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.

Now it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

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 twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

3 Alifanya yaliyo mema usoni pa Yahwe, kufuata mfano wa yote ambayo Daudi, babu yake, aliyoyafanya.

He did that which was right in the eyes of YHWH, 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 removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.

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 YHWH, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him.

6 Aliambatana na Yahwe. Hakuacha kumfuata lakini alizifuata amri zake, ambazo Yahwe alimwamuru Musa.

For he joined with YHWH; he did not depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which YHWH commanded Moses.

7 Hivyo Yahwe alikuwa na Hezekia, kila alipokwenda alifanikiwa. Akaasi dhidi ya mfalme wa Ashuru na hakumtumikia.

YHWH was with him; wherever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and did not serve him.

8 Akawashambulia Wafilisti hadi Gaza na mipaka inayoizunguka, kutoka mnara wa walinzi hadi hadi mji wenye ngome.

He struck the Philistines to Gaza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified 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.

It happened in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against 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.

At the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea 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.

The king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and 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 did not obey the voice of YHWH their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of YHWH commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.

13 Kisha katika mwaka wa kumi na nne wa mfalme Hezekia, Senakerebu mfalme wa Ashuru akaishambulia miji yote yenye boma na kuwateka mateka.

Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, 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.

Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, "I have offended; return from me. That which you put on me, I will bear." The king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah 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.

Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of YHWH, and in the treasures of the king's house.

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, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of YHWH's temple, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

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.

The king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway of the Launderers' 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

When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah 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?

Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, "What confidence is this in which you trust?

20 Unaongea maneno yasiyo na maana, kusema lipo neno na nguvu ya vita. Sasa unamtumainia nani? Nani anakupa ujasiri wa kuasi dhidi yangu?

Do you think that empty words are strategy and power for war? Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

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.

Now, look, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand, and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on 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 tell me, 'We trust in YHWH our God;' isn't that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to 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, please give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.

24 Wanawezaje kumpinga hata nahodha mmoja wa watumishi walio wadogo? Mmeweka tumaini lenu katika Misri kwa magari ya farasi na waendesha farasi!

How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on 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.”'

Have I now come up without YHWH against this place to destroy it? YHWH said to me, 'Go up against 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 Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language; for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the Jews' language, in the hearing of the people who are on 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?”

But Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? Hasn't he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water 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 Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

29 Mfalme asema, 'Msimwache Hezekia akawadanganya, kwa kuwa hataweza kuwaokoa kwenye nguvu yangu.

Thus says the king, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will 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 Hezekiah make you trust in YHWH, saying, "YHWH will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."

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 listen to Hezekiah.' For thus says the king of Assyria, 'Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and everyone of you eat of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and everyone drink the waters of his own cistern;

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.'

until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and of honey, that you may live, and not die. Do not listen to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, "YHWH will deliver us."

33 Je miungu yeyote ya watu inayewaokoa kutoka kwenye nchi ya mfalme wa Ashuru?

Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of 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 are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? 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 countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that YHWH should 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 the king's commandment was, "Do 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.

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.