1
Yoshua, mwana wa Nuni, akawatuma watu wawili kutoka Shitimu kwa siri, ili kupeleleza, akawaambia, Enendeni mkaitazame nchi hii, na Yeriko. Wakaenda wakafika nyumbani kwa kahaba mmoja jina lake aliitwa Rahabu, wakalala huko.
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2
Mfalme wa Yeriko akaambiwa, kusema, Tazama, watu wawili wa wana wa Israeli wameingia humu leo usiku, ili kuipeleleza nchi.
And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”
3
Mfalme wa Yeriko akatuma watu kwa Rahabu, akasema, Watoe watu wale waliokuja kwako, walioingia ndani ya nyumba yako, maana wamekuja ili kuipeleleza nchi.
So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4
Yule mwanamke akawatwaa wale watu wawili, akawaficha, akasema, Naam, wale watu walikuja kwangu, lakini sikujua walikotoka;
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
5
ikawa kama wakati wa kufungwa lango la mji, kulipokuwa giza, watu wale wakatoka, wala sijui walikokwenda; wafuateni upesi, maana mtawapata.
At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!”
6
Lakini yeye alikuwa amewapandisha darini, akawaficha kwa mabua ya kitani, aliyokuwa ameyatandika juu ya dari.
(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)
7
Basi hao watu wakawafuata kwa njia iendayo Yordani mpaka vivukoni; na mara wale watu waliowafuatia walipokwisha kutoka, wakalifunga lango.
So the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.
8
Tena kabla hawajalala akawaendea juu darini,
Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof
9
akawaambia wale wanaume, Mimi najua ya kuwa Bwana amewapa ninyi nchi hii, na ya kuwa hofu imetuangukia mbele yenu, na ya kuwa wenyeji wote wa nchi wanayeyuka mbele yenu.
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
10
Maana tumesikia jinsi Bwana alivyoyakausha maji ya bahari ya Shamu mbele yenu, hapo mlipotoka Misri, tena mambo hayo mliyowatendea wafalme wawili wa Waamori waliokuwa huko ng'ambo ya Yordani, yaani, Sihoni na Ogu, mliowaangamiza kabisa.
For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction.
11
Na mara tuliposikia hayo mioyo yetu iliyeyuka, wala haukusalia ujasiri wo wote katika mtu awaye yote, kwa sababu yenu; kwa kuwa Bwana, Mungu wenu, yeye ndiye Mungu, katika mbingu juu na katika nchi chini.
When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.
12
Basi sasa, nawasihi, niapieni kwa Bwana, kwa kuwa nimewatendea ihisani, ya kwamba ninyi nanyi mtaitendea ihisani nyumba ya baba yangu; tena nipeni alama ya uaminifu;
Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
13
ya kwamba mtawaponya hai baba yangu na mama yangu, na ndugu zangu wanaume na wanawake, na vitu vyote walivyo navyo, na kutuokoa roho zetu na kufa.
that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.”
14
Wale wanaume wakamwambia, Uhai wetu badala ya uhai wenu, ikiwa hamwitangazi habari ya shughuli yetu hii; kisha itakuwa, wakati Bwana atakapotupa nchi hii, tutakutendea kwa ihisani na uaminifu.
“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”
15
Ndipo akawashusha kwa kamba dirishani, maana nyumba yake ilikuwa katika ukuta wa mji; naye alikaa ukutani.
Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.
16
Akawaambia, Enendeni zenu mlimani, wale wanaowafuatia wasije wakawapata; mkajifiche huko siku tatu hata wao wanaowafuatia watakaporudi; kisha enendeni zenu.
“Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.”
17
Wale wanaume wakamwambia, Sisi tunataka tusiwe na hatia kwa ajili ya kiapo hiki ulichotuapisha.
The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear
18
Angalia, tutakapoingia katika nchi hii, funga kamba hii nyekundu katika dirisha hili ulilotutelemshia; nawe uwakusanye kwako nyumbani mwako, baba yako, na mama yako, na ndugu zako, na watu wote wa nyumba ya baba yako.
unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.
19
Itakuwa mtu awaye yote atakayetoka katika mlango wa nyumba yako kwenda njiani, damu yake itakuwa juu ya kichwa chake mwenyewe, na sisi tutakuwa hatuna hatia; na mtu atakayekuwa ndani ya nyumba yako damu yake itakuwa juu ya vichwa vyetu, mkono wa mtu ukimpata.
If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads.
20
Lakini wewe ukitangaza habari yetu hii, ndipo tutakuwa hatuna hatia, katika kiapo hiki ulichotuapisha.
And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21
Naye akasema, Na iwe hivyo kama yalivyo maneno yenu. Akawatoa, nao wakaenda zao; naye akaifunga ile kamba nyekundu dirishani
“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22
Watu hao wakaenda, wakafika mlimani, wakakaa huko siku tatu, hata wale waliowafuatia walipokuwa wamerudi; na wale waliowafuatia wakawafuatia katika njia ile yote, lakini hawakuwaona.
So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road.
23
Kisha wale watu wakarudi, wakatelemka mlimani, wakavuka, wakamwendea Yoshua, mwana wa Nuni, nao wakamwambia habari za mambo yote yaliyowapata.
Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them.
24
Wakamwambia Yoshua, Hakika Bwana ameitia nchi yote katika mikono yetu; tena zaidi ya hayo wenyeji wa nchi wanayeyuka mbele yetu.
“The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”