1
Kisha ikawa hapo wafalme wote waliokaa ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani, hapo penye nchi ya vilima, na katika Shefela, na katika upande wa pwani yote ya bahari kubwa kuikabili Lebanoni, yaani, huyo Mhiti, na Mwamori, na Mkanaani, na Mperizi, na Mhivi, na Myebusi, waliposikia habari ya mambo hayo;
Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—
2
ndipo walipojikutanisha pamoja wenyewe kwa wenyewe, ili kupigana na Yoshua, na hao Israeli, kwa nia moja.
they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3
Lakini wenyeji wa Gibeoni waliposikia habari ya hayo yote Yoshua aliyokuwa amewatenda watu wa Yeriko, na wa Ai,
But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4
wao wakatenda kwa hila, nao wakaenda na kujifanya kama ndio wajumbe, wakaenda na magunia makuukuu juu ya punda zao, na viriba vya mvinyo vilivyokuwa vikuukuu vilivyoraruka-raruka, na kutiwa viraka;
acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
5
na viatu vilivyotoboka na kushonwa-shonwa katika miguu yao, na mavao makuukuu waliyokuwa wanavaa; tena mkate wote wa chakula chao ulikuwa umekauka na kuingia koga.
They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.
6
Nao wakamwendea Yoshua hata maragoni huko Gilgali, nao wakamwambia yeye na watu wa Israeli, Sisi tumetoka nchi ya mbali sana; basi kwa hiyo fanyeni agano pamoja nasi.
They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”
7
Basi watu wa Israeli wakawaambia hao Wahivi, Labda mwakaa kati yetu; nasi tutawezaje kufanya agano nanyi?
But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”
8
Nao wakamwambia Yoshua, Sisi tu watumishi wako. Yoshua akawauliza, Ninyi ni nani? Nanyi mwatoka wapi?
“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”
9
Nao wakamwambia, Sisi watumishi wako twatoka nchi iliyo mbali sana, kwa sababu ya jina la Bwana, Mungu wako; kwa kuwa sisi tumesikia sifa zake, na habari ya hayo yote aliyofanya huko Misri,
“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,
10
na habari ya hayo yote aliyowatenda wale wafalme wawili wa Waamori, waliokuwa huko ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani, maana huyo Sihoni, mfalme wa Heshboni, na Ogu, mfalme wa Bashani, aliyekuwa huko Ashtarothi.
and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
11
Kisha wazee wetu, na wenyeji wote wa nchi yetu, walinena nasi na kutuambia, Chukueni vyakula mkononi mwenu kwa ajili ya safari, mwende mkawalaki watu hao, na kuwaambia, Sisi tu watumishi wenu; basi sasa fanyeni agano nasi.
So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’
12
Huu mkate wetu tuliutwaa ukali moto katika nyumba zetu, siku hiyo tuliyotoka kuja kwenu, uwe chakula chetu; lakini sasa, tazama, umekauka, na kuingia koga;
This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, it is now dry and moldy.
13
na viriba vyetu hivi, tulivyovitia divai, vilikuwa ni vipya; sasa, tazama, vimeraruka-raruka; na haya mavazi yetu na viatu vyetu vimekuwa vikuukuu kwa vile tulivyokuja safari ya mbali sana.
These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
14
Basi hao watu wakatwaa katika vyakula vyao, wala wasitake shauri kinywani mwa Bwana.
Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
15
Naye Yoshua akafanya amani pamoja nao, na kufanya agano nao, ili kwamba waachwe hai; na wakuu wa mkutano wakawaapia.
And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
16
Kisha ikawa, mwisho wa siku ya tatu baada ya kufanya hilo agano nao, walisikia habari ya kuwa watu hao ni jirani zao, na ya kwamba waliketi kati yao.
Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.
17
Kisha wana wa Israeli walisafiri, wakaifikilia miji ya watu hao siku ya tatu. Basi miji ya watu hao ilikuwa ni hii, Gibeoni, na Kefira, na Beerothi, na Kiriath-yearimu.
So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18
Wana wa Israeli hawakuwapiga, kwa sababu wakuu wa mkutano walikuwa wamekwisha kuwaapia kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. Nao mkutano wote wakawanung'unikia hao wakuu.
But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.
19
Lakini wakuu wote waliwaambia mkutano wote, Sisi tumewaapia kwa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli; basi sasa hatuwezi kuwagusa watu hawa.
All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
20
Tutawafanyia neno hili, kisha tutawaacha wawe hai; hasira isije juu yetu, kwa ajili ya hicho kiapo tulichowaapia.
This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
21
Wakuu waliwaambia, Waacheni wawe hai; basi wakawa wenye kupasua kuni, na wenye kuteka maji, kwa ajili ya mkutano wote; vile vile kama hao wakuu walivyowaambia.
They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.
22
Basi Yoshua akawaita, akanena nao, na kuwaambia, Mbona ninyi mmetudanganya, huku mkisema, Sisi tu mbali sana na ninyi; nanyi kumbe! Mwakaa kati yetu?
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?
23
Basi sasa mmelaaniwa kisha hatakosekana kuwapo mtu wa kwenu aliye mtumwa, wenye kupasua kuni, na wenye kuteka maji, kwa ajili ya nyumba ya Mungu wangu.
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24
Nao wakamjibu Yoshua, na kusema, Ni kwa sababu ya sisi watumishi wako kuambiwa hakika, jinsi huyo Bwana, Mungu wako alivyomwamuru mtumishi wake Musa kuwapa ninyi nchi hii yote, na kuwaangamiza wenyeji wote wa nchi hii watoke mbele zenu; kwa sababu hii tuliogopa mno kwa ajili ya uhai wetu kwa sababu yenu, nasi tumefanya neno hili.
The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
25
Basi sasa, tazama, sisi tu mkononi mwako; basi kama uonavyo kuwa ni vyema na haki kwako wewe kututenda, tutende vivyo.
Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
26
Naye akawafanyia hivyo, na kuwaokoa na mkono wa wana wa Israeli, ili wasiwaue.
So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.
27
Siku iyo hiyo Yoshua akawafanya kuwa ni wenye kupasua kuni, na wenye kuteka maji, kwa ajili ya mkutano, na kwa ajili ya madhabahu ya Bwana, hata siku hii ya leo, katika mahali hapo atakapopachagua.
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.