Deuteronomy 4

1 Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live and may enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Sikia sasa, ee Israeli, amri na sheria nitakazokufundisha wewe. Zifuate ili upate kuishi na uingie kuimiliki nchi ambayo Bwana, Mungu wa baba zako anawapa.

2 You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.

Usiongeze wala usipunguze chochote ninachowaamuru ninyi, ila myashike maagizo ya Bwana Mungu wenu ambayo nawapa.

3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all who followed Baal of Peor.

Mliona kwa macho yenu wenyewe kile Bwana alichokifanya kule Baal-Peori. Bwana Mungu wenu aliwaangamiza kutoka miongoni mwenu kila mmoja aliyemfuata Baali wa Peori,

4 But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive to this day, every one of you.

lakini ninyi nyote mlioshikamana na Bwana kwa uthabiti, Mungu wenu, mko hai mpaka leo.

5 See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess.

Tazama, nimewafundisha amri na sheria kama Bwana Mungu wangu alivyoniamuru mimi, ili mzifuate katika nchi mnayoiingia kuimiliki.

6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Zishikeni kwa uangalifu, kwa kuwa hii itaonyesha hekima na ufahamu wenu kwa mataifa, ambayo yatasikia kuhusu amri zote hizi, nao watasema, “Hakika taifa hili kubwa ni watu wenye hekima na ufahamu.”

7 For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

Ni taifa gani jingine lililo kubwa kiasi cha kuwa na miungu yao iliyo karibu nao kama Bwana Mungu wetu alivyo karibu nasi wakati wowote tunapomwomba?

8 And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Nalo ni taifa gani jingine lililo kubwa hivi lenye kuwa na amri na sheria za haki kama hizi ninazoweka mbele yenu leo?

9 Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.

Mwe waangalifu, na makini ili msije mkasahau mambo ambayo mliyaona kwa macho yenu, wala kuyaacha yaondoke moyoni mwenu siku zote za uhai wenu. Mwafundishe hayo watoto wenu na watoto wao baada yao.

10 The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.”

Kumbuka siku uliyosimama mbele za Bwana Mungu wako kule Horebu, wakati aliponiambia, “Wakutanishe watu mbele yangu wasikie maneno yangu ili kwamba waweze kujifunza kuniheshimu kwa muda wote watakaoishi katika nchi, nao waweze kuwafundisha watoto wao maneno hayo.”

11 You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.

Mlisogea karibu na mkasimama chini ya mlima wakati ulipowaka moto mpaka mbinguni juu, pamoja na mawingu meusi na giza nene.

12 And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Ndipo Bwana alipozungumza nanyi kutoka moto. Mkasikia sauti ya maneno lakini hamkuona umbo, kulikuwa na sauti tu.

13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandments that He wrote on two tablets of stone.

Aliwatangazia Agano lake na Amri Kumi, ambazo aliwaamuru mzifuate, kisha akaziandika juu ya vibao viwili vya mawe.

14 At that time the LORD commanded me to teach you the statutes and ordinances you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Naye Bwana alinielekeza wakati huo kuwafundisha ninyi sheria na amri ambazo mnapaswa kuzifuata katika nchi ambayo mnavuka Yordani kuimiliki.

15 So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful

Hamkuona umbo la aina yoyote siku ambayo Bwana alizungumza nanyi kule Horebu kutoka kwenye moto. Kwa hiyo mjihadhari kwa uangalifu sana,

16 that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,

ili msije mkajichafua na kujitengenezea sanamu au kinyago chenye umbo lolote kama la mwanaume au mwanamke,

17 of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air,

au kama mnyama aliye juu ya nchi au ndege yeyote arukaye angani,

18 or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below.

au kama kiumbe kitambaacho juu ya ardhi au samaki yeyote aliye ndani ya maji.

19 When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Na utazamapo juu angani na ukaliona jua, mwezi na nyota na vyote vinavyoipamba mbingu, usije ukashawishiwa kuviinamia na kuviabudu vile ambavyo Bwana Mungu wenu alivyogawia mataifa yote chini ya mbingu.

20 Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.

Lakini kwenu ninyi, Bwana amewatoa kutoka kwenye tanuru ya kuyeyushia chuma, katika Misri kuwa watu wa urithi wake kama mlivyo sasa.

21 The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Bwana alinikasirikia kwa sababu yenu na akaapa kwamba sitavuka Yordani kuingia katika nchi nzuri Bwana Mungu wenu anayowapa kuwa urithi wenu.

22 For I will not be crossing the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you shall cross over and take possession of that good land.

Nitakufa katika nchi hii; sitavuka Yordani, lakini ninyi ni karibu mvuke mkaimiliki ile nchi nzuri.

23 Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you.

Jihadharini msilisahau Agano la Bwana Mungu wenu lile alilofanya nanyi; msijitengenezee sanamu katika umbo la kitu chochote ambacho Bwana Mungu wenu amewakataza.

24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wenu ni moto ulao, Mungu mwenye wivu.

25 After you have children and grandchildren and you have been in the land a long time, if you then act corruptly and make an idol of any form—doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger—

Baada ya kuwa na watoto na wajukuu na kuishi katika nchi hiyo siku nyingi, tena kama mkijichafua na kutengeneza sanamu ya aina yoyote, mkifanya maovu machoni pa Bwana Mungu wenu na kumfanya awe na hasira,

26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.

ninaziita mbingu na nchi kama mashahidi dhidi yenu siku hii kwamba mtaangamia mara moja kutoka nchi ile ambayo mnavuka Yordani kuimiliki. Hamtaishi kule kwa muda mrefu bali kwa hakika mtaangamizwa.

