2 Wafalme 18
1 Ikawa katika mwaka wa tatu wa Hoshea mwana wa Ela, mfalme wa Israeli, Hezekia mwana wa Ahazi, mfalme wa Yuda akaanza kutawala.
In the third year of Osee the son of Ela king of Israel, reigned Ezechias the son of Achaz king of Juda.
2 Alikuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na tano alipoanza kutawala; alitawala miaka ishirini na tisa katika Yerusalemu. Jina la mama yake alikuwa anaitwa Abija; alikuwa binti wa Zekaria.
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Abi the daughter of Zacharias.
3 Alifanya yaliyo mema usoni pa Yahwe, kufuata mfano wa yote ambayo Daudi, babu yake, aliyoyafanya.
And he did that which was good before the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.
4 Alipaondoa mahali pa juu, akaiharibu nguzo ya jiwe, akaikata hiyo nguzo ya Ashera. Akavunja vipande vipande ile nyoka ambayo Musa aliyokuwa ameifanya, kwa sababu siku zile wana wa Israeli walikuwa wakichoma ubani katika hiyo; ilikuwa inaitwa “Nehushtani.”
He destroyed the high places, and broke the statues in pieces, and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called its name Nohestan.
5 Hezekia alimwamini Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, hivyo basi baada ya yeye hapakuwa kama yeye miongoni mwa wafalme wote wa Yuda, wala miongoni mwa wafalme ambao walikuwa kabla yake.
He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel: so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Juda, nor any of them that were before him:
6 Aliambatana na Yahwe. Hakuacha kumfuata lakini alizifuata amri zake, ambazo Yahwe alimwamuru Musa.
And he stuck to the Lord, and departed not from his steps, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.
7 Hivyo Yahwe alikuwa na Hezekia, kila alipokwenda alifanikiwa. Akaasi dhidi ya mfalme wa Ashuru na hakumtumikia.
Wherefore the Lord also was with him, and in all things, to which he went forth, he behaved himself wisely. And he rebelled against the king of the Assyrians, and served him not.
8 Akawashambulia Wafilisti hadi Gaza na mipaka inayoizunguka, kutoka mnara wa walinzi hadi hadi mji wenye ngome.
He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza, and all their borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
9 Katika mwaka wa nne wa Mfalme Hezekia, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa saba wa Hoshea mwana wa Ela mfalme wa Israeli, Shalmanesa mfalme wa Ashuru akapanda hadi Samaria na kuizunguka.
In the fourth year of king Ezechias, which was the seventh year of Osee the son of Ela king of Israel, Salmanasar king of the Assyrians came up to Samaria, and besieged it,
10 Mwishoni mwa miaka mitatu wakaichukua, katika mwaka wa sita wa Hezekia, ambao ulikuwa mwaka wa tisa wa Hoshea mfalme wa Israeli; hivi ndivyo Samaria ilivyotekwa.
And took it. For after three years, in the sixth year of Ezechias, that is, in the ninth year of Osee king of Israel, Samaria was taken:
11 Basi mfalme wa Ashuru akawachukua Israeli kwenda Ashuru na kuwaweka kwenye Hala, na katika mto Habori katika Gozani, na katika mji wa Wamedi.
And the king of the Assyrians carried away Israel into Assyria, and placed them in Hale, and in Habor by the rivers of Gozan in the cities of the Medes:
12 Alifanya hivi kwasababu hakutii sauti ya Yahwe Mungu wao, lakini walikiuka makubaliano ya agano lake, yote yale ambayo Musa yule mtumishi wa Yahwe aliwaamuru. Walikataa kuyasikiliza au kuyafanya.
Because they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant: all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, they would not hear nor do.
13 Kisha katika mwaka wa kumi na nne wa mfalme Hezekia, Senakerebu mfalme wa Ashuru akaishambulia miji yote yenye boma na kuwateka mateka.
In the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against the fenced cities of Juda: and took them.
14 Basi Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda akatuma neno kwenda kwa mfalalme wa Yuda akatuma neno kwa mfalme wa Ashuru, ambaye alikuwa Lachishi, akisema, “Nimekuudhi. Nichukue. Popote utakaponiweka nitavumulia”. Mfalme wa Ashuru akamtaka Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda kulipa talanta mia tatu za fedha na talanta thelathini za dhahabu.
