Mwanzo 29
1 Kisha Yakobo akaendelea na safari yake na akafika kwenye nchi za mataifa ya mashariki.
Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
2 Huko akaona kisima katika shamba, pamoja na makundi matatu ya kondoo yamelala karibu na kisima hicho kwa sababu walikuwa wanakunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisimani hicho. Jiwe lililokuwa mdomoni mwa kisima lilikuwa kubwa.
And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.
3 Wakati kondoo wanapokuwa wamekusanyika hapo, wachungaji huvingirisha jiwe hilo kutoka kwenye mdomo wa kisima na kunywesha kondoo. Kisha hulirudisha jiwe mahali pake juu ya mdomo wa kisima.
And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.
4 Yakobo aliwauliza wachungaji, “Ndugu zangu, ninyi mmetoka wapi?” Wakamjibu, “Tumetoka Harani.”
And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
5 Aliwaambia, “Je, mnamjua Labani, mjukuu wa Nahori?” Wakamjibu, “Ndiyo, tunamfahamu.”
And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
6 Kisha Yakobo akawauliza, “Je, yeye ni mzima?” Wakasema, “Ndiyo, ni mzima, na hapa yuaja Raheli binti yake akiwa na kondoo.”
He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
7 Akasema, “Tazama, jua bado liko juu, si wakati wa kukusanya mifugo. Nywesheni kondoo na mwarudishe malishoni.”
And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.
8 Walijibu, “Haiwezekani, mpaka kondoo wote wakusanyike na jiwe liwe limevingirishwa kutoka mdomo wa kisima. Ndipo tutanywesha kondoo.”
They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the flocks.
9 Alipokuwa akizungumza nao, Raheli akaja pamoja na kondoo wa baba yake, kwa maana alikuwa mchunga kondoo.
They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
10 Yakobo alipomwona Raheli binti Labani, ndugu wa mama yake, pamoja na kondoo wa Labani, alikwenda na kulivingirisha jiwe kutoka mdomoni mwa kisima na kuwanywesha kondoo wa mjomba wake.
And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin-german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.
11 Kisha Yakobo akambusu Raheli na akaanza kulia kwa sauti.
And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
12 Yakobo alikuwa amemwambia Raheli kuwa yeye alikuwa jamaa ya baba yake, na kwamba ni mwana wa Rebeka. Basi Raheli alikimbia na kumweleza baba yake.
And he told her that he was her father’s brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.
13 Mara Labani aliposikia habari kuhusu Yakobo, mwana wa ndugu yake, aliharakisha kwenda kumlaki. Akamkumbatia na kumbusu, halafu akamleta nyumbani kwake, kisha Yakobo akamwambia mambo yote.
Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister’s son was come, ran forth to meet him; and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,
14 Ndipo Labani akamwambia, “Wewe ni nyama yangu na damu yangu mwenyewe.” Baada ya Yakobo kukaa kwa Labani mwezi mzima,
He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
15 Labani akamwambia, “Kwa vile wewe ni jamaa yangu, ndiyo sababu unifanyie kazi bila ujira? Niambie ujira wako utakuwa nini.”
He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
16 Labani alikuwa na binti wawili, binti mkubwa aliitwa Lea na binti mdogo aliitwa Raheli.
Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
17 Lea alikuwa na macho dhaifu, lakini Raheli alikuwa na umbo la kupendeza na mzuri wa sura.
But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
18 Yakobo akampenda Raheli, akamwambia Labani, “Nitakutumikia kwa miaka saba kwa ajili ya kumpata Raheli binti yako mdogo.”
And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 Labani akasema, “Ni bora zaidi nikupe Raheli kuliko kumpa mtu mwingine yeyote. Kaa pamoja na mimi hapa.”
Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
20 Kwa hiyo Yakobo akatumika miaka saba ili kumpata Raheli, lakini ilionekana kwake kama siku chache tu kwa sababu ya upendo wake kwa Raheli.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
21 Ndipo Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Nipe mke wangu. Muda wangu umekamilika, nami nataka nikutane naye kimwili.”
And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 Basi Labani akaalika watu wote wa mahali pale na akafanya karamu.
And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
23 Lakini ilipofika jioni, akamchukua Lea binti yake akampa Yakobo, naye Yakobo akakutana naye kimwili.
And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
24 Naye Labani akamtoa Zilpa, mtumishi wake wa kike, kuwa mtumishi wa Lea, binti yake.
Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:
25 Kesho yake asubuhi, Yakobo akagundua kuwa amepewa Lea! Basi Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Ni jambo gani hili ulilonitendea? Nilikutumikia kwa ajili ya Raheli, sivyo? Kwa nini umenidanganya?”
And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?
26 Labani akajibu, “Si desturi yetu kumwoza binti mdogo kabla ya kumwoza binti mkubwa.
Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Maliza juma la arusi ya binti huyu, kisha pia nitakupa huyu binti mdogo, kwa kutumika miaka mingine saba.”
Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.
28 Naye Yakobo akafanya hivyo. Akamaliza juma na Lea, kisha Labani akampa Raheli binti yake kuwa mke wake.
He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
29 Labani akamtoa Bilha mtumishi wake wa kike kwa Raheli ili kuwa mtumishi wake.
To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
30 Pia Yakobo akakutana na Raheli kimwili, naye akampenda Raheli zaidi kuliko Lea. Yakobo akamtumikia Labani kwa miaka mingine saba.
And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.
31 Bwana alipoona kwamba Lea hapendwi, akampa watoto, lakini Raheli alikuwa tasa.
And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 Lea akapata mimba akazaa mwana. Akamwita Reubeni, kwa maana alisema, “Ni kwa sababu Bwana ameona huzuni yangu. Hakika mume wangu sasa atanipenda.”
And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.
33 Akapata tena mimba, naye alipozaa mwana, akasema, “Kwa sababu Bwana alisikia kwamba sipendwi, amenipa tena huyu mwana.” Kwa hiyo akamwita Simeoni.
And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.
34 Akapata tena mimba, naye alipozaa mwana, akasema, “Sasa afadhali mume wangu ataambatana na mimi, kwa sababu nimemzalia wana watatu.” Kwa hiyo akamwita Lawi.
And she conceived the third time, and bore another son: and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.
35 Akapata tena mimba, naye alipozaa mwana, akasema, “Wakati huu nitamsifu Bwana.” Kwa hiyo akamwita Yuda. Kisha akaacha kuzaa watoto.
The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.
