Mwanzo 18
1 Bwana akamtokea Abrahamu karibu na mialoni ya Mamre wakati alipokuwa ameketi kwenye ingilio la hema lake wakati wa adhuhuri.
One day during that year when it was hot, Yahweh appeared to Abraham again near the big trees that belonged to Mamre, while Abraham was sitting in the entrance to his tent.
2 Abrahamu akainua macho akaona watu watatu wamesimama karibu naye. Alipowaona, aliharakisha kutoka kwenye ingilio la hema lake kuwalaki na kuwasujudia hadi nchi.
Abraham looked up [MTY] and was surprised to see three men standing near him. [Actually, one was Yahweh, and the other two were angels]. When he saw them, he ran to meet them. He prostrated himself with his face on the ground to show respect,
3 Akasema, “Kama nimepata kibali machoni penu, ee bwana wangu, usimpite mtumishi wako.
and said [to one of them], “Sir, if you are pleased with me, stay here for a little while [LIT].
4 Acha yaletwe maji kidogo, kisha ninyi nyote mnawe miguu yenu na mpumzike chini ya mti huu.
Allow my servants to bring a little water and wash your feet, and rest under this 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.”
Since you have come here to me, allow me to bring you some food [SYN] so that you can feel refreshed before you leave.” Yahweh replied, “All right, do as you have said.”
6 Hivyo Abrahamu akaharakisha akaingia hemani kwa Sara, akamwambia, “Chukua vipimo vitatu vya unga laini haraka, ukande na uoke mikate.”
So Abraham quickly went into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, get some of our best flour and make some loaves of bread!”
7 Kisha Abrahamu akakimbia kwenda kwenye kundi, akachagua ndama mzuri, laini na akampa mtumishi, ambaye aliharakisha kumtayarisha.
Then he ran to the herd of cattle and selected a calf whose meat would be tender and tasty. He gave it to one of his servants [and told him to] quickly kill it and cook it.
8 Kisha akaleta jibini, maziwa na nyama ya yule ndama iliyoandaliwa, akaviweka mbele ya wageni. Walipokuwa wakila, alisimama karibu nao chini ya mti.
When the meat was cooked, Abraham brought some curds and milk and the meat that had been prepared, and set them in front of his visitors. Then he stood near them, under a tree, while they ate.
9 Wakamuuliza, “Yuko wapi Sara mkeo?” Akasema, “Yuko huko, ndani ya hema.”
[One of] them asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He replied, “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.
Then the leader of the group said, “I will return to you (about this time/in the springtime) next year, and to your amazement, your wife Sarah will have an infant son.” It happened that Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind the one who was speaking.
11 Abrahamu na Sara walikuwa wazee tena waliosogea miaka, naye Sara alikuwa amekoma katika desturi ya wanawake.
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was far past the time of when she could bear children.
12 Hivyo Sara akacheka kimoyomoyo alipokuwa akiwaza, “Baada ya mimi kuwa mkongwe hivi na bwana wangu amezeeka, je, nitaweza kufurahia jambo hili?”
So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “My body is worn out, and my husband is old. So how can I have the pleasure [of having a child]?” [RHQ]
13 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Abrahamu, “Kwa nini Sara amecheka na kusema, ‘Kweli nitazaa mtoto nami sasa ni mzee?’
Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why was she thinking, ‘I am too old, so how can I bear a child?’
14 Je, kuna jambo lolote gumu lisilowezekana kwa Bwana? Nitakurudia mwakani majira kama haya, naye Sara atakuwa na mwana.”
I am Yahweh! (Is there anything too difficult for me?/There is nothing too difficult for me!) [RHQ] I will return about this time next year in the springtime, and Sarah will have an infant son.”
15 Sara akaogopa kwa kuwa alidanganya na kusema, “Mimi sikucheka.” Lakini Bwana akasema, “Ndiyo, ulicheka!”
Then Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But Yahweh said, “Don’t deny it! You did laugh.”
