Mwanzo 18
1 Bwana akamtokea Abrahamu karibu na mialoni ya Mamre wakati alipokuwa ameketi kwenye ingilio la hema lake wakati wa adhuhuri.
And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day.
2 Abrahamu akainua macho akaona watu watatu wamesimama karibu naye. Alipowaona, aliharakisha kutoka kwenye ingilio la hema lake kuwalaki na kuwasujudia hadi nchi.
And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing near him: and as soon as he saw them he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground.
3 Akasema, “Kama nimepata kibali machoni penu, ee bwana wangu, usimpite mtumishi wako.
And he said: Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away from thy servant:
4 Acha yaletwe maji kidogo, kisha ninyi nyote mnawe miguu yenu na mpumzike chini ya mti huu.
But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest ye under the tree.
5 Niruhusuni niwapatie chakula kidogo mle, ili mpate nguvu mwendelee na safari yenu, kwa kuwa mmekuja kwa mtumishi wenu.” Nao wakamjibu, “Vema sana, fanya kama unavyosema.”
And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart, afterwards you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your servant. And they said: Do as thou hast spoken.
6 Hivyo Abrahamu akaharakisha akaingia hemani kwa Sara, akamwambia, “Chukua vipimo vitatu vya unga laini haraka, ukande na uoke mikate.”
Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 Kisha Abrahamu akakimbia kwenda kwenye kundi, akachagua ndama mzuri, laini na akampa mtumishi, ambaye aliharakisha kumtayarisha.
And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf very tender and very good, and gave it to a young man: who made haste and boiled it.
8 Kisha akaleta jibini, maziwa na nyama ya yule ndama iliyoandaliwa, akaviweka mbele ya wageni. Walipokuwa wakila, alisimama karibu nao chini ya mti.
He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree.
9 Wakamuuliza, “Yuko wapi Sara mkeo?” Akasema, “Yuko huko, ndani ya hema.”
And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy wife? He answered: Lo, she is in the tent.
10 Kisha Bwana akasema, “Hakika nitakurudia tena majira kama haya mwakani na Sara mkeo atakuwa ana mwana.” Sara alikuwa akiwasikiliza kwenye ingilio la hema, lililokuwa nyuma yake.
And he said to him: I will return and come to thee at this time, life accompanying and Sara thy wife shall have a son. Which when Sara heard, she laughed behind the door of the tent.
11 Abrahamu na Sara walikuwa wazee tena waliosogea miaka, naye Sara alikuwa amekoma katika desturi ya wanawake.
Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women.
12 Hivyo Sara akacheka kimoyomoyo alipokuwa akiwaza, “Baada ya mimi kuwa mkongwe hivi na bwana wangu amezeeka, je, nitaweza kufurahia jambo hili?”
And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old and my lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure?
13 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Abrahamu, “Kwa nini Sara amecheka na kusema, ‘Kweli nitazaa mtoto nami sasa ni mzee?’
And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall I who am an old woman bear a child indeed?
14 Je, kuna jambo lolote gumu lisilowezekana kwa Bwana? Nitakurudia mwakani majira kama haya, naye Sara atakuwa na mwana.”
Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall have a son.
15 Sara akaogopa kwa kuwa alidanganya na kusema, “Mimi sikucheka.” Lakini Bwana akasema, “Ndiyo, ulicheka!”
Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But the Lord said, Nay: but thou didst laugh:
16 Wakati watu hao waliposimama ili waondoke, walielekeza nyuso zao Sodoma, Abrahamu akawatoa kitambo kidogo ili awasindikize.
And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way.
17 Ndipo Bwana akasema, “Je, nimfiche Abrahamu jambo ninalokusudia kufanya?
And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do:
18 Hakika Abrahamu atakuwa taifa kubwa na lenye nguvu, kupitia kwake mataifa yote ya dunia yatabarikiwa.
Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed?
19 Kwa maana nimemchagua yeye, ili awaongoze watoto wake na jamaa yake kufuata njia ya Bwana, kwa kuwa waadilifu na kutenda haki, ili Bwana atimize ahadi yake kwa Abrahamu.”
For I know that he will command his children, and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: that for Abraham’s sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he hath spoken unto him.
20 Basi Bwana akasema, “Kilio dhidi ya Sodoma na Gomora ni kikubwa sana na dhambi yao inasikitisha sana,
And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous.
21 kwamba nitashuka nione kama waliyoyatenda ni mabaya kiasi cha kilio kilichonifikia. Kama sivyo, nitajua.”
I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know.
22 Basi wale watu wakageuka wakaenda kuelekea Sodoma, lakini Abrahamu akabaki amesimama mbele za Bwana.
And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord.
23 Ndipo Abrahamu akamsogelea akasema: “Je, utawaangamiza wenye haki na waovu?
And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked?
24 Je, ikiwa watakuwepo watu wenye haki hamsini katika mji huo, hivi kweli utauangamiza na wala hutauacha kwa ajili ya hao watu hamsini wenye haki waliomo ndani yake?
If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein?
25 Hilo na liwe mbali nawe, kufanya jambo kama hilo, kuwaua wenye haki pamoja na waovu, kuwatendea wenye haki sawasawa na waovu. Iwe mbali nawe! Je, Mwamuzi wa dunia yote hatafanya lililo sawa?”
Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this judgment.
26 Bwana akasema, “Kama nikipata watu hamsini wenye haki katika mji wa Sodoma, nitausamehe huo mji wote kwa ajili yao.”
And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.
27 Kisha Abrahamu akasema tena: “Sasa kwa kuwa nimekuwa na ujasiri wa kuzungumza na Bwana, ingawa mimi si kitu bali ni mavumbi na majivu;
And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.
28 je, kama hesabu ya wenye haki imepungua watano katika hamsini, utauangamiza huo mji wote kwa ajili ya hao watano waliopungua?” Bwana akamwambia, “Kama nikiwakuta huko watu arobaini na watano, sitauangamiza.”
What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty.
29 Abrahamu akazungumza naye kwa mara nyingine, “Je, kama huko watapatikana watu arobaini tu?” Akamjibu, “Kwa ajili ya hao arobaini, sitauangamiza.”
And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty.
30 Ndipo akasema, “Bwana na asikasirike, lakini niruhusu nizungumze. Je, kama huko watakuwepo thelathini tu?” Akajibu, “Sitapaangamiza ikiwa nitawakuta huko watu thelathini.”
Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 Abrahamu akasema, “Sasa kwa kuwa nimekuwa na ujasiri sana kuzungumza na Bwana, je, kama wakipatikana huko watu ishirini tu?” Bwana akajibu, “Kwa ajili ya hao ishirini, sitauangamiza.”
Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.
32 Abrahamu akasema, “Bwana na asikasirike, lakini niruhusu nizungumze tena mara moja tu. Itakuwaje kama watapatikana huko watu kumi tu?” Bwana akajibu, “Kwa ajili ya hao kumi, sitauangamiza.”
I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.
33 Bwana alipomaliza kuzungumza na Abrahamu, akaondoka, naye Abrahamu akarudi nyumbani kwake.
And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.
