< Deuteronomy 4 >

1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which YHWH, the God of your fathers, gives you.
Sasa, Israeli, sikiliza sheria na amri ambayo niko karibu kukufundisha, kuzifanya, ili kwamba uweze kuishi na kuingia ndani na kumiliki nchi ambayo Yahwe, Mungu wa baba zako, anakupa.
2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your God which I command you.
Hautaongeza maneno ambayo nakuamuru, wala hautayapunguza, ili kwamba uweze kushika amri ya Yahwe Mungu wako ambazo naenda kukuamuru.
3 Your eyes have seen what YHWH did because of Baal Peor; for all the men who followed Baal Peor, YHWH your God has destroyed them from the midst of you.
Macho yako yamekwisha ona nini Yahwe alifanya kwa sababu ya Baal Peor, kwa kuwa watu wote waliomfuata Baali Peor, Yahwe Mungu wenu amekwisha kuwaangamiza kutoka miongoni mwenu.
4 But you who were faithful to YHWH your God are all alive this day.
Lakini walioambatana na Yahwe Mungu wenu wako hai leo, kila moja wenu.
5 Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as YHWH my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it.
Tazama, nimewafundisha sheria na amri, kama Yahwe Mungu wangu alivyoniamuru mimi, ila kwamba mfanye hivyo katikati mwa nchi ambayo mnaiendea ili kusudi muimiliki.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
Kwa hiyo washikilieni na kuwafanya, kwa kuwa hii ni hekima yenu na uelewa wenu mbele ya macho ya watu watakaosikia amri hizi zote na kusema, “Hakika taifa hili kubwa lina watu wa hekima na uelewa.'
7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as YHWH our God is whenever we call on him?
Kuna taifa gani jingine la vile liko hapo lina mungu karibu nao, kama Yahwe Mungu wetu tunapomwita wakati wowote?
8 What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Kuna taifa kubwa gani jingine liko hapo ambalo lina sheria na amri ili kwamba haki pamoja na sheria ambayo ninaweka mbele yenu leo?
9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children's children;
Zingatia peke na kuwa makini kujilinda, ili usisahau mambo ambayo macho yako yameona, ili kwamba yasiuwache moyo wako kwa siku zote za maisha yako. Badala yake, yafanye yajulikane kwa watoto wako na wana watoto wako.
10 the day that you stood before YHWH your God in Horeb, when YHWH said to me, "Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children."
Kuhusu siku ile uliyosimama mbele ya Yahwe Mungu wako katika Horeb, wakati Yahwe alisema nami, 'Nikusanyie watu, na nitawafanya wasikia maneno yangu, ili kwamba waweze kujifunza kuniogopa mimi siku zote ambazo wanazoishi duniani, na kwamba waweze kuwafundisha watoto wao.
11 You came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.
Mlikuja karibu na kusimama katika wayo wa mlima. Mlima uliwaka moto kwenye moyo wa mbinguni, pamoja na giza, mawingu na giza jembamba.
12 YHWH spoke to you out of the midst of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice.
Yahwe alizungumza katikati ya moto, ulisikia suati pamoja na maneno yake, lakini hakuona umbo, ila ulisikia sauti peke.
13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.
Alitangaza kwenu agano lake ambalo aliwaamuru ninyi kulifanya, amri kumi. Aliziandika kwenye vibao viwili vya mawe.
14 YHWH commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it.
Yahwe aliniamuru mimi kwa wakati huo kuwafundisha sheria na amri, ili kwamba muweze kuzifanya katika nchi mnaoivuka kwenda kuimiliki.
15 Therefore watch yourselves carefully; for you saw no kind of form on the day that YHWH spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.
Basi iweni waangalifu ninyi wenyewe - kwa kuwa mliona hakuna namna ya umbo siku hiyo ambapo Yahweh alizungumza nanyi huko Horeb kutoka katikati mwa moto,
16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself an engraved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
ili kwamba usiharibike na kuchonga umbo katika sura ya kiumbe chochote, umbo la mwanaume au mtu wa kike,
17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
au sura ya mnyama aliye katika nchi, au sura ya ndege yoyote wa mabawa arukae katika anga, au
18 the likeness of any crawling creature that crawls on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the land;
sura ya kitu chochote kitambaacho katika ardhi, au sura ya samaki yoyote katika maji chini ya ardhi.
