Numbers 22

1 Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.

1 Kisha Waisraeli wakasafiri katika tambarare za Moabu na kupiga kambi kando ya Mto Yordani, ngʼambo ya Yeriko.

2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

2 Basi Balaki mwana wa Sipori, aliona mambo yale yote ambayo Israeli aliwatendea Waamori,

3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.

3 Moabu aliogopa, kwa kuwa walikuwepo watu wengi sana. Hakika, Moabu alijawa na hofu kubwa kwa sababu ya Waisraeli.

4 So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,

4 Wamoabu wakawaambia wazee wa Midiani, “Umati huu wa watu unakwenda kuramba kila kitu kinachotuzunguka, kama maksai arambavyo majani ya shambani.” Kwa hiyo Balaki mwana wa Sipori, ambaye alikuwa mfalme wa Moabu wakati huo,

5 he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.

5 akatuma wajumbe kwenda kumwita Balaamu mwana wa Beori, ambaye alikuwa huko Pethori, karibu na Mto Frati, katika nchi yake ya kuzaliwa. Balaki akasema: “Taifa limekuja kutoka Misri, nao wamefunika uso wa nchi, nao wametua karibu nami.

6 So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

6 Sasa uje kuwalaani watu hawa, kwa kuwa wana nguvu sana kuniliko. Kisha huenda nikaweza kuwashinda na kuwatoa nje ya nchi. Kwa kuwa ninajua kwamba, wale unaowabariki wanabarikiwa na wale unaowalaani wanalaaniwa.”

7 The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.

7 Wazee wa Moabu na wa Midiani wakaondoka, wakiwa wamechukua ada ya uaguzi. Walipokwenda kwa Balaamu, wakamweleza kile Balaki alikuwa amesema.

8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

8 Balaamu akawaambia, “Mlale hapa usiku huu, nami nitawaletea jibu lile Bwana atakalonipa.” Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakakaa naye.

9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

9 Mungu akamjia Balaamu na kumuuliza, “Watu gani hawa walio pamoja nawe?”

10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

10 Balaamu akamwambia Mungu, “Balaki mwana wa Sipori, mfalme wa Moabu, alinipelekea ujumbe huu:

11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”

11 ‘Taifa ambalo limekuja kutoka Misri limefunika uso wa nchi. Sasa uje unilaanie hao watu. Kisha huenda nitaweza kupigana nao na kuwafukuza.’”

12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

12 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Usiende pamoja nao. Hupaswi kulaani watu hao, kwa kuwa wamebarikiwa.”

13 So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

13 Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaamu akaamka, akawaambia wakuu wa Balaki, “Rudini katika nchi yenu, kwa kuwa Bwana amenikataza nisiende pamoja nanyi.”

14 And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

14 Kwa hiyo wakuu wa Moabu wakarudi kwa Balaki na kumwambia, “Balaamu amekataa kuja pamoja nasi.”

15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.

15 Kisha Balaki akatuma wakuu wengine, wengi zaidi na wanaoheshimiwa zaidi kuliko wale wa kwanza.

16 They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

16 Wakafika kwa Balaamu na kumwambia: “Balaki mwana wa Sipori amesema hivi: Usiruhusu kitu chochote kikuzuie kuja kwangu,

17 for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

17 kwa sababu nitakulipa vizuri sana na kufanya lolote usemalo. Njoo unilaanie watu hawa.”

18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

18 Lakini Balaamu akawajibu, “Hata kama Balaki angenipa jumba lake la kifalme likiwa limejazwa fedha na dhahabu, singeweza kufanya kitu chochote kikubwa au kidogo ili kutenda kitu nje ya agizo la Bwana Mungu wangu.

19 So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

19 Mlale hapa usiku huu kama wale wengine walivyofanya, nami nitatafuta ni nini kingine Bwana atakachoniambia.”

20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”

20 Usiku ule Bwana akamjia Balaamu na kumwambia, “Kwa kuwa watu hawa wamekuja kukuita wewe, nenda nao, lakini ufanye tu lile nitakalokuambia.”

