< Esta 1 >
1 Hili ndilo lililotokea wakati wa utawala wa Mfalme Ahasuero, yule aliyetawala juu ya majimbo mia na ishirini na saba tangu Bara Hindi hadi Kushi.
Now it happened in the days of Achashyerosh (this is Achashyerosh who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
2 Wakati huo Mfalme Ahasuero alitawala katika kiti chake cha enzi katika ngome ya mji wa Shushani.
that in those days, when the King Achashyerosh sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wake, alifanya karamu kwa ajili ya wakuu wake wote pamoja na maafisa. Akawaalika viongozi wa jeshi wa Uajemi na Umedi, wana wa wafalme na wakuu wa majimbo.
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his officials and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him.
4 Kwa siku zote 180 mfalme alionyesha utajiri mwingi wa ufalme wake, fahari na utukufu wa enzi yake.
He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
5 Siku hizo zilipopita, mfalme alifanya karamu kwa muda wa siku saba, katika bustani ya ndani katika jumba la kifalme, kwa ajili ya watu wote kuanzia mdogo hadi mkubwa, waliokuwa katika ngome ya mji wa Shushani.
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
6 Bustani ilikuwa na mapazia ya kitani nyeupe na buluu, yaliyofungiwa kamba za kitani nyeupe na kitambaa cha zambarau, kwenye pete za fedha juu ya nguzo za marmar. Kulikuwepo viti vya dhahabu na vya fedha vilivyokuwa vimewekwa kwenye ile sakafu iliyotengenezwa kwa mawe ya rangi, marmar, lulumizi na mawe mengine ya thamani.
There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.
7 Vyombo vya dhahabu vilitumika kwa watu kunywea mvinyo, kila kimoja tofauti na kingine, naye mfalme akatoa mvinyo kwa wingi kwa kadiri ya ukarimu wake.
They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
8 Kwa amri ya mfalme kila mgeni aliruhusiwa kunywa alichotaka, kwa kuwa mfalme alitoa maagizo kwa watumishi wote wa kuhudumu mvinyo kumhudumia kila mtu kwa jinsi alivyotaka.
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 Malkia Vashti pia akawafanyia wanawake karamu katika jumba la kifalme la Mfalme Ahasuero.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Achashyerosh.
10 Siku ya saba, wakati Mfalme Ahasuero alikuwa amesisimka roho yake kwa mvinyo, aliamuru matowashi saba waliokuwa wakimhudumia, yaani, Mehumani, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethari na Karkasi,
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Achashyerosh the king,
11 kumleta Malkia Vashti mbele ya mfalme akiwa amevaa taji lake la kifalme, ili aonyeshe uzuri wake kwa watu na wakuu, kwa kuwa alikuwa ni mzuri wa kupendeza.
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the officials her beauty; for she was beautiful.
12 Lakini wakati watumishi walipotoa amri ya mfalme, Malkia Vashti alikataa kuja. Ndipo mfalme alighadhibika, na hasira yake ikawaka.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
13 Kwa kuwa ilikuwa desturi ya mfalme kupata ushauri kwa wataalamu katika mambo ya sheria na haki, alizungumza na watu wenye busara, ambao walijua nyakati,
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;
14 nao waliokuwa karibu na mfalme ni Karshena, Shethari, Admatha, Tarshishi, Meresi, Marsena na Memukani, wakuu saba wa Uajemi na Umedi waliokuwa na nafasi ya pekee kwa mfalme nao walikuwa na vyeo vya juu kabisa katika utawala wake.
and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),
15 Mfalme akauliza, “Kulingana na sheria, Malkia Vashti anapaswa kutendewa nini? Malkia hakutii amri ya Mfalme Ahasuero ambayo matowashi walimpelekea.”
"What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Achashyerosh by the eunuchs?"
16 Kisha Memukani akajibu mbele ya mfalme na wakuu, “Malkia Vashti si kwamba amemkosea mfalme tu bali pia amewakosea wakuu wote na watu wa himaya yote ya Mfalme Ahasuero.
Memucan answered before the king and the officials, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the officials and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Achashyerosh.
17 Kwa maana tendo hili la malkia litajulikana kwa wanawake wote, kwa hiyo watawadharau waume zao na kusema, ‘Mfalme Ahasuero aliagiza Malkia Vashti aletwe mbele yake, lakini alikataa.’
For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Achashyerosh commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.'
18 Leo hii wanawake wa wakuu wa Uajemi na Umedi ambao wamesikia juu ya tabia ya malkia watawatendea wakuu wote wa mfalme vivyo hivyo. Hapatakuwepo na mwisho wa dharau na magomvi.
Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will tell all the king's officials. This will cause much contempt and wrath.
19 “Kwa hiyo, kama itampendeza mfalme, atoe amri ya kifalme na iandikwe katika sheria ya Uajemi na Umedi, ambayo haitabadilika, kwamba Vashti kamwe asije tena mbele ya Mfalme Ahasuero. Pia mfalme na atoe hiyo nafasi yake ya umalkia kwa mwanamke mwingine aliye bora kumliko yeye.
If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Achashyerosh; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
20 Kisha mbiu hii ya mfalme itakapotangazwa katika himaya yake iliyo kubwa sana, wanawake wote watawaheshimu waume zao, kuanzia mdogo hadi mkubwa.”
When the king's decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small."
21 Mfalme na wakuu wake walipendezwa na shauri hili, hivyo basi mfalme akafanya kama Memukani alivyopendekeza.
And this advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 Alipeleka barua katika sehemu zote za ufalme wake, kwa kila jimbo kwa maandishi yake mwenyewe na kwa kila watu katika lugha yao wenyewe, akitangaza kwa msemo wa kila watu kwamba inampasa kila mwanaume kuwa mtawala wa nyumba yake mwenyewe.
for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.