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)
And after this came the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them [some] of the Minaeans, against Josaphat to battle.
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 and told Josaphat, saying, There is come against you a great multitude from Syria, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Asasan Thamar, this is Engadi.
3 Yehoshafati akaogopa na akajipanga kumtafuta Yahwe. Akatangaza haraka katika Yuda yote.
And Josaphat was alarmed, and set his face to seek the Lord earnestly, and he proclaimed a fast in all Juda.
4 Yuda wakakakusanyika pamoja kwa ajili ya kumtafuta Yahwe; wakaja kutoka miji yote ya Yuda kwa ajili ya kumtafauta Yahwe.
And Juda gathered themselves together to seek after the Lord: even from all the cities of Juda they came to seek the Lord.
5 Yehoshafati akasimama katika kusanyiko la Yuda na Yerusalemu, kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe, mbele ya kibaraza kipya.
And Josaphat stood up in the assembly of Juda in Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, in front of the new court.
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 he said, O Lord God of my fathers, are not you God in heaven above, and are not you Lord of all the kingdoms of the nations? and [is there] not in your hand the might of dominion, and there is no one who can resist 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?
Are not you the Lord that did destroy the inhabitants of this land before the face of your people Israel, and did give it to your beloved seed of Abraham for ever?
8 Wakaishi ndani yake na kujenga sehemu takatifu kwa ajili ya jina lako, wakisema,
And they lived in it, and built in it a sanctuary to your name, 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 there should come upon us evils, sword, judgement, pestilence, famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, (for your name [is] upon this house, ) and we will cry to you because of the affliction, and you shall hear, and deliver.
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, behold, the children of Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, with regard to whom you did not permit Israel to pass through their border, when they had come out of the land of Egypt, (for they turned away from them, and did not destroy them; )—
11 Ona jinsi wanavyotuzawadia; wanakuja kutotoa nje ya nchi yako mbayo umetupa kuirithi.
yet now, behold, they make attempts against us, to come forth to cast us out from our inheritance which you gave us.
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 Lord our God, will you not judge them? for we have no strength to resist this great multitude that is come against us; and we know not what we shall do to them: but our eyes are towards you.
13 Yuda wote wakasimama mbele ya Yahwe, pamoja na wadogo wao, wake, na watoto.
And all Juda was standing before the Lord, and their children, and their wives.
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.
And Oziel the [son] of Zacharias, of the children of Banaias, of the sons of Eleiel, the sons of Matthanias the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, —upon him came the Spirit of the Lord in the assembly:
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, Hear you, all Juda, and the dwellers in Jerusalem, and king Josaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, even you, Fear not, neither be alarmed, before all this great multitude; for the battle is not years, 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.
To-morrow go you down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Assis, and you shall find them at the extremity of the river of the wilderness of Jeriel.
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.”
It is not for you to fight: understand these things, and see the deliverance of the Lord with you, Juda and Jerusalem: fear not, neither be afraid to go forth to-morrow to meet them; and the Lord shall be 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.
And Josaphat bowed with his face [to the ground] with all Juda and the dwellers in Jerusalem, [and] they fell before the Lord to worship the Lord.
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 of the children of Caath, and [they] of the sons of Core, rose up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
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 they rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Thecoe: and as they went out, Josaphat stood and cried, and said, Hear me, Juda, and the dwellers in Jerusalem; put your trust in the Lord God, and your trust shall be honoured; trust in his prophet, and you shall prosper.
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 he took counsel with the people, and set appointed men to sing psalms and praises, to give thanks, and sing the holy songs of praise in going forth before the host: and they said, Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy [endures] 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 when they began the praise and thanksgiving, the Lord caused the children of Ammon to fight against Moab, and [the inhabitants of] mount Seir that came out against Juda; and they were routed.
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.
Then the children of Ammon and Moab rose up against the dwellers in mount Seir, to destroy and consume them; and when they had made an end of [destroying] the inhabitants of Seir, they rose up against one another so that they were utterly destroyed.
24 Yuda walipokuwa katika sehemu hiyo wakiangalia jangwani, waliangalia nje juu ya jeshi. Tazama, walikuwa wamekufa, wameanguka chini; hakuna aliyekuwa amepona.
And Juda came to the watch-tower of the wilderness, and looked, and saw the multitude, and, behold, [they were] all fallen dead upon the earth, not one escaped.
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 Josaphat and his people went out to spoil them, and they found much cattle, and furniture, and spoils, and precious things: and they spoiled them, and they were three days gathering the spoil, for it was abundant.
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”.
And it came to pass on the fourth day they were gathered to the Valley of Blessing; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore they called the name of the place the Valley of Blessing, until 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.
And all the men of Juda returned to Jerusalem, and Josaphat led them with great joy; for the Lord gave them joy over their enemies.
28 Wakaja Yerusalemu na kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe kwa vinanda, vinubi na matarumbeta.
And they entered into Jerusalem with lutes and harps and trumpets, [going] 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 there was a terror of the Lord upon all the kingdoms of the land, when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 Kwa hiyo ufaleme wa Yehoshafati ulikuwa mtivu, kwa maana Mungu wake alimpa amani kuzungunga pande zake zote.
And the kingdom of Josaphat was at peace; and his God gave him rest round about.
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 Josaphat reigned over Juda, being thirty-five years [old] when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Azuba, daughter of Sali.
32 Akatembea katika njia za Asa, baba yake; hakugeka popote kuziacha; akafanya yaliyo mema katika macaho ya Yahwe.
And he walked in the ways of his father Asa, and turned not aside from doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord.
33 Vile vile, sehemu za juu hazikuwa zimeondoshwa mbali. Watu walikuwa bado hawajaelekeza mioyo yao kwa Mungu wa babu zao.
nevertheless the high places yet remained; and as yet the people did not direct their heart to the Lord God of their fathers.
34 Kwa mambo mengine kuhusu Yehoshafati, mwanzo na mwisho, tazama, yameandikwa katika historia ya kitabu cha wafalme wa Israeli.
And the rest of the acts of Josaphat, the first and the last, behold, they are written in the history of Jeu [the son] of Anani, who wrote 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.
And afterwards Josaphat king of Juda entered into an alliance with Ochozias king of Israel, (now this was an unrighteous man, )
36 Akapatana naye kujenga meli za kwenda Tarshishi; Wakazijenga meli hizo huko Esion-geberi.
by acting [with] and going to him, to build ships to go to Tharsis: and he built ships in Gasion Gaber.
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.
And Eliezer you [son] of Dodia of Marisa prophesied against Josaphat, saying, Forasmuch as you have allied yourself with Ochozias, the Lord has broken your work, and your vessels have been wrecked. And they could not go to Tharsis.
