< Hesabu 24 >
1 Balaamu alipooa kuwa ilimpendeza BWANA kubariki Israeli, hakwenda, kama hapo awali, kwa kutumia uganga, badala yake akatazama jangwani.
Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, [not curse them]. So he did not use magic/divination [like a shaman would do] to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.
2 Akayainua macho yake na kumwona Isreli akiwa kwenye kambi, kila mmoja kwa kabila yake, na Roho wa Mungu akamjia.
He saw the Israeli people camped there [in their tents], with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,
3 Akapokea huu unabii na kusema, “Balaamu mwana wa Beori anataka kusema, yeye ambaye macho yake yemefunuliwa sana.
and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak: “I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy; I am speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
4 Huongea na kusikia maneno ya Mungu. Huona maono toka kwa Mwenyezi, ambaye mbele zake humwinamia na macho yake yakiwa yamefumbuliwa.
I hear this message from God; I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
5 Jinsi zilivyo nzuri hema zako, ewe Yakobo, mahali unapoishi, Israeli!
You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful; they are truly lovely!
6 Wamesambaa kama bonde, kama bustani zilizo pembezoni mwa mto, Kama miti ya mishubiri iliyopandwa na BWANA, ni kama mfano wa mielezi pembezoni mwa maji.
Your tents are spread out [in front of me like groves of palm trees in] valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted, like [strong] cedar trees [that grow] along the rivers.
7 Maji yanatiririka katika ndoo zao, na mbegu zao zimemwagiwa maji vizuri. Mfalme wao atakuwa juu ya Agagi, na ufalme wao utaheshimiwa.
Your water buckets will always be full; the seeds [that you plant] will always have plenty of water [to make them grow]. The Israelis’ king will be greater than [King] Agag; the kingdom that he rules will be honored.
8 Mungu anamtoa Misri, na nguvu kama za nyati. Atawameza mataifa wanaopigana nao. Ataivunja mifupa yao katika vipande vipande. atawapiga kwa mishale yake.
God brought the Israelis out of Egypt, [leading them along] with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has. He devastates all the nations that oppose him; he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them with his arrows.
9 Ananyatia kama simba mume, na kamaa simba jike. Ni nani atakayejaribu kumsumbua? Kila mmoja anayembariki na abarikiwe; na kila mmoja anayemlaani na alaaniwe.”
The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, [ready to pounce on their prey] [SIM]. They are like lionesses [that are resting, but ready to attack]; no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them! [God] will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”
10 Hasira za Balaki zikawaka dhidi ya Balaamu naye akaipiga mikono yake kwa pamoja. Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Nilkuita ili uwalaani maadui zangu, Lakini tazama, umewabariki mara tatu.
Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he [shouted at Balaam], “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have (blessed/asked God to bless) them three times!
11 Kwa hiyo ondoka uende nyumbani uniache sasa hivi. Nilisema ningekupa zawadi kubwa sana, lakini BWANA amekuzuilia kupata zawadi.”
So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money [if you cursed them], but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”
12 Ndipo Balaamu alipomjibu Balaki, “Niliwaambia wale wajumbe ulionitumia,
Balaam said to Balak, “[Do you not remember what] [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,
13 'Hata kama Balaki atanipa ikulu yake ikiwa imejaa fedha na dhahabu, sitafanya zaidi ya maneno ya BWANA kwa lolote zuri au baya, au kwa chochote ambacho ningetaka kufanya. Ninaweza kusema kile tu ambacho BWANA ananiambia kusema,' Je, sikuwaambia haya?
‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good [that he does not approve of].’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.
14 Kwa hiyo sasa, tazama, nitarudi kwa watu wangu. Lakini kwanza nikuonye kile ambacho hawa watu watawafanyia watu wako katika siku zijazo.”
So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
15 Balaamu alianza unabii huu. Akisema, “Balaamu mwana wa Beori anasema, Mtu yule aliyefumbuliwa macho yake.
So Balaam said this [to Balak]: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
16 Huu ni unabii wa mtu alisikiaye neno la Mungu, aliye na maarifa toka kwake Yeye aliye juu, aliye na maono kutoka kwa Mwenyezi, Yeye ambaye humpigia magoti macho yakiwa yamefumbuliwa.
I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has [revealed to me]. I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
17 Ninamwona, lakini hayuko hapa sasa. Ninamtazama, lakini siyo karibu. Nyota itatokea katika Yakobo, na fimbp ya enzi itatokea katika Israeli. Naye atawapigapiga viongozi wa Moabu na kuwaharibu wa uzao wa Sethi
The things that I see [in the vision] are not [going to happen] now; I see things [that God will cause to happen] in the future. A man who is [a descendant of] Jacob will appear like a star [MET]; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.
18 Ndipo Edomu atakapokuwa miliki ya Israeli, na Seiri pia itakuwa milki yao, maadui wa Israeli, ambao Israeli atawashinda kwa nguvu zake.
The Israelis will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies [who live near] Seir [Mountain]. The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.
19 Kutoka kwa Yakobo atatoka mfalme ambaye utawala wake naye atawaangamiza waliosalia katika mji.”
A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come; he will get rid of the people who still live in the city [where Balaam first met Balak].”
20 Kisha Balaamu akamtazama Amaleki na akaanza kutoa unabii wake. Alisema, “Amaleki alikuwa mkuu katika mataifa, lakini mwisho wake utakuwa uharibifu.”
Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”
21 Kisha Balaamu akawatazama Wakeni na akaanza kutoa unabii wake. Akasema, “Mahali unapoishi pana usalama, na viiota vyake viko kwenye miamba.
Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “You [think that] the place where you live is secure/safe like a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],
22 Lakini pamoja na hayo, Kaini ataharibiwa na Ashuru atakapowachukua mateka.”
but you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”
23 Kisha Balaamu akanza unabii wake wa mwisho. Akasema, “Ole wake atakayesalia Mungu atakapoyafanya haya?
Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, (who can (survive/escape) when God does all these things?/no one will be able to (survive/escape) when God does all these things!) [RHQ]
24 Merikebu zitakuja toka pwani ya Kittimu; Zitaivamia Ashuru na kuiharibu Eberi, lakini wao pia wataishia kwenye uharibifu.”
Ships will come from Cyprus [Island], and [the men in those ships] will defeat [the armies of] Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”
25 Kisha Balaamu akainuka na kuondoka. Akarudi nyumbani kwake, na Balaki naye akaondoka.
Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.