16 Wakati watu hao waliposimama ili waondoke, walielekeza nyuso zao Sodoma, Abrahamu akawatoa kitambo kidogo ili awasindikize.
When the three men got up to leave, they looked down into the valley toward Sodom [city]. Abraham was walking with them to say “goodbye” to them.
17 Ndipo Bwana akasema, “Je, nimfiche Abrahamu jambo ninalokusudia kufanya?
Yahweh thought to himself, “It is not right for me to prevent Abraham from knowing what I plan to do [RHQ].
18 Hakika Abrahamu atakuwa taifa kubwa na lenye nguvu, kupitia kwake mataifa yote ya dunia yatabarikiwa.
Abraham’s descendants [MTY] will become a great and powerful nation. And people of [MTY] all nations will be blessed because of what I do for him.
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.”
I have chosen him in order that he will teach his children and their families to obey me and do what is right and fair, and then I will do for Abraham what I promised.”
20 Basi Bwana akasema, “Kilio dhidi ya Sodoma na Gomora ni kikubwa sana na dhambi yao inasikitisha sana,
So Yahweh said to Abraham, “I have heard the terrible things that have been said about the people of [MTY] Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sins are very great.
21 kwamba nitashuka nione kama waliyoyatenda ni mabaya kiasi cha kilio kilichonifikia. Kama sivyo, nitajua.”
So I will go down now, and I will see if all the terrible things that I have heard are true or not true.”
22 Basi wale watu wakageuka wakaenda kuelekea Sodoma, lakini Abrahamu akabaki amesimama mbele za Bwana.
Then the two men turned and started walking toward Sodom. But Yahweh remained, standing in front of Abraham.
23 Ndipo Abrahamu akamsogelea akasema: “Je, utawaangamiza wenye haki na waovu?
Abraham came closer to him and said, “Will you really destroy righteous people along with wicked ones?
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?
What will you do if there are only 50 righteous people in the city? Will you really get rid of them all, and not spare the place/city for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in the city?
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?”
It would certainly not be right for you to do such a thing, to kill righteous people along with wicked ones, and treat righteous people and wicked people the same way. You could not do that, because you, who are the judge of everyone on the earth, will certainly do what is right [regarding the people of Sodom]!” [RHQ]
26 Bwana akasema, “Kama nikipata watu hamsini wenye haki katika mji wa Sodoma, nitausamehe huo mji wote kwa ajili yao.”
Yahweh replied, “If I find 50 righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the whole place/city 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;
Abraham replied, “I should not be bold like this and speak to you, God, because I am as worthless as dust and ashes [MET].
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.”
But what will you do if there are only 45 righteous people? Will you destroy everyone in the whole city because there are only 45 and not 50 righteous people?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy it if I find that there are 45 righteous people.”
29 Abrahamu akazungumza naye kwa mara nyingine, “Je, kama huko watapatikana watu arobaini tu?” Akamjibu, “Kwa ajili ya hao arobaini, sitauangamiza.”
Abraham continued to speak to him [like this], saying, “What will you do if you find that there are only 40 righteous people there?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy them all, for the sake of the 40.”
30 Ndipo akasema, “Bwana na asikasirike, lakini niruhusu nizungumze. Je, kama huko watakuwepo thelathini tu?” Akajibu, “Sitapaangamiza ikiwa nitawakuta huko watu thelathini.”
Abraham said, “God, please don’t be angry now. Let me speak again. What will you do if there are only 30 righteous people?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find that there are 30 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.”
Abraham said, “I should not be bold and speak to you like this, God. But what will you do if you find that there are only 20 righteous people there?” He replied, “I will not destroy the whole city, for the sake of those 20.”
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.”
Abraham said, “God, don’t be angry now. Just let me speak one time more. What will you do if you find that there are only ten righteous people there?” Yahweh answered, “I will not destroy the city for the sake of those ten.”
33 Bwana alipomaliza kuzungumza na Abrahamu, akaondoka, naye Abrahamu akarudi nyumbani kwake.
Abraham said no more, and as soon as Yahweh finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
