Yoshua 23

1 Na baada ya siku nyingi, kipindi ambacho Yahweh alikuwa ameipa Israeli pumziko kutoka maadui zao waliowazunguka,

A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years,

2 Joshua alikuwa mzee sana. Yoshua aliwaita Waisraeli wote, na wazee wao, na viongozi, na waamuzi, na kwa maafisa, na kisha akawaambia, “Mimi nimezeeka sana.

he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,

3 Mmeshaona kila kitu ambacho Yahweh Mungu wenu ameshafanya kwa mataifa haya yote kwa ajili yenu, kwa kuwa ni Yahweh Mungu wenu ambaye amewapigania ninyi.

“and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.

4 Tazama! Nimeshawakabidhi kwenu mataifa yaliyosalia ili kuyateka kwa ajili ya kupata urithi ya makabila yenu, sambasamba na mataifa yote ambayo tayari nimeshayaangamiza, tangu Yordani hadi Bahari kuu katika upande wa magharibi.

See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan westward to the Great Sea.

5 Yahweh Mungu wenu atayaondoa. Atayafukuzia mbali kutoka kwenu. Ataiteka nchi yao, nanyi mtaimiliki nchi yao, kama vile Yahweh Mungu wenu alivyowaahidi ninyi.

The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.

6 Hivyo, iweni jasiri, ili kwamba mtunze na kuyafanya yale yote yaliyoandikwa katika kitabu cha sheria ya Musa, msikengeuke upande wa kulia wala upande wa kushoto,

Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.

7 basi msichanganyikane na mataifa haya ambayo yamesalia miongoni mwenu, wala msiyataje majina ya miungu yao, wala msiape kwayo, wala msiiabudu, wala msiipigie magoti.

So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.

8 Badala yake, mnatakiwa kumshika sana Yahweh Mungu wenu kama vile mlivyofanya siku hii ya leo.

Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.

9 Kwa kuwa Yahweh ameyafukuzia mbali mbele yenu mataifa makubwa yenye nguvu. Hakuna hata mmoja aliyeweza kusimama mbele yenu hata siku hii ya leo.

The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you.

10 Mtu yeyote mmoja wa kwenu atawafanya watu elfu wakimbie mbali, kwa kuwa Yahweh Mungu wenu, ndiye anayepigania ninyi, kama vile alivyowaahidi.

One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.

11 Zingatieni kwa uangalifu ili mmpende Yahweh Mungu wenu.

Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.

12 Lakini kama mkiegeuka na kushikamana na watu walioalia wa mataifa haya waliobaki miongoni mwenu, au kuoana nao, au kama mkishirikiana pamoja nao, na wao pamoja nanyi,

For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,

13 jueni kwa hakika kwamba Yahweh Mungu wenu hatayafukuzia mbali mataifa haya yatoke kati yenu. Badala yake, watakuwa kitanzi na mtego kwenu, viboko migongoni mwenu na miiba machoni mwenu, mpaka pale mtakapoangamia katika nchi hii nzuri ambayo Yahweh Mungu wenu amewapeni ninyi.

know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.

14 Na sasa ninaenda katika njia ya dunia yote, na mnajua kwa moyo na roho zenu zote kwamba hakuna hata neno moja ambalo halijatimia kati ya mambo yote mazuri ambayo Yahweh Mungu wenu aliyaahidi juu yenu. Vitu hivi vyote vimetokea kwa ajili yenu. Hakuna hata moja lililoshindikana.

Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.

15 Lakini kama kila neno ambalo Yahweh Mungu wenu alilowaahidi limekwisha kutimia, hivyo Yahweh atawaletea juu yenu mabaya yote mpaka pale atakapokuwa amewaangamiza katika nchi hii nzuri ambayo Yahweh Mungu wenu amewapeni ninyi.

But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you.

16 Atafanya hivi kama mtalivunja agano la Yahweh Mungu wenu, ambalo aliwaagizeni kulitunza. Kama mtaenda na kuiabudu miungu mingine na kuiinamia, ndipo hasira ya Yahweh itawaka kinyume nanyi, na ninyi mtaangamia upesi katika nchi nzuri ambayo amekwisha kuwapeni ninyi.”

If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”