Mwanzo 24
1 Wakati huu Abrahamu alikuwa mzee mwenye miaka mingi, naye Bwana alikuwa amembariki katika kila njia.
And Abraham was old, [and] advanced in age; and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 Akamwambia mtumishi wake mkuu wa vitu vyote katika nyumba yake, yule aliyekuwa msimamizi wa vitu vyote alivyokuwa navyo, “Weka mkono wako chini ya paja langu,
And Abraham said to his servant, the eldest of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put thy hand, I pray thee, under my thigh,
3 Ninataka uape kwa Bwana, Mungu wa mbingu na Mungu wa nchi, kwamba hutamtwalia mwanangu mke kutoka binti za Wakanaani, ambao ninaishi miongoni mwao,
and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth, that thou take not a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am dwelling;
4 bali utakwenda katika nchi yangu na jamaa zangu umpatie Isaki mwanangu mke.”
but thou shalt go to my land and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.
5 Yule mtumishi akamuuliza, “Je, kama huyo mwanamke atakataa kuja nami katika nchi hii? Je, nimpeleke mwanao katika hiyo nchi uliyotoka?”
And the servant said to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I, then, bring thy son again in any case to the land from which thou hast removed?
6 Abrahamu akasema, “Hakikisha kwamba hutamrudisha mwanangu huko.
And Abraham said to him, Beware that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 Bwana, Mungu wa mbingu, aliyenitoa nyumbani kwa baba yangu na nchi yangu niliyozaliwa na aliyesema nami na akaniahidi kwa kiapo, akisema, ‘Nitawapa watoto wako nchi hii,’ atatuma malaika wake akutangulie ili umpatie mwanangu mke kutoka huko.
Jehovah the God of the heavens, who took me out of my father's house, and out of the land of my nativity, and who has spoken to me, and who has sworn to me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land — he will send his angel before thee, that thou mayest take a wife for my son thence.
8 Kama huyo mwanamke asipokubali kufuatana nawe, basi utafunguliwa kutoka kiapo nilichokuapisha. Ila usimrudishe mwanangu huko.”
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be quit of this my oath: only, bring not my son thither again.
9 Basi yule mtumishi akaweka mkono wake chini ya paja la bwana wake Abrahamu akamwapia kuhusu shauri hili.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore unto him concerning that matter.
10 Ndipo huyo mtumishi akachukua ngamia kumi miongoni mwa ngamia za bwana wake, akaondoka, akiwa amechukua aina zote za vitu vizuri kutoka kwa bwana wake. Akaelekea Aramu-Naharaimu na kushika njia kwenda mji wa Nahori.
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; now all the treasure of his master was under his hand; and he arose and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
11 Akawapigisha ngamia magoti karibu na kisima cha maji nje ya mji, ilikuwa inaelekea jioni, wakati ambapo wanawake wanakuja kuteka maji.
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water, at the time of the evening, when the women came out to draw [water].
12 Kisha akaomba, “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, nipatie ushindi leo, uonyeshe huruma kwa bwana wangu Abrahamu.
And he said, Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, meet me, I pray thee, [with thy blessing] this day, and deal kindly with my master Abraham.
13 Tazama, nimesimama karibu na kisima hiki cha maji, nao binti za watu wa mji huu wanakuja kuteka maji.
Behold, I stand [here] by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.
14 Basi na iwe hivi, nitakapomwambia binti mmojawapo, ‘Tafadhali tua mtungi wako nipate kunywa maji,’ naye akisema, ‘Kunywa, nitawanywesha na ngamia wako pia.’ Basi na awe ndiye uliyemchagua kwa ajili ya mtumishi wako Isaki. Kwa hili nitajua umemhurumia bwana wangu.”
And let it come to pass, [that] the maiden to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and who will say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also, be she whom thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and hereby I shall know that thou hast dealt kindly with my master.
15 Ikawa kabla hajamaliza kuomba, Rebeka akatokea akiwa na mtungi begani mwake. Alikuwa binti wa Bethueli. Bethueli alikuwa mwana wa Milka aliyekuwa mke wa Nahori ndugu wa Abrahamu.
And it came to pass before he had ended speaking, that behold, Rebecca came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother; and [she had] her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 Huyu msichana alikuwa mzuri sana wa sura, bikira, ambaye hakuna mtu aliyekuwa amekutana naye kimwili. Aliteremka kisimani, akajaza mtungi wake akapanda juu.
