1 Wafalme 12
1 Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu, kwa kuwa Israeli yote walikuwa wameenda Shekemu kumfanya awe mfalme.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2 Ikatokea kuwa Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati akayasikia haya (Kwa kuwa alikuwa bado yuko Misri, ambako alikuwa amekimbilia kumkwepa mfalme Sulemani), Kwani Yeroboamu alikuwa anaishi Misri.
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard [of it], (for he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt; )
3 Kwa hiyo wakatuma watu kumwita, na Yeroboamu pamoja na mkutano wote wa Israeli wakaja wakamwambia Rehoboamu,
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
4 Baba yako aliifanya nira yetu kuwa nzito. Sasa ifanye kazi ngumu ya baba yako kuwa nyepesi kuliko nira ngumu ambayo baba yako alituwekea, nasi tutakutumikia.”
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
5 Naye Rehobiamu akawaambia, “Ondokeni kwa siku tatu, kisha nirudieni.” Kwa hiyo watu wakaondoka.
And he said to them, Depart yet [for] three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
6 Mfalme Rehoboamu akatafuta ushauri kwa wazee waliokuwa wamesimama mbele ya Sulemani baba yake wakati wa uhai wake, naye akasema, “mnanishauri niwajibuje hawa watu?”
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
7 Nao wakamwambia, “Kama wewe utakuwa mtumishi wa hawa watu na akawatumikia, na akawapa majibu ya maneno mema, ndipo watakapokuwa watumishi wako daima.”
And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant to this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
8 Lakini Rehoboamu akapuuzia ushauri aliopewa na wazee na akaenda kuomba ushauri kwa vijana ambao alikua pamoja nao wakasimama mbele yake.
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that had grown up with him, [and] who stood before him:
9 Akawaambia, “Mnanipa ushauri gani ili niweze kuwajibu hawa watu waliosema nami kwamba, 'ifanye nyepesi nira ambayo baba yako alituwekea'”
And he said to them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
10 Wale vijana waliokua pamoja na Rehoboamu wakamjibu, wakisema, “Waambie hawa watu kuwa baba yako Sulemani aliifanya nira yenu kuwa nzito lakini ninyi wenyewe mnaweza kuifanya rahisi. Uwaambie hivi, 'Kidole changu kidogo ni kinene kuliko kiuno cha baba yangu.
And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to this people who spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou [it] lighter to us; thus shalt thou say to them, My little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11 Kwa hiyo sasa, ingawa baba yangu aliwatwika kongwa zito, Mimi nitaiongeza kongwa lenu. Baba yangu aliwaadhibu kwa mijeredi, Lakini mimi nitawaadhibu kwa nge.'”
And now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12 Kwa hiyo siku ya tatu Yeroboamu na watu wote wakaja kwa Rehoboamu, kama mfalme alivyokuwa amewaelekeza aliposema, “mrudi kwangu siku ya tatu.”
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
13 Naye mfalme akawaambia wale watu kwa ukali na akapuuzia ushauri wa wale wazee ule waliokuwa wamempatia.
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
14 Akawaambia akifuata ushauri wa wale vijana; akasema, “Baba yangu aliwatwika kongwa zito, lakini mimi nitaongeze kongwa lenu. Baba yangu aliwaadhibu kwa mijeredi, mimi nitawaadhibu kwa nge.”
And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15 Kwa hiyo mfalme hakuwasikiliza wale watu, kwa kuwa ilikuwa zamu ya tukio lililoletwa na BWANA, ili kwamba aweze kulitimiza neno lake ambalo alikuwa amelisema kupitia Ahiya.
Wherefore the king hearkened not to the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16 Israeli yote ilipoona kuwa mfalme hakuwasikiliza, watu wakamjibu wakimwambia, “Je, tuna sehemu gani kwa Daudi? Hatuna urithi kwa mwana wa Yese! Nenda kwenye hema zako, ewe Israeli. Sasa tazama kwenye nyumba yako, Daudi.” Kwa hiyo Israeli akarudi kwenye hema zake.
So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thy own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents.
