Genesis 29
1 Jacob went quickly on his way, and arrived in the land of the eastern people.
Kisha Yakobo akaendelea na safari yake na akafika katika nchi ya watu wa mashariki.
2 As he looked around he saw a well in a field with three flocks of sheep lying down beside it, waiting to be given water. A large stone covered the top of the well.
Hata alipotazama, akaona kisima kondeni, na, tazama, makundi matatu ya kondoo yalikuwa yamelala kando yake. Kwani kutoka katika hicho wangeyanywesha makundi, na jiwe juu ya mdomo wa kisima lilikuwa kubwa.
3 The usual practice was that once all the flocks had arrived, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the well and give their sheep water. Then they would put the stone back again.
Wakati makundi yote yangekusanyika pale, wachungaji wangevingirisha jiwe kutoka katika mdomo wa kisima na kuwanywesha kondoo, na kisha kurudisha jiwe juu ya mdomo wa kisima, mahali pake.
4 Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We're from Haran,” they replied.
Yakobo akawambia, “Ndugu zangu, ninyi mnatokea wapi?” nao wakasema, “Tunatoka Harani.”
5 “Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?” he asked. “Yes, we know him,” they replied.
Akawambia, “Mnamfahamu Labani mwana wa Nahori?” Wakasema, “Tunamfahamu.”
6 “How is he?” he asked. “He's well,” they replied. “Look! In fact here's his daughter Rachel coming with the sheep right now.”
Akawambia, “Je hajambo?” Wakasema, “Hajambo, na, tazama pale, Raheli binti yake anakuja na kondoo.”
7 “Look, there's still plenty of daylight left,” said Jacob. “It's too early to round up the sheep yet. Why not let them drink so they can go back to grazing?”
Yakobo akasema, “Tazama, ni mchana. Siyo wakati wa kukusanya kondoo pamoja. Mnapaswa kuwanywesha kondoo na kisha mkaenda na kuwaacha wachunge.”
8 “We can't do that until all the flocks have arrived,” they told him. “Then we roll away the stone from the well and let the sheep drink.”
Wakamwambia, “Hatuwezi kuwanywesha mpaka makundi yote yakusanyike pamoja. Ndipo wanaume watakapovingirisha jiwe kutoka mlangoni mwa kisima, na ndipo tutakapowanywesha kondoo.”
9 While he was still talking with them Rachel arrived with the flock she was looking after for her father.
Wakati bado Yakobo anaongea nao, Raheli akaja pamoja na kondoo wa babaye, kwani alikuwa akiwachunga.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, he went over and rolled away the stone from the well so Laban's sheep could drink.
Yakobo alipomwona Raheli, binti wa Labani, kaka wa mamaye, na kondoo wa Labani, kaka wa mama yake, Yakobo akaja juu, akalivingirisha jiwe kutoka mlangoni mwa kisima, na akawanywesha kondoo wa Labani, kaka wa mama yake.
11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept for joy.
Yakobo akambusu Raheli na akalia kwa sauti.
12 (He had told her that he was the son of Laban's brother and Rebekah.) She ran and told her father what had happened.
Yakobo akamwambia Raheli kwamba alikuwa ni ndugu wa baba yake, na kwamba alikuwa mwana wa Rebeka. Kisha yeye akakimbia kumwambia baba yake.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob he ran out to meet him. He hugged him and kissed him, and took him home. After Jacob had explained everything to Laban,
Labani aliposikia habari kuhusu Yakobo mwana wa dada yake, akaenda kukutana naye, akamkumbatia, akambusu, na kumleta nyumbani kwake. Yakobo akamwambia Labani mambo haya yote.
14 Laban told him, “No question about it—you're my own flesh and blood!” Jacob stayed with Laban for a month.
Labani akamwambia, “Kwa hakika wewe ni mfupa wangu na nyama yangu.” Kisha Yakobo akakaa naye kama mwezi mmoja.
15 One day Laban said to him, “You're my relative so you shouldn't be working for me for nothing! Tell me, what should I pay you?”
Kisha Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Je unitumikie bure kwa kuwa wewe ni ndugu yangu? Niambie, ujira wako utakuwaje?
16 Laban had two daughters. The older one was Leah, and the younger one was Rachel.
Basi Labani alikuwa na binti wawili. Jina la mkubwa lilikuwa ni Lea, na jina la mdogo lilikuwa Raheli.
17 Leah had kind eyes, but Rachel had a shapely figure and beautiful looks.
Macho ya Lea yalikuwa dhaifu, lakini Raheli alikuwa mzuri wa umbo na mwonekano.
