< 2 Nyakati 20 >
1 Ikawa baada ya hayo, kwamba watu wa Moabu na Amoni, na pamoja na baadhi ya Wameuni wakaja juu ya Yehoshafati ili kupigana vita. (Mandishi, “baadhi ya Wameuni” yanatoa masahihisho kwa ajili ya maandishi ya Kiebrania, ambayo yanasomeka, “baadhi ya Waamoni”. Inadhaniwa kwamba “Wameuni” ndilo neno la asili, na wenye kunukuu walilibadili kuwa “baadhi ya Waamoni”. Lakaini jina hili la mwisho halileti maana, kwa sababu Waamoni tayari wamekwisha tajwa katika mstri huu. Vile vile, matoleo tofauti tofauti yanajihusha na tatizo hili katika namna mabli mbali)
Now after this, the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Meunim, made war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Kisha baadhi ya watu wakaja wakamwambia Yehoshafati, wakisema, “Umati mkubwa wanakuja juu yako ng'ambo ya Bahari iliyokufa, kutoka Edomu. Ona, wako Hason- tamari”, ambayo ndiyo En-gedi. (Badala ya “Edomu” baadhi ya matoleo ya zamani na ya kisasa yanasomeka, “Aramu.”
And they came to Jehoshaphat with the news, saying, A great army is moving against you from Edom across the sea; and now they are in Hazazon-tamar (which is En-gedi).
3 Yehoshafati akaogopa na akajipanga kumtafuta Yahwe. Akatangaza haraka katika Yuda yote.
Then Jehoshaphat, in his fear, went to the Lord for directions, and gave orders all through Judah for the people to go without food.
4 Yuda wakakakusanyika pamoja kwa ajili ya kumtafuta Yahwe; wakaja kutoka miji yote ya Yuda kwa ajili ya kumtafauta Yahwe.
And Judah came together to make prayer for help from the Lord; from every town of Judah they came to give worship to the Lord.
5 Yehoshafati akasimama katika kusanyiko la Yuda na Yerusalemu, kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe, mbele ya kibaraza kipya.
And Jehoshaphat took his place in the meeting of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord in front of the new open space,
6 Akasema, “Yahwe, Mungu wa babau zetu, hauko mbinguni? Wewe siyo mtawala juu ya falame zote za mataiafa? Nguvu na uweza viko mkononi mwako, kwa hiyao hakuna anayeweza akukupinga wewe.
And said, O Lord, the God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? are you not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in your hands are power and strength so that no one is able to keep his place against you.
7 Munagu wetu, Hukuwafuaakuja nje wakaaji wa nchi hii mbe ya watau watau wakop Israeli, na kuitoa milele kwa ajili ya uzaoa wa Abrahamu?
Did you not, O Lord our God, after driving out the people of this land before your people Israel, give it to the seed of Abraham, your friend, for ever?
8 Wakaishi ndani yake na kujenga sehemu takatifu kwa ajili ya jina lako, wakisema,
And they made it their living-place, building there a holy house for your name, and saying,
9 'Ikiwa janga litakuja juu yetu —upanga, hukumu, au ugonjwa, au njaa—tutasimama mbele ya nyumba hii, na mbele zako (kwa maana jina lako limo ndani ya nyumba hii), na tutakulilia wewe katika mateso yetu, na utatusikia na kutuokoa.' (Badala ya “hukumu” baadhi ya maandiko ya zamani yanasema “mafuriko”).
If evil comes on us, the sword, or punishment, or disease, or need of food, we will come to this house and to you, (for your name is in this house, ) crying to you in our trouble, and you will give us salvation in answer to our cry.
10 Tazama sasa, hapa kuna watu wa Amoni, Moabu, na wa Mlima Seiri ambao hukuwaacha Israeli wawapige waalipotoka nchi ya Misri; badala yake, Israeli waliwageukia mbali na hawakuwaangamiza.
And now, see, the children of Ammon and Moab and the people of Mount Seir, whom you kept Israel from attacking when they came out of Egypt, so that turning to one side they did not send destruction on them:
11 Ona jinsi wanavyotuzawadia; wanakuja kutotoa nje ya nchi yako mbayo umetupa kuirithi.
See now, how as our reward they have come to send us out of your land which you have given us as our heritage.
12 Mungu wetu, hutawahukumu? Kwa maana hatuna nguvu dhidi ya hili jeshi kubwa ambalo linakuja juu yetu. hatujui cha kufanya, lakini macho yetu yako kwako.
