Hesabu 22
1 Kisha Waisraeli wakasafiri katika tambarare za Moabu na kupiga kambi kando ya Mto Yordani, ngʼambo ya Yeriko.
The children of Israel travelled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 Basi Balaki mwana wa Sipori, aliona mambo yale yote ambayo Israeli aliwatendea Waamori,
Balak the son of Zippor saw all that 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.
Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of 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,
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
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.
He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite 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.”
Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 Wazee wa Moabu na wa Midiani wakaondoka, wakiwa wamechukua ada ya uaguzi. Walipokwenda kwa Balaamu, wakamweleza kile Balaki alikuwa amesema.
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 Balaamu akawaambia, “Mlale hapa usiku huu, nami nitawaletea jibu lile Bwana atakalonipa.” Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakakaa naye.
He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Mungu akamjia Balaamu na kumuuliza, “Watu gani hawa walio pamoja nawe?”
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:
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
11 ‘Taifa ambalo limekuja kutoka Misri limefunika uso wa nchi. Sasa uje unilaanie hao watu. Kisha huenda nitaweza kupigana nao na kuwafukuza.’”
‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Usiende pamoja nao. Hupaswi kulaani watu hao, kwa kuwa wamebarikiwa.”
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13 Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaamu akaamka, akawaambia wakuu wa Balaki, “Rudini katika nchi yenu, kwa kuwa Bwana amenikataza nisiende pamoja nanyi.”
Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14 Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakarudi kwa Balaki na kumwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuja pamoja nasi.”
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Kisha Balaki akatuma wakuu wengine, wengi zaidi na wanaoheshimiwa zaidi kuliko wale wa kwanza.
Balak again sent princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16 Wakafika kwa Balaamu na kumwambia: “Balaki mwana wa Sipori amesema hivi: Usiruhusu kitu chochote kikuzuie kuja kwangu,
They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 kwa sababu nitakulipa vizuri sana na kufanya lolote usemalo. Njoo unilaanie watu hawa.”
for I will promote you to very great honour, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
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.
Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19 Mlale hapa usiku huu kama wale wengine walivyofanya, nami nitatafuta ni nini kingine Bwana atakachoniambia.”
Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”
20 Usiku ule Bwana akamjia Balaamu na kumwambia, “Kwa kuwa watu hawa wamekuja kukuita wewe, nenda nao, lakini ufanye tu lile nitakalokuambia.”
God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
21 Balaamu akaamka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake akaenda pamoja na wakuu wa Moabu.
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes 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.
God’s anger burnt because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, 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.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
24 Ndipo malaika wa Bwana akasimama katika njia nyembamba iliyo kati ya mashamba mawili ya mizabibu, yakiwa na kuta pande zote mbili.
Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alijisukumiza karibu na ukuta, na kugandamiza mguu wa Balaamu ukutani. Ndipo Balaamu akampiga tena punda.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26 Kisha malaika wa Bwana akaendelea mbele na kusimama mahali pembamba ambapo hapakuwepo nafasi ya kugeuka, upande wa kulia wala wa kushoto.
The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alilala chini Balaamu angali amempanda, naye Balaamu akakasirika na kumpiga kwa fimbo yake.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burnt, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Kisha Bwana akakifungua kinywa cha punda, akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekutendea nini kinachokufanya unipige mara hizi tatu?”
The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 Balaamu akamjibu punda, “Umenifanya mjinga! Kama ningelikuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu, ningelikuua sasa hivi.”
Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
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.”
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” 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 opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32 Malaika wa Bwana akamuuliza Balaamu, “Kwa nini umempiga punda wako mara tatu hizi? Nimekuja kukuzuia kwa sababu njia yako imepotoka mbele yangu.
The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.
33 Punda aliniona na kunikwepa mara hizi tatu. Kama punda hangenikwepa, hakika ningekuwa nimeshakuua sasa, lakini ningemwacha punda hai.”
The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”
34 Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa Bwana, “Nimetenda dhambi. Sikutambua kuwa umesimama barabarani kunizuia. Basi kama haikupendezi, nitarudi.”
Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, 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.
The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu anakuja, akatoka kumlaki katika mji wa Moabu, katika mpaka wa Arnoni, ukingoni mwa nchi yake.
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37 Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, sikukupelekea jumbe za haraka? Kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Hivi kweli mimi siwezi kukulipa?”
Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to 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.”
Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39 Kisha Balaamu alikwenda na Balaki mpaka Kiriath-Husothi.
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40 Balaki akatoa dhabihu ya ngʼombe na kondoo; baadhi yake akampa Balaamu na wakuu waliokuwa pamoja naye.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
41 Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaki akamchukua Balaamu mpaka Bamoth-Baali, na kutoka huko Balaamu akawaona baadhi ya watu.
In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