27 Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

Bwana atawatawanya miongoni mwa mataifa, na ni wachache wenu tu watakaosalia miongoni mwa mataifa hayo ambayo Bwana atawafukuzia.

28 And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

Huko mtaabudu miungu ya miti na mawe iliyotengenezwa na watu, ambayo haiwezi kuona au kusikia wala kula au kunusa.

29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Lakini kama mtamtafuta Bwana Mungu wenu, mtampata; kama mtamtafuta kwa moyo wenu wote na kwa roho yote.

30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.

Wakati mnapokuwa katika dhiki, nayo mambo haya yote yamewatokea siku hizo, ndipo mtamrudia Bwana Mungu wenu na kumtii.

31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.

Kwa maana Bwana Mungu wenu ni Mungu mwenye huruma, hatawaacha au kuwaangamiza wala kusahau Agano alilofanya na baba zenu, alilowathibitishia kwa kiapo.

32 Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?

Sasa uliza kuhusu siku za zamani, zamani kabla ya wakati wako, tangu siku ile Mungu alipomuumba mtu juu ya nchi, uliza kutoka mwisho mmoja wa mbingu mpaka mwisho mwingine wa mbingu. Je, kumepata kutokea jambo jingine lililo kubwa kama hili, au kuna jambo jingine kama hilo limepata kusikiwa?

33 Has a people ever heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire, as you have, and lived?

Je, kuna watu wengine wowote waliosikia sauti ya Mungu ikizungumza kwenye moto, kama mlivyosikia, nao wakaishi?

34 Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation out of another nation—by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors—as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, before your eyes?

Je, kuna mungu yeyote amepata kujaribu mwenyewe kuchukua taifa moja kutoka taifa lingine, kwa mapigo, kwa ishara za miujiza na maajabu, kwa vita, kwa mkono wenye nguvu na mkono ulionyooshwa au kwa matendo makuu ya kutisha, kama yale ambayo Bwana Mungu wenu aliyofanya kwa ajili yenu huko Misri mbele ya macho yenu?

35 You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.

Mlionyeshwa mambo haya ili mpate kujua kuwa Bwana ndiye Mungu; hakuna mwingine ila yeye.

36 He let you hear His voice from heaven to discipline you, and on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the fire.

Kutoka mbinguni amewasikizisha sauti yake ili kuwaadilisha. Hapa duniani aliwaonyesha moto wake mkubwa, nanyi mlisikia maneno yake kutoka kwenye ule moto.

37 Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power,

Kwa sababu aliwapenda baba zenu na alichagua wazao wao baada yao, aliwatoa katika nchi ya Misri kwa Uwepo wake na kwa uwezo wake mkuu,

38 to drive out before you nations greater and mightier than you, and to bring you into their land and give it to you for your inheritance, as it is this day.

aliwafukuza mbele yenu mataifa makubwa na yenye nguvu kuliko ninyi na kuwaleta ninyi katika nchi yao na akawapa ninyi kuwa urithi wenu, kama ilivyo leo.

39 Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Kubalini na mweke moyoni leo kuwa Bwana ndiye Mungu mbinguni juu na duniani chini. Hakuna mwingine.

40 Keep His statutes and commandments, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

Mshike amri na maagizo yake ninayowapa leo, ili mpate kufanikiwa ninyi na watoto wenu baada yenu, na mpate kuishi maisha marefu katika nchi awapayo Bwana Mungu wenu siku zote.

41 Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east

Kisha Mose akatenga miji mitatu mashariki ya Yordani,

42 to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:

ambayo mtu yeyote aliyemuua mtu angeweza kukimbilia ikiwa amemuua jirani yake bila kukusudia na bila kuwa na chuki naye siku zilizopita. Angeweza kukimbilia katika mmojawapo ya miji hii na kuokoa maisha yake.

43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

Miji hiyo ilikuwa: Bezeri katika tambarare ya jangwa kwa ajili ya Wareubeni; Ramothi katika nchi ya Gileadi kwa ajili ya Wagadi; nao mji wa Golani katika nchi ya Bashani kwa ajili ya Wamanase.

44 This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.

Hii ndiyo sheria Mose aliyoweka mbele ya Waisraeli.

45 These are the testimonies, statutes, and ordinances that Moses proclaimed to them after they had come out of Egypt,

Haya ndiyo masharti, amri na sheria Mose aliyowapa wana wa Israeli wakati walitoka Misri,

46 while they were in the valley across the Jordan facing Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites after they had come out of Egypt.

nao walikuwa katika bonde karibu na Beth-Peori mashariki ya Yordani, katika nchi ya Sihoni mfalme wa Waamori, ambaye alitawala Heshboni, naye alishindwa na Mose na Waisraeli walipokuja toka Misri.

47 They took possession of the land belonging to Sihon and to Og king of Bashan—the two Amorite kings across the Jordan to the east—

Waliimiliki nchi yake na nchi ya Ogu mfalme wa Bashani, wafalme wawili Waamori waliotawala mashariki ya Yordani.

48 extending from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Siyon (that is, Hermon),

Nchi hii ilienea kutoka Aroeri ukingoni mwa Bonde la Arnoni mpaka Mlima Sioni (yaani Hermoni),

49 including all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan and as far as the Sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah.

pamoja na eneo lote la Araba mashariki ya Yordani, na kuenea mpaka Bahari ya Araba kwenye miteremko ya Pisga.