Hesabu 22
1 Watu wa Israeli wakasafiri mpaka wakaweka kambi kwenye uwanda wa Moabu karibu na Yeriko, kwenye upande mwingine wa mto Yorodani kutoka mji ule.
And they went forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, over against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan.
2 Balaki mwana wa Zippori aliona yote ambayo Israeli aliwafanyia Waamori. Moabu aliogopa sana hao watu kwa sababu walikuwa wengi sana,
And Balac the son of Sephor, seeing all that Israel had done to the Amorrhite,
3 na Moabu alIwahofia wana wa Israeli.
And that the Moabites were in great fear of him, and were not able to sustain his assault,
4 Mfalme wa Moabu akawaambia wazee wa Midiani, “Huu umati utakula kila kitu tulicho nacho na maksai hula nyasi za kondeni.” Sasa Balaki mwana wa Zippori alikuwa mfalme wa Moabu.
He said to the elders of Madian: So will this people destroy all that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the very roots. Now he was at that time king in Moab.
5 Akatuma wajumbe kwenda kwa Balamu mwana wa Beori, kule Petho ambayo iko karibu na mto Frati, katika nchi ya taifa lake na watu wake. Akamwita na kumwambia, “Tazama, Kuna taifa ambalo wamekuja hapa tokea Misiri. Wanafunika uso wa dunia na sasa wananifuatia mimi.
He sent therefore messengers to Balaam the son of Beer, a soothsayer, who dwelt by the river of the land of the children of Ammon, to call him, and to say: Behold a people is come out of Egypt, that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me.
6 Tafadhali naomba uje unilaanie hili taifa, kwa sababu wana nguvu kuliko mimi. Labda nitaweza kuwavamia na kuwafukuza watoke katika nchi yangu. Najua kuwa yeyote unayembariki hubarikiwa na yeyote unayemlaani atalaaniwa.”
Come therefore, and curse this people, because it is mightier than I: if by any means I may beat them and drive them out of my land: for I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou shalt curse is cursed.
7 Kwa hiyo wazee wa Moabu na wale wa Midiani wakaondoka, pamoja nao wakachukua malipo ya uganga. Wakafika kwa Balaamu wakamwambia maneno ya Balaki.
And the ancients of Moab, and the elders of Madian, went with the price of divination in their hands. And when they were come to Balaam, and had told him all the words of Balac:
8 Balaamu akawaambia, “Bakini hapa usiku wa leo. Kesho nitawaletea atakachoniambia BWANA.” Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakabaki na Balaamu kwa usiku huo.
He answered: Tarry here this night, and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me. And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him:
9 Mungu akaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Ni akina nani hawa waliokuja kwako?”
What mean these men that are with thee?
10 Balaamu akamjibu Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori, Mfalme wa Moabu amewatuma kwangu. Alisema,
He answered: Balac the son of Sephor king of the Moabites hath sent to me,
11 'Tazama hawa watu waliotoka Misri wanafunika uso wa nchi yangu. Sasa naomba uje unilaanie hawa watu. Labada nitaweza kuwa kuwashinda na kuwafukuza.'”
Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away.
12 Mungu akamjiu Balaam, “Usiambatane na hao wanaume. Na usiwalaani hawa wana wa Israeli kwa sababu wamebarikiwa.”
And God said to Balaam: Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people: because it is blessed.
13 Balaamu akaamka asubuhi na kuwaambia wale viongozi wa Balaki, “Rudini nchini kwenu kwa sababu BWANA amenikataza kuambatana nanyi.”
And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you.
14 Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakaondoka na kurudi kwa Balaki. Wakamwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuambatana nasi.”
The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with us.
15 Balaki akatuma viongozi wengine waliokuwa wanaheshimiwa zaidi kuliko kundi lile la awali.
Then he sent many more and more noble than he had sent before:
16 Wakaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori anasema hivi, 'Tafadhali hebu kitu chochote kisikuzuie kuja kwangu,
Who, when they were come to Balaam, said: Thus saith Balac the son of Sephor, Delay not to come to me:
17 kwa sababu nitakulipa malipo mazuri sana na kukupa heshima kubwa, nami nitakufanyia chochote utakachoniambia. Tafadhali sana uje unilaanie hawa watu.'”
For I am ready to honour thee, and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt: come and curse this people.
18 Balaamu akawajibu watu wa Balaki akawaambia, “Hata kama Balaki atanipa ikulu yake ikiwa imejaa fedha na dhahabu, sitaweza kufanya dhidi ya maneno ya BWANA, Mungu wangu na kufanya pungufu au zaidi ya kile anachoniambia.
Balaam answered: If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either more or less.
19 Sasa basi, tafadhali subirini hapa usiku wa leo pia, ili kwamba nipate kujifunza kitu zaidi ambacho BWANA ananiambia.”
I pray you to stay here this night also, that I may know what the Lord will answer me once more.
