1
Utokapo kwenda vitani kupigana na adui zako, na kuona farasi, na magari, na watu wengi kuliko wewe, usiwaogope; kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wako, yu pamoja nawe, aliyekukweza kutoka nchi ya Misri.
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
2
Na iwe, msongeapo mapiganoni, kuhani na akaribie na kusema na watu,
When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army,
3
awaambie, Sikizeni, enyi Israeli, hivi leo mwasongea mapiganoni juu ya adui zenu mioyo yenu na isizime; msiche, wala msiteteme, wala msiingiwe na hofu kwa ajili ya wao;
saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them.
4
kwa maana Bwana, Mungu wenu, ndiye awaandamaye kwenda kuwapigania juu ya adui zenu, ili kuwaokoa ninyi.
For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”
5
Na maakida na waseme na watu, na kuwaambia, Ni mtu gani aliye hapa aliyejenga nyumba mpya, wala hajaiweka wakfu? Aende akarudi nyumbani kwake, asije akafa mapiganoni, ikawekwa wakfu na mtu mwingine.
Furthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
6
Ni mtu gani aliye hapa aliyepanda shamba la mizabibu, wala hajatumia matunda yake? Aende akarudi nyumbani kwake asije akafa mapiganoni, yakatumiwa na mtu mwingine matunda yake.
Has any man planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy its fruit? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
7
Ni mtu gani aliye hapa aliyemposa mke wala hajaoa? Aende akarudi nyumbani kwake asije akafa mapiganoni, huyo mwanamke akaolewa na mume mwingine.
Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”
8
Tena maakida na waseme zaidi na watu, wawaambie, Ni mtu gani aliye hapa tena mwenye hofu na moyo mnyonge? Aende akarudi nyumbani kwake, isije mioyo ya nduguze ikayeyuka mfano wa moyo wake.
Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”
9
Itakuwa hapo watakapokwisha wale maakida kusema na watu, na waweke majemadari wa majeshi juu ya watu.
When the officers have finished addressing the army, they are to appoint commanders to lead it.
10
Utakaposongea karibu ya mji kwenda kupigana juu yake, ndipo utakapowapigia ukelele wa amani.
When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace.
11
Itakuwa utakapokujibu kwa amani, na kukufungulia, ndipo watu wote watakaoonekana humo watakufanyia kazi ya shokoa, na kukutumikia.
If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.
12
Na kwamba hautaki kufanya amani nawe, lakini utafanya vita juu yako, ndipo uuhusuru;
But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.
13
na Bwana, Mungu wako, autiapo mkononi mwako, mpige kila mume aliyemo kwa makali ya upanga;
When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword.
14
lakini wanawake na watoto, na wanyama wa miji, na vilivyo mjini vyote, navyo ni nyara zake zote, uvitwae viwe mateka kwako; nawe utakula nyara za adui zako alizokupa Bwana, Mungu wako.
But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
15
Utaifanyia vivyo miji yote iliyo mbali sana nawe, isiyokuwa miji ya mataifa haya.
This is how you are to treat all the cities that are far away from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.
16
Lakini katika miji ya mataifa haya akupayo Bwana, Mungu wako, kuwa urithi, usihifadhi kuwa hai kitu cho chote kipumzikacho;
However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.
17
lakini uwaangamize kabisa, Mhiti, na Mwamori, na Mkanaani, na Mperizi, na Mhivi, na Myebusi, kama alivyokuamuru Bwana, Mungu wako;
For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,
18
wasije wakawafunza kufanya mfano wa machukizo yao yote, waliyoifanyia miungu yao; hivyo itakuwa ni makosa juu ya Bwana, Mungu wenu.
so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.
19
Wewe utakapohusuru mji siku nyingi kwa kufanya vita juu yake, upate kuutwaa, usiangamize miti yake kwa kupeleka shoka juu yake, kwani utaweza kula matunda yake; wala usiiteme, kwa maana huo mti wa kondeni, je! Ni mtu, hata ukauzuie?
When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them?
20
Ila miti uijuayo si miti ya kuliwa iangamize, na kuitema; ukajenge maburuji juu ya mji ufanyao vita juu yako, hata uanguke.
But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls.