Mwanzo 29
1 Kisha Yakobo akaendelea na safari yake na akafika kwenye nchi za mataifa ya mashariki.
THEN Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
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 looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.
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 thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.
4 Yakobo aliwauliza wachungaji, “Ndugu zangu, ninyi mmetoka wapi?” Wakamjibu, “Tumetoka Harani.”
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5 Aliwaambia, “Je, mnamjua Labani, mjukuu wa Nahori?” Wakamjibu, “Ndiyo, tunamfahamu.”
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And 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.”
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7 Akasema, “Tazama, jua bado liko juu, si wakati wa kukusanya mifugo. Nywesheni kondoo na mwarudishe malishoni.”
And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 Walijibu, “Haiwezekani, mpaka kondoo wote wakusanyike na jiwe liwe limevingirishwa kutoka mdomo wa kisima. Ndipo tutanywesha kondoo.”
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9 Alipokuwa akizungumza nao, Raheli akaja pamoja na kondoo wa baba yake, kwa maana alikuwa mchunga kondoo.
And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
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 it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 Kisha Yakobo akambusu Raheli na akaanza kulia kwa sauti.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and 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 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran 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.
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14 Ndipo Labani akamwambia, “Wewe ni nyama yangu na damu yangu mwenyewe.” Baada ya Yakobo kukaa kwa Labani mwezi mzima,
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 Labani akamwambia, “Kwa vile wewe ni jamaa yangu, ndiyo sababu unifanyie kazi bila ujira? Niambie ujira wako utakuwa nini.”
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16 Labani alikuwa na binti wawili, binti mkubwa aliitwa Lea na binti mdogo aliitwa Raheli.
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Lea alikuwa na macho dhaifu, lakini Raheli alikuwa na umbo la kupendeza na mzuri wa sura.
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18 Yakobo akampenda Raheli, akamwambia Labani, “Nitakutumikia kwa miaka saba kwa ajili ya kumpata Raheli binti yako mdogo.”
And Jacob loved Rachel; and 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.”
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide 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.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 Ndipo Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Nipe mke wangu. Muda wangu umekamilika, nami nataka nikutane naye kimwili.”
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 Basi Labani akaalika watu wote wa mahali pale na akafanya karamu.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 Lakini ilipofika jioni, akamchukua Lea binti yake akampa Yakobo, naye Yakobo akakutana naye kimwili.
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24 Naye Labani akamtoa Zilpa, mtumishi wake wa kike, kuwa mtumishi wa Lea, binti yake.
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
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 it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26 Labani akajibu, “Si desturi yetu kumwoza binti mdogo kabla ya kumwoza binti mkubwa.
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Maliza juma la arusi ya binti huyu, kisha pia nitakupa huyu binti mdogo, kwa kutumika miaka mingine saba.”
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 Naye Yakobo akafanya hivyo. Akamaliza juma na Lea, kisha Labani akampa Raheli binti yake kuwa mke wake.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 Labani akamtoa Bilha mtumishi wake wa kike kwa Raheli ili kuwa mtumishi wake.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 Pia Yakobo akakutana na Raheli kimwili, naye akampenda Raheli zaidi kuliko Lea. Yakobo akamtumikia Labani kwa miaka mingine saba.
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 Bwana alipoona kwamba Lea hapendwi, akampa watoto, lakini Raheli alikuwa tasa.
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was 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 Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore 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 she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: 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 again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35 Akapata tena mimba, naye alipozaa mwana, akasema, “Wakati huu nitamsifu Bwana.” Kwa hiyo akamwita Yuda. Kisha akaacha kuzaa watoto.
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
