2 Nyakati 32

1 Baada ya mambo haya na matendo haya ya uaminifu, Senakeribu, mfalme wa Ashuru, akaja na kuingia Yuda. Alipiga kambi kwa ajili ya kuivamia miji yenye ngome, ambayo alikusudia kuiteka kwa ajili yake.

After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2 Sedekia alipoona kwamba Senakeribu amekuja na kwamba amedhamiria kupigana zidi ya Yerusalemu,

And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

3 aliwashirikisha viongozi wake na watu wake wenye nguvu kuyazuia maji ya chemichemi yaliyokuwa nje ya mji; waalimsaidia kufanya hivyo.

He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which [were] without the city: and they did help him.

4 Kwa hiyo watu wengi wakakusanyika na kuyazuia maji ya chemichemi zote na mikondo yote amabayo ilikuwa inatiririka katikati ya nchi. wakasema, “Kwa nini mfalme wa Ashuru aje na kupata maji mengi?”

So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

5 Hezekia akijipa ujasiri na kuujeenga ukuta wote uliokuwa umeangushwa chini. Akaijenga minara mirefu, na pia ukuta mwingine nje. Pia akaiimarisha Milo katika mji wa Dudi, na akafanya kiasi kikubwa cha silaha na ngao. (Maanshi ya kale yanasema hivi: “Badala ya, “akajenga minara amirefu”, baadhi ya matoleo ya zamani na kisasa yanasema, “akajenga minara mirefu juu yake”, Hii ni juu ya ukuta).

Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo [in] the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

6 Akaweka maamri jeshi juu wa watu. Akawakusanya pamoja kwake katika sehemu pana kwenye lango la mji na akasema kwao kwa ujasiri. Akasema,

And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

7 “Muwe imara na wenye ujasiri mzuri. Msiogope wala kukata tamaa kwa sababu ya mfalme wa Ashuru na jeshi lote ambalo liko naye, kwa maana kuna mtu yuko pamoja nasi ambaye ni mkuu kuliko

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him:

8 walio naye mfalme wa Ashuru. walionaye ni jeshi la mwili tu, lakini aliye nasi ni Yahwe, Mungu wetu, kwa ajili ya kutusaidia, na kupiagana vita vyetu.” Kisha watu wakajifariji wenyewe kwa maneno ya Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda.

With him [is] an arm of flesh; but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 Baada ya hayo, Senakeribu, mfalme wa Ashuru, aliwatuma watumishi wake kwenda Yetusalemu (sasa alikuwa mbe ya Lakishi, na jeshi lake lote lilikuwa pamoja naye), kwa Hezekia, mfaalme wa Yuda, na watu wote wa Yuda walikuwa Yerusalemu. Akasema,

After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him, ) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,

10 “Hivi ndivyo Senakeribu, mfalme wa Ashuru, anasema: Ni kitu gani mnategemea kwa ajili ya kuhimili uvamizi katika Yerusalemu?

Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

11 Je, Hezekia hawapotoshi ninyi, ili kwamba awatoe kufa kwa njaa na kiu, anapowaambia, “Yahwe Mungu wetu atatuokoa na mkono wa mfalme wa Ashuru?

Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12 Je, siyo Hezekia yule yule ambaye amezipeleka juu sehemu zake na madhabahu zake na kuwaamuru Yuda na Yerusalemu, juu ya madhabahu moja lazima muabudu, na juu yake lazima mchome sadaka zenu?

Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

13 Je, hamjui mimi na babu zangu tulifanya nini kwa makundi ya wote wa inchi zingine? Je, miungu ya watu wa hizo nchi iliweza kwa njia yoyote kuziokoa nchi zao zidi ya nguvu zangu?

Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of [other] lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

14 Miongoni mwa miungu yote ya mataifa hayo amabayo babu zangu waliwatekeza, je, kulikuwa na muungu yeyote aliyeweza kuwaokoa watu wake kutoka kwenye mkono wangu? Itakuwaje Mungu wenu aweze kuwakoa ninyi zidi ya nguvu zangu?

Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

15 Sasa msimuruhusu Hezekia awadanganye au kuwashawishi katika njia hii. Msimwamini, kwa maana hakuna muungu wa taifa lolote au ufalme amewahi kuwaokoa watu wake nje ya mkono wangu, au nje ya mkono wa babu zangu. Sembuse na Mungu wenu kwa namna gani atawaokoa na mkono wangu?

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

16 Watumishi wa Senakeribu hata walinena mabaya zaidi juu ya Yahwe Mungu na juu ya mtumishi wake Hezekia.

And his servants spake yet [more] against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 Senakeribu pia akandika barua ili kumdhihaki Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, na kunena kinyume naye. Alisema, “Kama ambavyo miungu ya mataifa haikuwaokoa watu wake kutoka kwenye mkono wangu, hivyo hivyo na Mungu wa Hezekia hatawaokoa watu wake kutoka kwenye mkono wangu.”

