2 Kings 17

1 In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz over Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria nine years.

1 Katika mwaka wa kumi na mbili wa utawala wa Ahazi mfalme wa Yuda, Hoshea mwana wa Ela akawa mfalme wa Israeli katika Samaria, akatawala kwa miaka tisa.

2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

2 Akafanya maovu machoni pa Bwana, lakini si kama wafalme wengine wa Israeli waliomtangulia.

3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.

3 Mfalme Shalmanesa wa Ashuru akainuka dhidi ya Mfalme Hoshea, ambaye hapo mbeleni alikuwa mtumwa wake na kumlipa ushuru.

4 But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King So of Egypt, and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.

4 Lakini mfalme wa Ashuru akagundua kuwa Hoshea alikuwa msaliti, kwa kuwa alikuwa ametuma wajumbe kwa So mfalme wa Misri, naye hakuendelea kulipa ushuru kwa mfalme wa Ashuru tena kama alivyokuwa anafanya kila mwaka. Kwa hiyo Shalmanesa akamkamata na kumtia gerezani.

5 Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.

5 Mfalme wa Ashuru akaishambulia nchi yote, akapigana dhidi ya Samaria na kuizunguka kwa majeshi miaka mitatu.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

6 Katika mwaka wa tisa wa Hoshea, mfalme wa Ashuru akaiteka Samaria na kuwahamishia Waisraeli huko Ashuru. Akawaweka huko Hala, na Gozani karibu na Mto Habori, na katika miji ya Wamedi.

7 All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods

7 Yote haya yalitokea kwa sababu Waisraeli walikuwa wametenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana Mungu wao, ambaye alikuwa amewapandisha kutoka Misri akiwatoa chini ya utawala wa nguvu wa Farao mfalme wa Misri. Waliabudu miungu mingine

8 and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.

8 na kufuata desturi za mataifa ambayo Bwana alikuwa ameyafukuza mbele yao, pamoja na desturi ambazo wafalme wa Israeli walizileta.

9 The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.

9 Waisraeli wakafanya vitu kwa siri dhidi ya Bwana Mungu wao, ambavyo havikuwa sawa. Kuanzia kwenye mnara wa ulinzi hadi kwenye mji wenye maboma walijijengea wenyewe mahali pa juu pa kuabudia miungu katika miji yao yote.

10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

10 Wakaweka mawe ya kuabudiwa na nguzo za Ashera juu ya kila kilima kirefu na chini ya kila mti uliotanda.

11 They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger.

11 Wakafukiza uvumba kila mahali palipoinuka, kama yalivyofanya yale mataifa ambayo Bwana alikuwa ameyafukuza mbele yao. Wakafanya mambo maovu ambayo yalimghadhibisha Bwana.

12 They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”

12 Wakaabudu sanamu, ingawa Bwana alikuwa amesema, “Msifanye mambo haya.”

13 Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.”

13 Bwana akawaonya Israeli na Yuda kupitia kwa manabii na waonaji wake wote: “Acheni njia zenu mbaya. Shikeni amri na maagizo yangu, kufuatana na sheria yangu yote niliyowaagiza baba zenu kuitii ambayo niliileta kwenu kupitia kwa watumishi wangu manabii.”

14 But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

14 Lakini hawakusikiliza, walikuwa na shingo ngumu kama baba zao, ambao hawakumtegemea Bwana Mungu wao.

15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

15 Walizikataa amri zake, na agano alilokuwa amelifanya na baba zao, na maonyo aliyokuwa amewapa. Wakafuata sanamu zisizofaa, nao wenyewe wakawa hawafai. Wakayaiga mataifa yaliyowazunguka, ingawa Bwana alikuwa amewaonya akiwaambia, “Msifanye kama wanavyofanya,” nao wakafanya mambo ambayo Bwana alikuwa amewakataza wasifanye.

16 They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

16 Wakayaacha maagizo yote ya Bwana Mungu wao na kujitengenezea sanamu mbili, walizozisubu katika sura ya ndama na nguzo ya Ashera. Wakasujudia mianga yote ya angani, na wakamtumikia Baali.

17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

17 Wakawatoa kafara wana wao na mabinti zao katika moto. Wakafanya uaguzi na uchawi, nao wakajiuza wenyewe katika kutenda uovu machoni pa Bwana, wakamghadhibisha.

18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,

18 Basi Bwana akawakasirikia sana Israeli na kuwaondoa kwenye uwepo wake. Ni kabila la Yuda tu lililobaki;

19 and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.

19 na hata hivyo nao Yuda hawakuzishika amri za Bwana Mungu wao. Wakafuata desturi ambazo Israeli walikuwa wamezianzisha.

20 So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

20 Kwa hiyo Bwana aliwakataa watu wote wa Israeli; akawatesa na kuwaachia katika mikono ya wateka nyara hadi alipowaondoa kutoka kwenye uwepo wake.

