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.’”
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.
2 Farao akasema, “Huyo Bwana ni nani, hata nimtii na kuruhusu Israeli uende? Simjui huyo Bwana wala sitawaruhusu Israeli waende.”
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
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 met with us: let us go, we pray you, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice to the LORD our God; lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4 Lakini mfalme wa Misri akasema, “Mbona ninyi Mose na Aroni mnawachukua watu waache kazi zao? Rudini kwenye kazi zenu!”
And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you to your burdens.
5 Kisha Farao akasema, “Tazama, sasa watu hawa ni wengi, nanyi mnawazuia kufanya kazi.”
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens.
6 Siku iyo hiyo Farao akatoa amri hii kwa viongozi wa watumwa na wasimamizi wa watu akawaambia:
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7 “Tangu sasa msiwape hawa watu nyasi za kutengenezea matofali. Wao wakusanye nyasi zao wenyewe.
You shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
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 the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you shall lay on them; you shall not diminish any thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Fanyeni kazi kuwa ngumu zaidi kwa watu hao ili kwamba wakazane na kazi na kuacha kusikiliza uongo.”
Let there more work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard vain words.
10 Basi viongozi wa watumwa na wasimamizi wakaenda kuwaambia watu, “Hivi ndivyo Farao asemavyo: ‘Sitawapa tena nyasi.
And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11 Nendeni mkatafute nyasi wenyewe popote mnapoweza kuzipata, lakini kazi yenu haitapunguzwa hata kidogo.’”
Go you, get you straw where you can find it: yet not any of your work shall be diminished.
12 Basi watu wakatawanyika kote nchini Misri kukusanya mabua ya kutumia badala ya nyasi.
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
13 Viongozi wa watumwa wakasisitiza, wakisema, “Timizeni kazi mnayotakiwa kwa kila siku, kama wakati ule mlipokuwa mkipewa nyasi.”
And the taskmasters hurried them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
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 the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?
15 Ndipo wasimamizi wa Kiisraeli wakaenda kumlilia Farao, wakisema: “Mbona umewatendea watumishi wako hivi?
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why deal you thus with your servants?
16 Watumishi wako hawapewi nyasi, hata hivyo tumeambiwa, ‘Tengenezeni matofali!’ Watumishi wako wanapigwa, lakini kosa ni la watu wako wenyewe.”
There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.
17 Farao akasema, “Ninyi ni wavivu ndiyo sababu mnasema, ‘Turuhusu twende tukamtolee Bwana dhabihu.’
But he said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
18 Sasa nendeni kazini. Hamtapewa nyasi zozote, nanyi ni lazima mtengeneze matofali.”
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the tale of bricks.
19 Wasimamizi wa Kiisraeli walitambua kuwa wako taabani walipoambiwa, “Hamtakiwi kupunguza idadi ya matofali mliotakiwa kutengeneza kila siku.”
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, You shall not diminish any from your bricks of your daily task.
20 Walipoondoka kwa Farao, wakawakuta Mose na Aroni wakingojea kukutana nao,
And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth 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, The LORD look on you, and judge; because you have made our smell to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay 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 said, LORD, why have you so evil entreated this people? why is it that you have sent me?
23 Tangu nilipomwendea Farao kuzungumza naye kwa jina lako, amewaletea taabu watu hawa, nawe kamwe hujawakomboa watu wako.”
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have you delivered your people at all.
