1
Katika mwaka wa thelathini na sita wa kutawala kwake Asa, Baasha mfalme wa Israeli akapanda juu ya Yuda, akaujenga Rama, ili asimwache mtu ye yote kutoka wala kuingia kwa Asa mfalme wa Yuda.
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
2
Ndipo Asa akatoa fedha na dhahabu katika hazina za nyumba ya Bwana, na nyumba ya mfalme, akampelekea Ben-hadadi mfalme wa Shamu, aliyekaa Dameski, akasema,
So Asa withdrew the silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent it with this message to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus:
3
Kwangu na kwako na liwe agano kama lilivyokuwa kwa baba yangu na baba yako; angalia, nimekuletea fedha na dhahabu; basi, uvunje agano lako na Baasha, mfalme wa Israeli, ili aniondokee mimi.
“Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”
4
Naye Ben-hadadi akamsikiliza mfalme Asa, akawapeleka maakida wa majeshi yake juu ya miji ya Israeli; wakapiga Iyoni, na Dani, na Abel-maimu, na miji ya hazina yote ya Naftali.
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5
Ikawa Baasha aliposikia habari hiyo, akaacha kuujenga Rama, akaikomesha kazi yake.
When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work.
6
Ndipo mfalme Asa akawatwaa Yuda wote; nao wakayachukua mawe ya Rama, na miti yake, aliyoijengea Baasha; naye akajenga kwa vitu hivyo Geba na Mispa.
Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.
7
Wakati ule Hanani mwonaji akamwendea Asa mfalme wa Yuda, akamwambia, Kwa kuwa umemtegemea mfalme wa Shamu, wala hukumtegemea Bwana, Mungu wako, kwa hiyo limeokoka jeshi la mfalme wa Shamu mkononi mwako.
At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.
8
Je! Hao Wakushi na Walubi hawakuwa jeshi kubwa mno, wenye magari na wapanda farasi wengi sana? Lakini, kwa kuwa ulimtegemea Bwana, aliwatia mkononi mwako.
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.
9
Kwa maana macho ya Bwana hukimbia-kimbia duniani mwote, ili ajionyeshe mwenye nguvu kwa ajili ya hao, waliokamilika moyo kuelekea kwake. Kwa hayo umetenda upumbavu; kwani tangu sasa utakuwa na vita.
For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
10
Ndipo Asa akamkasirikia mwonaji, akamtia nyumbani mwa mkatale; maana amemghadhibikia kwa sababu ya neno hilo. Na Asa akawaonea baadhi ya watu wakati ule ule.
Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
11
Na tazama, mambo yake Asa, ya kwanza na ya mwisho, angalia, yameandikwa katika kitabu cha wafalme wa Yuda na Israeli.
Now the acts of Asa, from beginning to end, are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
12
Akashikwa Asa na ugonjwa wa miguu katika mwaka wa thelathini na kenda wa kumiliki kwake; ugonjwa wake ukazidi sana; lakini hakumtafuta Bwana katika ugonjwa wake, bali waganga.
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.
13
Asa akalala na babaze, akafa katika mwaka wa arobaini na mmoja wa kumiliki kwake.
So in the forty-first year of his reign, Asa died and rested with his fathers.
14
Wakamzika katika makaburi yake mwenyewe, aliyojichimbia katika mji wa Daudi, wakamlaza juu ya kitanda kilichojazwa manukato, na kila namna ya machanganyiko ya hao mafundi wa dawa; wakamfukizia mafukizo makuu sana.</p>
And he was buried in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier that was full of spices and various blended perfumes; then they made a great fire in his honor.