21 When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.

21 Alipokwisha kuwatenga Israeli mbali na nyumba ya Daudi, wakamfanya Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati kuwa mfalme wao. Yeroboamu akawashawishi Israeli waache kumfuata Bwana na akawasababisha kutenda dhambi kuu.

22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed and did not turn away from them.

22 Nao Israeli wakadumu katika dhambi zote za Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati, nao hawakuziacha

23 Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, where they are to this day.

23 hadi Bwana alipowaondoa kutoka kwenye uwepo wake, kama vile alivyokuwa ameonya kupitia watumishi wake wote manabii. Hivyo watu wa Israeli wakaondolewa kutoka nchi yao kwenda uhamishoni Ashuru, nao wako huko mpaka sasa.

24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

24 Mfalme wa Ashuru akawaleta watu kutoka Babeli, Kutha, Ava, Hamathi na Sefarvaimu na kuwaweka katika miji ya Samaria badala ya Waisraeli. Wakaimiliki Samaria na kuishi katika miji yake.

25 Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

25 Wakati walianza kuishi humo, hawakumwabudu Bwana, kwa hiyo akatuma simba miongoni mwao, wakawaua baadhi ya watu.

26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.”

26 Habari ikapelekwa kwa mfalme wa Ashuru, kusema: “Watu uliowahamisha na kuwaweka katika miji ya Samaria hawajui kile Mungu wa nchi hiyo anachokitaka. Ametuma simba miongoni mwao, ambao wanawaua, kwa sababu watu hawajui anachokitaka.”

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.”

27 Ndipo mfalme wa Ashuru akaamuru hivi: “Mtwae mmoja wa makuhani uliowachukua mateka kutoka Samaria ili arudi kuishi humo na awafundishe watu kile ambacho Mungu wa nchi anataka.”

28 Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

28 Basi mmoja wa makuhani ambaye alikuwa amepelekwa uhamishoni kutoka Samaria akaja kuishi Betheli na kuwafundisha jinsi ya kumwabudu Bwana.

29 Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places.

29 Hata hivyo, kila kikundi cha taifa lililoletwa Samaria kilitengeneza miungu yao wenyewe katika miji kadhaa mahali walipoishi, nao wakaiweka mahali pa ibada za miungu ambapo watu wa Samaria walikuwa wametengeneza katika mahali pa juu.

30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,

30 Watu kutoka Babeli wakamtengeneza Sukoth-Benothi kuwa mungu wao, watu kutoka Kutha wakamtengeneza Nergali, na watu kutoka Hamathi wakamtengeneza Ashima;

31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

31 Waavi wakatengeneza Nibhazi na Tartaki, nao Wasefarvi wakachoma watoto wao kama kafara kwa Adrameleki na Anameleki, miungu ya Sefarvaimu.

32 So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.

32 Walimwabudu Bwana, lakini pia waliteua aina zote za watu wao ili kuwawakilisha kama makuhani katika mahali pa kuabudia miungu kwenye mahali pa juu pa ibada.

33 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.

33 Walimwabudu Bwana, lakini pia waliitumikia miungu yao kulingana na desturi za mataifa walikotoka.

34 To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

34 Mpaka leo wanashikilia desturi zao za zamani. Hawamwabudu Bwana wala kuzishika hukumu na maagizo, sheria na amri ambazo Bwana aliwapa uzao wa Yakobo, ambaye alimwita Israeli.

35 For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them.

35 Wakati Bwana alipofanya Agano na Waisraeli, aliwaamuru akisema: “Msiiabudu miungu mingine yoyote wala kuisujudia, wala kuitumikia wala kuitolea dhabihu.

36 Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.

36 Bali imewapasa kumwabudu Bwana aliyewapandisha kutoka Misri kwa uwezo wake mkuu na kwa mkono wake ulionyooshwa. Kwake yeye mtasujudu na kwake yeye mtatoa dhabihu.

37 And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.

37 Imewapasa daima kuwa waangalifu kutunza hukumu na maagizo, sheria na amri alizowaandikia. Msiabudu miungu mingine.

38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you. Do not worship other gods,

38 Msisahau agano nililofanya nanyi, wala msiabudu miungu mingine.

39 but worship the LORD your God, and He will deliver you from the hands of all your enemies.”

39 Bali, mtamwabudu Bwana Mungu wenu, kwani yeye ndiye atakayewakomboa kutoka mikononi mwa adui zenu wote.”

40 But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs.

40 Hata hivyo hawakusikiliza, lakini waliendelea na desturi zao za awali.

41 So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

41 Hata wakati watu hawa walipokuwa wanamwabudu Bwana, walikuwa bado wakitumikia sanamu zao. Mpaka leo watoto wao na watoto wa watoto wao wanaendelea kufanya kama baba zao walivyofanya.