Then Ezechias king of Juda sent messengers to the king of the Assyrians to Lachis, saying: I have offended, depart from me: and all that thou shalt put upon me, I will bear. And the king of the Assyrians put a tax upon Ezechias king of Juda, of three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.
15 Hivyo Hezekia akampatia fedha zote ambazo zilikuwa zimepatikana kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe na kawenye hazina nyumba ya mfalme.
And Ezechias gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the king’s treasures.
16 Kisha Hezekia akaikata ile dhahabu kutoka kwenye milango ya hekalu la Yahwe na kutoka juu ya nguzo; akampatia dhahabu mfalme wa Ashuru.
At that time Ezechias broke the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the plates of gold which he had fastened on them, and gave them to the king of the Assyrians.
17 Lakini mfalme wa Ashuru akalihamasisha jeshi lake kubwa, akawatuma Tartani na Rabsarisi na amiri jeshi mkuu kutoka Lakishi kwenda kwa Hezekia huko Yerusalemu. Wakasafiri hadi kwenye mabarabara na kufika nje ya Yerusalemu. Wakakaribia karibu na mfereji wa birika la juu, kwenye barabara kuu ya shamba la dobi, na kusimama hapo.
And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan and Rabsaris, and Rabsaces from Lachis to king Ezechias with a strong army to Jerusalem: and they went up and came to Jerusalem, and they stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the way of the fuller’s field.
18 Wakati walipokuwa wamemwita Mfalme Hezekia, Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia, ambaye alikuwa kiongozi wa nyumba ya mfalme na Shebna mwandishi, na Joa mwana wa Asafu, anayeandika kumbukumbu, wakatoka nje kwenda kuwalaki
And they called for the king: and there went out to them Eliacim the son of Helcias who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder.
19 Basi yule amiri jeshi mkuu akawaambia wamwambie Hezekia kile alichosema mfalme mkuu, mfalme wa Ashuru, amesema: “Nini chanzo cha ujasiri wako?
And Rabsaces said to them: Speak to Ezechias: Thus saith the great king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence, wherein thou trustest?
20 Unaongea maneno yasiyo na maana, kusema lipo neno na nguvu ya vita. Sasa unamtumainia nani? Nani anakupa ujasiri wa kuasi dhidi yangu?
Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thyself for battle. On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel?
21 Tazama, unatumainia kutembelea fimbo ya mwanzi huu uliopondeka wa Misri, lakini kama mtu akiutegemea, utamchapa kwenye mkono wake na kuutoboa. Hicho ndicho Farao mfalme wa Misri kwa ymtu yeyote ambaye anayemtumainia.
Dost thou trust in Egypt a staff of a broken reed, upon which if a man lean, it will break and go into his hand, and pierce it? so is Pharao king of Egypt, to all that trust in him.
22 Lakini kama ukiniambia, 'Tunamwamini Yahwe Mungu watu; je si yeye ambaye mahali pa juu na madhabahu Hezekia amezichukua, na kumwambia Yuda na kwa Yerusalemu, 'Lazima uabudu mbele ya hii madhabahu katika Yerusalemu'?
But if you say to me: We trust in the Lord our God: is it not he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away: and hath commanded Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
23 Basi kwa hiyo, nataka kukufanyia ahadi nzuri kutoka kwa bwana wangu mfalme wa Ashuru. Nitakupatia farasi elfu mbili, kama unaweza kuwatafuta kuwaendesha kwa ajili yao.
Now therefore come over to my master the king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses, and see whether you be able to have riders for them.
24 Wanawezaje kumpinga hata nahodha mmoja wa watumishi walio wadogo? Mmeweka tumaini lenu katika Misri kwa magari ya farasi na waendesha farasi!
And how can you stand against one lord of the least of my master’s servants? Dost thou trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25 Je nimesafiri kwenda huko juu bila Yahwe kupapigania hapa mahali na kupaharibu? Yahwe ameniambia, 'Ishambulie hii nchi na uiharibu.”'
Is it without the will of the Lord that I am come up to this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land and destroy it.
