, kama maksai arambavyo majani ya shambani.” Kwa hiyo Balaki mwana wa Sipori, ambaye alikuwa mfalme wa Moabu wakati huo,
Then Moab said to the responsible men of Midian, It is clear that this great people will be the destruction of everything round us, making a meal of us as the ox does of the grass of the field. At that time Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of Moab.
5 akatuma wajumbe kwenda kumwita Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ambaye alikuwa huko Pethori, karibu na Mto Frati, katika nchi yake ya kuzaliwa. Balaki akasema: “Taifa limekuja kutoka Misri, nao wamefunika uso wa nchi, nao wametua karibu nami.
So he sent men to Balaam, son of Beor, at Pethor by the River in the land of the children of his people, saying to him, See, a people has come out of Egypt, covering all the face of the earth, and they have put up their tents opposite to me:
6 Sasa uje kuwalaani watu hawa, kwa kuwa wana nguvu sana kuniliko. Kisha huenda nikaweza kuwashinda na kuwatoa nje ya nchi. Kwa kuwa ninajua kwamba, wale unaowabariki wanabarikiwa na wale unaowalaani wanalaaniwa.”
Come now, in answer to my prayer, and put a curse on this people, for they are greater than I: and then I may be strong enough to overcome them and send them out of the land: for it is clear that good comes to him who has your blessing, but he on whom you put your curse is cursed.
7 Wazee wa Moabu na wa Midiani wakaondoka, wakiwa wamechukua ada ya uaguzi. Walipokwenda kwa Balaamu, wakamweleza kile Balaki alikuwa amesema.
So the responsible men of Moab and Midian went away, taking in their hands rewards for the prophet; and they came to Balaam and said to him what Balak had given them orders to say.
8 Balaamu akawaambia, “Mlale hapa usiku huu, nami nitawaletea jibu lile Bwana atakalonipa.” Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakakaa naye.
And he said to them, Take your rest here tonight, and I will give you an answer after hearing what the Lord says; so the chiefs of Moab kept there with Balaam that night.
9 Mungu akamjia Balaamu na kumuuliza, “Watu gani hawa walio pamoja nawe?”
And God came to Balaam and said, Who are these men with you?
10 Balaamu akamwambia Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Sipori, mfalme wa Moabu, alinipelekea ujumbe huu:
And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me, saying,
11 ‘Taifa ambalo limekuja kutoka Misri limefunika uso wa nchi. Sasa uje unilaanie hao watu. Kisha huenda nitaweza kupigana nao na kuwafukuza.’”
See, the people who have come out of Egypt are covering all the earth: now, put a curse on this people for me, so that I may be able to make war on them, driving them out of the land.
12 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Usiende pamoja nao. Hupaswi kulaani watu hao, kwa kuwa wamebarikiwa.”
And God said to Balaam, You are not to go with them, or put a curse on this people, for they have my blessing.
13 Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaamu akaamka, akawaambia wakuu wa Balaki, “Rudini katika nchi yenu, kwa kuwa Bwana amenikataza nisiende pamoja nanyi.”
In the morning Balaam got up and said to the chiefs of Balak, Go back to your land, for the Lord will not let me go with you.
14 Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakarudi kwa Balaki na kumwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuja pamoja nasi.”
So the chiefs of Moab went back to Balak and said, Balaam will not come with us.
15 Kisha Balaki akatuma wakuu wengine, wengi zaidi na wanaoheshimiwa zaidi kuliko wale wa kwanza.
So Balak sent more chiefs, greater in number and of higher position than the others.
16 Wakafika kwa Balaamu na kumwambia: “Balaki mwana wa Sipori amesema hivi: Usiruhusu kitu chochote kikuzuie kuja kwangu,
And they came to Balaam and said, Balak, son of Zippor, says, Let nothing keep you from coming to me:
17 kwa sababu nitakulipa vizuri sana na kufanya lolote usemalo. Njoo unilaanie watu hawa.”
For I will give you a place of very great honour, and whatever you say to me I will do; so come, in answer to my prayer, and put a curse on this people.
18 Lakini Balaamu akawajibu, “Hata kama Balaki angenipa jumba lake la kifalme likiwa limejazwa fedha na dhahabu, singeweza kufanya kitu chochote kikubwa au kidogo ili kutenda kitu nje ya agizo la Bwana Mungu wangu.
But Balaam, in answer; said to the servants of Balak, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to do anything more or less than the orders of the Lord my God.
19 Mlale hapa usiku huu kama wale wengine walivyofanya, nami nitatafuta ni nini kingine Bwana atakachoniambia.”
So take your rest here this night, till I have knowledge what more the Lord has to say to me.
20 Usiku ule Bwana akamjia Balaamu na kumwambia, “Kwa kuwa watu hawa wamekuja kukuita wewe, nenda nao, lakini ufanye tu lile nitakalokuambia.”
And that night God came to Balaam and said to him, If these men have come for you, go with them: but do only what I say to you.
21 Balaamu akaamka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake akaenda pamoja na wakuu wa Moabu.
So in the morning Balaam got up and, making his ass ready, went with the chiefs of Moab.
