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Naamani Achiritsidwa Khate Lake

Tsono Naamani anali mtsogoleri wa gulu lankhondo a mfumu ya ku Aramu. Iye anali munthu wodalirika pamaso pa mbuye wake ndipo anali wokondedwa kwambiri, chifukwa kudzera mwa iye Yehova anapambanitsa Aaramu. Anali msilikali wolimba mtima, koma anali ndi khate.

Tsono magulu a Aaramu anapita ku nkhondo ndipo anakagwira ukapolo mtsikana wamngʼono wa ku Israeli, ndipo ankatumikira mkazi wa Naamani. Mtsikanayo anawuza mkazi wa Naamani kuti, “Mbuye wanga akanapita kukaonana ndi mneneri amene amakhala ku Samariya, akanachiritsidwa khate lawo.”

Naamani anapita kwa mbuye wake kukamuwuza zomwe mtsikana wochokera ku Israeli ananena. Mfumu ya ku Aramu inayankha kuti, “Iwe uyenera kupita. Ine ndilembera kalata mfumu ya ku Israeli.” Choncho Naamani ananyamuka kupita ku Samariya, atatenga ndalama za siliva 30,000, ndalama zagolide 6,000 ndiponso zovala khumi za pa chikondwerero. Kalata imene anapita nayo kwa mfumu ya ku Israeli inali ndi mawu awa: “Taonani, ndikutumiza Naamani mtumiki wanga pamodzi ndi kalatayi kwa inu kuti mumuchiritse khate lake.”

Mfumu ya ku Israeli itangowerenga kalatayo, inangʼamba mkanjo wake ndipo inati, “Kodi ine ndine Mulungu? Kodi ndingathe kupha kapena kupereka moyo? Chifukwa chiyani munthu ameneyu wanditumizira munthu woti ndimuchiritse khate lake? Taonani, iyeyu akungofuna kuti apeze chifukwa choyambanirana nane!”

Elisa munthu wa Mulungu atamva kuti mfumu ya ku Israeli yangʼamba mkanjo wake, anatumiza uthenga uwu: “Chifukwa chiyani mwangʼamba mkanjo wanu? Mutumizeni munthuyo kwa ine ndipo iyeyo adzadziwa kuti muli mneneri mu Israeli.” Choncho Naamani anapita pamodzi ndi akavalo ake ndi magaleta nakayima pa khomo la nyumba ya Elisa. 10 Elisa anatumiza uthenga kwa iye woti, “Pita, kasambe kasanu ndi kawiri mu mtsinje wa Yorodani, thupi lako lidzachira ndi kukhalanso monga kale ndipo udzayeretsedwa.”

11 Koma Naamani anachoka mokwiya ndipo anati, “Ine ndimaganiza kuti munthuyu atuluka ndipo ayimirira nayitana dzina la Yehova Mulungu wake, nayendetsa dzanja lake pamwamba pa nthendayi ndi kundichiritsa khate langa. 12 Kodi Abana ndi Faripara, mitsinje ya ku Damasiko, siyoposa mitsinje ina yonse ya ku Israeli? Kodi sindikanasamba mʼmitsinje imeneyo ndi kuyeretsedwa?” Kotero anatembenuka nachoka ali wokwiya kwambiri.

13 Antchito ake anamuyandikira namufunsa kuti, “Abambo anga, mneneri akanakulamulani chinthu chachikulu, kodi inu simukanachita? Nanga nʼzovuta motani zomwe mneneri wanena kuti ‘Kasambeni ndipo mudzayeretsedwa!’ ” 14 Choncho Naamani anapita ku Yorodani nakadzimiza mʼmadzimo kasanu nʼkawiri, monga momwe munthu wa Mulungu anamuwuzira. Thupi lake linakhalanso monga kale ndipo linakhala losalala ngati la kamnyamata.

15 Pamenepo Naamani ndi atumiki ake onse anabwerera kwa munthu wa Mulungu uja. Naamani anayima pamaso pa Elisa ndipo anati, “Tsopano ndikudziwa kuti kulibe Mulungu wina pa dziko lonse lapansi koma mu Israeli mokha. Chonde, tsopano landirani mphatso ya mtumiki wanu.”

16 Mneneri anayankha kuti, “Pali Yehova wamoyo, amene ine ndimamutumikira, sindidzalandira zimenezi.” Ndipo ngakhale Naamani anamukakamiza, iye anakanabe.

