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.
The children of Israel travelled, and encamped 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,
Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 na Moabu alIwahofia wana wa Israeli.
Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. 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.
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” 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.
He sent messengers to 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 who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite 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.”
Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you 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.
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to 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.
He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Mungu akaja kwa Balaamu na kumwambia, “Ni akina nani hawa waliokuja kwako?”
God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaamu akamjibu Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Zippori, Mfalme wa Moabu amewatuma kwangu. Alisema,
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said 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.'”
‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps 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.”
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall 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.”
Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14 Kwa hiyo wale viongozi wa Moabu wakaondoka na kurudi kwa Balaki. Wakamwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuambatana nasi.”
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Balaki akatuma viongozi wengine waliokuwa wanaheshimiwa zaidi kuliko kundi lile la awali.
Balak again sent 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,
They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming 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 will promote you to very great honour, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
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 the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t 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 please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”
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 came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
21 Balaamu akainuka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake, akaenda pamoja na viongozi wa Moabu.
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, 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.
God’s anger burnt because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, 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.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
24 Sasa malaika wa BWANA akasimama kwenye njia nyembamba katikati ya mashamba ya mizabibu, na kushoto kwake kulikuwa na ukuta.
Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall 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.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26 Yule malaika wa BWANA akasogea mbele zaidi kwenye eneo jingine jembamba zaidi ambalo haikuwezekana kugeuka upande mwingine.
The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there 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.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burnt, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Kisha BWANA akafungua kinywa cha punda na akaongea. Akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekukosea nini kiasi kwamba umenipiga mara tatu?”
The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck 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.”
Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
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 donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
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 LORD’s angel 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.
The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your 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.
The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, 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.”
Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go 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.
The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” 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.
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the 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?”
Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you 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.”
Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39 Balaamu akaenda na Balaki, na Wakafika Kiriathi Huzothi.
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40 Kisha Balaki akatoa sadaka ya maksai na kondoo na kumpatia Balaamu baadhi ya hiyo nyama na wale viongozi waliokuwa pamoja naye.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who 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.
In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
