< 2 Nyakati 10 >
1 Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu, kwa maana Isaraeli wote walikuwa wanakauja Shekemu kwa ajili ya kumfanya yeye mfalme.
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
2 Ikatokea kwamba Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati akasikia haya (kwa maana alikuwa katika Misiri, ambako alikuw amekimbilia kutoka kwenye uwepo wa Mfalme Selemanai, lakini Yeroboamu akarudi kutoka Misiri).
When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon.
3 Kwa hiyo wakatuma na kumuita yeye, na Yeroboamu na Israeli wote wakaja; wakamwambia Rehoboamu na kusema,
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,
4 “Baba yako aliifanya nira yetu ngumu. Kwa hiyo sasa, ifanye kazi ngumu ya baba yako kuwa rahisi, na ifanye nyepesi nira yako ambayo baba yako aliiweka juu yetu, na sisi tutakutumikia wewe.”
“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5 Rehoboamu akawaambia, “Njoni kwangu tena baada ya siku tatu.” Kwa hiyo watu wakaondoka.
Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed.
6 Mfalme Rehoboamu akaomba ushauri kwa wazee ambao walikuwa wamesimama mbele ya Selemani baba yake wakati alipokuwa hai; akasema, Mnanishauri niwape jibu gani watu hawa?”
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
7 Wakasema kwake, Ikiwa wewe ni mwema kwa watu hawa na uwapendeze, na sema maneno mazuri kwao, basi siku zote watakuwa watumishi wako.”
They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
8 Lakini Rehoboamu akapuuza ushauri wa wazee ambao walimpa, na akashauriana na wanauame vijana ambao walikuwa wa rika lake, ambao walisimama mbele yake.
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.
9 Akawaamabia, “Mnanipa ushauri gani, ili kwamba niwajibu watu waliozungumza kwangu na kusema, “Ifanye nyepesi nira yako ambayo baba yako aliiweka juu yetu'?”
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10 Wanaume vijana mabaoa walikuwa rika la Yeroboamu wakasema kwake, wakisema, “Hivi ndivyo utakavyosema kwa watu waliokuambia kwamba baba yako Selemani aliifanya nira yao nzito, lakini kwamba lazima uifanye nyepesi. Hivi ndivyo utakavyosema kwao, 'Kidole changu kidogo ni kinene kuliko kiuno cha baba yangu.
The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
11 Kwa hiyo sasa, ingawa babab yangu aliwatwika nira nzito, nitaiongeza nira yenu. Baba yangu aliwaadhibu kwa mijeredi, lakini nitawaadhibu kwa nge.”
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
12 Kwa hiyo Yeroboamu na watu wote wakaja kwa Rehoboamu katika siku ya tatu, kama aliavyosema mfalme, “Rudini kwangu katika siku ya tatu,”
After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
13 Yeroboamu akasema kwa kwao kwa ukatili, akiupuuza aushauri wa wazee.
And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders
14 Akasema kwao akiufuata ushauri wa wanaume vijana, akisema, “Baba yangu aliifanya nira yenu nzito, lakini mimi nitaiongeza. Baba yangu aliwaadhibu kwa mijeredi, lakini mimi nitawaadhibu kwa nge.”
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
15 Kwa hiyo mfalme hakuwasikiliza watu, kwa kuwa lilikuw tukio lililoletwa na Mungu, kwamba Yahwe aweze kulitimiza neno lake ambalo Ahiya Mshiloni alikuwa amemwambia Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati.
So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16 Israeli wote, walipoona kwamba mfalme hakuwasikiliza, watu wakamjibu na kusema, “Tunasehemu gani katika Daudi? Hatuna urith katika wana wa Yese! Kila mmoja wenu anapaswa kwenda katika hema yake, Israeli. Sasa kila mtu aone nyumba yake, Daudi.” Kwa hiyo Israeli wote wakarudi kwenye hema zao.
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home,
17 Lakini kwa watu wa Yuda walioishi katika miji ya Yuda, Yeroboamu akatawala juu yao.
but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
18 Kisha mfalme Rehoboamu akamtuma Adoramu, ambaye alikuwa msimamizi wa wafanya kazi, lakini watu wa Israeli walimuua kwa kumpiga mawe. Mfalame Rehoboamu akaingia haraka ndani ya gari lake kwenda Yerusalemu.
Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
19 Kwa hiyo Israeli wakawa waasi dhidi ya nyumba ya Mungu hadi leo.
So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.