26 Kisha Elikana mwana wa Hilkia, na Shebna, na Joa wakamwambia amiri jeshi mkuu, “Tafadhali ongea na watumishi wako katika lugha ya Kiaramu, kwa kuwa tunaielewa. Usiongee nasi katika lugha ya Yuda katika masikio ya watu ambao wako ukutani.”
Then Eliacim the son of Helcias, and Sobna, and Joahe said to Rabsaces: We pray thee speak to us thy servants in Syriac: for we understand that tongue: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people that are upon the wall.
27 Lakini yule amiri jeshi mkuu akawaambia, “Je bwana wangu amenituma kwa bwana wako na kuwachukua kuongea haya maneno? Je hajanituma kwa hawa watu ambao wameketi kwenye ukuta, ambao watakula kinyesi chao na kunywa mkojo wao wenyewe?”
And Rabsaces answered them, saying: Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee, to speak these words, and not rather to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their urine with you?
28 Kisha yule amiri jeshi mkuu akasimama na akapiga kelele kubwa kwa lugha ya Kiyahudi, akisema, “Sikilizeni neno la mfalme mkuu, mfale wa Ashuru.
Then Rabsaces stood, and cried out with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said: Hear the words of the great king, the king of the Assyrians.
29 Mfalme asema, 'Msimwache Hezekia akawadanganya, kwa kuwa hataweza kuwaokoa kwenye nguvu yangu.
Thus saith the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of my hand.
30 Msimwache Hezekia akawatumainisha katika Yahwe, akisema, “Yahwe atatuokoa hakika, na huu mji hautawekwa kwenye mkono wa mfalme wa Ashuru.'”
Neither let him make you trust in the Lord, saying: The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.
31 Msikilize Hezekia, kwa kuwa hivi ndivyo mfalme wa Ashuru asemavyo: 'Fanyeni amani pamoja nami na njooni kwangu. Kisha kila mmoja wenu atakula kutoka kwenye mzabibu wake mwenyewe na kutoka kwenye mtini wake mwenyewe, na kunywa kutoka kwenye maji kwenye maji ya birika lake mwenyewe.
Do not hearken to Ezechias. For thus saith the king of the Assyrians: Do with me that which is for your advantage, and come out to me: and every man of you shall eat of his own vineyard, and of his own fig tree: and you shall drink water of your own cisterns,
32 Mtafanya hivyo hadi nitakapokuja na kuwachukua kwenda kwenye nchi kama nchi yenu, nchi ya nafaka na divai, nchi ya mkate na mashamba ya mizabibu, nchi ya miti ya mizaituni na asali, ili muweze kuishi na sio kufa.' Msimsikilize Hezekia wakati atakapojaribu kuwashawishi, akisema, 'Yahwe atatuokoa.'
Till I come, and take you away to a land, like to your own land, a fruitful land, and plentiful in wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olives, and oil and honey, and you shall live, and not die. Hearken not to Ezechias, who deceiveth you, saying: The Lord will deliver us.
33 Je miungu yeyote ya watu inayewaokoa kutoka kwenye nchi ya mfalme wa Ashuru?
Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Iko wapi miungu ya Hamathi na Arpadi? iko wapi miungu ya Sefarvaimu, Hena, na Iva? Je imeiokoa Samaria kutoka mkono wangu?
Where is the god of Emath, and of Arphad? where is the god of Sepharvaim, of Ana, and of Ava? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
35 Miongoni mwa miungu yote ya nchi, je kuna mungu ambaye ameiokoa nchi yake kutoka kwenye nguvu yangu? Inawezekanaje Yahwe akaiokoa Yerusalemu kutoka kwenye uwezo wangu?”
Who are they among all the gods of the nations, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord may deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
36 Lakini watu wakabaki kimya na hawakujibu, kwa kuwa mfalme alikuwa ameamuru, “Msimjibu.”
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for they had received commandment from the king that they should not answer him.
37 Kisha Eliakimu mwana wa Hilkia, ambaye alikuwa juu ya nyumba ya mfalme; Shebna yule mwandishi; na Joa mwana wa Asafu, mtunza kumbukumbu, akaja kwa Hezekia pamoja na nguo zao zilizoraruliwa, na kumpatia taarifa ya maneno ya yule amiri mkuu.
And Eliacim the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder, came to Ezechias, with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces.
