Waamuzi 6
1 Wana wa Israeli wakafanya yaliyo mabaya machoni pa Bwana; naye akawatia mikononi mwa Midiani kwa miaka saba.
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 Uwezo wa Midiani uliwanyanyasa Israeli. Kwa sababu ya Midiani, watu wa Israeli walitengeneza makao wenyewe kutoka kwenye mabwawa katika milima, mapango, na ngome.
The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
3 Kisha ikawa kwamba wakati wowote Waisraeli walipopanda mazao yao, Wamidiani na Waamaleki na watu kutoka mashariki waliwavamia Waisraeli.
So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
4 Waliweza kutengenezajeshi lao juu ya ardhi na kuharibu mazao, mpaka njia ya Gaza. Hawakuacha chakula huko Israeli, wala kondoo wala ng'ombe wala punda.
They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
5 Kila wakati wao na mifugo yao na mahema walipokuja, walikuja kama kundi la nzige, na haikuwezekana kuhesabu watu au ngamia zao. Walivamia ardhi ili kuiharibu.
For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
6 Midiani iliwadhoofisha Waisraeli sana mpaka watu wa Israeli wakamwita Bwana.
Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to the LORD.
7 Watu wa Israeli walipomwomba Bwana kwa sababu ya Midiani,
When the children of Israel cried to the LORD because of Midian,
8 Bwana alimtuma nabii kwa wana wa Israeli. Nabii akawaambia, Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi, Nimekuleta kutoka Misri; Nilikutoa nje ya nyumba ya utumwa.
The LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
9 Naliwaokoa kutoka kwenye mikono ya Wamisri, na kutoka kwenye mkono wa wote waliokuwa wakikunyanyasa. Niliwafukuza mbele yenu, na nimewapa nchi yao.
I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
10 Niliwaambia, “Mimi ndimi Bwana, Mungu wenu; Nimewaamuru msiabudu miungu ya Waamori, ambao mnaishi katika nchi yao. Lakini hamkuitii sauti yangu.”
I said to you, “I am the LORD your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
11 Basi malaika wa Bwana akaja na kukaa chini ya mwaloni huko Ofra, uliokuwa wa Yoashi (Mwabiyezeri), wakati Gidioni, mwana wa Yoashi, akitenganisha ngano katika sakafu, katika kikapu cha divai-kuificha toka kwa Wamidiani.
The LORD’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 Malaika wa Bwana akamtokea, akamwambia, Bwana yu pamoja nanyi, mpiganaji mwenye nguvu!
The LORD’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
13 Gideoni akamwambia, Oo, bwana wangu, ikiwa Bwana yu pamoja nasi, kwa nini basi yote haya yanatupata? Je, yako wapi matendo yake yote mazuri ambayo baba zetu walituambia, waliposema, 'Je! si Bwana aliyetukomboa kutoka Misri?' Lakini sasa Bwana ametuacha na kututia mikononi mwa Midiani. '
Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
14 Bwana akamtazama na kusema, “Nenda katika nguvu uliyo nayo tayari. Uiokoe Israeli kutoka mkononi wa Midiani. Je, sikukutuma?”
The LORD looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?”
15 Gideoni akamwambia, “Tafadhali, Bwana, nawezeje kuwaokoa Israeli? Angalia, familia yangu ni dhaifu zaidi katika Manase, na mimi si muhimu katika nyumba ya baba yangu.”
He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
16 Bwana akamwambia, “Nitakuwa pamoja nawe, nawe utalishinda jeshi lote la Midiani kama mtu mmoja.”
The LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
17 Gideoni akamwambia, “Ikiwa unapendezwa na mimi, nipe basi ishara kwamba wewe ndio unenena nami.
He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
18 Tafadhali, usiondoke hapa, mpaka nitakapokuja kwako na kuleta zawadi yangu na kuiweka mbele yako.” Bwana akasema, “Nitasubiri mpaka utakaporudi.”
Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 Gideoni akaenda, akaandaa mwana mbuzi, na efa moja ya unga akafanya mikate isiyotiwa chachu. Akaiweka nyama hiyo katika kikapu, na akaweka mchuzi ndani ya sufuria na kuviletea chini ya mti wa mwaloni, akavitowa.
Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
20 Malaika wa Mungu akamwambia, “Chukua nyama na mikate isiyotiwa chachu, ukaweke juu ya mwamba huu, ukamwage mchuzi juu yake.” Gideoni akafanya hivyo.
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
21 Kisha malaika wa Bwana akashika ncha ya fimbo mkononi mwake. Kwa hiyo akagusa nyama na mikate isiyotiwa chachu; moto ukatoka nje ya mwamba, ukateketeza nyama na mikate isiyotiwa chachu. Kisha malaika wa Bwana akaenda, na Gideoni hakuweza kumwona tena.
