Josoa 20

1 Ary Jehovah niteny tamin’ i Josoa ka nanao hoe:

And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them:

2 Lazao amin’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely hoe: Fidio ny tanàna fandosirana izay nasaiko nolazain’ i Mosesy taminareo,

Separate the cities of refuge, about which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses,

3 handosiran’ izay nahafaty olona tsy nahy; dia ho fandosirana ho anareo izany mba tsy ho azon’ ny mpamaly rà

so that anyone who will have struck down a life unintentionally may flee to them. And so, he may be able to escape from the wrath of a close relative, who is an avenger of blood.

4 Ary raha misy mandositra ho ao amin’ ny anankiray amin’ ireo tanàna ireo ka mijanona eo anoloan’ ny vavahady ary mandahatra ny teniny eo anatrehan’ ny loholona amin’ izany tanàna izany, dia hampidiriny ho ao an-tanàna izy ka homeny toerana, mba hitoetra ao aminy.

And when he will have fled to one of these cities, he shall stand before the gate of the city, and he shall speak to the ancients of that city, the things that prove him innocent. And so shall they receive him, and give him a place in which to live.

5 Ary raha manenjika azy ny mpamaly rà, dia tsy hanolotra ilay nahafaty olona ho eo an-tànany izy, satria nahafaty tsy nahy ny namany, fa tsy dia nankahala azy teo aloha.

And if the avenger of blood will have pursued him, they shall not deliver him into his hands. For he struck down his neighbor unknowingly, one who was not proven to have been his enemy two or three days before.

6 Dia hitoetra ao amin’ izany tanàna izany izy mandra-pisehony eo anatrehan’ ny fiangonana hotsaraina, sy mandra-pahafatin’ izay mpisoronabe amin’ izany andro izany; dia hiverina ilay nahafaty olona ka hody any an-tanànany sy any an-tranony, dia any amin’ ny tanàna izay nialany fony izy nandositra.

And he shall live in that city, until he stands before judgment in order to render the facts of his case, and until the death of the high priest, whoever it will be in that time. Then the one who killed a man may return, and he may enter his own city and house, from which he had fled.”

7 Dia nanokana an’ i Kadesy any Galilia any amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Naftaly izy sy Sekema any amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Efraima ary Kiriat-arba (Hebrona izany) any amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Joda.

And they decreed Kedesh in Galilee, at mount Naphtali, and Shechem, at mount Ephraim, and Kiriath-Arba, which is Hebron, at mount Judah.

8 Ary dia nifidy an’ i Bezera any an-efitra amin’ ny tany lemaka izay an’ ny firenen’ i Robena izy, ary Ramota izay any Gileada, an’ ny firenen’ i Gada, ary Golana any Basana, izay an’ ny firenen’ i Manase, any an-dafy atsinanan’ i Jordana, tandrifin’ i Jeriko.

And beyond the Jordan, opposite the eastern side of Jericho, they appointed Bezer, which is situated on the plain of the wilderness of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan of the tribe of Manasseh.

9 Ireo no tanàna voafidy ho an’ ny Zanak’ Isiraely rehetra sy ny vahiny eo aminy handosiran’ izay rehetra nahafaty olona tsy nahy, mba tsy ho fatin’ ny tanan’ ny mpamaly rà izy mandra-pisehony eo anatrehan’ ny fiangonana.

These cities were established for all the sons of Israel, and for the new arrivals who were living among them, so that whoever had struck down a life unintentionally might flee to these, and not die at the hand of a close relative who desires to vindicate the blood that was shed, until he should stand before the people, in order to present his case.