2 Nyakati 34
1 Yosia alikuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na nane alipoanza kutawala; alitawala miaka thelathini na moja katika Yerusalemu.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
2 Alifanya yaliyohaki katika macho ya Yahwe, na alitembea katiaka njia za Daudi babu yake, ha hakugeuka mbali iwe kulia au kushoto.
He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.
3 Kwa maana ndani ya miaka minane ya ya utawala wake, alipokuwa bado kijana, alianza kumtafuta Mungu wa Daudi, babu yake. Katika miaka ishirini, alianza kuisafisha Yuda na Yerusalemu kutoka sehemu za juu, vituo vya Maashera, na sanamu za kuchonga na sanamu za chuma ya kuyeyushwa.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images.
4 Watu wakazivunja madhabahu za Baali katika uwepo wake; akazibomoa nguzo za Maashera na na zile sanamu za kuchonga, na sanamu za chuma ya kuyeyushwa katika vipande hadi zikawa mavumbi. Akayasamabaza mavumbi juu ya makaburi ya wale ambao walizitolea sadaka.
They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
5 Akaichoma mifupa ya makuhani wao juu ya madhabahu zao. Katika namna hii, akaisafisha Yuda na Yerusalemu.
He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.
6 Alifanya hivyo hivyo katika miji ya Manase, Efraimu, na Simeoni, sehemu zote hadi Neftali, na katika maeneo yaliyoizunguka.
He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins.
7 Alizivunja madhabahu, akayapiga Maashera, na sanamu za kuchonga kuwa unga, na kuzisambaratisha madhabahu zote za uvumba katika nchi yote ya Israeli; kisha akarudi Yerusalemu.
He broke down the altars, beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem.
8 Sasa katika kipindi cha miaka ishirini ya utawala wake, baada ya Yosia kuisafisha nchi na hekalu, alimtuma Shafani mwana wa Azali, Manaseya, akida wa mji, na Yoa mwana wa Yoahazi katibu, kuikarabati nyumba ya Yahwe Mungu wake.
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
9 Wakaenda kwa Hilkia, kuhani mkuu, na wakakabidhi kwake fedha ambazo zilikuwa zimeletwa kwenye nyumbaa ya Mungu, ambazo Walawi, walinzi wa milingo, walikuwa wamekusanya kutoka Manase na Efraimu, kutoka kwa masalia wote wa Israeli, kutoka Yuda yote na Benyamini, na kutoka kwa wakaaji wa Yerusalemu.
They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into God’s house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Manasseh, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Israel, of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 Wakaikabidhi ile fedha kwa watu waliosimamia kazi ya hekalu la Yahwe. Watu wale wakawalipa wafanya kazi walioilikarabati na kulijenga tena hekalu.
They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and the workmen who labored in Yahweh’s house gave it to mend and repair the house.
11 Wakawalipa maseremala na wajenzi kwa ajili ya kununulia mawe ya kuchonga na mbao kwa ajili ya kuungia, na kutengeneza boriti za nyumba amabazo baadha ya wafalme wa Yuda waliziacha zikachakaa.
They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
12 Watu waliifanya kazi kwa uaminifu. Wasimamizi wao Yahathi na Obadia, Walawi, wa wana wa Merari; na Zekaria na Meshulamu, kutoka kwa wana wa Wakohathi. Walawi wengine, wote kati ya wale waliokuwa wanamziki wazuri sana, kwa ukaribu waliwaelekeza watendakazi.
The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments.
13 Walawi hawa walikuwa viongoziz wa wale waliobeba vifaa vya ujenzi na watu wengine wote waliofanya kazi kwa namna yoyote ile. Pia palikuwa na Walawi ambao walikuwa makatibu, watawala na walinda lango.
Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levites, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers.
14 Walipoileta fedha ambayo ilikuwa imeletwa kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe, Hilkia yule kuhani akakiokota kitabu cha sheri ya Yahwe ambacho kilikuwa kimetolewa kupitia Musa.
When they brought out the money that was brought into Yahweh’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh’s law given by Moses.
15 Hilkia akamwambia Shafani yule mwandishi, “Nimekiokota kitabu cha sheria katika nyumba ya Yahwe”. Hilikia akakileta kitabu kwa Shefani.
Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
16 Shefani akakipelek kitabu kwa mfalme, na pia akatoa taarifa kwake, akisema, “Watumishi wako wanafanya kila kitu walichokabidhiwa.
Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing.
17 Waliitoa feedha yote amabayo ilionekana katika nyumba ya Yahwe, na waliikabidhi katika mikono ya wasimamizi na watendakazi.”
They have emptied out the money that was found in Yahweh’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and into the hand of the workmen.”