And the maiden was very fair in countenance; a virgin, and no man had known her. And she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 Ndipo yule mtumishi akaharakisha kukutana naye akamwambia, “Tafadhali nipe maji kidogo katika mtungi wako.”
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, sip a little water out of thy pitcher.
18 Yule msichana akasema, “Kunywa, bwana wangu.” Akashusha kwa haraka mtungi mkononi mwake na akampa, akanywa.
And she said, Drink, my lord! And she hasted and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him to drink.
19 Baada ya kumpa yule mtumishi yale maji, akamwambia, “Nitateka maji kwa ajili ya ngamia zako pia mpaka wote watosheke.”
And when she had given him enough to drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have drunk enough.
20 Akafanya haraka kumimina maji kwenye birika ya kunyweshea wanyama, akakimbia kisimani kuteka maji mengine na akateka ya kuwatosha ngamia wake wote.
And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw [water]; and she drew for all his camels.
21 Pasipo kusema neno, yule mtumishi akamtazama kwa makini aone kama Bwana ameifanikisha safari yake, au la.
And the man was astonished at her, remaining silent, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 Ikawa ngamia walipokwisha kunywa wote, yule mtumishi akampa huyo msichana pete ya puani ya dhahabu yenye uzito wa beka moja na bangili mbili za dhahabu zenye uzito wa shekeli kumi.
And it came to pass when the camels had drunk enough, that the man took a gold ring, of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands, ten [shekels] weight of gold,
23 Kisha akamuuliza, “Wewe ni binti wa nani? Tafadhali uniambie, je, kuna nafasi katika nyumba ya baba yako tutakapoweza kulala?”
and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room [in] thy father's house for us to lodge?
24 Yule msichana akamjibu, “Mimi ni binti wa Bethueli, mwana wa Milka aliyemzalia Nahori.”
And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.
25 Akaendelea kusema, “Kwetu kuna majani mengi na malisho, tena kuna nafasi kwa ajili yenu kulala.”
And she said to him, There is straw, and also much provender with us; also room to lodge.
26 Yule mtumishi akasujudu na kumwabudu Bwana,
And the man stooped, and bowed down before Jehovah,
27 akisema, “Atukuzwe Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, ambaye hakuondoa wema na uaminifu wake kwa bwana wangu. Mimi nami, Bwana ameniongoza safarini akanifikisha nyumbani kwa jamaa za bwana wangu.”
and said, Blessed be Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who has not withdrawn his loving-kindness and his faithfulness from my master; I being in the way, Jehovah has led me to the house of my master's brethren.
28 Yule msichana akakimbia akawaeleza watu wa nyumbani mwa mama yake kuhusu mambo haya.
And the maiden ran and told these things to her mother's house.
29 Rebeka alikuwa na kaka aliyeitwa Labani, huyo akaharakisha kukutana na yule mtumishi kule kisimani.
And Rebecca had a brother, named Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, to the well.
30 Mara alipoiona ile pete puani, na bangili mikononi mwa dada yake na kusikia yale maneno Rebeka aliyoambiwa na huyo mtumishi, alimwendea huyo mtumishi, akamkuta amesimama karibu na ngamia wake pale karibu na kisima.
And it came to pass when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's hand, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man to me — that he came to the man, and behold, he was standing by the camels, by the well.
31 Akamwambia, “Karibu nyumbani wewe uliyebarikiwa na Bwana, kwa nini unasimama huko nje? Mimi nimekuandalia nyumba na mahali kwa ajili ya ngamia.”
And he said, Come in, blessed of Jehovah! why standest thou outside? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 Hivyo yule mtumishi akaenda nyumbani, mizigo ikaondolewa juu ya ngamia. Majani na malisho yakaletwa kwa ajili ya ngamia na maji kwa ajili yake na watu wake ili kunawa miguu.
And the man came into the house; and he ungirded the camels, and gave the camels straw and provender, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 Ndipo chakula kikaandaliwa kwa ajili yake, lakini akasema, “Sitakula mpaka niwe nimewaambia yale niliyo nayo ya kusema.” Labani akasema, “Basi tuambie.”
And there was set [meat] before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat until I have made known my business. And he said, Speak on.