19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which YHWH your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky.
Hautainua macho yako juu mbinguni na kutazama jua, mwezi, au nyota - jeshi lote la mbinguni- ukusogezwa na kuviabudu na kuvisujudia- vile vyote ambavyo Yahwe Mungu wenu amewapa hisa watu wote walio chini ya anga lote.
20 But God has taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as at this day.
Lakini Yahwe amewatoa ninyi na kuwaleta nje ya tanuru la chuma, nje ya Misri, kuwa kwake watu wa urithi wake, kama mlivyo leo.
21 Furthermore YHWH was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land, which YHWH your God gives you for an inheritance:
Yahwe alinikasirikia mimi kwa sababu yenu; aliapa kwamba nisiende ng'ambo ya Yordani, na kwamba nisiende kwenye nchi nzuri, nchi ambayo Yahwe Mungu wenu anawapa ninyi kama urithi.
22 but I must die in this land, I must not go over the Jordan; but you shall go over, and possess that good land.
Badala yake, ninapaswa kufa katika nchi hii, sipaswi kwenda ng'ambo ya Yordani, lakini mtaenda ng'ambo na kuimiliki nchi nzuri
23 Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of YHWH your God, which he made with you, and make you an engraved image in the form of anything which YHWH your God has forbidden you.
Zingatia ninyi wenyewe, ili kwamba msisahau agano la Yahwe Mungu wenu, alilolifanya pamoja nanyi, na kujichongea mfano wa sanamu katika uombo la kitu chochote ambacho Yahwe Mungu wenu amewakataza kufanya.
24 For YHWH your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
Kwa kuwa Yahwe Mungu wenu ni moto ulao, Mungu wa wivu.
25 When you shall father children, and children's children, and you shall have been long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make an engraved image in the form of anything, and shall do that which is evil in the sight of YHWH your God, to provoke him to anger;
Wakati mnapozaa watoto na wana watoto, na wakati mtakapo kuwa katika nchi kwa muda mrefu, na kama mtaharibikiwa ninyi na kuchonga umbo la umbo lolote, na kufanya uovu machoni pa Yahwe Mungu wenu, kumchoche katika hasira-
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over the Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your days on it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
Nitaita nchi na mbingu kushuhudia dhidi yenu leo kwa kuwa mapema kabisa mtaangamia kutoka katika nchi ambayo mnaiendea huko ng'ambo ya Yordani kuimiliki, hamtazidisha siku zenu ndani yake, lakini mtaangamizwa kabisa.
27 YHWH will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where YHWH will drive you.
Yahwe atawatawanyisha ninyi miongoni mwa watu, na mtabaki wachache ki-idadi miongoni mwa mataifa, ambapo Yahwe atawaongoza mbali.
28 There you shall serve other gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Huko mtatumikia miungu mingine, kazi ya mikono ya watu, mbao na mawe, ambayo wala haioni, kusikia, wala kunusa.
29 But from there you shall seek YHWH your God, and you shall find him, when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Lakini kuanzia hapo mtamtafuta Yahwe Mungu wenu, na mtampata, wakati mtakapomtafuta kwa moyo wenu wote na roho zenu zote.
30 When you are in oppression, and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you shall return to YHWH your God, and listen to his voice:
Wakati mnakuwa katika dhiki, na wakati haya yote yatakuwa yamekuja kwenu, katika siku za badae mtamrudia Yahwe Mungu wenu na kusikia sauti yake.
31 for YHWH your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.
Kwa kuwa Yahwe Mungu wenu ni Mungu wa rehema; hatawaangusha wala kuwaangamiza ninyi, wala kusahau agano la baba zenu ambalo aliapa kwao.
32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created humankind on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as this great thing is, or has been heard like it?
Kwa ajili ya kuuliza sasa kuhusu siku zilizopita ambazo zilikuwa mbele yenu: tangu siku ile ambayo Mungu alimuumba mtu katika nchi, kutoka pande moja ya mbingu hadi nyingine, uliza kama kumekuwepo chochote kama hiki kikubwa, au chochote kama hicho imewahi kusikiwa?
