1
Rehoboamu akaenda Shekemu; maana Israeli wote walikuwa wamekuja Shekemu, ili wamfanye mfalme.
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
2
Ikawa Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati aliposikia, (maana alikuwako Misri, ambako amekimbilia mbele ya mfalme Sulemani), Yeroboamu akarudi kutoka Misri.
When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon.
3
Wakapeleka ujumbe, wakamwita, Yeroboamu akaja na Israeli wote, wakamwambia Rehoboamu, wakasema,
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,
4
Baba yako alilifanya zito kongwa letu; basi sasa upunguze utumwa mgumu wa baba yako, na kongwa lake zito alilotutwika, nasi tutakutumikia.
“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5
Akawaambia, Mnirudie baada ya siku tatu. Watu wakaenda zao.
Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed.
6
Mfalme Rehoboamu akataka shauri kwa wazee, waliosimama mbele ya Sulemani baba yake, alipokuwa hai bado, akasema, Mwanipa shauri gani la kuwajibu watu hawa?
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
7
Wakamwambia, wakasema, Ukiwa mwema kwao watu hawa, na kuwapendeza, na kuwaambia maneno mazuri, ndipo watakapokuwa watumishi wako siku zote.
They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
8
Lakini akaliacha shauri lile la wazee walilompa, akataka shauri kwa wale vijana waliokua pamoja naye, waliosimama mbele yake.
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.
9
Akawaambia, Je! Mwanipa shauri gani la kuwajibu watu hawa, waliosema nami, wakisema, Utufanyie jepesi kongwa alilotutwika baba yako.
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10
Na wale vijana waliokua pamoja naye wakamwambia, wakasema, Uwaambie hivi watu wale waliosema nawe, wakinena, Baba yako alilifanya zito kongwa letu, lakini wewe tufanyie jepesi; uwaambie hivi, Kidole changu cha mwisho ni kinene kuliko kiuno cha baba yangu.
The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
11
Basi kama baba yangu aliwatwika kongwa zito, mimi nitaongeza kongwa lenu; baba yangu akiwapiga kwa mijeledi, lakini mimi nitawapiga kwa nge.
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
12
Basi Yeroboamu na watu wote wakamjia Rehoboamu siku ya tatu, kama mfalme alivyoamuru, akisema, Mnirudie siku ya tatu.
After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
13
Mfalme akawajibu kwa ukali; mfalme Rehoboamu akaliacha shauri la wazee, akasema nao kwa shauri la vijana,
And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders
14
akinena, Baba yangu aliwafanyia kongwa zito, nami nitawaongezea; baba yangu aliwapiga kwa mijeledi, lakini mimi nitawapiga kwa nge.
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
15
Basi mfalme hakuwasikia wale watu; maana jambo hili lilitoka kwa Mungu, ili alithibitishe neno lake alilomwambia Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati kwa mkono wa Ahiya Mshiloni.
So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16
Basi Israeli wote walipoona ya kuwa mfalme hawasikilizi, watu wakamjibu mfalme, wakasema, Tuna sehemu gani katika Daudi? Wala hatuna urithi katika mwana wa Yese; nendeni zenu hemani kwenu, enyi Israeli, kila mtu; sasa itunze nyumba yako mwenyewe, Daudi. Basi wakaenda zao Israeli wote hemani kwao.
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home,
17
Lakini kwa habari za wana wa Israeli waliokaa katika miji ya Yuda, Rehoboamu alitawala juu yao.
but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
18
Ndipo mfalme Rehoboamu akamtuma Adoramu, msimamizi wa shokoa; nao wana wa Israeli wakamtupia mawe, hata akafa. Mfalme Rehoboamu akafanya haraka kupanda garini mwake, ili akimbilie Yerusalemu.
Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
19
Hivyo Israeli wakaasi juu ya nyumba ya Daudi, hata leo. </p>
So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.