Atũmwo 7
1 Nake mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai ũrĩa mũnene akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Thitango ici nĩ cia ma?”
Then the High Priest asked him, "Are these statements true?"
2 Nake Stefano agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ariũ a Baba na maithe maitũ, ta thikĩrĩriai! Ngai mwene riiri nĩoimĩrĩire ithe witũ Iburahĩmu hĩndĩ ĩrĩa aatũũraga bũrũri wa Mesopotamia, atanathiĩ gũtũũra bũrũri wa Harani.
The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,
3 Akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Thaama uume bũrũri wanyu na ũtige andũ anyu, ũthiĩ bũrũri ũrĩa ngaakuonia.’
and said to him, "'Leave your country and your relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to you.'
4 “Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Iburahĩmu akiuma bũrũri wa Akalidei agĩthiĩ gũtũũra Harani. Thuutha wa gĩkuũ gĩa ithe, Ngai akĩmũruta kuo na agĩũka bũrũri ũyũ mũtũũraga.
"Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.
5 Ndaamũheire igai gũkũ, o na ikinya rĩmwe. No Ngai nĩamwĩrire atĩ we hamwe na njiaro ciake nĩmakegwatĩra bũrũri ũyũ, o na gũtuĩka hĩndĩ ĩyo Iburahĩmu ndaarĩ na mwana.
But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.
6 Ngai eerire Iburahĩmu atĩrĩ: ‘Njiaro ciaku igaatũũra irĩ ngʼeni bũrũri ũtarĩ wacio, kũrĩa igaatuuo ngombo na inyariirwo ihinda rĩa mĩaka magana mana.’
And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.
7 Ningĩ Ngai akiuga atĩrĩ, ‘No nĩngaherithia rũrĩrĩ rũu igaatungata irĩ ngombo; na thuutha ũcio-rĩ, nĩikoima bũrũri ũcio, nacio nĩikaahooya irĩ kũndũ gũkũ.’
"'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them, I will judge,' said God; 'and afterwards they shall come out, and they shall worship Me in this place.'
8 Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩarĩkanĩire na Iburahĩmu kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa ũhoro wa kũrua. Nake Iburahĩmu agĩtuĩka ithe wa Isaaka na akĩmũruithia thikũ ya kanana thuutha wa gũciarwo gwake. Thuutha-inĩ Isaaka agĩtuĩka ithe wa Jakubu, nake Jakubu agĩtuĩka ithe wa athuuri arĩa ikũmi na eerĩ.
"Then He gave him the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac--whom he circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.
9 “Na tondũ wa maguuka maitũ kũiguĩra Jusufu ũiru, nĩmamwendirie bũrũri wa Misiri agatuĩke ngombo kuo. No Ngai aarĩ hamwe nake
"The Patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him
10 na akĩmũhonokia mathĩĩna-inĩ make mothe. Nĩaheire Jusufu ũũgĩ na akĩmũhotithia atuĩke wa kwendeka nĩ Firaũni mũthamaki wa Misiri; nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩmũtua wa gwathaga Misiri o na nyũmba yake yothe ya ũthamaki.
and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all the royal household.
11 “Thuutha ũcio gũkĩgĩa ngʼaragu bũrũri-inĩ wothe wa Misiri, na Kaanani, na ĩkĩrehe gũthĩĩnĩka kũingĩ mũno, namo maithe maitũ makĩaga irio.
But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan--and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food.
12 Rĩrĩa Jakubu aiguire atĩ Misiri nĩ kwarĩ na ngano, agĩtũma maithe maitũ kuo hĩndĩ ya mbere.
When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had, he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.
13 Na rĩrĩa maathiire riita rĩa keerĩ-rĩ, Jusufu akĩĩmenyithania kũrĩ ariũ a ithe, nake Firaũni akĩmenya ũhoro wa nyũmba ya Jusufu.
On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.
14 Thuutha wa ũguo-rĩ, Jusufu agĩtũmanĩra ithe Jakubu na nyũmba yake yothe moke, nao othe maarĩ andũ mĩrongo mũgwanja na atano.
Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his family, numbering seventy-five persons, to come to him,
15 Nake Jakubu agĩikũrũka, agĩthiĩ Misiri, kũrĩa we na maithe maitũ maakuĩrĩire.
and Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and so did our forefathers,
16 Mĩĩrĩ yao nĩyacookirio Shekemu na ĩgĩthikwo mbĩrĩra-inĩ ĩrĩa Iburahĩmu aagũrĩte na mbeeca kuuma kũrĩ ariũ a Hamori kũu Shekemu.
and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money paid in silver.
17 “Rĩrĩa ihinda rĩakuhĩrĩirie rĩa Ngai kũhingia kĩĩranĩro gĩake kũrĩ Iburahĩmu-rĩ, mũigana wa andũ aitũ kũu Misiri nĩwongererekete mũno.
"But as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people became many times more numerous in Egypt,
18 Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũthamaki ũngĩ ũtooĩ ũhoro wa Jusufu agĩtuĩka wa gũthamaka Misiri.
until there arose a foreign king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.
19 Agĩĩka andũ aitũ ũũru mũno na akĩhinyĩrĩria maithe maitũ na ũndũ wa kũmaringĩrĩria na hinya mate tũkenge twao nĩgeetha tũkue.
He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.
20 “Ihinda-inĩ rĩu Musa nĩaciarirwo, nake aarĩ mwana mũthaka mũno. Akĩrererwo mũciĩ gwa ithe ihinda rĩa mĩeri ĩtatũ.
At this time Moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.
21 Rĩrĩa aigirwo nja-rĩ, mwarĩ wa Firaũni akĩmuoya akĩmũrera ta mwana wake.
At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him, and brought him up as her own son.
22 Musa agĩthomithio na ũũgĩ wothe wa andũ a Misiri na aarĩ na hinya wa mĩario na ciĩko.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.
23 “Rĩrĩa Musa aakinyirie mĩaka mĩrongo ĩna-rĩ, agĩtua itua rĩa gũceerera andũ ao a Isiraeli.
"And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.
24 Nĩonire mũndũ ũmwe wao akĩnyariirwo nĩ mũndũ wa Misiri. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩthiĩ kũmũũrĩria na akĩmũrĩhĩria na ũndũ wa kũũraga mũndũ ũcio Mũmisiri.
Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Musa eeciirĩtie atĩ andũ ao nĩmangĩonire atĩ Ngai nĩamũhũthagĩra nĩgeetha amahonokie, no-o matiamenyire ũguo.
He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.
26 Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ Musa agĩthiĩ agĩkora andũ eerĩ a Isiraeli makĩrũa. Akĩgeria kũmaiguithania akĩmeeraga atĩrĩ, ‘Andũ aya, inyuĩ mũrĩ a ithe ũmwe; nĩ kĩĩ kĩratũma mwende gwĩkana ũũru?’
The next day, also, he came and found two of them fighting, and he endeavoured to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging one another?'
27 “No mũndũ ũrĩa wekĩte ũcio ũngĩ ũũru agĩikania Musa, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Nũũ wagũtuire mwathi na mũtuithania wa maciira maitũ?
"But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?
28 Ũrenda kũnjũraga o ta ũrĩa ũrooragire Mũmisiri ira?’
Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
29 Rĩrĩa Musa aiguire ũguo akĩũra agĩthiĩ bũrũri wa Midiani, kũrĩa aatũũrire arĩ ta mũgeni na akĩgĩa na ariũ eerĩ.
"Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the country and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
30 “Na rĩrĩ, mĩaka mĩrongo ĩna yarĩkia gũthira-rĩ, mũraika akiumĩrĩra Musa arĩ nĩnĩmbĩ-inĩ cia mwaki iria ciakanaga kĩhinga-inĩ kũu werũ-inĩ hakuhĩ na Kĩrĩma gĩa Sinai.
