Joshua 22
1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
Ndipo Yoshua akawaita Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase,
2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you.
naye akawaambia, “Mmeshafanya yale yote Mose mtumishi wa Bwana aliyowaamuru, nanyi mmenitii kwa kila jambo nililowaamuru.
3 You have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have performed the duty of the commandment of the LORD your God.
Kwa muda mrefu sasa, hadi siku hii ya leo, hamkuwaacha ndugu zenu, bali ninyi mmetimiza ile kazi Bwana Mungu wenu aliyowapa.
4 Now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now return and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan.
Sasa kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wenu amewapa ndugu zenu pumziko kama alivyoahidi, rudini nyumbani mwenu katika nchi ile ambayo Mose mtumishi wa Bwana aliwapa ngʼambo ya Yordani.
5 Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Lakini mwe waangalifu sana kushika amri na sheria zile Mose mtumishi wa Bwana alizowapa: yaani kumpenda Bwana Mungu wenu na kuenenda katika njia zake zote, kutii amri zake, kushikamana naye kwa uthabiti na kumtumikia kwa moyo wenu wote na roho yenu yote.”
6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.
Ndipo Yoshua akawabariki na kuwaaga waende zao, nao wakaenda nyumbani mwao.
7 Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but Joshua gave to the other half amongst their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,
(Kwa nusu ya kabila la Manase Mose alikuwa amewapa eneo katika Bashani na ile nusu nyingine ya hilo kabila Yoshua aliwapa eneo upande wa magharibi ya Yordani pamoja na ndugu zao). Yoshua alipowaaga waende zao nyumbani, aliwabariki,
8 and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the plunder of your enemies with your brothers.”
akisema, “Rudini nyumbani mwenu na utajiri wenu mwingi, yaani makundi makubwa ya mifugo, mkiwa na fedha, dhahabu, shaba na chuma, pia wingi wa nguo, nanyi mkagawane na ndugu zenu hizo nyara zilizotoka kwa adui zenu.”
9 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they owned, according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.
Kwa hiyo Wareubeni, Wagadi na hiyo nusu ya kabila la Manase wakawaacha Waisraeli huko Shilo katika nchi ya Kanaani ili kurudi Gileadi, nchi yao wenyewe waliyoipata sawasawa na agizo la Bwana kupitia Mose.
10 When they came to the region near the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a great altar to look at.
Walipofika Gelilothi karibu na Yordani, katika nchi ya Kanaani, Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase wakajenga madhabahu ya fahari kubwa huko kando ya Yordani.
11 The children of Israel heard this, “Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar along the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the children of Israel.”
Waisraeli wengine waliposikia kwamba Wareubeni, Wagadi na ile nusu ya kabila la Manase walikuwa wamejenga madhabahu kwenye mpaka wa Kanaani huko Gelilothi karibu na Yordani kwenye upande wa Israeli,
12 When the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.
kusanyiko lote la Israeli wakakusanyika huko Shilo ili wakapigane vita dhidi yao.
13 The children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest.
Kwa hiyo Waisraeli wengine wakamtuma Finehasi mwana wa kuhani Eleazari katika nchi ya Gileadi, kwa Wareubeni, Wagadi na hiyo nusu ya kabila la Manase.
14 With him were ten princes, one prince of a fathers’ house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were each head of their fathers’ houses amongst the thousands of Israel.
Wakatuma pamoja naye watu kumi ambao ni viongozi, mmoja kwa kila kabila la Israeli, kila mmoja aliyekuwa kiongozi katika mgawanyiko wa jamaa miongoni mwa koo za Israeli.
15 They came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying,
Walipofika Gileadi, kwa Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase, wakawaambia:
16 “The whole congregation of the LORD says, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away today from following the LORD, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel today against the LORD?
“Kusanyiko lote la Bwana lasema: ‘Je, mmewezaje kuacha kumwamini Mungu wa Israeli jinsi hii? Mmewezaje kumwacha Bwana na kujijengea madhabahu dhidi yake na kumwasi?
17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of the LORD,
Je, dhambi ya Peori haikutosha? Hata ingawa kulikuja tauni juu ya kusanyiko la Bwana, mpaka leo hii hatujatakasika kutokana na dhambi hiyo!
18 that you must turn away today from following the LORD? It will be, since you rebel today against the LORD, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
Je, sasa ndiyo mnamwacha Bwana? “‘Kama mkimwasi Bwana leo, kesho atalikasirikia kusanyiko lote la Israeli.
19 However, if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of the LORD, in which the LORD’s tabernacle dwells, and take possession amongst us; but don’t rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building an altar other than the LORD our God’s altar.
