The Kingdom Divided
1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu; maana Israeli wote walikuwa wamekwenda Shekemu, ili kumfanya mfalme.
2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it , (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
Ikawa Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati alipopata habari (maana alikuwa akaliko Misri, huko alikokimbilia awe mbali na mfalme Sulemani; Yeroboamu akakaa huko Misri,
3 that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
wakapeleka watu kwenda kumwita); basi Yeroboamu na jamii yote ya Israeli wakaenda, wakamwambia Rehoboamu, wakasema,
4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
Baba yako alilifanya zito kongwa letu; basi sasa utupunguzie utumwa mzito tuliotumikishwa na baba yako, na lile kongwa zito alilotutwika, nasi tutakutumikia.
5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
Akawaambia, Enendeni zenu hata siku ya tatu, kisha mnirudie tena. Watu wakaenda zao.
6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
Mfalme Rehoboamu akataka shauri kwa wazee waliokuwa wakisimama mbele ya Sulemani, baba yake, alipokuwa hai, akasema, Mwanipa shauri gani ili niwajibu watu hawa?
7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
Wakamwambia wakasema, Ukikubali kuwa mtumishi wa watu hawa leo, na kuwatumikia, na kuwajibu, na kuwapa maneno mazuri, basi watakuwa watumishi wako daima.
8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
Lakini akaliacha shauri lile la wazee, walilompa, akataka shauri kwa wale vijana waliokua pamoja naye, na kusimama mbele yake.
9 and he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
Akawaambia, Mwanipa shauri gani ili tuwajibu watu hawa, waliosema nami, wakinena Utufanyie jepesi kongwa lile alilotutwika baba yako?
10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
Na wale vijana waliokua pamoja naye wakamwambia, wakasema, Uwaambie hivi watu wale waliokuambia, wakisema, Baba yako alilifanya zito kongwa letu, bali wewe utufanyie jepesi, uwaambie hivi, Kidole changu cha mwisho ni kinene kuliko kiuno cha baba yangu.
11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Basi kama vile baba yangu alivyowatwika kongwa zito, mimi nitaongeza kongwa lenu; baba yangu aliwapiga kwa mijeledi, bali mimi nitawapigeni kwa nge.
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
Basi, Yeroboamu na watu wote wakamfikia Rehoboamu siku ya tatu, kama mfalme alivyoamuru, akisema, Mnirudie siku ya tatu.
13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
Mfalme akawajibu watu wale kwa ukali, akaliacha shauri lile wazee walilompa;
14 and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
akawajibu kama vile walivyomshauri vijana, akasema, Baba yangu alilifanya zito kongwa lenu, bali mimi nitaongeza kongwa lenu; baba yangu aliwapiga kwa mijeledi, bali mimi nitawapigeni kwa nge.
15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Basi mfalme hakuwasikia wale watu; maana jambo hili lilitoka kwa Bwana, ili alitimize neno lake, Bwana alilomwambia Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati kwa kinywa cha Ahiya Mshiloni.
16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
Basi Israeli wote walipoona ya kuwa mfalme hakuwasikia, hao watu walimjibu mfalme, wakasema, Tuna sehemu gani katika Daudi? Wala hatuna urithi katika mwana wa Yese. Haya! Nendeni zenu hemani kwenu, enyi Israeli; sasa itunze nyumba yako mwenyewe, Ee Daudi. Hivyo Israeli wakaenda zao hemani kwao.
17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
Lakini kwa habari za wana wa Israeli waliokaa katika miji ya Yuda, Rehoboamu aliwatawala wao.
18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
Ndipo mfalme Rehoboamu akampeleka Adoramu, aliyekuwa juu ya shokoa, nao Israeli wote wakampiga kwa mawe hata akafa. Mfalme Rehoboamu akafanya haraka kupanda katika gari, ili akimbilie Yerusalemu.
19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
Hivyo Israeli wakaasi juu ya nyumba ya Daudi hata leo.
20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Ikawa, Israeli wote waliposikia ya kwamba Yeroboamu amerudi, wakapeleka watu wakamwita aje mkutanoni, wakamfanya mfalme juu ya Israeli wote; wala hapakuwa na mtu aliyeshikamana na nyumba ya Daudi, ila kabila ya Yuda peke yake.
21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
Hata Rehoboamu alipofika Yerusalemu, akakusanya nyumba yote ya Yuda, pamoja na kabila ya Benyamini, watu wateule mia na themanini elfu, waliokuwa watu wa vita, ili wapigane na nyumba ya Israeli, waurudishe ufalme tena kwa Rehoboamu mwana wa Sulemani.
22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Lakini likaja neno la Mungu kwa Shemaya mtu wa Mungu, kusema,
23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
Mwambie Rehoboamu mwana wa Sulemani, mfalme wa Yuda, na jamaa yote ya Yuda na Benyamini, na watu waliosalia, ukisema,
24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Bwana asema hivi, Msiende, wala msipigane na ndugu zenu wana wa Israeli; rudini kila mtu nyumbani kwake; kwa kuwa jambo hili limetoka kwangu. Basi, wakalisikiliza neno la Bwana, wakarudi, wakaenda zao, sawasawa na neno la Bwana.
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Ndipo Yeroboamu akajenga Shekemu katika milima ya Efraimu, akakaa huko. Akatoka huko akajenga Penueli.
Golden Calves
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
Yeroboamu akasema moyoni mwake, Basi ufalme utairudia nyumba ya Daudi.
27 if this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Kama watu hawa wakipanda kwenda kutoa dhabihu katika nyumba ya Bwana huko Yerusalemu, ndipo mioyo ya watu hawa itamrudia bwana wao, yaani Rehoboamu, mfalme wa Yuda; nao wataniua mimi, na kumrudia Rehoboamu, mfalme wa Yuda.
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Kwa hiyo mfalme akafanya shauri, akafanyiza ng'ombe wawili wa dhahabu, akawaambia watu, Ni vigumu kwenu kupanda kwenda Yerusalemu; tazama, hii ndiyo miungu yenu, enyi Israeli, iliyowapandisha kutoka nchi ya Misri.
29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
Akamweka mmoja katika Betheli, na wa pili akamweka katika Dani.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
Jambo hili likawa dhambi, maana watu walikwenda kuabudu mbele ya kila mmoja, hata huko Dani.
31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
Tena akafanya nyumba za mahali pa juu, akafanya na watu wo wote, watu wasio wa wana wa Lawi, kuwa makuhani.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.
Yeroboamu akaamuru kushika sikukuu katika mwezi wa nane, siku ya kumi na tano ya mwezi, mfano wa sikukuu iliyokuwa katika Yuda, akapanda juu ili kuiendea madhabahu. Akafanya vivyo katika Betheli akiwatolea dhabihu wale ng'ombe aliowafanya; akawaweka katika Betheli wale makuhani wa mahali pa juu alipokuwa amepafanya.
33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
Akatoa dhabihu juu ya ile madhabahu aliyoifanya katika Betheli, siku ya kumi na tano ya mwezi wa nane, mwezi aliouwaza moyoni mwake mwenyewe; akawaamuru wana wa Israeli waishike sikukuu hiyo, akapanda kuiendea madhabahu, ili kufukiza uvumba.