"But at the end of forty years there appeared to him in the Desert of Mount Sinai an angel in the middle of a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Rĩrĩa onire ũguo, akĩgega nĩ kĩrĩa onire. Na rĩrĩa aakuhagĩrĩria nĩguo one wega-rĩ, akĩigua mũgambo wa Mwathani ũkiuga atĩrĩ:
When Moses saw this he wondered at the sight; but on his going up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,
32 ‘Niĩ nĩ niĩ Ngai wa maithe manyu, Ngai wa Iburahĩmu, na Isaaka, o na Jakubu.’ Musa akĩinaina nĩ gwĩtigĩra na ndaigana kũrora.
"'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.
33 “Nake Mwathani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Ruta iraatũ ciaku, nĩgũkorwo hau ũrũgamĩte nĩ handũ hatheru.
"'Take off your shoes,' said the Lord, 'for the spot on which you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ti-itherũ nĩnyonete kũhinyĩrĩrio kwa andũ akwa kũu bũrũri wa Misiri. Nĩnjiguĩte gũcaaya kwao, na nĩnjikũrũkĩte thĩ nĩguo ndĩmohorithie. Rĩu ũka nĩngũgũtũma ũcooke Misiri.’
I have seen, yes, I have seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. And now I will send you to Egypt.'
35 “Ũyũ nowe Musa ũrĩa maaregete makiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Nũũ ũgũtuĩte mwathi witũ na mũtũciirithia?’ Ngai we mwene nĩamũtũmire atuĩke mũnene na mũkũũri wao, na ũndũ wa mũraika ũrĩa wamuumĩrĩire kĩhinga-inĩ.
"The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, 'Who appointed you magistrate and judge?' --that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 Akĩmatongoria makiuma Misiri na agĩĩka morirũ na akĩringa ciama arĩ kũu Misiri, o na Iria-inĩ Itune, na ihinda rĩa mĩaka mĩrongo ĩna kũu werũ-inĩ.
This was he who brought them out, after performing marvels and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert for forty years.
37 “Ũyũ nowe Musa ũrĩa werire andũ a Isiraeli atĩrĩ, ‘Ngai nĩakamũtũmĩra mũnabii ta niĩ kuuma kũrĩ andũ anyu kĩũmbe.’
This is the Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, "'God will raise up a Prophet for you, from among your brethren, just as He raised me up.'
38 We aarĩ kĩũngano-inĩ kũu werũ-inĩ, arĩ hamwe na mũraika ũrĩa wamwarĩirie Kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩa Sinai, na aarĩ hamwe na maithe maitũ; nake nĩamũkĩrire ciugo irĩ muoyo nĩgeetha atũkinyĩrie.
'This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.
39 “No rĩrĩ, maithe maitũ nĩmaregire kũmwathĩkĩra. Handũ ha ũguo-rĩ, o makĩmũrega, na thĩinĩ wa ngoro ciao makĩĩrirĩria gũcooka Misiri.
"Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
40 Nao makĩĩra Harũni atĩrĩ, ‘Tũthondekere ngai iria irĩtũtongoragia. Nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũyũ ũgwĩtwo Musa, ũrĩa watũtongoririe tũkiuma bũrũri wa Misiri, tũtiũĩ ũrĩa onete!’
They said to Aaron, "'Make gods for us, to march in front of us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'
41 Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩguo maathondekire mũhianano watariĩ ta njaũ. Makĩũrutĩra magongona, na makĩgĩa na hĩndĩ ya gũkũngũĩra kĩrĩa maathondekete na moko mao.
"Moreover they made a calf at that time, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own hands had made.
42 No Ngai akĩmahutatĩra, na akĩmarekereria mahooyage ciũmbe cia igũrũ. Ũhoro ũyũ ũtwaranĩte na ũrĩa kwandĩkĩtwo ibuku-inĩ rĩa anabii, atĩrĩ: “‘Nĩmwandutĩire magongona na maruta mĩaka mĩrongo ĩna kũu werũ-inĩ, inyuĩ nyũmba ya Isiraeli?
So God turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, "'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, O House of Israel?
43 Nĩmũtũũgĩrĩtie ihooero rĩa Moleku, na njata ya ngai yanyu ĩrĩa ĩĩtagwo Refani, mĩhianano ĩrĩa mwathondekire ya kũhooyaga. Tondũ ũcio, nĩngatũma mũtahwo mũtwarwo’ kũhĩtũka Babuloni.
Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan--the images which you made in order to worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'
44 “Maithe maitũ maarĩ na hema ĩrĩa yetagwo gĩikaro kĩa Ũira kũu werũ-inĩ. Nayo yathondeketwo o ta ũrĩa Ngai eerĩte Musa, kũringana na mũhianĩre ũrĩa onete.
"Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen.
45 Maarĩkia kwamũkĩra hema-rĩ, maithe maitũ, matongoretio nĩ Joshua magĩũka nayo rĩrĩa menyiitĩire bũrũri kuuma kũrĩ ndũrĩrĩ iria Ngai aarutũrũrire ciehere mbere yao. Nayo ĩgĩtũũra kũu bũrũri ũcio o nginya hĩndĩ ya Daudi,
That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.
46 ũrĩa wakenire nĩ gwĩtĩkĩrĩka nĩ Ngai, na akĩhooya etĩkĩrio aakĩre Ngai wa Jakubu gĩikaro.
David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.
47 No Solomoni nĩwe wamwakĩire nyũmba.
But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
48 “No rĩrĩ, Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno ndaikaraga nyũmba ciakĩtwo nĩ andũ. O ta ũrĩa mũnabii oigĩte atĩrĩ:
Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,
49 “‘Igũrũ nĩkuo gĩtĩ gĩakwa kĩa ũnene, nayo thĩ nĩ gaturwa ka makinya makwa. Ũngĩkĩnjakĩra nyũmba ya mũthemba ũrĩkũ? Ũguo nĩguo Mwathani ekũũria. Kana kĩhurũko gĩakwa kĩngĩkorwo kũ?
"'The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?
50 Githĩ ti guoko gwakwa gwathondekire indo ici ciothe?’
Did not My hand form this universe.'
51 “Inyuĩ andũ aya aremi, o inyuĩ mũtarĩ aruu ngoro na matũ! Inyuĩ mũtariĩ o ta maithe manyu: Inyuĩ mũtũũraga mũreganĩte na Roho Mũtheru!
"O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--just as your forefathers were.
52 Nĩ kũrĩ mũnabii ũtaanyariirirwo nĩ maithe manyu? Mooragire o na andũ arĩa maarathire ũhoro wa gũũka kwa Ũrĩa Mũthingu. Na rĩu nĩmũmũkunyanĩire na mũkamũũraga;
Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--
53 o inyuĩ mwamũkĩrire watho ũrĩa waathanirwo kũgerera araika no mũkĩaga kũwathĩkĩra.”
you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have not obeyed it."
54 Rĩrĩa maiguire maũndũ macio-rĩ, makĩrakara mũno, na makĩmũhagaranĩria magego.
As they listened to these words, they became infuriated and gnashed their teeth at him.
55 No Stefano, aiyũrĩtwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru, Agĩcũthĩrĩria igũrũ akĩona riiri wa Ngai, na Jesũ arũgamĩte guoko-inĩ kwa ũrĩo kwa Ngai.
But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
56 Akiuga atĩrĩ, “Onei, nĩndĩrona igũrũ rĩhingũkĩte nake Mũrũ wa Mũndũ arũgamĩte guoko-inĩ kwa ũrĩo kwa Ngai.”
"I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."
57 Maigua ũguo makĩhumbĩra matũ mao, makĩhanyũka harĩ we makiugagĩrĩria na mũgambo mũnene.
Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears, rushed upon Stephen in a body,
58 makĩmũkururia, makĩmumia nja ya itũũra, na makĩambĩrĩria kũmũhũũra na mahiga nyuguto. Nao, aira makĩiga nguo ciao magũrũ-inĩ ma mwanake wetagwo Saũlũ.
dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.
59 Rĩrĩa maamũhũũraga na mahiga nyuguto, Stefano nĩahooire Ngai, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Mwathani Jesũ, amũkĩra roho wakwa.”
So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60 Agĩcooka agĩturia ndu, akĩanĩrĩra, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Mwathani, ndũkamoorie rĩĩhia rĩĩrĩ.” Na aarĩkia kuuga ũguo, agĩkoma.
Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.