17 Naamani anati, “Ngati inu simulandira, chonde lolani mtumiki wanu kuti atengeko dothi lokwanira kunyamula abulu awiri, popeza mtumiki wanu sadzaperekanso nsembe yopsereza ndi nsembe zina kwa mulungu wina koma Yehova. 18 Koma Yehova andikhululukire ine pa chinthu ichi: Pamene mbuye wanga alowa mʼnyumba ya mapemphero ya Rimoni ine ndimapita naye ndipo ndimakagwada naye limodzi. Pamene ndikugwada mʼnyumba ya mapemphero ya Rimoni, Yehova azikhululukira mtumiki wanu pa chinthu chimenechi.”

19 Elisa anati, “Pita mu mtendere.”

Choncho anachoka nayenda pangʼono. 20 Koma Gehazi, mtumiki wa Elisa munthu wa Mulungu, anaganiza mu mtima mwake kuti, “Taonani, mbuye wanga wamulekerera Naamani Mwaramuyu, posalandira zomwe anabweretsa. Pali Yehova wamoyo, ine ndimuthamangira ndipo ndikatengako zinthu kwa iye.”

21 Choncho Gehazi anamuthamangira Naamani uja. Naamani ataona Gehazi akumuthamangira, anatsika mʼgaleta lake ndi kukakumana naye. Iye anafunsa Gehazi kuti, “Kodi nʼkwabwino?”

22 Gehazi anayankha kuti, “Inde nʼkwabwino. Mbuye wanga wandituma kuti ndidzakuwuzeni kuti, ‘Anyamata awiri mwa ana a aneneri angondipeza kumene kuchokera ku dziko la mapiri la Efereimu. Chonde apatseniko ndalama za siliva 3,000 ndi zovala ziwiri za pa phwando.’ ”

23 Naamani anati, “Kuli bwino utenge ndalama zasiliva 6,000.” Iye anakakamiza Gehazi kuti alandire, ndipo kenaka anamanga matumba awiri a ndalama zasiliva pamodzi ndi zovala zinayi za pa mphwando. Naamani anazipereka kwa antchito ake awiri ndipo anazinyamula nayenda patsogolo pa Gehazi. 24 Gehazi atafika ku phiri, anawalanda antchito aja zinthu zija nazibisa mʼnyumbamo. Iye anawawuza anthu aja kuti abwerere ndipo anapita. 25 Kenaka analowa mʼnyumbamo nakayima pamaso pa mbuye wake Elisa.

Elisa anafunsa kuti, “Kodi Gehazi unali kuti?”

Iye anayankha kuti, “Mtumiki wanu sanapite kwina kulikonse.”

26 Koma Elisa anati kwa Gehazi, “Kodi mzimu wanga sunali nawe pamene munthu uja anatsika mʼgaleta lake ndi kukumana nawe? Kodi ino ndi nthawi yolandira ndalama, kapena kulandira zovala, mitengo ya olivi, minda ya mpesa, nkhosa, ngʼombe kapena antchito aamuna kapena antchito aakazi? 27 Khate la Naamani lidzakumatirira iwe ndi zidzukulu zako mpaka muyaya.” Ndipo Gehazi anachoka pamaso pa Elisa ali ndi khate lotuwa ngati phulusa.

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram.(A) He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a](B)

Now bands of raiders(C) from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet(D) who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents[b] of silver, six thousand shekels[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing.(E) The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

As soon as the king of Israel read the letter,(F) he tore his robes and said, “Am I God?(G) Can I kill and bring back to life?(H) Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel(I) with me!”

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet(J) in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash(K) yourself seven times(L) in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand(M) over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters(N) of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.(O)

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father,(P) if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times,(Q) as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored(R) and became clean like that of a young boy.(S)

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God(T). He stood before him and said, “Now I know(U) that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift(V) from your servant.”

16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.(W)

17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth(X) as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning(Y) on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”

19 “Go in peace,”(Z) Elisha said.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord(AA) lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent[d] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”(AB)

23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time(AC) to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?(AD) 27 Naaman’s leprosy(AE) will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi(AF) went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:1 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 3, 6, 7, 11 and 27.
  2. 2 Kings 5:5 That is, about 750 pounds or about 340 kilograms
  3. 2 Kings 5:5 That is, about 150 pounds or about 69 kilograms
  4. 2 Kings 5:22 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

16 But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord.

18 In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.

19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.