He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of [other] lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

18 Wakawalilia kwa lugha ya Wayahudi watu wa Yerusalemu waliokuwa juu ya ukuta, ili kuwaogopesha na kuwasumbua, ili kwamba waweze kuuteka mji.

Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that [were] on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

19 Wakamnenea Mungu wa Yerusalemu kama walivyowanenea miungu wa Dunia, ambao ni kazi ya mikono ya wanadamu tu.

And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man.

20 Hezekia, mfalme, na Isaya mwana wa Amozi, nabii, wakaomba kwa sababu ya jambo hili na wakalia hadi mbinguni.

And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

21 Yahwe akatuma malaika, ambaye aliwaua wanaume wa kupigana vita, majemedari, na maakida wa mfalme katika kambi. Kwa hiyo Senakeribu akarudi katika nchi yake akiwa na uso wa aibu. Alipokuwa ameenda katika nyumba ya muungu wake, baadhi ya watoto wake wakamuua huko kwa upanga.

And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

22 Katika namna hii, Yahwe akamwokoa Hezekia na wakazi wa Yerusalemu kutoka kwenye mkono wa Senakeribu, mfalme wa Ashuru, na kutoka kwenye mikono ya wengine, na akawapa pumzika juu ya kila upande. (Maandishi ya kale yanasema hivi: badala ya “akawapa pumziko juu ya kila pande”, baadhi ya matoleo ya zamani na ya kisasa yanasema, “akawaongoza juu ya kila pande”).

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [other], and guided them on every side.

23 Wengi walikuwa wakileta sadaka kwa Yahwe katika Yarusalemu, na zawadi za thamani kwa Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda, kwa hiyo aliinuliwa mbele za macho ya mataifa yote toka wakati huo na kuendelea.

And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

24 Katika siku hizo Hezekia akaugua hadi hatua ya kufa. Akaomba kwa Yahwe, ambaye alisema kwake na kumpa ishara kwamba angeponywa.

In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

25 Lakini Hezekia hakumlipa Yahwe kwa ajili ya msaada uliotolewa kwake, kwa maana moyo wake uliinuliwa juu.

But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit [done] unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

26 Kwa hiyo hasira ikaja juu yake, na juu ya Yuda na Yerusalemu. Hata hivyo, baadaye Hezekia alijinyenyekesha mwenyewe kwa jali ya kiburi cha moyo wake, wote Yeye na wakaaji wa Yerusalemu, hivyo hasira ya Yahwe haikuja juu yao wakati wa siku za Hezekia.

Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, [both] he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Hezekia alikuwa na utajiri mwingi sana na heshima kubwa. Alijipatia mwenyewe vyumba vya kuhifadhia kwa ajili ya fedha, dhahabu, vito vya thamani, na kwa ajili ya manukato, na kwa ajili ya ngao na na vyombo vyote vya thamani pia.

And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;

28 Pia alikuwa na nyumba za maghala kwa ajili ya mavuno ya nafaka, divai mpya, na mafuta, na malisho kwa ajili ya aina zote za wanyama.

Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

29 Pia alikuwa na makundi katika mazizi. Zaidi ya hayo, alijipatia mwenyewe miji na makundi ya na ng'ombe kwa wingi, kwa maana Mungu alaikuwa amempa afya tele. (Maandishi ya kale yanasema hivi: Badala ya “miji” baadji ya matoleo ya kisasa yanasema “punda”, na baadhi mengine ya kisasa yanaacaha neno nzima)

Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

30 Alikuwa ni Hezekia huyu huyu ambaye alisimamisha chemi chemi ya juu ya maji ya Gihoni, na aliye ileta moja kwa moja chini upande wa magharibi mwa mji wa Daudi. Hezekia alifanikiwa katika miradi yake yote.

This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

31 Hata hivyo, katika jambo la mabolozi wa wakuu wa Babeli, waliotumwa kwake kuwauliza waliofahamu, kuhusu ishara za miujiza iliyokuwa imefanywa katika nchi, Mungu alimwachia mwenyewe, ili kumjaribu, na kujua yote yaliyokuwa katika moyo wake.

Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.

32 Kwa mambo mengine kuhusu Hezekia, pamoja na matendo yake ya uaminifu wa agano, unaweza kuona kwamba yameandikwa katika Maono ya Nabii Isaya Mwana wa Amozi, na katika kitabu cha wafalme wa Yuda na Israeli.

Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they [are] written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, [and] in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 Hezekia akalala pamaoja na babu zake, na wakamzika katika mlima wa makaburi ya vizazi vya Daudi. Yuda wote na wakaaji wa Yerusalemu wakamheshimu katika kifo chake. Manase mwanaye akawa mfalme katika nafasi yake.

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.