Then the LORD’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the LORD’s angel departed out of his sight.
22 Gideoni alielewa kuwa yule alikuwa malaika wa Bwana. Gideoni akasema, “Ewe Bwana MUNGU! Kwa maana nimemwona malaika wa Bwana uso kwa uso!”
Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to face!”
23 Bwana akamwambia, “Amani iwe kwako! Usiogope, huwezi kufa.”
The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
24 Basi Gideoni akamjengea Bwana madhabahu huko. Aliiita, “Bwana ni Amani.” Hadi leo bado iko katika Ofra ya jamaa ya Waabiezeri.
Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “The LORD is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 Usiku huo, Bwana akamwambia, “Twaa ng'ombe wa baba yako, na ng'ombe wa pili wa umri wa miaka saba, ukaondoe madhabahu ya Baali, ambayo ni ya baba yako, na kukata Ashera iliyo karibu nayo.
That same night, the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
26 Jenga madhabahu kwa Bwana, Mungu wako juu ya mahali pa kukimbilia, na kuijenga njia sahihi. Toa ng'ombe ya pili kama sadaka ya kuteketezwa, ukitumia kuni kutoka Ashera uliyoikata. '
Then build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”
27 Gideoni akachukua watumishi wake kumi na kufanya kama Bwana alivyomwambia. Lakini kwa sababu aliogopa sana watu wa nyumba ya baba yake na watu wa mji hakufanya hivyo wakati wa mchana, alifanya hivyo usiku.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
28 Asubuhi wakati watu wa mji walipoamka, madhabahu ya Baali imebomolewa, na Ashera iliyokuwa karibu nayo imekatwa, na ng'ombe wa pili ametolewa sadaka kwenye madhabahu iliyojengwa.
When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
29 Watu wa mji wakaambiana, “Ni nani aliyefanya jambo hili?” Walipokuwa wakiongea na wengine na kutafuta majibu, wakasema, 'Gidioni mwana wa Yoashi amefanya jambo hili.”
They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
30 Ndipo watu wa mji wakamwambia Yoashi, “Mtoe mtoto wako ili afe, kwa sababu ameibomoa madhabahu ya Baali, na kwa sababu ameikata Ashera karibu nayo.”
Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
31 Yoashi akawaambia wote waliompinga, “Je, ninyi mtamsihi Baali? Je, mtamuokoa? Mtu yeyote atakayemtetea, basi atauawa asubuhi hii. Ikiwa Baali ni mungu, basi atajitetea mwenyewe wakati mtu anaibomoa madhabahu yake.”
Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
32 Kwa hiyo siku hiyo wakamwita Gideoni “Yerubaali,” kwa sababu alisema, “Baali ajijitetee dhidi yake,” kwa sababu Gidioni alivunja madhabahu ya Baali.
Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
33 Basi Wamidiani wote, Waamaleki, na watu wa mashariki walikusanyika pamoja. Wakavuka Yordani na wakapanga katika bonde la Yezreeli.
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34 Lakini Roho wa Bwana akaja juu ya Gideoni. Gideoni akapiga tarumbeta, akawaita jamaa ya Abiezeri, ili wapate kumfuata.
But the LORD’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
35 Aliwatuma wajumbe wote katika Manase, na wao pia, waliitwa nje kumfuata. Naye akatuma wajumbe kwa Asheri, na Zabuloni, na Naftali; nao wakaenda kumlaki.
He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 Gideoni akamwambia Mungu, “Ikiwa ungependa kunitumia kuokoa Israeli, kama ulivyosema,
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
37 tazameni, ninaweka ngozi ya samazi kwenye sakafu. Ikiwa kuna umande tu juu ya ngozi, na ni kavu duniani, basi nitajua kwamba utanitumia kuokoa Israeli, kama ulivyosema.”
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
38 Hivi ndivyo ilivyotokea-Gideoni aliamka mapama asubuhi, akaikamua ngozi hiyo, na akatoa umande kwenye ngozi, wa kutosha kujaza bakuli kwa maji.
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 Gideoni akamwambia Mungu, 'Usinikasirikie, nitasema tena kwa mara nyingine. Tafadhali niruhusu nijaribu tena kwa kutumia ngozi. Wakati huu uifanye kavu, na iwe na umande juu ya ardhi yote kuzunguka.
Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
40 Mungu alifanya kile alichoomba usiku huo. Ngozi ilikuwa kavu, na kulikuwa na umande katika ardhi yote iliyozunguka.
God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