Kama nchi mnayomiliki imenajisika, vukeni mje katika nchi ya Bwana, mahali Maskani ya Bwana ilipo, nanyi mkajitwalie sehemu miongoni mwetu, lakini msije mkaasi dhidi ya Bwana wala dhidi yetu sisi kwa kujijengea madhabahu, zaidi ya madhabahu ya Bwana Mungu wetu.
20 Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity.’”
Wakati Akani mwana wa Zera alipokosa uaminifu kwa vitu vilivyowekwa wakfu, je, ghadhabu haikulipata kusanyiko lote la Israeli? Hakuwa yeye peke yake aliyekufa kwa ajili ya dhambi yake.’”
21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
Ndipo Wareubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase walipowajibu viongozi wa koo za Israeli, wakisema:
22 “The Mighty One, God, the LORD, the Mighty One, God, the LORD, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against the LORD (don’t save us today),
“Yeye Mwenye Nguvu, Mungu, Bwana! Yeye Mwenye Nguvu, Mungu, Bwana! Yeye anajua! Israeli na wajue! Kama huu umekuwa ni uasi au kukosa utii kwa Bwana, msituache hai siku hii ya leo.
23 that we have built us an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, let the LORD himself require it.
Kama tumejijengea madhabahu yetu wenyewe ili kumwacha Bwana na kutoa sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za nafaka, au kutoa sadaka za amani juu yake, Bwana mwenyewe na atupatilize leo.
24 “If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, “What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?
“Sivyo! Tulifanya hivyo kwa hofu kwamba siku zijazo wazao wenu wanaweza wakawaambia wazao wetu, ‘Mna uhusiano gani na Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli?
25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.”’ So your children might make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
Bwana ameifanya Yordani kuwa mpaka kati yetu na ninyi, ninyi Wareubeni na Wagadi! Hamna fungu kwa Bwana.’ Kwa hiyo wazao wenu wanaweza wakawasababisha wazao wetu wakaacha kumcha Bwana.
26 “Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;
“Hii ndiyo sababu tulisema, ‘Tujiweke tayari na tujenge madhabahu, lakini si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa au dhabihu.’
27 but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings;’ that your children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in the LORD.’
Badala yake, itakuwa ni ushahidi kati yetu na ninyi na vizazi vijavyo, kwamba tutamwabudu Bwana katika mahali patakatifu pake pamoja na sadaka zetu za kuteketezwa, dhabihu na sadaka za amani. Ndipo katika siku zijazo, wazao wenu hawataweza kuwaambia wazao wetu, ‘Ninyi hamna fungu katika Bwana.’
28 “Therefore we said, ‘It shall be, when they tell us or our generations this in time to come, that we shall say, “Behold the pattern of the LORD’s altar, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.”’
“Nasi tulisema, ‘Ikiwa wakati wowote watatuambia hilo, au kuwaambia uzao wetu, tutawajibu hivi: Angalieni nakala hii ya madhabahu ya Bwana, ambayo baba zetu waliijenga, si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa na dhabihu, bali kama ushahidi kati yetu na ninyi.’
29 “Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn away today from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offering, for meal offering, or for sacrifice, besides the LORD our God’s altar that is before his tabernacle!”
“Hili jambo la kumwasi Bwana na kumwacha siku hii ya leo kwa kujenga madhabahu kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, sadaka za nafaka na dhabihu, zaidi ya madhabahu ya Bwana Mungu wetu iliyo mbele ya maskani yake na liwe mbali nasi.”
30 When Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well.
Wakati kuhani Finehasi na viongozi wa kusanyiko na wakuu wa koo za Israeli, waliposikia hayo waliyosema Wareubeni, Wagadi na Manase, wakaridhika.
31 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is amongst us, because you have not committed this trespass against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the LORD’s hand.”
Naye Finehasi mwana wa kuhani Eleazari, akawaambia Wareubeni, Wagadi na Manase, “Leo tunajua kwamba Bwana yuko pamoja nasi, kwa sababu hamkukosa uaminifu kwa Bwana katika jambo hili. Sasa mmewaokoa Waisraeli na mkono wa Bwana.”
32 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
Ndipo Finehasi, mwana wa kuhani Eleazari na viongozi wakarudi Kanaani kutoka kwenye kukutana kwao na Wareubeni na Wagadi huko Gileadi nao wakatoa taarifa kwa Waisraeli.
33 The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad lived.
Walifurahi kusikia taarifa hiyo, na wakamhimidi Mungu. Wala hawakuzungumza tena habari za kupigana vita dhidi yao ili kuharibu nchi ambayo Wareubeni na Wagadi waliishi.
34 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar “A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.”
Nao Wareubeni na Wagadi wakayaita yale madhabahu Edi, yaani Shahidi: kwa kuwa itakuwa shahidi kati yetu na ninyi kwamba Bwana ndiye Mungu.