20 BWANA akaja kwa Balaamu usiku ule na kumwambia, “kwa kuwa hawa watu wamekuja kukuita, inuka uende nao. Lakini utafanya tu kile nitakachokuambia kufanya.”
God therefore came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: It these men be come to call thee, arise and go with them: yet so, that thou do what I shall command thee.
21 Balaamu akainuka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake, akaenda pamoja na viongozi wa Moabu.
Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them.
22 Lakini kwa sababu alienda, hasira za Mungu zikawaka. Malaika wa BWANA akasimama barabarani kama adui wa Balaamu, aliyekuwa akimpanda yule punda. Watumishi wawili wa Balaamu walikuwa pamoja naye.
And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.
23 Yule punda alimwona yule malaika wa BWANA akiwa amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga mkononi mwake. Yule punda akageuka na kwenda shambani. Balaamu akampiga yule punda ili arudi barabarani.
The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn sword, turned herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when Balaam beat her, and had a mind to bring her again to the way,
24 Sasa malaika wa BWANA akasimama kwenye njia nyembamba katikati ya mashamba ya mizabibu, na kushoto kwake kulikuwa na ukuta.
The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith the vineyards were enclosed.
25 Yule punda akamwona yule malaika wa BWANA tena. Akasogea zaidi ukutani na kuubana mguu wa Balaamu ukutani. Balaamu akampiga tena yule punda.
And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and bruised the foot of the rider. But he beat her again:
26 Yule malaika wa BWANA akasogea mbele zaidi kwenye eneo jingine jembamba zaidi ambalo haikuwezekana kugeuka upande mwingine.
And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where there was no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, stood to meet him.
27 Yule Punda akamwona tena yule malaika wa BWANA, akalala chini ya Balaamu. Hasira za Balaamu zikawaka, akampiga yule punda kwa fimbo yake.
And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff.
28 Kisha BWANA akafungua kinywa cha punda na akaongea. Akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekukosea nini kiasi kwamba umenipiga mara tatu?”
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?
29 Balaamu akamjibu yule punda, “Ni kwa sababu umenitendea kwa ujinga. Natamani kama ningekuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu, kama ningekuwa nao, sasa hivi ningekuwa nimekuua.”
Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.
30 Yule punda akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi si punda wako ambaye umenipanda maishani mwako mwote mpaka hivi sasa? Je, nimewahi kuwa na tabia ya kukufanyia hivi hapo awali?” Balaamu akasema “hapana.”
The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never.
31 Basi BWANA akafungua macho ya Balaamu, na akamwona malaika wa BWANA amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga mkononi mwake. Balaamu akainamisha kichwa chake chini.
Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.
32 Yule malaika wa BWANA akamwambia, “Kwa nini umempiga punda wako mara tatu? Tazama, Nimekuja kama adui yako kwa sababu matendo yako kwangu yamekuwa maovu.
And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me:
33 Yule punda aliniona na akageuka kutoka kwangu mara tatu. Kama asingekuwa amegeuka kutoka kwangu, hakika ningekuwa nimekua na yeye kumwacha hai.
And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived.
34 Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa BWANA, nimetenda dhambi. Sikujua kuwa ulisimama kinyume na mimi barabarani. Kwa hiyo sasa, kama haikupendezi, Nitageuka.”
Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.
35 Lakini yule malaika wa BWANA akamwambia Balaamu, “endelea na wale watu. Lakini utasema maneno nitakayokwambia tu.”Kwa hiyo Balaamu akaendelea na wale vioingozi wa Balaki.
The angel said: Go with these men, and see thou speak no other thing than what I shall command thee. He went therefore with the princes.
36 Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu alikuwa amekuja, alienda kukutana naye kule mjini Moabu pale Amoni, ambao uko mpakani.
And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon.
37 Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi sikutuma watu kukuita? Basi kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Je, mimi sina uwezo wa kukufanya uheshimike?”
And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward thy coming?
38 Ndipo Balaamu alipomjibu Balaki, “Tazama, mimi nimekuja kwako. Je mimi sina mamlaka ya kusema chochote? Mimi ninaweza kusema maneno ambayo Mungu ameweka kinywani mwangu.”
He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
39 Balaamu akaenda na Balaki, na Wakafika Kiriathi Huzothi.
So they went on together, and came into a city, that was in the uttermost borders of his kingdom.
40 Kisha Balaki akatoa sadaka ya maksai na kondoo na kumpatia Balaamu baadhi ya hiyo nyama na wale viongozi waliokuwa pamoja naye.
And when Balac had killed oxen and sheep, he sent presents to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 Kesho yake asubuhi, Balaki akampeleka Balaamu mpaka juu mahali pa Baali. Kule juu Balaamu aliweza kuona sehemu tu ya kambi za Waisraeli.
And when morning was come, he brought him to the high places of Baal, and he beheld the uttermost part of the people.
