1
Yoshua akaondoka asubuhi na mapema, nao wakatoka Shitimu, wakafika mto wa Yordani, yeye na wana wa Israeli wote, wakakaa hapo kabla ya kuvuka.
Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
2
Ikawa baada ya siku tatu, maakida wakapita katikati ya marago,
After three days the officers went through the camp
3
wakawaamuru watu wote wakisema, Mtakapoliona sanduku la agano la Bwana, Mungu wenu, na makuhani Walawi wakilichukua, ndipo mtakapoondoka hapa mlipo na kulifuata.
and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
4
Lakini, na iwe nafasi kati ya ninyi na lile sanduku, kama dhiraa elfu mbili kiasi chake; msilikaribie mpate kuijua njia ambayo hamna budi kuiendea; kwa maana hamjapita njia hii bado.
But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”
5
Yoshua akawaambia watu, Jitakaseni; maana kesho Bwana atatenda mambo ya ajabu kati yenu.
Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
6
Kisha Yoshua akawaambia makuhani, akasema, Liinueni sanduku la agano, mkavuke mbele ya hao watu. Wakaliinua sanduku la agano, wakatangulia mbele ya watu.
And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.
7
Bwana akamwambia Yoshua, Hivi leo nitaanza kukutukuza mbele ya Israeli wote, wapate kujua ya kuwa mimi nitakuwa pamoja na wewe, kama nilivyokuwa pamoja na Musa.
Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.
8
Nawe uwaamuru hao makuhani walichukuao sanduku la agano, ukawaambie, Mtakapofika ukingo wa maji ya Yordani, simameni katika Yordani.
Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”
9
Basi Yoshua akawaambia wana wa Israeli, Njoni huku, mkayasikie maneno ya Bwana, Mungu wenu.
So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”
10
Yoshua akasema, Kwa jambo hili mtajua ya kuwa Mungu aliye hai yu kati yenu, na ya kuwa hatakosa kuwatoa mbele yenu Mkanaani, na Mhiti, na Mhivi, na Mperizi, na Mgirgashi, na Mwamori, na Myebusi.
He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
11
Tazama, sanduku la agano la Bwana wa dunia yote linavuka mbele yenu na kuingia Yordani.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.
12
Basi sasa twaeni watu kumi na wawili katika kabila za Israeli, kila kabila mtu mmoja.
Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
13
Itakuwa, wakati nyayo za makuhani walichukuao sanduku la Bwana, Bwana wa dunia yote, zitakaposimama katika maji ya Yordani, hayo maji ya Yordani yatatindika, maji yale yashukayo kutoka juu; nayo yatasimama kama chuguu.
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”
14
Hata ikawa, hao watu walipotoka katika hema zao, ili kuvuka Yordani, makuhani waliolichukua sanduku la agano wakatangulia mbele ya watu,
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
15
basi hao waliolichukua hilo sanduku walipofika Yordani, na nyayo za makuhani waliolichukua sanduku zilipotiwa katika maji ya ukingoni, (maana Yordani hujaa hata kingo zake na kufurika wakati wote wa mavuno),
Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
16
ndipo hayo maji yaliyoshuka kutoka juu yakasimama, yakainuka, yakawa chuguu, mbali sana, huko Adamu, mji ule ulio karibu na Sarethani, na maji yale yaliyotelemkia bahari ya Araba, yaani Bahari ya Chumvi, yakatindika kabisa; watu wakavuka kukabili Yeriko.
the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
17
Na hao makuhani waliolichukua sanduku la agano la Bwana wakasimama imara mahali pakavu katikati ya Yordani; Israeli wote wakavuka katika nchi kavu, hata taifa lile lote likaisha kuvuka Yordani.
The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.