22 Lakini Mungu alikasirika sana alipokwenda, naye malaika wa Bwana akasimama barabarani kumpinga. Balaamu alikuwa amepanda punda wake, na watumishi wake wawili walikuwa pamoja naye.
But God was moved to wrath because he went: and the angel of the Lord took up a position in the road to keep him from his purpose. Now he was seated on his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 Wakati punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana akiwa amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga uliofutwa mkononi mwake, punda akageukia upande kuelekea shambani. Balaamu akampiga ili amrudishe barabarani.
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord waiting in the road with his sword in his hand; and turning from the road, the ass went into the field; and Balaam gave the ass blows, to get her back on to the road.
24 Ndipo malaika wa Bwana akasimama katika njia nyembamba iliyo kati ya mashamba mawili ya mizabibu, yakiwa na kuta pande zote mbili.
Then the angel of the Lord took up his position in a narrow road through the vine-gardens, with a wall on this side and on that.
25 Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alijisukumiza karibu na ukuta, na kugandamiza mguu wa Balaamu ukutani. Ndipo Balaamu akampiga tena punda.
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord, and went near the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against the wall; and he gave her more blows.
26 Kisha malaika wa Bwana akaendelea mbele na kusimama mahali pembamba ambapo hapakuwepo nafasi ya kugeuka, upande wa kulia wala wa kushoto.
Then the angel of the Lord went further, stopping in a narrow place where there was no room for turning to the right or to the left.
27 Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alilala chini Balaamu angali amempanda, naye Balaamu akakasirika na kumpiga kwa fimbo yake.
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord and went down on the earth under Balaam; and full of wrath, Balaam gave her hard blows with his stick.
28 Kisha Bwana akakifungua kinywa cha punda, akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekutendea nini kinachokufanya unipige mara hizi tatu?”
Then the Lord gave the ass the power of talking, and opening her mouth she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have given me blows these three times?
29 Balaamu akamjibu punda, “Umenifanya mjinga! Kama ningelikuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu, ningelikuua sasa hivi.”
And Balaam said to the ass, You have made me seem foolish: if only I had a sword in my hand I would put you to death.
30 Punda akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi si punda wako mwenyewe, ambaye umenipanda siku zote, hadi leo? Je, nimekuwa na tabia ya kufanya hivi kwako?” Akajibu, “Hapana.”
And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not your ass upon which you have gone all your life till this day? and have I ever done this to you before? And he said, No.
31 Kisha Bwana akafungua macho ya Balaamu, naye akamwona malaika wa Bwana amesimama barabarani akiwa ameufuta upanga wake. Balaamu akainama, akaanguka kifudifudi.
Then the Lord made Balaam's eyes open, and he saw the angel of the Lord in the way with his sword in his hand: and he went down on his face to the earth.
32 Malaika wa Bwana akamuuliza Balaamu, “Kwa nini umempiga punda wako mara tatu hizi? Nimekuja kukuzuia kwa sababu njia yako imepotoka mbele yangu.
And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you given your ass blows these three times? See, I have come out against you to keep you back, because your purpose is not pleasing to me.
33 Punda aliniona na kunikwepa mara hizi tatu. Kama punda hangenikwepa, hakika ningekuwa nimeshakuua sasa, lakini ningemwacha punda hai.”
And the ass saw me, turning to one side from me three times: if she had not gone to one side, I would certainly have put you to death and kept her safe.
34 Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa Bwana, “Nimetenda dhambi. Sikutambua kuwa umesimama barabarani kunizuia. Basi kama haikupendezi, nitarudi.”
And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have done wrong, for I did not see that you were in the way against me: but now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will go back again.
35 Malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Uende na watu hao, lakini useme tu lile nikuambialo.” Kwa hiyo Balaamu akaenda na wale wakuu wa Balaki.
And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men; but say only what I give you to say. Then Balaam went on with the chiefs of Balak.
36 Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu anakuja, akatoka kumlaki katika mji wa Moabu, katika mpaka wa Arnoni, ukingoni mwa nchi yake.
Now Balak, hearing that Balaam had come, went to the chief town of Moab, on the edge of the Arnon, in the farthest part of the land, for the purpose of meeting him.
37 Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, sikukupelekea jumbe za haraka? Kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Hivi kweli mimi siwezi kukulipa?”
And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you, requesting you with all my heart to come to me? why did you not come? am I not able to give you a place of honour?
38 Balaamu akajibu, “Vema, sasa nimekuja kwako. Lakini kwani nina uwezo wa kusema tu chochote? Ni lazima niseme tu kile ambacho Mungu ataweka kinywani mwangu.”
Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.
39 Kisha Balaamu alikwenda na Balaki mpaka Kiriath-Husothi.
And Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Balaki akatoa dhabihu ya ngʼombe na kondoo; baadhi yake akampa Balaamu na wakuu waliokuwa pamoja naye.
And Balak made offerings of oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and the chiefs who were with him.
41 Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaki akamchukua Balaamu mpaka Bamoth-Baali, na kutoka huko Balaamu akawaona baadhi ya watu.
And in the morning Balak took Balaam up to the high places of Baal, and from there he was able to see the outer limits of the people.
