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 -
When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it
2 hawa waliungana pamoja chini ya amri moja kuinua vita dhidi ya Yoshua na Israeli.
they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 Waliposikia wenyeji wa Gibeoni juu ya mambo aliyoyafanya Yoshua katika Yeriko na Ai,
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
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.
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wine skins,
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 old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and mouldy.
6 Kisha wakamwendea Yoshua katika kambi huko Giligali na wakamwambia yeye pamoja wa watu wa Israeli wakisema, “
They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”
7 Tumesafiri kutoka nchi ya mbali, basi fanyeni agano nasi.” Watu wa Israeli wakawaamba Wahivi, “Huenda mnaishi karibu nasi. Twawezeje kufanya agano nanyi?”
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live amongst us? How could we make a covenant with you?”
8 Wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sisi ni watumishi wako.”Yoshua akawauliza, “Ninyi ni akina nani? Mnatokea wapi?
They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
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 said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of his fame, all 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 all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
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.”
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take supplies in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants. Now make a covenant 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.
This our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become mouldy.
13 Viriba hivi vilikuwa vipya tulipovijaza, na tazama, sasa vinavuja. Nguo zetu na viatu vyetu vimechakaa na kuwa vikuukuu kwasababu ya safari ndefu.”
These wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 kwahiyo, Waisraeli wakatwaa sehemu ya vyakula vyao, lakini walifanya hivyo bila ya kumwuliza Yahweh ili awaongoze.
The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the LORD’s mouth.
15 Yoshua akafanya amani pamoja nao na kufanya agano pamoja nao ili waishi. Viongozi wa watu nao pia wakawaapia.
Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation 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.
At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they lived amongst 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.
The children of Israel travelled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
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.
The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. All the congregation 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.
But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
20 Hiki ndicho tutakachowafanyia: Tutawaacha waishi ili tuepuke ghadhabu ambayo yaweza kuja juu yetu kwasababu ya kiapo tulichowaapia.”
We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21 Viongozi wakawaambia watu, “Waacheni waishi.” Hivyo Wagibeoni wakawa wakata kuni na wachota maji wa Waisraeli wote, kama vile viongozi walivyosema juu yao.
The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
22 Yoshua aliwaita na kuwaambia, “Kwanini mlitudanya wakati mliposema, “Tuko mbali sana nanyi' wakati mnaishi hapa hapa miongoni mwetu?
Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live amongst 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.”
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for 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 Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 Tazama sasa, mnatumiliki chini ya utawala wenu. Chochote kilichochema na haki kwenu kutufanyia, fanyeni.”
Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
26 Basi Yoshua aliwafanyia hivi: aliwaondoa katika mamlaka ya watu wa Israeli, na Waisraeli hawakuwaua.
He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t kill them.
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.
That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the LORD’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.
