Deuteronomy 18
1 The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel: the fire-offerings of the Lord, and his inheritance shall they consume.
Makuhani ambao ni Walawi, yaani kabila lote la Lawi, hawatakuwa na mgawo wala urithi pamoja na Israeli. Wataishi kwa sadaka zitolewazo kwa ajili ya Bwana za kuteketezwa kwa moto, kwa maana huo ndio urithi wao.
2 But any inheritance shall he not have among his brethren: the Lord is his inheritance, as he hath spoken unto him.
Hawatakuwa na urithi miongoni mwa ndugu zao; Bwana ndiye urithi wao, kama alivyowaahidi.
3 And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from them that slay an animal, whether it be ox or lamb: then shall each one give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
Hili ndilo fungu la makuhani kutoka kwa watu watakaotoa dhabihu ya fahali au kondoo: mguu wa mbele, mataya na matumbo.
4 The first-fruit of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thy oil, and the first shearing of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
Mtawapa malimbuko ya nafaka zenu, divai mpya, mafuta na sufu ya kwanza kutoka manyoya ya kondoo zenu,
5 For him the Lord thy God hath chosen out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, he and his sons all the days.
kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wenu amewachagua pamoja na wazao wao kutoka makabila yenu kusimama na kuhudumu katika jina la Bwana siku zote.
6 And if the Levite come from any one of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourneth, and come with all the longing of his soul unto the place which the Lord will choose:
Ikiwa Mlawi atahama kutoka mmojawapo ya miji yenu popote katika Israeli ambapo anaishi, akaja kwa moyo wote mahali ambapo Bwana atapachagua,
7 Then can he minister in the name of the Lord his God, like all his brethren the Levites, who stand there before the Lord.
anaweza akahudumu katika jina la Bwana Mungu wake kama Walawi wenzake wote wanaohudumu hapo mbele za Bwana.
8 They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
Atashiriki sawa katika mafao yao, hata kama amepokea fedha kutoka mauzo ya mali ya jamaa yake.
9 When thou comest into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Wakati mtakapoingia katika nchi ambayo Bwana Mungu wenu anawapa, msijifunze kuiga njia za machukizo za mataifa ya huko.
10 There shall not be found among thee any one who causeth his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who useth divination, one who is an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a conjurer.
Asionekane mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu ampitishaye mwanawe au binti yake katika moto, atakayefanya uaguzi, ulozi, anayetabiri nyakati, anayejishughulisha na uchawi,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or who inquireth of the dead.
wala arogaye kwa kupiga mafundo, wala mwaguzi au anayeabudu mizimu, wala awaombaye wafu.
12 For an abomination unto the Lord are all that do these things; and on account of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Mtu yeyote afanyaye mambo haya ni chukizo kwa Bwana, tena ni kwa sababu ya matendo haya ya kuchukiza wayafanyayo ndiyo maana Bwana Mungu wenu atayafukuza mataifa hayo mbele yenu.
13 Perfect shalt thou be with the Lord thy God.
Kamwe msilaumiwe mbele za Bwana Mungu wenu.
14 For these nations, which thou art about to dispossess, hearken unto observers of times, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not assigned the like unto thee.
Mataifa mtakayowafukuza husikiliza wale wafanyao ulozi na uaguzi. Lakini kwenu ninyi, Bwana Mungu wenu hajawaruhusu kufanya hivyo.
15 A prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, will the Lord thy God raise up unto thee; unto him shall ye hearken:
Bwana Mungu wenu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe. Msikilizeni yeye.
16 According to all that thou didst desire of the Lord thy God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, I wish no more to hear the voice of the Lord my God, and this great fire I wish not to see again, that I die not.
Kwa kuwa hivi ndivyo mlivyomwomba Bwana Mungu wenu kule Horebu siku ile ya kusanyiko, wakati mliposema, “Na tusiisikie sauti ya Bwana Mungu wetu, wala kuuona moto huu mkubwa tena, ama sivyo tutakufa.”
17 And the Lord said unto me, They have done well in what they have spoken.
Bwana akaniambia: “Wanachosema ni vyema.
18 A prophet will I raise up unto them from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I may command him.
Nitawainulia nabii kama wewe kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zao; nitaweka maneno yangu kinywani mwake, naye atawaambia kila kitu nitakachomwamuru.
19 And it shall come to pass, that if there be a man who will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
Kama mtu yeyote hatasikiliza maneno yangu ambayo huyo nabii atayasema kwa Jina langu, mimi mwenyewe nitamwajibisha.
20 But the prophet, who may presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who may speak in the name of other Gods even that prophet shall die.
Lakini nabii ambaye atathubutu kusema kwa Jina langu kitu chochote ambacho sikumwamuru akiseme, au nabii ambaye husema kwa jina la miungu mingine ni lazima auawe.”
21 And if thou shouldst say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
Mnaweza kuulizana wenyewe, “Tutawezaje kujua wakati ujumbe haukusemwa na Bwana?”
22 That which the prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, and the thing do not happen and come not to pass— this is the word which the Lord hath not spoken; in presumption hath the prophet spoken it; thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Ikiwa kile nabii anachotangaza kwa jina la Bwana hakikutokea au kutimia, huo ni ujumbe ambao Bwana hakusema. Nabii huyo amesema kwa ujuaji. Msimwogope huyo.
