1 Wafalme 21
1 Basi ikawa baada ya hayo, Nabothi Myezreeli alikuwa na shamba la mizabibu kule Yezreeli, karibu na ikulu ya Ahabu, mfalme wa Samaria.
Sometime later this happened: There was a man named Naboth from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel close to King Ahab's palace in Samaria.
2 Ahabu akamwambia Nabothi, akisema, “Nipe shamba lako, ili nilifanye kuwa bustani ya mboga, kwa sababu iko karibu na nyumba yangu. Badala yake nitakupa shamba zuri la mizabibu, au, kama ukipenda nitakulipa thamani yake kwa fedha.”
Ahab went to Naboth and said, “Give me your vineyard so I can turn it into a vegetable garden, because it's close to my palace. In return I'll give you a better vineyard, or if you want I'll pay you for it in cash.”
3 Nabothi akamjibu Ahabu, “BWANA na alizuie hilo nisije nikatoa urithi wa mababu zangu kwako.”
But Naboth replied, “The Lord curse me if I should give you my forefathers' inheritance.”
4 Ahabu akaingia kwenye ikulu yake akiwa mchovu na mwenye hasira kwa sababu ya jibu ambalo Nabothi Myezreeli alimpa aliposema, “Sitakupa urithi wa mababu zangu.” Akalala kitandani kwake, akiwa amegeuza uso wake upande ule, na akagoma kula chakula chochote.
Ahab went home sulking and infuriated because Naboth from Jezreel had said, “I will not give you my forefathers' inheritance.” He went to bed, wouldn't look at anyone, and refused to eat.
5 Yezebeli mke wake akaiingia kwake, akamwambia “Kwa nini moyo wako una huzuni, kiasi kwamba hutaki kula?”
His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so upset about? That you don't want to eat?”
6 Naye akamjibu,” Niliongea na Nabothi Myezreeli nikamwambia, 'Nipe shamba lako nami nitakupa pesa, au kama inakupendeza, nitakupa shamba jingine ili liwe lako.' Naye akanijibu, 'Sitakupa shamba langu.'”
Ahab replied, “It's because I talked with Naboth from Jezreel and I asked him, ‘Give me your vineyard for cash, or if you want, I'll give you another vineyard instead.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”
7 Naye Yezebeli mkewe akamjibu, “Je, wewe si mtawala wa ufalme wa Israeli? Inuka ule; na moyo wako uwe na amani. Nitalichukua hilo shamba la mizabibu la Nabothi Myezreeli kwa ajili yako.
“Aren't you the king of Israel?” his wife Jezebel replied. “Get up, have something to eat, and cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel.”
8 Kwa hiyo Yezebeli akaandika barua kwa jina la Ahabu, akaitia muhuri wake, akazituma kwa wazee na kwa watu tajiri alioketi nao kwenye vikao, na ambao pia waliishi karibu na Nabothi.
So she wrote some letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and leaders in the town where Naboth lived.
9 Katika ile barua aliyoandika, ilisema hivi, “Pigeni mbiu ya kufunga mkamkalishe Nabothi juu mbele ya watu.
In the letters she wrote to tell them, “Announce a religious fast, and give Naboth a seat of honor.
10 Pia mwaweke watu wawili wasiokuwa waaminifu pamoja naye na wale watu watoe ushahidi kinyume naye, waseme, 'Ulimlaani Mungu na mfalme.”Halafu mchukueni nje mkampige kwa mawe mpaka afe.
But seat two bad men opposite him and have them accuse him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 Kwa hiyo watu wa mji wake, wazee na watu tajiri waishio kwenye huo mji, wakafanya kama Yezebeli alivyowaeleza, kama ilivyoandikwa kwenye zile baraua ambazo alikuwa amewatumia.
So the elders and leaders who lived in Naboth's town did as Jezebel had said in the letters she had written and sent to them.
12 Wakapiga mbiu ya kufunga wakamkalisha Nabothi juu mbele ya watu.
They announced a religious fast, and gave Naboth a seat of honor.
13 Na wale watu wawili wasiokuwa waaminifu wakaja wakakaa mbele ya Nabothi; nao wakatoa ushuhuda wao dhidi ya Nabothi kuwa amemlaani Mungu na mfalme.” Kisha wakamchukua nje ya mji wakampiga kwa mawe mpaka akafa.
Two bad men came and sat opposite him, and accused him in front of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the town and stoned him to death.
14 Kisha wazee wakatuma neno kwa Yezebeli, wakisema, “Nabothi ameshapigwa mawe na amekufa.”
Then they sent a message to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned. He's dead.”