O our God, will you not be their judge? for our strength is not equal to this great army which is coming against us; and we are at a loss what to do: but our eyes are on you.
13 Yuda wote wakasimama mbele ya Yahwe, pamoja na wadogo wao, wake, na watoto.
And all Judah were waiting before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Kisha kati kati ya kusanyiko, roho ya Yahwe ikaja juu ya Yahazieli, mwana wa Zekaria, mwana wa Benaya, mwana wa Yeieli, mwana wa Matania, mwana, Mlawi, mmoja wa wana wa Asafu.
Then, before all the meeting, the spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and one of the family of Asaph;
15 Yahazieli akasema, “Sikilizeni, Yuda wote na ninyi wakaaji wa Yerusalemu, na Mfalme Yehoshafati. Hivi ndivyo Yahwe asemavyao kwenu, 'Msiogope: msivunjike moyo kwa sababu ya hili jeshsi kubwa, kwa maana vita siyo yenu, bali ni ya Mungu.
And he said, Give ear, O Judah, and you people of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat: the Lord says to you, Have no fear and do not be troubled on account of this great army; for the fight is not yours but God's.
16 Lazima muende chini juu ya yao kesho, Ona, wanakuja wakipanda kupia njia ya Sisi. Mtawakuta mwishono mwa bondo, mbele ya jangwa la Yerueli.
Go down against them tomorrow: see, they are coming up by the slope of Ziz; at the end of the valley, before the waste land of Jeruel, you will come face to face with them.
17 Hamtahitaji kupigana katika vita hii. Simameni katika nafasi zenu, simameni wima, na muone wokovu wa Yahwe pamoja nanyi, Yuda na Yerusalemu. Msiogope wala kukata tamaa. Tokeni nje juu yao kesho, kwa maana yuko pamoja nanyi.”
There will be no need for you to take up arms in this fight; put yourselves in position, and keep where you are, and you will see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: have no fear and do not be troubled: go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you.
18 Yehoshafati akainamisha kichwa chake pamaoja na uso wake chini. Yuda wote na wakaaji wa Yerusalemu wakaanguka chini mbele za Yahwe, wakimwabudu yeye.
Then Jehoshaphat went down with his face to the earth, and all Judah and the people of Jerusalem gave worship to the Lord, falling down before him.
19 Walawi, wale wa uzao wa Wakohathi na wa uzao wa Wakorahi, wakasimama juu kumsifu Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa sauti kubwa sana.
And the Levites, the children of the Kohathites and the Korahites, got to their feet and gave praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, with a loud voice.
20 Asubuhi mapema wakasimama na kwenda nje kwenye bonde la Tekoa. Walipokuwa wakienda nje, Yehoshafati akasimama na kusema, “Nisikilizeni, Yuda, na nnyi wakaaji wa Yerusalemu! Aminini katika Yahwe Mungu wenu, na mtasaidiwa. Aminini katika manabii zake, na mtafanikiwa.
And early in the morning they got up and went out to the waste land of Tekoa: and when they were going out, Jehoshaphat took his station and said to them, Give ear to me, O Judah and you people of Jerusalem: have faith in the Lord your God and you will be safe; have faith in his prophets and all will go well for you.
21 Alipokuwa ameshauriana na watu, akawachagaua wale ambao wangemwimbia Yahwe na kumpa sifa kwa ajili ya utukufu wake mtakatifu, walipokuwa wakienda wakilitangulia jeshi, na kusema, “Mshukuruni Yahwe, kwa maana uaminifu wa aganao lake unadumu milele.”
And after discussion with the people, he put in their places those who were to make melody to the Lord, praising him in holy robes, while they went at the head of the army, and saying, May the Lord be praised, for his mercy is unchanging for ever.
22 Walipoanza kuimba na kusifu, Yahwe akapanga wanaume katika mavamizi juu ya watu wa Amoni, Moabu, na wa Mlima Seiri, ambao walikuwa wanakauja dhidi ya Yuda. Walishindwa.
And at the first notes of song and praise the Lord sent a surprise attack against the children of Ammon and Moab and the people of Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were overcome.
23 Kwa maana watu wa Aamoni na Moabu walisimama kupigana na wakaaji wa Mlima Seiri, ili kuwaua kabisa na kuwangamiza. Waliapokuwa wamemaliza kuwaangamiza wakaaji wa Mlima Seiri, wote wakasaidiana kuangamizana kila mmoja.
And the children of Ammon and Moab made an attack on the people of Mount Seir with a view to their complete destruction; and when they had put an end to the people of Seir, everyman's hand was turned against his neighbour for his destruction.
