1
Basi adui za Yuda na Benyamini, waliposikia ya kuwa wana wa uhamisho wanamjengea Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, hekalu,
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
2
wakamkaribia Zerubabeli, na wakuu wa mbari za mababa, wakawaambia, Na tujenge sisi nasi pamoja nanyi; kwa maana tunamtafuta Mungu wenu kama ninyi, nasi twamtolea dhabihu tangu zamani za Esar-hadoni, mfalme wa Ashuru, aliyetupandisha mpaka hapa.
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
3
Lakini Zerubabeli, na Yoshua, na wakuu wengine wa mbari za mababa katika Israeli, wakawaambia, Ninyi haiwahusu kushirikiana nasi katika kumjengea Mungu wetu nyumba; bali sisi wenyewe peke yetu tutamjengea Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, nyumba, kama mfalme Koreshi, mfalme wa Uajemi, alivyotuamuru.
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”
4
Ndipo watu wa nchi wakaidhoofisha mikono ya watu wa Yuda, wakawasumbua, walipokuwa wakijenga.
Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
5
Wakawaajiri washauri juu yao, ili kuwapinga kusudi lao, siku zote za Koreshi, mfalme wa Uajemi, hata wakati wa kutawala kwake Dario, mfalme wa Uajemi.
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6
Tena, wakati wa kutawala kwake Ahasuero, mwanzo wa kutawala kwake, watu wakaandika mashitaka juu ya wenyeji wa Yuda na Yerusalemu.
At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7
Na tena, katika siku za Artashasta, Mithredathi, na Tabeeli na mabaki ya wenziwe, wakimwandikia Artashasta, mfalme wa Uajemi, salamu za heri; na mwandiko wa waraka huo, ukaandikwa kwa herufi za Kiaramu, na kunenwa kwa lugha ya Kiaramu.
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.
8
Nao Rehumu, Bwana shauri, na Shimshai, mwandishi, wakaandika waraka juu ya Yerusalemu kwa Artashasta, mfalme, kama hivi;
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
9
Rehumu, Bwana shauri, na Shimshai, mwandishi, na mabaki ya wenzao, makadhi wa Kiajemi na madiwani wa Kiajemi; na Waarkewi, Wababeli, Washushani, yaani, Waelami;
From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
10
na mabaki ya mataifa, ambao Asur-bani-pali mkuu, mwenye heshima, aliwavusha, na kuwakalisha katika mji wa Samaria, na mahali penginepo, ng'ambo ya Mto; wakadhalika.
and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.
11
Hii ndiyo nakili ya waraka waliyompelekea mfalme Artashasta;watumishi wako,watu walio ng`ambo ya mto wakadhalika.
(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:
12
Ijulikane kwa mfalme ya kuwa Wayahudi, waliokwea kutoka kwako, wamefika kwetu Yerusalemu; nao wanaujenga ule mji mwasi, mbaya; wamemaliza kuta zake, na kuitengeneza misingi yake.
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.
13
Basi, ijulikane kwa mfalme, ya kuwa mji huu ukijengwa, na kuta zake zikimalizika, hawatatoa kodi, wala ada, wala ushuru, na mwisho wake wafalme watapata hasara.
Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
14
Na sisi, kwa kuwa tunakula chumvi ya nyumba ya mfalme, wala si wajibu wetu kumwona mfalme akivunjiwa heshima, basi tumetuma watu na kumwarifu mfalme.
Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king
15
Ili habari zitafutwe katika kitabu cha tarehe za baba zako; ndivyo utakavyopata kujua kwa kitabu cha tarehe ya kuwa mji huo ni mji mwasi, wenye kuwadhuru wafalme, na maliwali, na ya kuwa wenyeji wake wamefanya fitina katika mji huo zamani; ndiyo sababu mji huo ukaangamizwa.
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
16
Twamwarifu mfalme ya kuwa mji huo ukijengwa, na kuta zake zikimalizika, hutakuwa na sehemu ya nchi ng'ambo ya Mto.
We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.
17
Ndipo mfalme akapeleka majibu;Kwa Rehumu,Bwana shauri, na Shimshai,mwandishi na wenzao wengine waliokaa katika Samaria,na penginepo ng`ambo ya mto, Salamu; wakadharika.
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
18
Ule waraka mlionipelekea umesomwa mbele yangu, nami nikaelewa na maana yake.
The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.
19
Nikatoa amri, na watu wametafuta habari; ikaonekana ya kuwa mji huu zamani umefanya fitina juu ya wafalme, na ya kuwa uasi na fitina zimefanyika ndani yake.
I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.
20
Tena walikuwako wafalme wakuu juu ya Yerusalemu, waliotawala nchi yote iliyo ng'ambo ya Mto; wakapewa kodi, na ada, na ushuru.
And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
21
Sasa toeni amri kuwakomesha watu hawa kazi yao, mji huu usijengwe, hata mimi nitakapotoa amri.
Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.
22
Tena jihadharini, msilegee katika jambo hili; kwa nini madhara yazidi, na wafalme wapate hasara?
See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
23
Hata nakala ya waraka huo wa mfalme Artashasta uliposomwa mbele ya Rehumu, Bwana shauri, na Shimshai, mwandishi, na wenzao, wakaenda Yerusalemu upesi, kwa Wayahudi, wakawakomesha kwa nguvu na kwa kuwashurutisha.
When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
24
Hivyo kazi ya nyumba ya Mungu iliyoko Yerusalemu ikakoma; nayo ikakoma hata mwaka wa pili wa kutawala kwake Dario, mfalme wa Uajemi.
Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.