2 Nyakati 10
1 Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu, kwa maana Isaraeli wote walikuwa wanakauja Shekemu kwa ajili ya kumfanya yeye mfalme.
All the people of Israel went to Shechem [city] in order to appoint Rehoboam to be their king. So Rehoboam also went there.
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).
Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had fled to Egypt [to escape] from King Solomon. But when he heard [about the people wanting to appoint Rehoboam to be their king], he returned [to Israel] from Egypt
3 Kwa hiyo wakatuma na kumuita yeye, na Yeroboamu na Israeli wote wakaja; wakamwambia Rehoboamu na kusema,
So the [leaders of the northern tribes] summoned him, and he went with them [to talk] to Rehoboam. They said to Rehoboam,
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 [Solomon] forced us to work very hard for him. If you do not force us to work that hard, and if you charge us less taxes than we were paying to him, we will serve you [faithfully].”
5 Rehoboamu akawaambia, “Njoni kwangu tena baada ya siku tatu.” Kwa hiyo watu wakaondoka.
He replied, “Come back three days from now [and I will give you my answer].” So those leaders [and Jeroboam] left.
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 his older men who had advised his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, “What shall I say to answer these men?”
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 do things that will please them, and if you say kind things to them when you answer them, they will always serve you.”
8 Lakini Rehoboamu akapuuza ushauri wa wazee ambao walimpa, na akashauriana na wanauame vijana ambao walikuwa wa rika lake, ambao walisimama mbele yake.
But he ignored what the older men advised him to do. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him, who were now his advisors.
9 Akawaamabia, “Mnanipa ushauri gani, ili kwamba niwajibu watu waliozungumza kwangu na kusema, “Ifanye nyepesi nira yako ambayo baba yako aliiweka juu yetu'?”
He said to them, “How should I answer the men who are asking me to reduce the [work and taxes] that my father required from them?”
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, “[Those men] have said that your father forced them to work very hard for him, so they want you to reduce the [work and taxes] that your father required from them. But 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.”
What I mean is that my father required you to [work hard and pay high taxes]. But I will make those loads heavier. [It was as though] my father whipped you, but I will whip you with whips that have pieces of metal in them.’”
12 Kwa hiyo Yeroboamu na watu wote wakaja kwa Rehoboamu katika siku ya tatu, kama aliavyosema mfalme, “Rudini kwangu katika siku ya tatu,”
Three days later, Jeroboam and all the leaders came to King Rehoboam again, which is what he had told them to do.
13 Yeroboamu akasema kwa kwao kwa ukatili, akiupuuza aushauri wa wazee.
The king ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the Israeli leaders.
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.”
[He told them what the younger men had advised.] He said, “My father put heavy burdens [of work and taxes] on you, but I will put heavier burdens on you. [It was as though] he beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have pieces of metal in them!”
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 pay any attention to the Israeli leaders. But this happened in order that what Yahweh had told the prophet Ahijah about Jeroboam would happen.
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 the Israeli leaders realized that the king did not pay any attention to what they said, they shouted, “We do not want anything to do with this descendant of King David! We will not pay attention to what this grandson of Jesse says! You people of Israel, let’s go home! As for this descendant of David, he can rule his own kingdom!” So the Israeli leaders returned to their homes.
17 Lakini kwa watu wa Yuda walioishi katika miji ya Yuda, Yeroboamu akatawala juu yao.
And [after that, the only Israeli] people whom Rehoboam ruled over were those who lived in the territory of [the tribes of] Judah [and Benjamin].
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 went with Adoniram [to talk to the Israeli people]. Adoniram was the man who supervised [all the men who were] forced to work [for Rehoboam]. But the Israeli people killed him by throwing stones at him. When that happened, King Rehoboam quickly got in his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem.
19 Kwa hiyo Israeli wakawa waasi dhidi ya nyumba ya Mungu hadi leo.
Ever since that time, [the people of the northern tribes of] Israel have been rebelling against the descendants of [King] David.
