Numbers 17
1 Then Yahweh said to Moses/me,
Bwana akamwambia Mose,
2 “Tell the Israeli people to bring to you twelve walking sticks. They should bring one from each of the leaders of the twelve tribes. You should carve each leader’s name on his stick.
“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 There must be one stick for the leader of each tribe, so you must carve Aaron’s name on the stick for the tribe of Levi.
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 Put those sticks inside the Sacred Tent, in front of the sacred chest that has in it the tablets on which the Ten Commandments are written. That is the place where I always talk with you.
Ziweke hizo fimbo ndani ya Hema la Kukutania mbele ya Sanduku la Ushuhuda, mahali nikutanapo nawe.
5 Buds will sprout on the stick of the man whom I have chosen [to be the priest]. [When the people see that], they will stop their constantly complaining about you [because they will realize that you are the one whom I have chosen].”
Fimbo ya mtu nitakayemchagua itachipuka, nami mwenyewe nitayakomesha haya manungʼuniko ya mara kwa mara ya Waisraeli dhidi yako.”
6 So Moses/I told the people what Yahweh had said. Then each of the twelve Israeli leaders, including Aaron, brought his walking stick to Moses/me.
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 Moses/I placed the sticks inside the Sacred Tent in front of the sacred chest.
Mose akaziweka hizo fimbo mbele za Bwana ndani ya Hema la Ushuhuda.
8 The following morning, when he/I went into the tent, he/I saw that Aaron’s stick, which represented the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, it had produced leaves and blossoms, and it had also produced almonds that were ripe!
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 Moses/I brought all the sticks out of the Sacred Tent and showed them to the people. Each of the twelve leaders took back his own stick.
Ndipo Mose akaleta zile fimbo zote kwa Waisraeli wote kutoka mbele za Bwana. Wakaziangalia, na kila mtu akaichukua fimbo yake mwenyewe.
10 Then Yahweh said to Moses/me, “Put Aaron’s stick in front of the sacred chest, and let it stay there permanently. That will be a warning to people who want to rebel [against me]. Then no more people will die [because of complaining against me].”
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/I did what Yahweh had commanded.
Mose akafanya kama Bwana alivyomwamuru.
12 Then the Israeli people said to Moses/me, “We are going to die! All of us are surely going to die!
Waisraeli wakamwambia Mose, “Tutakufa! Tumepotea, sote tumepotea!
13 Everyone who comes close to Yahweh’s Sacred Tent dies. Are the rest of us going to die, also?” [RHQ]
Yeyote akaribiaye Maskani ya Bwana atakufa. Je, sisi sote tutakufa?”
