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)
It came to pass after this also, [that] the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them [other] beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat 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.”
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they [be] in Hazazon-tamar, which [is] En-gedi.
3 Yehoshafati akaogopa na akajipanga kumtafuta Yahwe. Akatangaza haraka katika Yuda yote.
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 Yuda wakakakusanyika pamoja kwa ajili ya kumtafuta Yahwe; wakaja kutoka miji yote ya Yuda kwa ajili ya kumtafauta Yahwe.
And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 Yehoshafati akasimama katika kusanyiko la Yuda na Yerusalemu, kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe, mbele ya kibaraza kipya.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before 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 said, O LORD God of our fathers, [art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest [not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand [is there not] power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 Munagu wetu, Hukuwafuaakuja nje wakaaji wa nchi hii mbe ya watau watau wakop Israeli, na kuitoa milele kwa ajili ya uzaoa wa Abrahamu?
[Art] not thou our God, [who] didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 Wakaishi ndani yake na kujenga sehemu takatifu kwa ajili ya jina lako, wakisema,
And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy 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, [when] evil cometh upon us, [as] the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name [is] in this house, ) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
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, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Ona jinsi wanavyotuzawadia; wanakuja kutotoa nje ya nchi yako mbayo umetupa kuirithi.
Behold, [I say, how] they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
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, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee.
13 Yuda wote wakasimama mbele ya Yahwe, pamoja na wadogo wao, wake, na watoto.
And all Judah stood 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 upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
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, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [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.
To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
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.”
Ye shall not [need] to fight in this [battle: ] set yourselves, stand ye [still], and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD [will 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 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping 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 the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood 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 forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye 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 when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] 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 to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
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.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy [them: ] and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 Yuda walipokuwa katika sehemu hiyo wakiangalia jangwani, waliangalia nje juu ya jeshi. Tazama, walikuwa wamekufa, wameanguka chini; hakuna aliyekuwa amepona.
And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they [were] dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none 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 when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it 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”.
And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto 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 they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 Wakaja Yerusalemu na kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe kwa vinanda, vinubi na matarumbeta.
And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto 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 was on all the kingdoms of [those] countries, when they had 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.
So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for 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 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: [he was] thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And 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.
And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, 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.
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto 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 the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who [is] mentioned 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.
And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
36 Akapatana naye kujenga meli za kwenda Tarshishi; Wakazijenga meli hizo huko Esion-geberi.
And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships 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 Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
