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 the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 Balaki mwana wa Zippori aliona yote ambayo Israeli aliwafanyia Waamori. Moabu aliogopa sana hao watu kwa sababu walikuwa wengi sana,
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 na Moabu alIwahofia wana wa Israeli.
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
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.
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
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.
And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide 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 now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest 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 elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8 Balaamu akawaambia, “Bakini hapa usiku wa leo. Kesho nitawaletea atakachoniambia BWANA.” Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakabaki na Balaamu kwa usiku huo.
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 Mungu akaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Ni akina nani hawa waliokuja kwako?”
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 Balaamu akamjibu Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori, Mfalme wa Moabu amewatuma kwangu. Alisema,
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],
11 'Tazama hawa watu waliotoka Misri wanafunika uso wa nchi yangu. Sasa naomba uje unilaanie hawa watu. Labada nitaweza kuwa kuwashinda na kuwafukuza.'”
Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.
12 Mungu akamjiu Balaam, “Usiambatane na hao wanaume. Na usiwalaani hawa wana wa Israeli kwa sababu wamebarikiwa.”
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13 Balaamu akaamka asubuhi na kuwaambia wale viongozi wa Balaki, “Rudini nchini kwenu kwa sababu BWANA amenikataza kuambatana nanyi.”
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14 Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakaondoka na kurudi kwa Balaki. Wakamwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuambatana nasi.”
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15 Balaki akatuma viongozi wengine waliokuwa wanaheshimiwa zaidi kuliko kundi lile la awali.
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16 Wakaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori anasema hivi, 'Tafadhali hebu kitu chochote kisikuzuie kuja kwangu,
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17 kwa sababu nitakulipa malipo mazuri sana na kukupa heshima kubwa, nami nitakufanyia chochote utakachoniambia. Tafadhali sana uje unilaanie hawa watu.'”
for I will promote thee unto very great honour, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me 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.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19 Sasa basi, tafadhali subirini hapa usiku wa leo pia, ili kwamba nipate kujifunza kitu zaidi ambacho BWANA ananiambia.”
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak unto me 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.”
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men be come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 Balaamu akainuka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake, akaenda pamoja na viongozi wa Moabu.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
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’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were 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.
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 Sasa malaika wa BWANA akasimama kwenye njia nyembamba katikati ya mashamba ya mizabibu, na kushoto kwake kulikuwa na ukuta.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side.
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 saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 Yule malaika wa BWANA akasogea mbele zaidi kwenye eneo jingine jembamba zaidi ambalo haikuwezekana kugeuka upande mwingine.
And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 Yule Punda akamwona tena yule malaika wa BWANA, akalala chini ya Balaamu. Hasira za Balaamu zikawaka, akampiga yule punda kwa fimbo yake.
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his 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 unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
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.”
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now I had killed 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.”
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31 Basi BWANA akafungua macho ya Balaamu, na akamwona malaika wa BWANA amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga mkononi mwake. Balaamu akainamisha kichwa chake chini.
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
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 of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:
33 Yule punda aliniona na akageuka kutoka kwangu mara tatu. Kama asingekuwa amegeuka kutoka kwangu, hakika ningekuwa nimekua na yeye kumwacha hai.
and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa BWANA, nimetenda dhambi. Sikujua kuwa ulisimama kinyume na mimi barabarani. Kwa hiyo sasa, kama haikupendezi, Nitageuka.”
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
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.
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu alikuwa amekuja, alienda kukutana naye kule mjini Moabu pale Amoni, ambao uko mpakani.
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37 Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi sikutuma watu kukuita? Basi kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Je, mimi sina uwezo wa kukufanya uheshimike?”
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
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.”
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 Balaamu akaenda na Balaki, na Wakafika Kiriathi Huzothi.
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Kisha Balaki akatoa sadaka ya maksai na kondoo na kumpatia Balaamu baadhi ya hiyo nyama na wale viongozi waliokuwa pamoja naye.
And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent 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 it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.
