< Genesis 39 >
1 Now Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
Wakati huu Yosefu alikuwa amechukuliwa mpaka Misri. Mmisri aliyeitwa Potifa aliyekuwa mmojawapo wa maafisa wa Farao, mkuu wa ulinzi, akamnunua Yosefu kutoka kwa Waishmaeli waliomleta Misri.
2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he became a successful man. And he was in the household of his master the Egyptian.
Bwana alikuwa pamoja na Yosefu, naye akastawi, Yosefu akaishi nyumbani kwa bwana wake Mmisri.
3 And his master saw that God was with him, and that God made everything that he did to succeed in his hands.
Potifa alipoona kuwa Bwana alikuwa pamoja na Yosefu na kwamba Bwana alimfanikisha kwa kila kitu alichokifanya,
4 So Joseph found favor in the sight of his master, and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
Yosefu alipata kibali machoni pa Potifa, akamfanya mhudumu wake. Potifa akamweka kuwa msimamizi wa nyumba yake, naye akamkabidhi kuwa mwangalizi wa kila kitu alichokuwa nacho.
5 And it came about that from the time that he made him overseer of his household and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph; and the blessing of Jehovah was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
Kuanzia wakati huo Potifa alipomweka Yosefu kuwa msimamizi wa nyumba na mali zake zote alizokuwa nazo, Bwana aliibariki nyumba ya Mmisri huyo kwa sababu ya Yosefu. Baraka ya Bwana ilikuwa juu ya kila kitu alichokuwa nacho Potifa, nyumbani na shambani.
6 So he left everything that he had in Joseph's care. He did not concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
Kwa hiyo Potifa akamwachia Yosefu uangalizi wa kila kitu alichokuwa nacho, Yosefu alipokuwa katika uongozi, Potifa hakuwa na sababu ya kujishughulisha na kitu chochote isipokuwa chakula alichokula. Yosefu alikuwa mwenye umbo zuri na sura ya kuvutia;
7 And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife took notice of Joseph and she said, "Sleep with me."
baada ya kitambo mke wa Potifa akamtamani Yosefu, akamwambia, “Njoo, ukutane nami kimwili!”
8 But he refused, and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he has into my care.
Lakini Yosefu akakataa. Akamwambia yule mwanamke, “Mimi nikiwa katika uongozi, bwana wangu hahusiki na kitu chochote katika nyumba hii, kila kitu alicho nacho amenikabidhi.
9 There is no one greater in this household than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, since you are his wife. How then can I do such a great evil, and sin against God?"
Hapa nyumbani hakuna aliye mkuu kuliko mimi. Bwana wangu hakunizuilia kitu chochote isipokuwa wewe, kwa kuwa wewe ni mke wake. Nitawezaje basi kufanya uovu huu na kutenda dhambi dhidi ya Mungu?”
10 And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to sleep with her or to be with her.
Ingawa yule mwanamke aliendelea kumshawishi Yosefu siku baada ya siku, Yosefu alikataa kukutana naye kimwili wala kukaa karibu naye.
11 Now it happened about this time that he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
Siku moja Yosefu akaingia ndani ya nyumba kufanya kazi zake, wala hapakuwepo na mfanyakazi yeyote ndani ya nyumba.
12 She grabbed him by his garment, saying, "Sleep with me." And he left his garment in her hand and ran outside.
Mke wa Potifa akashika vazi Yosefu alilokuwa amevaa, akamwambia, “Njoo tukutane kimwili!” Lakini Yosefu akaacha vazi lake mkononi mwa huyo mwanamke, akatoka nje ya nyumba akikimbia.
13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had run outside,
Yule mwanamke alipoona kwamba Yosefu amemwachia vazi lake mkononi na kukimbilia nje ya nyumba,
14 she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, "Look, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to sleep with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
akawaita watumishi wake wa nyumbani, akawaambia, “Tazameni! Huyu Mwebrania ameletwa hapa kutudhihaki! Aliingia hapa ndani ili akutane nami kimwili, lakini nikapiga kelele.
15 It happened, when he heard that I raised my voice and cried out, that he left his garment by me and ran outside."
Aliposikia kelele za kuomba msaada, akaacha vazi lake kando yangu akakimbilia nje.”
16 She left his garment by her, until his master came home.
Yule mwanamke akaliweka lile vazi karibu naye mpaka Potifa aliporudi nyumbani.
17 And she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me, and said to me, 'Let me sleep with you.'
Ndipo akamweleza kisa hiki, akisema: “Yule mtumwa wa Kiebrania uliyetuletea alinijia ili kunidhihaki.
18 But when I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and ran outside."
Lakini mara nilipopiga kelele kuomba msaada, akaliacha vazi lake kando yangu akakimbia nje ya nyumba.”
19 And it happened when his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, saying, "This is what your servant did to me," that he became furious.
Potifa aliposikia kisa hiki mkewe alichomweleza, akisema, “Hivi ndivyo mtumwa wako alivyonitenda.” Hasira ya Potifa ikawaka.
20 Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in prison.
Potifa akamchukua Yosefu na kumweka gerezani, mahali ambapo wahalifu wa mfalme walikuwa wamefungwa. Lakini wakati Yosefu alipokuwa huko gerezani,
21 But God was with Joseph and showed him kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Bwana alikuwa pamoja naye, akamhurumia na kumpa kibali mbele ya msimamizi wa gereza.
22 The keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison; he was made responsible for everything that was done there.
Kwa hiyo msimamizi wa gereza akamweka Yosefu awe mkuu wa wafungwa pamoja na kusimamia yote ambayo yalitendeka mle gerezani.
23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was under his supervision, because God was with him, and made everything he did successful.
Msimamizi wa gereza hakujishughulisha tena na kitu chochote kilichokuwa chini ya uangalizi wa Yosefu, kwa sababu Bwana alikuwa pamoja na Yosefu akimfanikisha kwa kila alichofanya.