Torati 18
1 Makuhani ambao ni Walawi, yaani kabila lote la Lawi, hawatakuwa na mgawo wala urithi pamoja na Israeli. Wataishi kwa sadaka zitolewazo kwa ajili ya Bwana za kuteketezwa kwa moto, kwa maana huo ndio urithi wao.
“The priests and the Levites, and all who are from the same tribe, shall have no portion or inheritance with the rest of Israel. For they shall eat the sacrifices of the Lord and his oblations.
2 Hawatakuwa na urithi miongoni mwa ndugu zao; Bwana ndiye urithi wao, kama alivyowaahidi.
And they shall receive nothing else from the possession of their brothers. For the Lord himself is their inheritance, just as he said to them.
3 Hili ndilo fungu la makuhani kutoka kwa watu watakaotoa dhabihu ya fahali au kondoo: mguu wa mbele, mataya na matumbo.
This shall be the recompense for the priests from the people, and from those who offer victims, whether they will immolate an ox or a sheep. They shall give to the priest the shoulder and the breast,
4 Mtawapa malimbuko ya nafaka zenu, divai mpya, mafuta na sufu ya kwanza kutoka manyoya ya kondoo zenu,
the first-fruits of grain, wine, and oil, and a portion of the wool from the shearing of the sheep.
5 kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wenu amewachagua pamoja na wazao wao kutoka makabila yenu kusimama na kuhudumu katika jina la Bwana siku zote.
For the Lord your God himself has chosen him out of all your tribes, so that he may stand and minister to the name of the Lord, him and his sons, forever.
6 Ikiwa Mlawi atahama kutoka mmojawapo ya miji yenu popote katika Israeli ambapo anaishi, akaja kwa moyo wote mahali ambapo Bwana atapachagua,
If a Levite departs from one of the cities, throughout all of Israel, in which he lives, and if he wills and desires to go to the place which the Lord will choose,
7 anaweza akahudumu katika jina la Bwana Mungu wake kama Walawi wenzake wote wanaohudumu hapo mbele za Bwana.
he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, as do all his brothers, the Levites, who will be standing at that time in the sight of the Lord.
8 Atashiriki sawa katika mafao yao, hata kama amepokea fedha kutoka mauzo ya mali ya jamaa yake.
He shall receive the same portion of food as the rest also receive, besides that which is due to him in his own city, by succession from his fathers.
9 Wakati mtakapoingia katika nchi ambayo Bwana Mungu wenu anawapa, msijifunze kuiga njia za machukizo za mataifa ya huko.
When you will have entered into the land which the Lord your God will give to you, be careful that you are not willing to imitate the abominations of those nations.
10 Asionekane mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu ampitishaye mwanawe au binti yake katika moto, atakayefanya uaguzi, ulozi, anayetabiri nyakati, anayejishughulisha na uchawi,
Do not let there be found among you one who would purify his son or daughter by leading them through fire, nor one who consults seers, nor one who observes dreams or omens. Do not let there be found among you one who practices the occult,
11 wala arogaye kwa kupiga mafundo, wala mwaguzi au anayeabudu mizimu, wala awaombaye wafu.
nor one who uses spells, nor one who consults demonic spirits, nor a diviner, nor one who seeks the truth from the dead.
12 Mtu yeyote afanyaye mambo haya ni chukizo kwa Bwana, tena ni kwa sababu ya matendo haya ya kuchukiza wayafanyayo ndiyo maana Bwana Mungu wenu atayafukuza mataifa hayo mbele yenu.
For the Lord abominates all these things. And, because of these wicked ways, he will destroy them at your arrival.
13 Kamwe msilaumiwe mbele za Bwana Mungu wenu.
You shall be perfect and without blemish with the Lord your God.
14 Mataifa mtakayowafukuza husikiliza wale wafanyao ulozi na uaguzi. Lakini kwenu ninyi, Bwana Mungu wenu hajawaruhusu kufanya hivyo.
These nations, whose land you shall possess, they listen to soothsayers and diviners. But you have been otherwise instructed by the Lord your God.
15 Bwana Mungu wenu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe. Msikilizeni yeye.
The Lord your God will raise up for you a PROPHET from your nation and from your brothers, similar to me. You shall listen to him,
16 Kwa kuwa hivi ndivyo mlivyomwomba Bwana Mungu wenu kule Horebu siku ile ya kusanyiko, wakati mliposema, “Na tusiisikie sauti ya Bwana Mungu wetu, wala kuuona moto huu mkubwa tena, ama sivyo tutakufa.”
just as you petitioned of the Lord your God at Horeb, when the assembly was gathered together, and you said: ‘Let me no longer hear the voice of the Lord my God, and let me no longer see this very great fire, lest I die.’
17 Bwana akaniambia: “Wanachosema ni vyema.
And the Lord said to me: ‘They have spoken all these things well.
18 Nitawainulia nabii kama wewe kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zao; nitaweka maneno yangu kinywani mwake, naye atawaambia kila kitu nitakachomwamuru.
I will raise up a prophet for them, from the midst of their brothers, similar to you. And I will place my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all the things that I will instruct him.
19 Kama mtu yeyote hatasikiliza maneno yangu ambayo huyo nabii atayasema kwa Jina langu, mimi mwenyewe nitamwajibisha.
But against anyone who is not willing to listen to his words, which he will speak in my name, I will stand forth as the avenger.
20 Lakini nabii ambaye atathubutu kusema kwa Jina langu kitu chochote ambacho sikumwamuru akiseme, au nabii ambaye husema kwa jina la miungu mingine ni lazima auawe.”
But if a prophet, having been corrupted by arrogance, chooses to speak, in my name, things which I did not instruct him to say, or to speak in the name of foreign gods, he shall be put to death.
21 Mnaweza kuulizana wenyewe, “Tutawezaje kujua wakati ujumbe haukusemwa na Bwana?”
But if, in silent thought, you respond: “How will I be able to recognize a word which the Lord has not spoken?”
22 Ikiwa kile nabii anachotangaza kwa jina la Bwana hakikutokea au kutimia, huo ni ujumbe ambao Bwana hakusema. Nabii huyo amesema kwa ujuaji. Msimwogope huyo.
you shall have this sign. If whatever that prophet predicts in the name of the Lord does not happen, then the Lord has not spoken it. Instead, the prophet has formed it through the swelling of his own mind. And for this reason, you shall not fear him.’”
