1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
Wakati huo Yoshua akawaita Wareubeni, na Wagadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase,
2 and said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
naye akawaambia, Ninyi mmeyaandama hayo yote mliyoamriwa na Musa, mtumishi wa Bwana, nanyi mmeisikia sauti yangu katika yote niliyowaamuru mimi;
3 ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
hamkuwaacha hao ndugu zenu siku hizi nyingi hata hivi leo, lakini mmeyashika mausia ya amri ya Bwana, Mungu wenu.
4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
Na sasa yeye Bwana, Mungu wenu, amewapa ndugu zenu kustarehe, kama alivyowaambia; basi sasa rudini ninyi mwende mahemani kwenu, hata nchi ya milki yenu, ambayo huyo Musa, mtumishi wa Bwana, aliwapa ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani.
5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Lakini mjibidiishe sana kuzifanya amri na sheria, ambazo Musa, mtumishi wa Bwana, aliwaamuru, kumpenda Bwana, Mungu wenu, na kwenenda katika njia zake zote, na kuzishika amri zake, na kushikamana na yeye, na kumtumikia kwa moyo wenu wote na nafsi yenu yote.
6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
Basi Yoshua akawabarikia, na kuwapa ruhusa waende zao; nao wakaenda mahemani kwao.
7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
Basi Musa alikuwa amewapa hiyo nusu moja ya kabila ya Manase urithi katika Bashani; lakini hiyo nusu ya pili Yoshua aliwapa urithi kati ya ndugu zao, ng'ambo ya Yordani upande wa kuelekea magharibi. Zaidi ya hayo Yoshua, hapo alipowapeleka waende zao mahemani kwao, akawabarikia,
8 and he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
kisha akanena nao, na kuwaambia, Rudini na mali mengi mahemani kwenu, na ng'ombe wengi sana, na fedha, na dhahabu, na shaba, na chuma, na mavao mengi sana; mzigawanye na ndugu zenu hizo nyara za adui zenu.
9 And 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 unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Basi wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase wakarudi, wakatoka kwa wana wa Israeli katika Shilo, ulioko nchi ya Kanaani, ili waende nchi ya Gileadi, hiyo nchi ya milki yao, waliyokuwa wanaimiliki, sawasawa na amri ya Bwana kwa mkono wa Musa.
Altar of Witness
10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
Nao walipofika pande za Yordani, zilizo katika nchi ya Kanaani, hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na nusu ya kabila ya Manase, wakajenga madhabahu huko karibu na Yordani, iliyoonekana kuwa ni madhabahu kubwa.
11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
Wana wa Israeli walisikia ikinenwa, Tazama, wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, wamejenga madhabahu huko upande wa mbele wa nchi ya Kanaani, katika nchi iliyo karibu na Yordani, kwa upande huo ulio milki ya wana wa Israeli.
12 And when the children of Israel heard of it , the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
Basi, wana wa Israeli waliposikia habari hiyo, mkutano wote wa wana wa Israeli wakakutanika pamoja huko Shilo, ili waende kupigana nao.
13 And the children of Israel sent unto 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,
Kisha wana wa Israeli wakatuma wajumbe waende kwa wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, hata nchi ya Gileadi; nao ni hawa, Finehasi mwana wa Eleazari kuhani;
14 and with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
na pamoja naye wakuu kumi, mkuu mmoja wa nyumba ya mababa kwa ajili ya kila kabila ya Israeli; nao kila mmoja alikuwa ni kichwa cha nyumba ya mababa katika maelfu ya Israeli.
15 And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,
Nao wakawafikilia hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, katika nchi ya Gileadi, na wakasema nao, wakinena,
16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
Mkutano wote wa Bwana wanena, Ni kosa gani hili mlilolikosa juu ya Mungu wa Israeli, hata mkakengeuka hivi leo na kuacha kumwandama Bwana, katika kujijengea madhabahu, na kuasi hivi leo juu ya Bwana?
17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
Je! Ule uovu wa Peori haututoshi, ambao hamjajitakasa nafsi zenu katika huo hata hivi leo, ijapokuwa ilikuja tauni juu ya mkutano wa Bwana,
18 but that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
hata ikawa hamna budi hivi leo kugeuka na kuacha kumwandama Bwana? Kisha itakuwa, kwa kuwa ninyi mwamwasi Bwana hivi leo, kwamba kesho yeye atakasirika na mkutano wote wa Israeli.