15 Naye Yezebeli aliposikia kuwa Nabothi ameshapigwa mawe na alikuwa amekufa, akamwabia Ahabu, “Inuka na ukamiliki shamba la mizabibu la Nabothi Myezreeli, ambalo alikataa kukuuzia, kwa sababu Nabothi hayuko hai, bali amekufa.”
As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and he was dead, Jezebel told Ahab, “Get up, go and claim ownership of the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel, which he refused to sell you, for Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”
16 Ahabu aliposikia kuwa Nabothi amekufa, akainuka ili aende kwenye lile shamba la mizabibu la Nabothi Myezreeli na kulimiliki.
When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went to claim ownership of Naboth's vineyard.
17 Ndipo neno la BWANA likamjia Eliya Mtishibi, likisema,
Then the Lord sent a message to Elijah the Tishbite:
18 “Inuka uende ukakutane na Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli, ambaye anaishi Samaria. Yumo kwenye shamba la Nabothi, ambako ameenda kuchukua umiliki wa shamba hilo.
“Go and meet Ahab, king of Israel, in Samaria. He is right now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to claim ownership of it.
19 Ukaongee naye umwambie kwamba BWANA anasema, 'Je, umeua na kujimilikisha?' na utamwambia kwamba BWANA anasema, 'Mahali pale ambapo mbwa wameramba damu ya Nabothi, ndipo mbwa watakaporamba damu yako, ndiyo, damu yako.'”
Tell him: This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered a man and robbed him? Then tell him: This is what the Lord says: In the very spot where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your own blood.”
20 Ahabu akamwambia Eliya, “Je, umenipatia, adui yangu?” Eliya akamjibu, “Nimekupata wewe kwa sababu, umejiuza mwenyewe kufanya yaliyo maovu mbele ya macho ya BWANA.
“So have you come to find me, my enemy?” Ahab asked Elijah. “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the Lord sight,” Elijah replied.
21 BWANA anakwambia hivi: 'Tazama, Nitaleta janga kwako na litakuangamiza kabisa na kufutilia mbali kila mtoto mume na mtumwa na mtu huru katika Israeli.
He says, “Watch out! I'm going to bring disaster on you and destroy your descendants. I will kill from every male of Ahab's line, both slave and free, in the whole of Israel.
22 Nitaifanya familia yako kama familia ya Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati, na kama familia ya Baasha mwana wa Ahiya, kwa sababu umenighadhabisha na umewasababisha Israeli kufanya dhambi.
I will make your house like that of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, and like that of Baasha, son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and made Israel sin.
23 Pia BWANA ameongea kuhusu Yezebeli, amesema, “mbwa watamla Yezebeli pembeni mwa ukuta wa Yezreeli.'
And as far as Jezebel is concerned, the Lord says, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24 Yeyote ambaye ni mtu wa familia ya Ahabu ambaye atafia mjini - mbwa watamla. Na yeyote ambaye atafia shambani - ataliwa na ndege wa angani.”
Those of Ahab's family who die in the town will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the countryside will be eaten by birds.”
25 Hapakuwepo na mtu kama Ahabu, ambaye alijiuza mwenyewe kufanya maovu mbele ya macho ya BWANA, ambaye mke wake Yezebeli alimchochea kufanya dhambi.
(No one else was so bad as Ahab, who sold himself to do what is evil in the Lord's sight, because his wife Jezebel encouraged him.
26 Ahabu alifanya matendo yachukizayo kwa ajili ya sanamu alizofanya, kama vile yale yote ambayo Waamori walifanya, BWANA akawafukuza mbele ya watu wa Israeli.
He did the most despicable things, worshiping idols like the Amorites the Lord had driven out before Israel.)
27 Ahabu aliposikis maneno haya, Akachana mavazi yake na akavaa magunia kwenye mwili wake na akfaunga, na akalala kwenye magunia na akahuzunika sana.
As soon as Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He even went to bed in sackcloth, and walked around repentantly.
28 Kisha neno la BWANA likamjia Eliya Mtishibi likisema,
Then the Lord sent a message to Elijah the Tishbite:
29 “Je, unamwona jinsi Ahabu anavyojinyenyekeza mbele yangu? Kwa sababu anajinyeyenyekeza mwenyewe mbele yangu, Sitaleta lile janga katika siku zake; Ni katika siku za mwanae, nitakpolileta hilo janga katika familia yake.”
“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, but I will bring down disaster on his family in the lifetime of his son.”