34 Hivyo akasema, “Mimi ni mtumishi wa Abrahamu.
And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35 Bwana amembariki sana bwana wangu, amekuwa tajiri. Amempa kondoo na ngʼombe, fedha na dhahabu, watumishi wa kiume na wa kike, ngamia na punda.
And Jehovah has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he has given him sheep and cattle, and silver and gold, and bondmen and bondwomen, and camels and asses.
36 Sara mkewe bwana wangu amemzalia mwana katika uzee wake, naye amempa kila kitu alichokuwa nacho.
And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master after she had grown old; and unto him has he given all that he has.
37 Naye bwana wangu ameniapisha na akasema, ‘Kamwe usimtwalie mwanangu mke katika binti za Wakanaani, ambao ninaishi katika nchi yao,
And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose land I am dwelling;
38 ila uende mpaka kwa jamaa ya baba yangu na ukoo wangu mwenyewe, ukamtwalie mwanangu mke huko.’
but thou shalt by all means go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.
39 “Kisha nikamuuliza bwana wangu, ‘Je, kama huyo mwanamke hatakubali kurudi nami?’
And I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not follow me?
40 “Akanijibu, ‘Bwana ambaye nimetembea mbele zake, atatuma malaika wake pamoja nawe, na kuifanikisha safari yako, ili uweze kupata mke kwa ajili ya mwanangu katika ukoo wangu na kutoka jamaa ya baba yangu.
And he said to me, Jehovah, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way, that thou mayest take a wife for my son of my family, and out of my father's house.
41 Kisha, utakapokwenda kwenye ukoo wangu, utakuwa umefunguliwa kutoka kiapo changu hata kama wakikataa kukupa huyo binti, utakuwa umefunguliwa kutoka kiapo changu.’
Then shalt thou be quit of my oath, when thou shalt have come to my family. And if they give thee not [one], thou shalt be quit of my oath.
42 “Nilipokuja kisimani leo nilisema, ‘Ee Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, ikikupendeza, naomba uifanikishe safari niliyoijia.
And I came this day to the well, and said, Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, if now thou wilt prosper my way on which I go,
43 Tazama, ninasimama kando ya kisima hiki, kama mwanamwali akija kuteka maji nami nikimwambia, tafadhali niruhusu ninywe maji kidogo kutoka kwenye mtungi wako,
behold, I stand by the well of water, and let it come to pass that the damsel who cometh forth to draw [water], and to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water out of thy pitcher to drink,
44 naye kama akiniambia, “Kunywa, nami nitateka maji kwa ajili ya ngamia wako pia,” basi huyo awe ndiye mke ambaye Bwana amemchagulia mwana wa bwana wangu.’
and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels — that she should be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master's son.
45 “Kabla sijamaliza kuomba moyoni mwangu, Rebeka akatokea, amebeba mtungi begani mwake. Akashuka kisimani akateka maji, nami nikamwambia, ‘Tafadhali nipe maji ninywe.’
Before I ended speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and went down to the well, and drew [water]; and I said to her, Give me, I pray thee, to drink.
46 “Akafanya haraka kushusha mtungi wake begani na kusema, ‘Kunywa na nitawanywesha ngamia wako pia,’ basi nikanywa, akawanywesha na ngamia pia.
And she hasted and let down her pitcher from her [shoulder], and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. And I drank; and she gave the camels drink also.
47 “Nikamuuliza, ‘Wewe ni binti wa nani?’ “Akasema, ‘Mimi ni binti wa Bethueli, mwana wa Nahori, Milka aliyemzalia.’ “Ndipo nilipotia pete puani mwake na bangili mikononi mwake,
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him. And I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
48 nikasujudu na nikamwabudu Bwana. Nikamtukuza Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, aliyeniongoza katika njia sahihi ili nimtwalie mwana na bwana wangu mke katika jamaa zake.
And I stooped, and bowed down before Jehovah; and I blessed Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who has led me the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
49 Ikiwa mtaonyesha wema na uaminifu kwa bwana wangu, mniambie, la sivyo, mniambie, ili niweze kujua njia ya kugeukia.”
And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; and I will turn to the right hand or to the left.
50 Labani na Bethueli wakajibu, “Jambo hili limetoka kwa Bwana, hatuwezi kukuambia jambo lolote baya au jema.
And Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from Jehovah: we cannot speak to thee bad or good.
