Kutoka 5
1 Baadaye Mose na Aroni wakaenda kwa Farao, wakamwambia, “Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: ‘Waruhusu watu wangu waende, ili waweze kunifanyia sikukuu huko jangwani.’”
After these things, Moses and Aaron entered, and they said to Pharaoh: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Release my people, so that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.”
2 Farao akasema, “Huyo Bwana ni nani, hata nimtii na kuruhusu Israeli uende? Simjui huyo Bwana wala sitawaruhusu Israeli waende.”
But he responded: “Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel.”
3 Ndipo Mose na Aroni wakasema, “Mungu wa Waebrania amekutana nasi. Sasa turuhusu tuwe na safari ya siku tatu ya jangwani ili tukamtolee Bwana Mungu wetu dhabihu, la sivyo aweza kutupiga sisi kwa tauni au kwa upanga.”
And they said: “The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us.”
4 Lakini mfalme wa Misri akasema, “Mbona ninyi Mose na Aroni mnawachukua watu waache kazi zao? Rudini kwenye kazi zenu!”
The king of Egypt said to them: “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens.”
5 Kisha Farao akasema, “Tazama, sasa watu hawa ni wengi, nanyi mnawazuia kufanya kazi.”
And Pharaoh said: “The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?”
6 Siku iyo hiyo Farao akatoa amri hii kwa viongozi wa watumwa na wasimamizi wa watu akawaambia:
Therefore, on the same day, he instructed the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
7 “Tangu sasa msiwape hawa watu nyasi za kutengenezea matofali. Wao wakusanye nyasi zao wenyewe.
“You shall no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may go and gather straw.
8 Lakini watakeni kutengeneza matofali kiasi kile kile cha mwanzo, kiwango kisipunguzwe. Wao ni wavivu, ndiyo sababu wanalia, wakisema, ‘Turuhusiwe twende kumtolea Mungu wetu dhabihu.’
And you shall impose upon them the same quota of bricks that they made before. Neither will you lessen anything, for they are idle, and therefore they cry out, saying: ‘We shall go and sacrifice to our God.’
9 Fanyeni kazi kuwa ngumu zaidi kwa watu hao ili kwamba wakazane na kazi na kuacha kusikiliza uongo.”
They shall be oppressed with works, and these shall occupy them, so that they may not agree to lying words.”
10 Basi viongozi wa watumwa na wasimamizi wakaenda kuwaambia watu, “Hivi ndivyo Farao asemavyo: ‘Sitawapa tena nyasi.
And so the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: “Thus says Pharaoh: I give you no chaff.
11 Nendeni mkatafute nyasi wenyewe popote mnapoweza kuzipata, lakini kazi yenu haitapunguzwa hata kidogo.’”
Go, and collect it wherever you are able to find it. Neither will anything of your work be diminished.”
12 Basi watu wakatawanyika kote nchini Misri kukusanya mabua ya kutumia badala ya nyasi.
And the people were dispersed through all the land of Egypt, in order to gather straw.
13 Viongozi wa watumwa wakasisitiza, wakisema, “Timizeni kazi mnayotakiwa kwa kila siku, kama wakati ule mlipokuwa mkipewa nyasi.”
Likewise, the overseers of the works pressured them, saying: “Complete your work each day, just as you were accustomed to do before, when straw was given to you.”
14 Wasimamizi wa Kiisraeli waliochaguliwa na viongozi wa watumwa wa Farao walipigwa na kuulizwa, “Kwa nini hamkutimiza kiwango chenu cha kutengeneza matofali jana na leo, kama mwanzoni?”
And those who were first in the works of the sons of Israel were scourged by Pharaoh’s taskmasters, saying: “Why have you not filled the quota of bricks, neither yesterday, nor today, just as before?”
15 Ndipo wasimamizi wa Kiisraeli wakaenda kumlilia Farao, wakisema: “Mbona umewatendea watumishi wako hivi?
And the first among the sons of Israel came, and they cried out to Pharaoh, saying: “Why do act against your servants in this way?
16 Watumishi wako hawapewi nyasi, hata hivyo tumeambiwa, ‘Tengenezeni matofali!’ Watumishi wako wanapigwa, lakini kosa ni la watu wako wenyewe.”
Straw is not given to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your people.”
17 Farao akasema, “Ninyi ni wavivu ndiyo sababu mnasema, ‘Turuhusu twende tukamtolee Bwana dhabihu.’
And he said: “You are idle. And for this reason you say, ‘We shall go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
18 Sasa nendeni kazini. Hamtapewa nyasi zozote, nanyi ni lazima mtengeneze matofali.”
Therefore, go and work. Straw will not be given to you, and you will return the customary number of bricks.”
19 Wasimamizi wa Kiisraeli walitambua kuwa wako taabani walipoambiwa, “Hamtakiwi kupunguza idadi ya matofali mliotakiwa kutengeneza kila siku.”
And the first among the sons of Israel saw themselves in a crisis, because it was said to them, “Nothing at all will be lessened from the bricks throughout each day.”
20 Walipoondoka kwa Farao, wakawakuta Mose na Aroni wakingojea kukutana nao,
And they met with Moses and Aaron, who stood opposite them as they departed from Pharaoh.
21 wakawaambia Mose na Aroni, “Bwana na awaangalie awahukumu ninyi! Mmetufanya tunuke kwa Farao na maafisa wake, nanyi mmeweka upanga mikononi mwao ili kutuua sisi.”
And they said to them: “May the Lord see and judge, because you have caused our odor to become foul before Pharaoh and his servants, and you have provided him with a sword, in order to kill us.”
22 Mose akarudi kwa Bwana na kumwambia, “Ee Bwana, mbona umewaletea watu hawa taabu? Kwa nini basi ukanituma mimi?
And Moses returned to the Lord, and he said: “Lord, why have you afflicted this people? Why have you sent me?
23 Tangu nilipomwendea Farao kuzungumza naye kwa jina lako, amewaletea taabu watu hawa, nawe kamwe hujawakomboa watu wako.”
For from the time that I entered to Pharaoh, so as to speak in your name, he has afflicted your people. And you have not freed them.”
