< Mwanzo 15 >
1 Baada ya jambo hili, neno la Bwana likamjia Abramu katika maono: “Usiogope, Abramu. Mimi ni ngao yako, na thawabu yako kubwa sana.”
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
2 Lakini Abramu akasema, “Ee Bwana Mwenyezi, utanipa nini na mimi sina hata mtoto na atakayerithi nyumba yangu ni huyu Eliezeri Mdameski?”
But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 Abramu akasema, “Hukunipa watoto, hivyo mtumishi katika nyumba yangu ndiye atakuwa mrithi wangu.”
Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Ndipo neno la Bwana lilipomjia: “Mtu huyu hatakuwa mrithi wako, bali mwana atakayetoka katika viuno vyako mwenyewe ndiye atakayekuwa mrithi wako.”
Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
5 Akamtoa nje na kusema, “Tazama juu kuelekea mbinguni na uhesabu nyota, kama hakika utaweza kuzihesabu.” Ndipo akamwambia, “Hivyo ndivyo uzao wako utakavyokuwa.”
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 Abramu akamwamini Bwana, naye kwake hili likahesabiwa kuwa haki.
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
7 Pia akamwambia, “Mimi ndimi Bwana, niliyekutoa toka Uru ya Wakaldayo nikupe nchi hii uimiliki.”
The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
8 Lakini Abramu akasema, “Ee Bwana Mwenyezi, nitawezaje kujua kwamba nitapata kuimiliki?”
But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”
9 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia, “Niletee mtamba wa ngʼombe, mbuzi na kondoo dume, kila mmoja wa miaka mitatu, pamoja na hua na kinda la njiwa.”
And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
10 Abramu akamletea hivi vyote, akampasua kila mnyama vipande viwili, akavipanga kila kimoja kuelekea mwenzake, lakini hata hivyo ndege, hakuwapasua vipande viwili.
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.
11 Kisha ndege walao nyama wakatua juu ya mizoga, lakini Abramu akawafukuza.
And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
12 Wakati jua lilipokuwa linatua, Abramu akashikwa na usingizi mzito, giza nene na la kutisha likaja juu yake.
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
13 Kisha Bwana akamwambia, “Ujue hakika kwamba wazao wako watakuwa wageni kwenye nchi ambayo si yao, nao watafanywa watumwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14 Lakini nitaliadhibu taifa lile watakalolitumikia kama watumwa, na baadaye watatoka huko na mali nyingi.
But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.
15 Wewe, hata hivyo utakwenda kwa baba zako kwa amani na kuzikwa katika uzee mwema.
You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.
16 Katika kizazi cha nne wazao wako watarudi hapa, kwa maana dhambi ya Waamori bado haijafikia kipimo kilichojaa.”
In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 Wakati jua lilipokuwa limezama na giza limeingia, tanuru la moshi na mwali wa moto unaowaka vikatokea na kupita kati ya vile vipande vya nyama.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.
18 Siku hiyo Bwana akafanya Agano na Abramu, na kumwambia, “Nitawapa wazao wako nchi hii, kuanzia Kijito cha Misri hadi mto ule mkubwa, Frati,
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
19 yaani nchi ya Wakeni, Wakenizi, Wakadmoni,
the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
20 Wahiti, Waperizi, Warefai,
Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
21 Waamori, Wakanaani, Wagirgashi na Wayebusi.”
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”