18 Jacob was in love with Rachel so he promised Laban, “I'll do seven years work for you for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Yakobo alimpenda Raheli, hivyo akasema, “Nitakutumikia miaka saba kwa ajili ya Raheli, binti yako mdogo.”
19 “Well it's better for me to give her to you than anyone else,” Laban replied. “So stay here and work for me.”
Labani akasema, Itakuwa vema kukupa wewe, kuliko kumpa mtu mwingine. Kaa nami.”
20 Jacob worked for Laban for seven years, but to him they seemed like just a few days because he really loved her.
Hivyo Yakobo akamtumikia kwa miaka saba kwa ajili ya Raheli; nayo ilionekana kwake kama siku chache tu, kwa ajili ya upendo aliokuwa nao kwake.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “I've completed the time we agreed. Now give me your daughter to be my wife.”
Kisha Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Nipe mke wangu, kwani siku zangu zimetimia - ili kwamba nimwoe!
22 So Laban organized a wedding banquet and invited everyone around to come.
Hivyo Labani akawaalika watu wa mahali hapo na kuandaa sherehe.
23 But once it was dark Laban brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her.
Wakati wa jioni, Labani akamchukua Lea binti yake mkubwa na kumleta kwa Yakobo, aliyelala naye.
24 (Laban also arranged for his servant Zilpah to be Leah's personal maid.)
Labani akampa mtumishi wake wakike Zilpa kuwa mjakazi wa Lea.
25 When morning came, he saw it was Leah! He went to Laban and asked angrily, “What have you done to me? It was for Rachel that I worked for you! Why have you deceived me?”
Ilipofika asubuhi, tazama, kumbe ni Lea! Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Ni nini hiki ulichonifanyia? Je sikukutumikia kwa ajili ya Raheli? Kwa nini basi umenihadaa?
26 “Here we don't give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn,” Laban replied.
Labani akamwambia, “Siyo utamaduni wetu kumtoa bindi mdogo kabla ya mzaliwa wa kwanza.
27 “Finish this week of wedding celebrations and then I'll give you the other daughter as well, as long as you work another seven years for me.”
Timiza juma la bibi arusi, na tutakupa yule mwingine pia kwa mbadala wa kunitumikia miaka mingine saba.”
28 Jacob agreed. He finished the week of wedding celebrations for Leah, and then Laban gave Jacob his daughter Rachel as his wife as well.
Yakobo akafanya hivyo, na akatimiza juma la Lea. Kisha Labani akampa Raheli binti yake kuwa mke wake.
29 (Laban also arranged for his servant Bilhah to be Rachel's personal maid.)
Lakini pia Labani akampa Raheli binti yake Bilha, kuwa mjakazi wake.
30 So Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years for Rachel.
Hivyo Yakobo akalala na Raheli, pia, lakini akampenda Raheli zaidi ya Lea. Hivyo Yakobo akamtumikia Labani kwa miaka saba mingine.
31 The Lord saw that Leah wasn't loved he helped Leah to have children, but not Rachel.
Yahwe akaona kwamba Lea hakupendwa, hivyo akalifungua tumbo lake, lakini Raheli hakuwa na mtoto.
32 Leah became pregnant, and had a son she named Reuben, for she said, “The Lord saw how much I was suffering and now my husband will love me!”
Lea akashika mimba na kuzaa mwana, naye akamwita Rubeni. Kwani alisema, “Kwa sababu Yahwe ameliangalia teso langu; bila shaka mme wangu sasa atanipenda.”
33 Then Leah became pregnant again, and had another son. She said, “The Lord has heard that I'm not loved so he gave me this son.” So she named him Simeon.
Kisha akashika mimba tena na kuzaa mwana. Akasema, “Kwa sababu Yahwe amesikia kwamba sipendwi, kwa hiyo amenipa mwana mwingine,” na akamwita Simoni.
34 Leah became pregnant for the third time, and had another son. She said, “Finally my husband will be attached to me because now I've given him three sons.” That's why he was named Levi.
Kisha akashika mimba tena na kuzaa mwana. Akasema, “Wakati huu mme wangu ataungana nami, kwa kuwa nimemzalia wana watatu.” Kwa hiyo akaitwa Lawi.
35 Once again Leah became pregnant and had another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I can really praise the Lord!” After that she had no more children.
Akashika mimba tena na kuzaa mwana. Akasema, “Wakati huu nitamsifu Yahwe.” Kwa hiyo akamwita jina lake Yuda; kisha akaacha kuzaa watoto.