51 Rebeka yuko hapa, mchukue na uende, awe mke wa mwana wa bwana wako, sawasawa na Bwana alivyoongoza.”
Behold, Rebecca is before thee: take [her], and go away; and let her be wife of thy master's son, as Jehovah has said.
52 Ikawa huyo mtumishi wa Abrahamu aliposikia waliyosema, alisujudu mpaka nchi mbele za Bwana.
And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed down to the earth before Jehovah.
53 Ndipo huyo mtumishi akatoa vitu vilivyotengenezwa kwa dhahabu na kwa fedha pamoja na mavazi, akampa Rebeka, pia akawapa zawadi za thamani kubwa nduguye na mamaye.
And the servant brought forth silver articles, and gold articles, and clothing, and he gave [them] to Rebecca; and he gave to her brother, and to her mother, precious things.
54 Kisha yeye na wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye wakala, wakanywa na kulala palepale. Walipoamka asubuhi, yule mtumishi, akasema, “Nipeni ruhusa nirudi kwa bwana wangu.”
And they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and lodged. And they rose up in the morning; and he said, Send me away to my master.
55 Lakini ndugu yake Rebeka pamoja na mama yake wakajibu, “Acha binti akae kwetu siku kumi au zaidi, ndipo mwondoke.”
And her brother and her mother said, Let the maiden abide with us [some] days, or [say] ten; after that she shall go.
56 Lakini yule mtumishi akawaambia, “Msinicheleweshe, kwa kuwa Bwana amefanikisha safari yangu, nipeni ruhusa nirudi kwa bwana wangu.”
And he said to them, Do not hinder me, seeing Jehovah has prospered my way: send me away, and I will go to my master.
57 Ndipo wakasema, “Acha tumwite huyo binti tumuulize, tusikie atakavyosema.”
And they said, Let us call the maiden and inquire at her mouth.
58 Kwa hiyo wakamwita Rebeka na kumuuliza, “Je, utakwenda na mtu huyu?” Akasema, “Nitakwenda.”
And they called Rebecca and said to her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 Hivyo wakamwaga ndugu yao Rebeka aondoke, pamoja na mjakazi wake, mtumishi wa Abrahamu na watu wake.
And they sent away Rebecca their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 Wakambariki Rebeka, wakamwambia, “Ndugu yetu, uwe wewe kumi elfu, mara elfu nyingi, nao wazao wako wamiliki malango ya adui zao.”
And they blessed Rebecca, and said to her, Thou art our sister; mayest thou become thousands of tens of thousands; and may thy seed possess the gate of their enemies!
61 Rebeka na vijakazi wake wakajiandaa, wakapanda ngamia zao wakafuatana na yule mtu. Hivyo yule mtumishi akamchukua Rebeka akaondoka.
And Rebecca arose, and her maids, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man. And the servant took Rebecca, and went away.
62 Basi Isaki alikuwa ametoka Beer-Lahai-Roi, kwa kuwa alikuwa anaishi nchi ya Negebu.
And Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi; for he was dwelling in the south country.
63 Isaki akatoka kwenda shambani kutafakari wakati wa jioni, alipoinua macho yake, akaona ngamia wanakuja.
And Isaac had gone out to meditate in the fields toward the beginning of evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, camels were coming.
64 Rebeka pia akainua macho akamwona Isaki. Akashuka kutoka kwenye ngamia wake
And Rebecca lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac, and she sprang off the camel.
65 na akamuuliza yule mtumishi, “Ni nani mtu yule aliye kule shambani anayekuja kutulaki?” Yule mtumishi akajibu, “Huyu ndiye bwana wangu.” Hivyo Rebeka akachukua shela yake akajifunika.
And she had said to the servant, Who is the man that is walking in the fields to meet us? And the servant said, That is my master! Then she took the veil, and covered herself.
66 Kisha yule mtumishi akamweleza Isaki mambo yote aliyoyatenda.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 Ndipo Isaki akamwingiza Rebeka katika hema la Sara mama yake, Isaki akamchukua Rebeka, hivyo akawa mke wake. Isaki akampenda, akafarijika baada ya kifo cha mama yake.
And Isaac led her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after [the death of] his mother.