33 Did a people ever hear the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
Ilishawahi kutokea watu kusikia sauti ya Mungu kuongea katikati ya moto, kama mlivyosikia, na kuishi?
34 Or has God tried to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that YHWH your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
Au Mungu ameshawahi kujaribu kwenda na kujichukulia kwa ajili yake taifa kutoka miongoni mwa taifa, kwa majaribu, ishara na maajabu na kwa vita, na mkono wa nguvu, na mkono ulionyoshwa, na magaidi wakuu, vile vyovyote ambavyo Yahwe Mungu wenu alifanya kwa ajili yenu Misri mbele ya macho yenu?
35 It was shown to you so that you might know that YHWH is God. There is no one else besides him.
Kwenu haya yalioneshwa, ili muweze kujua kuwa Yahwe ni Mungu, na kwamba hakuna mwingine zaidi yake.
36 Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, that he might instruct you: and on earth he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.
Toka mbinguni alifanya msikie sauti yake, ili kwamba aweze kuwaelekeza, juu ya nchi aliwafanya muone moto wake mkuu, mlisikia maneno yake toka katikati ya moto.
37 Because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their descendants after them, and brought you out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt;
Kwa sababu aliwapenda baba zenu, alichagua wazao wao baada yao, na kuwatoa ninyi Misri kwa uwepo wake, kwa nguvu yake kubwa,
38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as at this day.
ili kusudi awatowe kutoka mbele ya mataifa makubwa na yenye nguvu kuliko ninyi, kuwaleta ndani, kuwapa ninyi nchi yao kama urithi, hivi leo.
39 Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that YHWH he is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
Tambua hivi leo, weka kwenye moyo wako, Yahwe ni Mungu juu ya mbingu na chini ya dunia, hakuna mwingine yeyote.
40 You shall keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land, which YHWH your God gives you, forever.
Mtazishika sheria zake na amri zake ambazo nawaamuru leo, ili kwamba iweze kuwa vizuri kwenu na watoto wenu baada yenu, na kwamba muweze kuongeza siku zenu katika nchi ambayo Yahwe Mungu wenu amewapa milele.”
41 Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;
Kisha Musa alichagua miji mitatu mashariki mwa Yordani,
42 that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares, and did not hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
ili kwamba yoyote aweze kukimbia kati ya moja yao kama imemuua mtu mwingine kwa ajili, pasipo kuwa adui hapo awali. Kwa kukimbilia kwenye moja ya miji hii, atakuwa amenusurika.
43 Bezer in the wilderness, on the plateau, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.
Walikuwa: Bezeri katika jangwa, nchi tambarare, kwa Warubenites; Ramothi huko Gileadi, kwa Gadites; na Golani huko Bashani, kwa Manassites.
44 This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
Hii ni sheria ambayo Musa aliweka mbele ya watu wa Israeli,
45 these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt,
hizi ni amri za agano, sheria, na amri zingine alizungumza na watu wa Israeli wakati walipotoka Misri,
46 beyond the Jordan, in the valley over against Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel struck, when they came forth out of Egypt.
pindi walikuwa Mashariki mwa Yordani, katika bonde mkabala wa Beth Peori, katika nchi ya Sihoni, mfalme wa Amorites, aliyewahi kuishi Heshbon, ambaye Musa na watu wa Israeli waliwahi kumshinda wakati walipotoka Misri.
47 They took his land in possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;
Walichukua nchi yake kama urithi, na nchi ya Ogi mfalme wa Bashani- hawa, wafalme wawili wa Amorites, waliokuwa ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani kuelekea Mashariki.
48 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon),
Himaya hii ilienda kutoka Aroer, katika ukingo wa bonde la Arnon, kwa mlima wa Sion (mlima Hermon),
49 and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
na ilijumuisha tambarare zote za bonde la mto Yordani, Mashariki mwa ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani, kuelekea bahari ya Arabah, kuelekea miteremko ya mlima Pisgah.

< Deuteronomy 4 >