2 Nyakati 15
1 Roho ya Mungu ikaja juu ya Azaria mwana wa Odedi.
The Spirit of God came upon Azariah, the son of Obed.
2 Akaenda nje kukutana na Asa na akamwambia, “Nisikilize, Asa, na Yuda wote na Benyamini: Yahwe yuko pamoja nanyi, pale mnapokuwa naye. Kama mtamtafuta, mtampata; lakini kama mtamsahau, atawasahau ninyi.
Azariah went to talk with Asa, and said to him, “Asa and all [you men of the tribes of] Judah and Benjamin, listen to me. Yahweh is with you whenever you are trusting in him. If you request him [to help you], he will help you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
3 Sasa kwa muda mrefu, Israeli hawakuwa na Mungu wa kweli, bila kuhani wa kufundisha, na bila sheria.
For many years the Israeli people did not know the true God, and they did not have priests or God’s laws.
4 Lakini katika dhiki yao wakamrudia Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, na wakamtafuta, wakamta.
But when they experienced trouble, they turned to Yahweh our God, and requested him to help them. And he helped them.
5 Katika nyakati hizo hapakuwa na amani kwake aliyesafiri kwend mbali, wala kwake aliyesafiri kuja hapa; badala yake shsida kubwa zilikuwa juu ya wenyeji wote wa wanchi.
At that time, people were not safe when they traveled, because all the people who lived in the nearby countries were experiencing many difficulties.
6 Waligawanyika vikundi vikundi, taifa dhidi ya taifa, na mji dhidi ya mji, kwa maana Mungu aliwapa shsida za kila aina ya kila mateso.
The people of various nations were thoroughly defeated by [armies of] other nations, and people in some cities were crushed by [armies from] other cities, because God was allowing them to experience many difficulties.
7 Lakini muwe hodari, na msiuache mkono wenu kuwa dhaifu, kwa maana kazi yen itapewa thawabu.”
But you people, you must be strong and do not become discouraged, because [God] will reward you for what you do [to please him.”]
8 Asa aliposikia maneno haya, unabii wa odedi nabii, akajipa ujasiri na kuviondosha mbali vitu vya kuchukiza kutoka nchi yote ya Yuda na Benyamini, na kutoka miji yote aliyokuwa ameiteka kuanzia kilima cha nchi ya Efraimu, na akaijenga tena madhabahu ya Yahwe, ambayo ilikuwa mbele ya ukumbi wa nyumba ya Yahwe.
When Asa heard what the prophet Azariah said, he was encouraged. He [commanded his workers to] remove all the detestable idols from everywhere in the land of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from the towns that [his soldiers] had captured in the hills of the tribe of Ephraim. Asa’s workers repaired the altar [where people offered sacrifices] to Yahweh that was in front of the entrance to the temple [in Jerusalem].
9 Akawakusanya Yuda wote na Benyamini, na wae waliokaa pamoja nao—watu wa kutoka Efraimu na Manase, na kutoka Simeoni. Kwa maana walikuja kwake katika hesabu kubwa kutoka Israeli, walipoona kwamba Yahwe Mungu wake alikuwa pamoja naye.
Then he gathered all [the people of the tribes of] Judah and Benjamin and many people from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were living among them. [He was able to do that] because many people from [those tribes in] Israel had come to me to Judah when they realized that Yahweh, the God that Asa [worshiped], was helping him.
10 Kwa hiyo wakakusanyika katika Yerusalemu katika mwezzi wa tatu, katika mwaka wa kumi na tano wa utawala wa Asa.
After Asa had been ruling for almost 15 years, in May of that year, those people gathered in Jerusalem.
11 Katika siku hiyo walimtolea Yahwe dhabihu baadhi ya nyara ambazo walikuwa wameleta; ng'mbe wa kulima mia saba na kondoo na mbuzi elfu saba.
At that time they sacrificed to Yahweh 700 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats, from the animals that they had captured [when they defeated the army of Ethiopia/Sudan].
12 Wakaingia kataika agano kwa ajili ya kumtafuta Yahwe, Mungu wa babau zao, kwa moyo wao wote na roho yao yote.
They solemnly made an agreement to very sincerely worship Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors [worshiped].
13 Wakakubaliana kwamba yeyote atakepuuzia kumtafuta Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, atapaswa kuuawa, iwe mdogo ama mkubwa, iwe mwanaume ama mwanamke.
They promised to execute all those who would not worship Yahweh, including those who were important and those who were not important, both men and women.
14 Wakaapa kwa Yahwe kwa sauti kubwa, kwa kelele, na kwa sauti za tarumbeta na baragumu.
They shouted and blew trumpets and other horns while they solemnly promised to do that.
15 Yuda wote wakakifurahia kile kiaapo. kwa maana walikuwa wameapa kwa moyo wao wote, na walimtafuta Mungu kwa nia yao yote, na walimuona. Yahwe akawapa amani pande zote.
All the people who were living in Judah were happy with the agreement because they had solemnly and very sincerely promised to keep it. They eagerly requested help from Yahweh, and he helped them. So he enabled them to have peace throughout their country.
16 Pia akamwondoa Maaka, asiwe malikia, kwa sababu alikuwa amefanya sanamu ya kuchukiza ya Maashera. Asa akaivunja vunja sanamu ya kuchukiza, akaiweka kwenye mavumbi akaichoma moto huko kijitoni Kidroni.
King Asa’s grandmother Maacah had made a disgusting pole for [worshiping the goddess] Asherah. So Asa [commanded his workers to] cut down that pole and chop it into pieces and burn it in the Kidron Valley. He then did not allow Maacah to continue [to influence the people because of her] being the mother of the previous king.
17 Lakini sehemu za juu hazikuwa zimeondolewa nje ya Israeli. Vile vile, Moyo wa Asa ulijitoa kikamilifu siku zake zote.
Although Asa’s [workers] did not get rid of the shrines on the hilltops in Israel, he was very determined to [do what] pleased Yahweh all his life.
18 Akaleta kwenye nyumba ya Mungu vitu vya baba yake na vitu vyake mwenyewe vilivyokuwa vya Yahwe: vitu vya fedha na dhahabu.
He [ordered his workers to] bring into God’s temple all the silver and gold and other valuable items that he and his father had dedicated [to God].
19 Hapakuwa na vita zaidi hadi miaka thelathini na mitano ya utawala wa Asa.
There were no more wars [in Judah] until Asa had been ruling Judah almost 35 years.
