< Okuva 18 >

1 Yesero, kabona w’e Midiyaani, era kitaawe wa mukyala wa Musa, n’awulira byonna Katonda bye yakolera Musa n’abantu be, Abayisirayiri; era nga Mukama yaggya Isirayiri mu Misiri.
And when Jethro, the priest of Midian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all that God had done for Moses, and for his people Israel, and that the Lord had led Israel away from Egypt,
2 Ye yalabiriranga Zipola, mukyala wa Musa; kubanga Musa yali amuzzizza ewaabwe ng’amumulekedde,
he brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, whom he was to return to him,
3 ne batabani be babiri. Mutabani we omu yamutuuma Gerusomu, kubanga Musa yagamba nti, “Mbadde mugwira mu nsi etali yange;”
and her two sons, of whom one was called Gershom, (for his father said, “I have been a newcomer in a foreign land,”)
4 n’erinnya ly’omulala lyali Eryeza, kubanga yagamba nti, “Katonda wa kitange ye yali omubeezi wange, era n’amponya ekitala kya Falaawo.”
and the other in truth was Eliezer, (“For the God of my father,” he said, “is my helper, and has rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)
5 Yesero, mukoddomi wa Musa, n’ajja ne batabani ba Musa ne mukyala we eri Musa mu ddungu, we yali asiisidde okuliraana olusozi lwa Katonda.
And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, with his sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert, where he was encamped next to the mountain of God.
6 Yesero yali amutumidde nti, “Nze Yesero mukoddomi wo, nzija okukulabako. Ndi ne mukyala wo ne batabani be bombi.”
And he sent word to Moses, saying: “I, Jethro, your kinsman, have come to you, with your wife, and your two sons with her.”
7 Awo Musa n’afuluma n’agenda okwaniriza mukoddomi we; n’akutamako ng’amulamusa, n’amugwa mu kifuba. Ne balamusaganya, n’oluvannyuma ne bayingira mu weema.
And going out to meet his kinsman, he reverenced and kissed him. And they saluted each other with peaceful words. And when he had arrived at the tent,
8 Musa n’anyumiza mukoddomi we ebyo byonna Mukama bye yakola Falaawo n’Abamisiri ng’abalanga Isirayiri; n’ebizibu ebyabatuukako mu lugendo lwabe, ne Mukama nga bwe yabibawonya.
Moses explained to his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on behalf of Israel, and all the hardships which had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had freed them.
9 Yesero n’asanyuka nnyo okuwulira ebirungi ebyo byonna Mukama bye yakolera Isirayiri, ng’abanunula ku Bamisiri.
And Jethro was gladdened over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel, because he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Yesero n’agamba nti, “Mukama atenderezebwe eyabanunula mu mikono gy’Abamisiri ne mu mukono gwa Falaawo, n’aggya abantu be mu mikono gy’Abamisiri.
And he said: “Blessed is the Lord, who has freed his people from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh; he has rescued his people from the hand of Egypt.
11 Kaakano ntegedde nga Mukama mukulu wa kitiibwa okukira bakatonda bonna, kubanga yanunula abantu be mu mikono gyabo abaali babeeragirako.”
Now I know that the great Lord is above all gods. This is why they acted arrogantly against them.”
12 Awo Yesero, mukoddomi wa Musa, n’awaayo eri Katonda ekiweebwayo ekyokye ne ssaddaaka endala; Alooni n’abakulembeze ba Isirayiri bonna ne balya ne mukoddomi wa Musa emmere mu maaso ga Katonda.
And so Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and sacrifices to God. And Aaron arrived with all the elders of Israel, in order to eat bread with him in the sight of God.
13 Awo bwe bwakya enkya, Musa n’atuula ku ntebe ye okulamula abantu. Abantu ne bamwetooloola okuva enkya okutuusa akawungeezi.
Then, the next day, Moses sat down in order to judge the people, and they stood beside Moses from morning, even until evening.
14 Mukoddomi we bwe yalaba Musa bye yali akolera abantu, n’amugamba nti, “Kiki kino ky’okola? Lwaki olamula bw’omu, abantu bano bonna ne bayimirira okukwetooloola okuva ku nkya okutuusa akawungeezi?”