17 Lakini kwa watu wa Israeli waliokuwa wakiishi kwenye miji ya Yuda, Rehoboamu akawa mfalme juu yao.
But [as for] the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 Kisha mfalme Rehoboamu akamtuma Adoramu, aliyekuwa juu ya shokoa, lakini Waisraeli wote wakampiga kwa mawe wakamwua kwa mawe. Mflme Rehoboamu akakimbia haraka kwa gari lake kwenda Yerusalemu.
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who [was] over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to enter his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 Kwa hiyo Israeli wakawa wapinzani dhidi ya nyumba ya Daudi mpaka leo.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.
20 Ndipo Israeli yote waliposikia kuwa Yeroboamu alikuwa amerudi, walimwita kwenye kusanyiko lao wakamweka kuwa mfalme wa Israeli. Hapakuwepo na mtu aliyeifuata familia ya Daudi, isipokuwa tu kabila la Yuda.
And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come again, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
21 Rehoboamu alipofika Yerusalemu, akawakusanya wote wa nyumba ya Yuda na kabila la Benjamini; walichaguliwa wanaume wanajeshi 180, 000 ili wapigane na nyumba ya Israeli, kwa lengo la kurudisha ufalme kwa Rehoboamu mwana wa Sulemani.
And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22 Lakini neno la Mungu likamjia Shemaya, mtu wa Mungu; likisema,
But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23 “Mwambie Rehoboamu mwana wa Sulemani, mfalme wa Yuda, na kwa nuymba yote ya Yuda na Benjamini, na kwa watu wote; uwaambie,
Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
24 “BWANA asema hivi, Usipigane wala kuwavamia ndugu zako watu wa Israeli. Kila mtu lazima arudi nyumbani kwake, kwa kuwa jambo hili nimelisababisha mimi.” Kwa hiyo wakalisikiliza neno la BWANA na wakrudi nyumbani kwa njia zao na wakalitii neno lake.
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
25 Kisha Yeroboamu akaijenga Shekemu katika nchi ya milima ya Efraimu, na akaishi huko. Akatoka huko na kuijenga Penueli.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt in it, and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
26 Yeroboamu akafikiri moyoni mwake, “Sasa ufalme utarudi kwenye nyumba ya Daudi.
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 Kama hawa watu wataenda kutoa sadaka kwenye hekalu la BWANA kule Yerusalemu, basi mioyo ya hawa watu itarudi tena kwa bwana wao, kwa Rehoboamu mfalme wa Yuda. Wataniua na kurudi kwa Rehoboamu mfalme wa Yuda.”
If this people go up to perform sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again to their lord, [even] to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Kwa hiyo mfalme Yeroboamu akatafuta ushauri na akafanya ndama wawili wa dhahabu; akawaambia watu, “Ni vigumu sana kwenu kwenda Yerusalemu. Tazameni, hawa ndiyo miungu yenu, Ee Israeli, iliyowatoa toka nchi ya Misri.”
Upon which the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
29 Akamweka mmoja Betheli na mwingine Dani.
And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other he placed in Dan.
30 Kwa hiyo jambo hili likawa dhambi. Watu wakaenda kwa huyo na wengine kwa hawa, mpaka huko Dani.
And this thing became a sin: for the people went [to worship] before the one, [even] to Dan.
31 Yeroboamu akajenga nyumba mahali pa juu na kufanya makuhani kutoka kwa watu wote, ambao hawakuwa wana wa Lawi.
And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
32 Yeroboamu akafanya sikukuu katika mwezi wa nane, katika siku ya kumi na tano ya mwezi, kama sikukuu ambayo iko Yuda, na akaenda juu kwenye madhabahu. Akafanya hivyo kule Betheli, akawatolea sadaka wale ndama aliokuwa amewatengeneza, na akaweka kuhani huko Betheli mahali pa juu alipokuwa amepatengeneza.
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 Yeroboamu akapanda kwenda kwenye madhabahu ambayo aliitengeneza kule Betheli katika siku ya kumi na tano ya mwezi wa nane, ndio mwezi aliokuwa amefikiri katika akili yake; akafanya sikukuu kwa watu wa Israeli n a akaenda madhabahuni kufukiza uvumba.
So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast to the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
