Yoshua 9
1 Kisha wafalme wote walioishi ng'ambo ya mto Yordani katika nchi ya milima, na katika nchi za chini katika pwani za Bahari Kuu mbele ya Lebanoni - Wahiti, Waamori, Wakanaani, Waperizi, Wahivi na Wayebusi -
And it came to pass, when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the Lowland, and on all the shore of the Great Sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof,
2 hawa waliungana pamoja chini ya amri moja kuinua vita dhidi ya Yoshua na Israeli.
that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 Waliposikia wenyeji wa Gibeoni juu ya mambo aliyoyafanya Yoshua katika Yeriko na Ai,
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 walipanga mpango wa udanganyifu. Walienda kama wajumbe. Walichukua magunia yaliyochakaa na kuyaweka juu ya punda. Walichukua pia viriba vilivyochakaa na kuchanika chanika na vilivyozibwa zibwa.
they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine skins, worn and rent and patched up;
5 Walivaa miguuni mwao viatu vilivyozeeka na kutoboka toboka, na walivaa nguo kuukuu, zilichanika chanika. Na mikate yote katika chombo ilikuwa mikavu na yenye uvundo.
and worn shoes and clouted upon their feet, and worn garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become crumbs.
6 Kisha wakamwendea Yoshua katika kambi huko Giligali na wakamwambia yeye pamoja wa watu wa Israeli wakisema, “
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel: 'We are come from a far country; now therefore make ye a covenant with us.'
7 Tumesafiri kutoka nchi ya mbali, basi fanyeni agano nasi.” Watu wa Israeli wakawaamba Wahivi, “Huenda mnaishi karibu nasi. Twawezeje kufanya agano nanyi?”
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites: 'Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?'
8 Wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sisi ni watumishi wako.”Yoshua akawauliza, “Ninyi ni akina nani? Mnatokea wapi?
And they said unto Joshua: 'We are thy servants.' And Joshua said unto them: 'Who are ye? and from whence come ye?'
9 Wakamwambia, “Watumishi wako wamekuja hapa kutokea nchi ya mbali, kwasababu ya jina la Yahweh Mungu wako. Tumesikia habari kumhusu na kuhusu kila kitu alichokifanya Misri -
And they said unto him: 'From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God; for we have heard the fame of Him, and all that He did in Egypt,
10 na kila kitu alichokifanya kwa wafalme wawili wa Waamori katika upande mwingine wa Yordani - kwa mfalme Sihoni wa Heshiboni, na kwa Ogu wa Bashani aliyekuwa katika Ashitarothi.
and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wazee wetu na wenyeji wote wa nchi yetu walituambia,” Chukueni chakula mikononi mwenu kwa ajili ya safari. Nendeni mkakutane nao, na kisha muwambie, “Sisi ni watumishi wenu. Fanyeni agano pamoja nasi.”
And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying: Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them: We are your servants; and now make ye a covenant with us.
12 Huu ni mkate wetu, ulikuwa wa moto tulipouchukua kutoka katika nyumba zetu katika siku ile tulipotoka kuja kwenu. Lakini sasa, tazama, imekuwa kavu na yenye ukungu.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become crumbs.
13 Viriba hivi vilikuwa vipya tulipovijaza, na tazama, sasa vinavuja. Nguo zetu na viatu vyetu vimechakaa na kuwa vikuukuu kwasababu ya safari ndefu.”
And these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent. And these our garments and our shoes are worn by reason of the very long journey.'
14 kwahiyo, Waisraeli wakatwaa sehemu ya vyakula vyao, lakini walifanya hivyo bila ya kumwuliza Yahweh ili awaongoze.
And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15 Yoshua akafanya amani pamoja nao na kufanya agano pamoja nao ili waishi. Viongozi wa watu nao pia wakawaapia.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the congregation swore unto them.
16 Siku tatu baada ya Waisraeli kufanya agano pamoja nao, waligundua kuwa walikuwa ni majirani zao na ya kwamba waliishi karibu nao.
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 Kisha watu wa Israeli walisafiri na kufika katika miji yao katika siku ya tatu. Miji yao ilikuwa Gibeoni, Kefira, Beerothi, na Kiriathi Yearimu.
And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 Watu wa Israeli wahakushambulia kwasababu viongozi wao walikuwa wamewaapia mbele za Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli. Waisraeli wote walikuwa wananung'unika kinyume na viongozi wao.
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 Lakini viongozi wote waliawaambia watu wote wa Israeli, “Tumeapa kwa Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli kwa ajili yao, na sasa hatuwezi kuwadhuru.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation: 'We have sworn unto them by the LORD, the God of Israel; now therefore we may not touch them.
20 Hiki ndicho tutakachowafanyia: Tutawaacha waishi ili tuepuke ghadhabu ambayo yaweza kuja juu yetu kwasababu ya kiapo tulichowaapia.”
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.'
21 Viongozi wakawaambia watu, “Waacheni waishi.” Hivyo Wagibeoni wakawa wakata kuni na wachota maji wa Waisraeli wote, kama vile viongozi walivyosema juu yao.
And the princes said concerning them: 'Let them live'; so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken concerning them.
22 Yoshua aliwaita na kuwaambia, “Kwanini mlitudanya wakati mliposema, “Tuko mbali sana nanyi' wakati mnaishi hapa hapa miongoni mwetu?
And Joshua called for them, and he spoke unto them, saying: 'Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying: We are very far from you, when ye dwell among us?
23 Na kwasababu hii, mmelaaniwa na baadhi yenu mtakuwa watumwa siku zote, wenye kukata kuni na kuchota maji kwa ajli ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu.”
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.'
24 Walimjibu Yoshua na kusema, “Ni kwasababu watumishi wako waliambiwa kwamba Yahweh Mungu wenu alimwagiza Musa mtumishi wake kuwapa ninyi nchi yote, na kuwateteza wenyeji wote wa nchi mbele yenu - hivyo tuliogopa kwasababu yenu kwa ajili ya maisha yetu. Ndio maana tulifanya jambo hili.
And they answered Joshua, and said: 'Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 Tazama sasa, mnatumiliki chini ya utawala wenu. Chochote kilichochema na haki kwenu kutufanyia, fanyeni.”
And now, behold, we are in thy hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.'
26 Basi Yoshua aliwafanyia hivi: aliwaondoa katika mamlaka ya watu wa Israeli, na Waisraeli hawakuwaua.
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 Siku hiyo Yoshua aliwafanya Wagibeoni kuwa wakata kuni na wachotaji wa maji kwa jamii, na kwa madhabahu ya Yahweh hadi leo katika sehemu ambayo Yahweh huichagua.
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, unto this day, in the place which He should choose.
