Yoshua 9
1 Kisha wafalme wote walioishi ng'ambo ya mto Yordani katika nchi ya milima, na katika nchi za chini katika pwani za Bahari Kuu mbele ya Lebanoni - Wahiti, Waamori, Wakanaani, Waperizi, Wahivi na Wayebusi -
Now When these things were heard of, all the kings beyond the Jordan, that dwelt in the mountains and in the plains, in the places near the sea, and on the coasts of the great sea, they also that dwell by Libanus, the Hethite and the Amorrhite, the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite,
2 hawa waliungana pamoja chini ya amri moja kuinua vita dhidi ya Yoshua na Israeli.
Gathered themselves together, to fight against Josue and Israel with one mind, and one resolution.
3 Waliposikia wenyeji wa Gibeoni juu ya mambo aliyoyafanya Yoshua katika Yeriko na Ai,
But they that dwelt in Gabaon, hearing all that Josue had done to Jericho and Hai:
4 walipanga mpango wa udanganyifu. Walienda kama wajumbe. Walichukua magunia yaliyochakaa na kuyaweka juu ya punda. Walichukua pia viriba vilivyochakaa na kuchanika chanika na vilivyozibwa zibwa.
Cunningly devising took for themselves provisions, laying old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles rent and sewed up again,
5 Walivaa miguuni mwao viatu vilivyozeeka na kutoboka toboka, na walivaa nguo kuukuu, zilichanika chanika. Na mikate yote katika chombo ilikuwa mikavu na yenye uvundo.
And very old shoes, which for a show of age were clouted with patches, and old garments upon them: the leaves also, which they carried for provisions by the way, were hard, and broken into pieces:
6 Kisha wakamwendea Yoshua katika kambi huko Giligali na wakamwambia yeye pamoja wa watu wa Israeli wakisema, “
And they went to Josue, who then abode in the camp at Galgal, and said to him, and to all Israel with him: We are come from a far country, desiring to make peace with you. And the children of Israel answered them, and said:
7 Tumesafiri kutoka nchi ya mbali, basi fanyeni agano nasi.” Watu wa Israeli wakawaamba Wahivi, “Huenda mnaishi karibu nasi. Twawezeje kufanya agano nanyi?”
Perhaps you dwell in the land which falls to our lot; if so, we can make no league with you.
8 Wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sisi ni watumishi wako.”Yoshua akawauliza, “Ninyi ni akina nani? Mnatokea wapi?
But they said to Josue: We are thy servants. Josue said to them: Who are you? and whence came you?
9 Wakamwambia, “Watumishi wako wamekuja hapa kutokea nchi ya mbali, kwasababu ya jina la Yahweh Mungu wako. Tumesikia habari kumhusu na kuhusu kila kitu alichokifanya Misri -
They answered: From a very far country thy servants are come in the name of the Lord thy God. For we have heard the fame of his power, all the things that he did in Egypt.
10 na kila kitu alichokifanya kwa wafalme wawili wa Waamori katika upande mwingine wa Yordani - kwa mfalme Sihoni wa Heshiboni, na kwa Ogu wa Bashani aliyekuwa katika Ashitarothi.
And to the two kings of the Amorrhites that were beyond the Jordan, Sehon king of Hesebon, and Og king of Basan, that was in Astaroth:
11 Wazee wetu na wenyeji wote wa nchi yetu walituambia,” Chukueni chakula mikononi mwenu kwa ajili ya safari. Nendeni mkakutane nao, na kisha muwambie, “Sisi ni watumishi wenu. Fanyeni agano pamoja nasi.”
And our ancients, and all the inhabitants of our country said to us: Take with you victuals for a long way, and go meet them, and say: We are your servants, make ye a league with us.
12 Huu ni mkate wetu, ulikuwa wa moto tulipouchukua kutoka katika nyumba zetu katika siku ile tulipotoka kuja kwenu. Lakini sasa, tazama, imekuwa kavu na yenye ukungu.
Behold, these leaves we took hot, when we set out from our houses to come to you, now they are become dry, and broken in pieces, by being exceeding old.
13 Viriba hivi vilikuwa vipya tulipovijaza, na tazama, sasa vinavuja. Nguo zetu na viatu vyetu vimechakaa na kuwa vikuukuu kwasababu ya safari ndefu.”
