Yoshua 2
1 Kisha Yoshua mwana wa Nuni aliwatuma watu wawili kwa siri kama wapelelezi kutoka Shitimu. Akisema, “Nendeni mkaiangalie nchi, hasa Yeriko.” Walienda na wakafika katika nyumba ya kahaba ambaye jina lake ni Rahabu, na wakalala hapo.
And Joshua the son of Naue sent out of Sattin two young men to spy [the land], saying, Go up and view the land and Jericho: and the two young men went and entered into Jericho; and they entered into the house of a harlot, whose name [was] Raab, and lodged there.
2 Mfalme wa Yeriko aliambiwa, “Tazama watu wa Israeli wamekuja kuipeleleza nchi.”
An it was reported to the king of Jericho, saying, Men of the sons of Israel have come in hither to spy the land.
3 Mfalme akatuma neno kwa Rahabu kusema, “Watoe watu waliokuja kwako ambao wameingia nyumbani mwako, kwa kuwa wamekuja kuipeleleza nchi yote.”
And the king of Jericho sent and spoke to Raab, saying, Bring out the men that entered into your house this night; for they are come to spy out the land.
4 Lakini mwanamke alikuwa amekwisha kuwachukua wale watu wawili na kuwaficha. Na akasema, “Ndiyo, watu walikuja kwangu, lakini sikujua walikotoka.
And the woman took the two men and hid them; and she spoke to the messengers, saying, The men came in to me,
5 Ilipokuwa jioni wakati wa kufungwa kwa lango la mji, waliondoka. Sijui mahali walikoelekea. Mnaweza kuwakamata kama mtawafuata upesi.
but when the gate was shut in the evening, the men went out; I know not whither they are gone: follow after them, if you may overtake them.
6 Lakini yeye aliwapandisha juu darini na kuwaficha kwa mabua ya kitani ambayo alikuwa ameyalaza darini.
But she [had] brought them up upon the house, and hid them in the flax-stalks that were spread by her on the house.
7 Hivyo, watu waliwafuatilia njiani iliyoeleka katika vivuko vya Yordani. Na milango ilifungwa mara tu baada ya wale watu waliofuata kutoka nje.
And the men followed after them in the way to Jordan to the fords; and the gate was shut.
8 Wale wanaume walikuwa hajalala usiku, wakati alipowaendea kule darini.
And it came to pass when the men who pursued after them were gone forth, and before the spies had lain down to sleep, that she came up to them on the top of the house;
9 Akawaambia, “Ninajua kwamba Yahweh amewapa ninyi nchi na kwamba hofu juu yenu imetuingia. Watu wote wanaoishi katika nchi watayeyuka mbele yenu.
and she said to them, I know that the Lord has given you the land; for the fear of you has fallen upon us.
10 Tumesikia jinsi ambavyo Yahweh alivyokausha maji ya Bahari ya Mianzi kwa ajili yenu wakati mkitoka Misri. Na tumesikia mlichokifanya kwa wafalme wawili wa Waamori walioko upande mwingine wa Yordani - Sihoni na Ogu - ambao mmewaangamiza kabisa.
For we have heard that the Lord God dried up the Red Sea before you, when you came out of the land of Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond Jordan, to Seon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 Mara tu tuliposikia, mioyo yetu iliyeyuka na hapakuwa na ujasiri wowote uliosalia kwa mtu yeyote - kwa kuwa Yahweh Mungu wenu, ni Mungu aliye juu mbinguni na chini duniani.
And when we heard it we were amazed in our heart, and there was no longer any spirit in any of us because of you, for the Lord your god [is] God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath.
12 Sasa basi, tafadhali mniapie kwa Yahweh kwamba kama nilivyokuwa mwema kweu, nanyi pia mtaitendea mema nyumba ya baba yangu. Nipeni ishara ya uhakika
And now swear to me by the Lord God; since I deal mercifully with you, so do you also deal mercifully with the house of my father:
13 kwamba mtanihifadhi maisha ya baba, mama, kaka, dada zangu na famiie zao, na kwamba mtatuokoa kutoka katika kifo.
and save alive the house of my father, my mother, and my brethren, and all my house, and all that they have, and you shall rescue my soul from death.
14 Wanaume wakamjibu, “maisha yetu kwa ajili ya yenu, hata kifo! Kama hamtasema habari zetu, na Yahweh akisha kutupa nchi hii, tutakuwa wenye huruma na waaminifu kwenu.”
And the men said to her, Our life for yours [even] to death: and she said, When the Lord shall have delivered the city to you, you shall deal mercifully and truly with me.
15 hivyo aliwashusha chini kwa kupitia dirishani kwa kutumia kamba. Nyumba ambayo alikuwa anaishi ilijengwa katika ukuta wa mji.
And she let them down by the window;
16 Akawaambia, “Nendeni milimani la sivyo watu waliowafuata watawaona. Jificheni huko kwa siku tatu mpaka watu waliowafuata watakaporudi. Kisha nendeni zenu.”
and she said to them, Depart into the hill-country, lest the pursuers meet you, and you shall be hidden there three days until your pursuers return from after you, and afterwards you shall depart on your way.
17 Wanaume wakamwambia, “Hatutakuwa tumefungwa na ahadi ulizotufanya tuape mbele zako, kama hautalifanya hili.
And the men said to her, We are clear of this your oath.
18 Tutakapokuja katika nchi, ni lazima uifunge kamba hii nyekundu katika dirisha ulilotushushia chini, na utawakusanya katika nyumba baba yako, mama yako, kaka zako na wote wa nyumba ya baba yako.
Behold, we shall enter into a part of the city, and you shall set a sign; you shall bind this scarlet cord in the window, by which you have let us down, and you shall bring in to yourself, into your house, your father, and your mother, and your brethren, and all the family of your father.
19 Na yeyote aendaye mtaani nje ya milango ya nyumba yako, damu yao itakuwa juu ya vichwa vyao na hatutakuwa na hatia yoyote. Lakini kama mkono utanyoshwa juu ya mtu yeyote aliye pamoja nawe katika nyumba, damu yake itakuwa juu ya vichwa vyetu.
And it shall come to pass that whoever shall go outside the door of your house, his guilt shall be upon him, and we shall be quit of this your oath; and we will be responsible for all that shall be found with you in your house.
20 Na ikiwa utaongea juu ya suala letu, tutakuwa huru dhidi ya kiapo ulichotuapisha.
But if any one should injure us, or betray these our matters, we shall be quit of this your oath.
21 Rahabu akawajibu, “Yote mliyosema nayatimie.” Akawatoa mbali na wakaondoka. Kisha akaifunga kamba nyekundu katika dirisha.
And she said to them, Let it be according to your word; and she sent them out, and they departed.
22 Wakaondoka na kwenda juu milimani na walikaa huko kwa siku tatu hadi pale wale waliowafuatilia waliporudi. Wale waliowafuata walitafuta njiani pote bila kuwaona.
And they came to the hill-country, and remained there three days; and the pursuers searched all the roads, and found them not.
23 Wale watu wawili walirudi na kuvuka mto na wakafika kwa Yoshua mwana wa Nuni, na walimwambia kila kitu kilichotokea kwao.
And the two young men returned, and came down out of the mountain; and they went over to Joshua the son of Naue, and told him all things that had happened to them.
24 Nao wakasema kwa Joshua, “kwa kweli Yahweh ametupa nchi hii. Wenyeji wote wa nchi wanayeyuka kwasababu yetu.
And they said to Joshua, The Lord has delivered all the land into our power, and all the inhabitants of that land tremble because of us.