21 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

21 Balaamu akaamka asubuhi, akatandika punda wake akaenda pamoja na wakuu wa Moabu.

22 Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

22 Lakini Mungu alikasirika sana alipokwenda, naye malaika wa Bwana akasimama barabarani kumpinga. Balaamu alikuwa amepanda punda wake, na watumishi wake wawili walikuwa pamoja naye.

23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

23 Wakati punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana akiwa amesimama barabarani akiwa na upanga uliofutwa mkononi mwake, punda akageukia upande kuelekea shambani. Balaamu akampiga ili amrudishe barabarani.

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.

24 Ndipo malaika wa Bwana akasimama katika njia nyembamba iliyo kati ya mashamba mawili ya mizabibu, yakiwa na kuta pande zote mbili.

25 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.

25 Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alijisukumiza karibu na ukuta, na kugandamiza mguu wa Balaamu ukutani. Ndipo Balaamu akampiga tena punda.

26 And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.

26 Kisha malaika wa Bwana akaendelea mbele na kusimama mahali pembamba ambapo hapakuwepo nafasi ya kugeuka, upande wa kulia wala wa kushoto.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

27 Punda alipomwona malaika wa Bwana, alilala chini Balaamu angali amempanda, naye Balaamu akakasirika na kumpiga kwa fimbo yake.

28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

28 Kisha Bwana akakifungua kinywa cha punda, akamwambia Balaamu, “Nimekutendea nini kinachokufanya unipige mara hizi tatu?”

29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

29 Balaamu akamjibu punda, “Umenifanya mjinga! Kama ningelikuwa na upanga mkononi mwangu, ningelikuua sasa hivi.”

30 But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.

30 Punda akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, mimi si punda wako mwenyewe, ambaye umenipanda siku zote, hadi leo? Je, nimekuwa na tabia ya kufanya hivi kwako?” Akajibu, “Hapana.”

31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

31 Kisha Bwana akafungua macho ya Balaamu, naye akamwona malaika wa Bwana amesimama barabarani akiwa ameufuta upanga wake. Balaamu akainama, akaanguka kifudifudi.

32 The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.

32 Malaika wa Bwana akamuuliza Balaamu, “Kwa nini umempiga punda wako mara tatu hizi? Nimekuja kukuzuia kwa sababu njia yako imepotoka mbele yangu.

33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

33 Punda aliniona na kunikwepa mara hizi tatu. Kama punda hangenikwepa, hakika ningekuwa nimeshakuua sasa, lakini ningemwacha punda hai.”

34 “I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

34 Balaamu akamwambia malaika wa Bwana, “Nimetenda dhambi. Sikutambua kuwa umesimama barabarani kunizuia. Basi kama haikupendezi, nitarudi.”

35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

35 Malaika wa Bwana akamwambia Balaamu, “Uende na watu hao, lakini useme tu lile nikuambialo.” Kwa hiyo Balaamu akaenda na wale wakuu wa Balaki.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.

36 Balaki aliposikia kuwa Balaamu anakuja, akatoka kumlaki katika mji wa Moabu, katika mpaka wa Arnoni, ukingoni mwa nchi yake.

37 And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you richly?”

37 Balaki akamwambia Balaamu, “Je, sikukupelekea jumbe za haraka? Kwa nini hukuja kwangu? Hivi kweli mimi siwezi kukulipa?”

38 “See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

38 Balaamu akajibu, “Vema, sasa nimekuja kwako. Lakini kwani nina uwezo wa kusema tu chochote? Ni lazima niseme tu kile ambacho Mungu ataweka kinywani mwangu.”

39 So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

39 Kisha Balaamu alikwenda na Balaki mpaka Kiriath-Husothi.

40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

40 Balaki akatoa dhabihu ya ngʼombe na kondoo; baadhi yake akampa Balaamu na wakuu waliokuwa pamoja naye.

41 The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

41 Asubuhi iliyofuata Balaki akamchukua Balaamu mpaka Bamoth-Baali, na kutoka huko Balaamu akawaona baadhi ya watu.