And when, of course, his kinsman saw all that he did among the people, he said: “What is this that you do among the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand before you, from morning, even until evening?”
15 Musa n’addamu mukoddomi we nti, “Kubanga abantu bajja gye ndi bategeere Katonda by’ayagala.
And Moses answered him: “The people come to me seeking the verdict of God.
16 Buli lwe babeera n’obutakkiriziganya, bajja gye ndi, ne mbasalirawo, era ne mbategeeza amateeka ga Katonda n’ebiragiro bye.”
And when any kind of dispute occurs among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to reveal the precepts of God and of his laws.”
17 Mukoddomi wa Musa n’amugamba nti, “Ky’okola si kirungi.
But he said, “This is not good, what you are doing.
18 Ggwe, n’abantu bano bonna abajja gy’oli, mujja kukoowa nnyo. Kubanga omulimu guno munene nnyo; tosobola kugukola bw’omu.
You will be consumed by foolish efforts, both you and this people who are with you. The task is beyond your strength; you will not be able bear it alone.
19 Nkusaba ompulirize nkusalire ku magezi, ne Katonda ng’ali naawe. Osaana obeere omubaka w’abantu ewa Katonda, era omutuusengako ensonga zaabwe.
But listen to my words and counsels, and then God will be with you. Be available to the people in that which pertains to God, so as to refer what they say to him,
20 Bayigirize amateeka n’ebiragiro, era obalage nga bwe basaana okweyisanga, awamu n’emirimu gye basaanidde okukola.
and to reveal to the people the ceremonies, and the rituals of worship, and the way by which they should progress, and the work that they should do.
21 Londayo abasajja abalina ebisaanyizo, ng’obaggya mu bantu bonna, abasajja abatya Katonda, ab’amazima era abatalya nguzi; obawe obukulembeze, ng’abamu bavunaanyizibwa abantu enkumi, n’abalala abantu ebikumi, n’abamu ebibiina eby’ataano n’abalala eby’ekkumi kkumi.
Then provide, from all of the people, men capable and fearing God, in whom there is truth and who hate avarice, and appoint from them tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens,
22 Bawe obuyinza okulamulanga abantu ebbanga lyonna, naye ng’emisango emizibu bagikuleetera, emisango emyangu bo bagisalenga. Ekyo kinaawewulanga ku buzito bw’omugugu gwo, kubanga banaabanga bagukukwatirako.
who may judge the people at all times. Then, when anything greater will have occurred, they may refer it to you, and let them judge the lesser matters only. And so it may be lighter for you, the burden being divided among others.
23 Singa okola bw’otyo, nga ne Katonda bw’akulagidde, ojja kusobola okugumira emirimu egyo, era n’abantu bano bonna balyoke baddeyo ewaabwe nga basanyuse.”
If you will do this, you will fulfill the orders of God, and you will be able to uphold his precepts. And this entire people will return to their places in peace.”
24 Musa bw’atyo n’awuliriza amagezi gonna mukoddomi we ge yamuwa, n’akolera ku ebyo byonna bye yamubuulirira.
Having heard this, Moses did everything that he had suggested to him.
25 Musa n’alonda mu Isirayiri yonna abasajja abasobola, n’abafuula abakulembeze b’abantu; nga bavunaanyizibwa enkumi, n’abalala ebikumi, n’abamu amakumi ataano ataano, n’abalala kkumi kkumi.
And choosing virtuous men from all of Israel, he appointed them as leaders of the people: tribunes, and leaders of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens.
26 Ne balamula abantu ebbanga lyonna. Emisango emizibu nga bagireetera Musa, naye emyangu nga bagisala.
And they judged the people at all times. But whatever was more serious, they referred to him, and they judged easier matters only.
27 Awo Musa n’asiibula mukoddomi we, mukoddomi we n’akwata ekkubo ne yeddirayo mu nsi y’ewaabwe.
And he dismissed his kinsman, who, turning back, went to his own land.

< Okuva 18 >