Numbers 17
1 And the LORD said to Moses,
Bwana akamwambia Mose,
2 “Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,
“Sema na Waisraeli, na ujipatie fimbo kumi na mbili kutoka kwao, moja kutoka kwa kila mmoja wa viongozi wa kabila za baba zao. Andika jina la kila mtu kwenye fimbo yake.
3 and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.
Kwenye fimbo ya Lawi andika jina la Aroni, kwa maana ni lazima iwepo fimbo moja kwa kila kiongozi kwa ajili ya kila kabila la baba zao.
4 Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.
Ziweke hizo fimbo ndani ya Hema la Kukutania mbele ya Sanduku la Ushuhuda, mahali nikutanapo nawe.
5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
Fimbo ya mtu nitakayemchagua itachipuka, nami mwenyewe nitayakomesha haya manungʼuniko ya mara kwa mara ya Waisraeli dhidi yako.”
6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.
Hivyo Mose akasema na Waisraeli, nao viongozi wao wakampa fimbo kumi na mbili, fimbo moja kwa ajili ya kila kabila la baba zao, nayo fimbo ya Aroni ikiwa miongoni mwa hizo.
7 Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.
Mose akaziweka hizo fimbo mbele za Bwana ndani ya Hema la Ushuhuda.
8 The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.
Siku iliyofuata Mose aliingia kwenye Hema la Ushuhuda akaona ile fimbo ya Aroni ambayo iliwakilisha jamaa ya Lawi haikuwa tu imechipuka, bali pia ilikuwa imetoa machipukizi, kuchanua maua na kuzaa malozi.
9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.
Ndipo Mose akaleta zile fimbo zote kwa Waisraeli wote kutoka mbele za Bwana. Wakaziangalia, na kila mtu akaichukua fimbo yake mwenyewe.
10 The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”
Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Rudisha fimbo ya Aroni mbele ya Sanduku la Ushuhuda, ili ihifadhiwe kama alama kwa waasi. Hili litakomesha manungʼuniko yao dhidi yangu, ili kwamba wasife.”
11 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.
Mose akafanya kama Bwana alivyomwamuru.
12 Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
Waisraeli wakamwambia Mose, “Tutakufa! Tumepotea, sote tumepotea!
13 Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”
Yeyote akaribiaye Maskani ya Bwana atakufa. Je, sisi sote tutakufa?”