These bottles of wine when we filled them were new, now they are rent and burst. These garments we have on, and the shoes we have on our feet, by reason of the very long journey are worn out, and almost consumed.
14 kwahiyo, Waisraeli wakatwaa sehemu ya vyakula vyao, lakini walifanya hivyo bila ya kumwuliza Yahweh ili awaongoze.
They took therefore of their victuals, and consulted not the mouth of the Lord.
15 Yoshua akafanya amani pamoja nao na kufanya agano pamoja nao ili waishi. Viongozi wa watu nao pia wakawaapia.
And Josue made peace with them, and entering into a league promised that they should not be slain: the princes also of the multitude swore to them.
16 Siku tatu baada ya Waisraeli kufanya agano pamoja nao, waligundua kuwa walikuwa ni majirani zao na ya kwamba waliishi karibu nao.
Now three days after the league was made, they heard that they dwelt nigh, and they should be among them.
17 Kisha watu wa Israeli walisafiri na kufika katika miji yao katika siku ya tatu. Miji yao ilikuwa Gibeoni, Kefira, Beerothi, na Kiriathi Yearimu.
And the children of Israel removed the camp, and came into their cities on the third day, the names of which are Gabaon, and Caphira, and Beroth, and Cariathiarim.
18 Watu wa Israeli wahakushambulia kwasababu viongozi wao walikuwa wamewaapia mbele za Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli. Waisraeli wote walikuwa wananung'unika kinyume na viongozi wao.
And they slew them not, because the princes of the multitude had sworn in the name of the Lord the God of Israel. Then all the common people murmured against the princes.
19 Lakini viongozi wote waliawaambia watu wote wa Israeli, “Tumeapa kwa Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli kwa ajili yao, na sasa hatuwezi kuwadhuru.
And they answered them: We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord the God of Israel, and therefore we may not touch them.
20 Hiki ndicho tutakachowafanyia: Tutawaacha waishi ili tuepuke ghadhabu ambayo yaweza kuja juu yetu kwasababu ya kiapo tulichowaapia.”
But this we mill do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn.
21 Viongozi wakawaambia watu, “Waacheni waishi.” Hivyo Wagibeoni wakawa wakata kuni na wachota maji wa Waisraeli wote, kama vile viongozi walivyosema juu yao.
But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things,
22 Yoshua aliwaita na kuwaambia, “Kwanini mlitudanya wakati mliposema, “Tuko mbali sana nanyi' wakati mnaishi hapa hapa miongoni mwetu?
Josue called the Gabaonites and said to them: Why would you impose upon us, saying: We dwell far off from you, whereas you are in the midst of us?
23 Na kwasababu hii, mmelaaniwa na baadhi yenu mtakuwa watumwa siku zote, wenye kukata kuni na kuchota maji kwa ajli ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu.”
Therefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water unto the house of my God.
24 Walimjibu Yoshua na kusema, “Ni kwasababu watumishi wako waliambiwa kwamba Yahweh Mungu wenu alimwagiza Musa mtumishi wake kuwapa ninyi nchi yote, na kuwateteza wenyeji wote wa nchi mbele yenu - hivyo tuliogopa kwasababu yenu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu. Ndio maana tulifanya jambo hili.
They answered: It was told us thy servants, that the Lord thy God had promised his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants thereof. Therefore we feared exceedingly and provided for our lives. compelled by the dread we had of you and we took this counsel.
25 Tazama sasa, mnatumiliki chini ya utawala wenu. Chochote kilichochema na haki kwenu kutufanyia, fanyeni.”
And now we are in thy hand: deal with us as it seemeth good and right unto thee.
26 Basi Yoshua aliwafanyia hivi: aliwaondoa katika mamlaka ya watu wa Israeli, na Waisraeli hawakuwaua.
So Josue did as he had said, and delivered them from the hand of the children of Israel, that they should not be slain.
27 Siku hiyo Yoshua aliwafanya Wagibeoni kuwa wakata kuni na wachotaji wa maji kwa jamii, na kwa madhabahu ya Yahweh hadi leo katika sehemu ambayo Yahweh huichagua.
And he gave orders in that day that they should be in the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the Lord hath chosen.