24 Yuda walipokuwa katika sehemu hiyo wakiangalia jangwani, waliangalia nje juu ya jeshi. Tazama, walikuwa wamekufa, wameanguka chini; hakuna aliyekuwa amepona.
And Judah came to the watchtower of the waste land, and looking in the direction of the army, they saw only dead bodies stretched on the earth; no living man was to be seen.
25 Yehoshafati na watu wake walipokuja kuchukua nyara kutoka kwa hao watu, walikuta miongoni mwao bidhaa nyingi, nguo, na johari za thamani, ambazo walizichukua kwa ajili yao wenyewe, nyingi kuliko uwezo wao wa kubeba. Iliwachukua siku tatu kusomba nyara hizo, zilikuwa nyingi sana. (Badala ya “miongoni mwao”, baadhi ya maandishi ya zamani na ya kisasa yanasema, “ng'ombe.” badala ya “nguo” baadhi ya maandiko ya kale na ya kisasa yanasema, “miili iliyokufa”).
And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their goods from them, they saw beasts in great numbers, and wealth and clothing and things of value, more than they were able to take away; all this they took for themselves, and they were three days getting it away, there was so much.
26 Katika siku ya nne wakakusanyika katika bonde la Baraka, Huko wakamsifu Yaahwe, kwa hiyo jina la sehemu hiyo hata leo ni “Bonde la Baraka”.
On the fourth day they all came together in the Valley of Blessing, and there they gave blessing to the Lord; for which cause that place has been named the Valley of Blessing to this day.
27 Kisha, wakarudi, kila mtu wa Yuda na Yerusalemu, na Yehoshafati katika uongozi wao, kwenda tena Yerusalemu kwa furaha, kwa maana Yahwe alikuwa amewafanya wafurahie juu ya adui zao.
Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem went back, with Jehoshaphat at their head, coming back to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them glad over their haters.
28 Wakaja Yerusalemu na kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe kwa vinanda, vinubi na matarumbeta.
So they came to Jerusalem with corded instruments and wind-instruments into the house of the Lord.
29 Hofu ya Yahwe ikawa juu ya falme zote za mataifa waliposikia kwamba Yahwe amepigana dhidi ya adui wa Israeli.
And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the lands, when they had news of how the Lord made war on those who came against Israel.
30 Kwa hiyo ufaleme wa Yehoshafati ulikuwa mtivu, kwa maana Mungu wake alimpa amani kuzungunga pande zake zote.
So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for the Lord gave him rest on every side.
31 Yehoshafati akatawala juu ya Yuda: Alikuwa na umri wa miaka thelathini na mitano alipoanza kutawala. Jina la mama yke aliitwa Azubahi, binti wa Shilhi.
And Jehoshaphat was king over Judah: he was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he was ruling for twenty-five years in Jerusalem: his mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
32 Akatembea katika njia za Asa, baba yake; hakugeka popote kuziacha; akafanya yaliyo mema katika macaho ya Yahwe.
He went in the ways of his father Asa, not turning away, but doing right in the eyes of the Lord.
33 Vile vile, sehemu za juu hazikuwa zimeondoshwa mbali. Watu walikuwa bado hawajaelekeza mioyo yao kwa Mungu wa babu zao.
The high places, however, were not taken away, and the hearts of the people were still not true to the God of their fathers.
34 Kwa mambo mengine kuhusu Yehoshafati, mwanzo na mwisho, tazama, yameandikwa katika historia ya kitabu cha wafalme wa Israeli.
Now as for the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, they are recorded in the words of Jehu, the son of Hanani, which were put in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 Baada ya hayo, Yehoshafati, mfalme wa Yuda, akapatana na Ahazia, mfalme wa Israeli, ambaye alitenda uovu mwingi.
After this Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, became friends with Ahaziah, king of Israel, who did much evil:
36 Akapatana naye kujenga meli za kwenda Tarshishi; Wakazijenga meli hizo huko Esion-geberi.
Together they made ships to go to Tarshish, building them in Ezion-geber.
37 Kisha Eliezeli, mwana wa Dadavahu wa Maresha, akatoa unabii juu ya Yehoshafati; akasema, “kwa sababu umepatana na Ahazia, Yahwe ameiharibu miradi yako.” Meli zilivunjika ili kwamba zisiweze kusafiri.
Then the word of Eliezer the prophet, the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, came against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have let yourself be joined with Ahaziah, the Lord has sent destruction on your works. And the ships were broken and were not able to go to Tarshish.