18 Shefani mwandishi akamwambia mfalme.” Hilkia kuhani amenipa kitabu.” Kisha Shefani akamsomea mfalme katika hicho kitabu.
Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king.
19 Ikawa kwamba mfalme alipokuwa ameyasikia maneno ya sheria, aliyararua mavazi yake.
When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
20 Mflme akawaamuru Hilkia, Ahikamu mwana wa Shafani, Abdoni mwana wa Mika, Shafani mwaandishi, na Asaya, mtumishi wake, akisema,
The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
21 “Nendeni mkaulize mapenzi ya Yahwe kwa ajili yangu, na kwa wale waliobaki katika Israeli na Yuda, kwa sababu ya maneno ya kitabu ambacho kimeokotwa. Kwa maani ni kikuu, kwa sababu babu zetu hawakuyasikiliza maneno ya kitabu hiki ili kuyatii yote yaliyokuwa yameandikwa ndani yake”. (Badala ya “ambayo yamemiminwa juu yetu”, baadhi ya matoleo yanasema “ambayo yamemulikwa zidi yetu”).
“Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is Yahweh’s wrath that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept Yahweh’s word, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
22 Kwa hiyo Hilkia, na wale ambao mfalme alikuwa amewaamuru, wakaenda kwa Hulda nabii wa kike, mke wa Shalumu mwana wa Tohathi mwana wa Hasra, mtunza mavazi (aliishi katika Yerusalemu katika wilaya ya pili), na walizungumza naye katika namna hii.
So Hilkiah and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect.
23 Akasema kwao, “Hivi ndivyo Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, anasema: Mwambie mtu aliyewatuma kwangu,
She said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,
24 Hivi ndivyo Yahwe anasema: Ona, niko karibu kuleta maafa juu ya sehemu hii na wakaaaji wake, laana zote zilizoandikwa katika kitabu walichokisoma mbele ya mfalme wa Yuda.
“Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.
25 Kwa sababu wamenisahau na wametoa sadaka za uvumba kwa miungu mingine, ili kwamba waniweke katika hasira kwa matendo yote waliyofanya — kwa hiyo hasira yangu itamiminwa juu ya hii sehemu, na haitazimishwa. (Badala ya “ambayo yamemiminwa juu yetu”, baadhi ya matoleo yana “amabyo yamemlikwa zidi yetu”.)
Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’”’
26 Lakini kwa mfalme wa Yuda, aliyewatuma kumuuliza Yahwe alichopaswa kufanya, hivi ndivyo mtakavyosema kwake, 'Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli anasema hivi: Kuhusu maneno uliyosika,
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, you shall tell him this, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says: “About the words which you have heard,
27 kwa sababu moyo wako ulipondeka, na ulijinyenyekeza mbele yangu ulipoyasikia maneno yake zidi ya sehemu hii na wakaaji wake, na kwa sababu umejinyenyekeza mwenyewe mbele zangu, pia nimekusikiliza —hili ni azimio la Yahwe—
because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says Yahweh.
28 ona, nitakukusanya kwa mababu zako. Utakusanywa katika kaburi lako kwa amani, na macho yako hayataona maafa yoyoye nitakayoleta juu ya sehemu hii na wakaaji wake”. Wale watu wakarudisha ujumbe huu kwa mfalme.
“Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won’t see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” They brought back this message to the king.
29 Mfalme akatuma wajumbe na kuwakusanya wazee wote wa Yuda na Yerusalemu.
Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
30 Kisha mfalme akaenda kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe, na watu wote wa Yuda wakaaji wa Yerusalemu, na makuhani, Walawi, na watu wote, kuanzia wakubwa hadi wadogo. Kisha akasoma mbele zao maneno yote ya kitabu cha Agano kilichokuwa kimeokotwa katika nyumba ya Yahwe.
The king went up to Yahweh’s house with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small—and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house.
31 Mfalme aksimama katika sehemu yake na kufanya aganao mbele za Yahwe, kutembea mbele za Yahwe, na kuzishika amri zake, taratibu zake, na sheria zake, kwa moyo wake wote na roho yake yote, kuyatii maneno ya agano yaliyokuwa yameandikwa katika agano ambayo yalikuwa yameandikwa katika kitabu hiki.
The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
32 Aliwasababisha wote walioonekana katika Yerusalemu na Benyamini kusimama kwa agano. Wakaaji wa Yerusalemu wakatembea kwa agano la Mungu, Mungu wa babu zao.
He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
33 Yosia akapeleka mbali mambo yote ya machukizo kutoka kwenye nchi iliyomilikiw na watu wa Israeli. Akamfanya kila mtu katika Israeli amwabudu Yahwe, Mungu wao. Kwa maisha siku zake zote, hawakugeka mbali kwa kutomfuata Yahwe, Mungu wa mababu zao.
Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