19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
Basi kwamba hiyo nchi ya milki yenu si tohara, ndipo ninyi vukeni na kuingia nchi ya milki yake Bwana, ambayo maskani ya Bwana inakaa ndani yake, nanyi twaeni milki kati yetu; lakini msimwasi Bwana, wala msituasi sisi, kwa kujijengea madhabahu zaidi ya hiyo madhabahu ya Bwana, Mungu wetu.
20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
Je! Huyo Akani mwana wa Zera hakukosa katika vile vitu vilivyowekwa wakfu, na hasira ikauangukia mkutano wote wa Israeli? Kisha mtu huyo hakuangamia peke yake katika uovu wake?
21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
Ndipo hapo wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, wakajibu, na kuwaambia hao waliokuwa ni vichwa vya maelfu ya Israeli, wakasema,
22 the LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
Mungu, Mungu Bwana, naam, Mungu, Mungu Bwana, yeye yuajua, na Israeli naye atajua; kama ni katika uasi, au kama ni katika kosa juu ya Bwana, (usituokoe hivi leo);
23 that we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it ;
sisi kujijengea madhabahu ili kukengeuka na kuacha kumwandama Bwana; au kama ni kusongeza juu yake sadaka ya kuteketezwa, au sadaka ya unga, au kama ni kusongeza sadaka za amani juu yake, yeye Bwana mwenyewe na alitake jambo hili;
24 and if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
au kama sisi tumefanya jambo hili kwa hadhari sana, tena makusudi, huku tukisema, Katika siku zijazo wana wenu yamkini wakanena na wana wetu, na kusema, Ninyi mna nini na Bwana, yeye Mungu wa Israeli?
25 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
Kwa kuwa yeye Bwana ameufanya huu mto wa Yordani uwe mpaka katikati ya sisi na ninyi, enyi wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, hamna fungu katika Bwana; basi hivyo wana wenu wangewakomesha wana wetu wasimche Bwana.
26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
Kwa ajili ya hayo tulisema, Na tufanye tayari ili kujijengea madhabahu, si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, wala kwa sadaka yo yote;
27 but that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
bali itakuwa ni ushahidi kati ya sisi na ninyi, tena kati ya vizazi vyetu baada yetu, ili kwamba tufanye huo utumishi wa Bwana mbele yake kwa njia ya sadaka zetu za kuteketezwa, na kwa dhabihu zetu, na kwa sadaka zetu za amani; ili kwamba wana wenu wasiwaambie wana wetu katika zamani zijazo, Ninyi hamna fungu katika Bwana.
28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again , Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
Kwa hiyo tulisema, Itakuwa, hapo watakapotuambia neno kama hilo, au kuwaambia watu wa vizazi vyetu katika zamani zijazo neno kama hilo, ndipo sisi tutawaambia, Angalieni huu mfano wa madhabahu ya Bwana, walioufanya baba zetu, si kwa ajili ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa, wala kwa ajili ya dhabihu; lakini ni ushahidi kati ya sisi na ninyi.
29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
Mungu na atuzuie msimwasi Bwana, na kukengeuka hivi leo na kuacha kumwandama Bwana, hata mkajenga madhabahu kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, au sadaka za unga, au dhabihu, mbali na ile madhabahu ya Bwana, Mungu wetu, iliyo huko mbele ya maskani yake.
30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
Basi Finehasi kuhani, na wakuu wa mkutano, maana, ni hao waliokuwa vichwa vya maelfu ya Israeli waliokuwa pamoja naye, hapo walipoyasikia hayo maneno waliyoyasema hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na wana wa Manase, maneno hayo yaliwaridhia sana.
31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
Naye Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, kuhani, akawaambia wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na wana wa Manase, akasema, Siku hii ya leo twajua ya kwamba Bwana yu kati yetu, kwa sababu hamkukosa katika jambo hili mbele ya Bwana; sasa ninyi mmewaokoa wana wa Israeli na mkono wa Bwana.
32 And 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, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
Kisha Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, kuhani, na hao wakuu, wakarudi na kuwaacha wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, wakatoka katika nchi ya Gileadi, na kuingia nchi ya Kanaani; wakawarudia wana wa Israeli, wakawapa habari.
33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
Wana wa Israeli nao wakaliridhia jambo hilo; nao wana wa Israeli wakamhimidi Mungu, wala hawakusema tena habari ya kuwaendea juu yao kupigana nao, wala kuiharibu nchi waliyoikaa wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi.
34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
Basi hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, wakaiita madhabahu hiyo Edi; wakasema, Kwa kuwa ni ushahidi kati yetu ya kwamba yeye Bwana ndiye Mungu.
