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 to the land of the children 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.
He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
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.
There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
4 Yakobo aliwauliza wachungaji, “Ndugu zangu, ninyi mmetoka wapi?” Wakamjibu, “Tumetoka Harani.”
Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5 Aliwaambia, “Je, mnamjua Labani, mjukuu wa Nahori?” Wakamjibu, “Ndiyo, tunamfahamu.”
He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” 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 to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7 Akasema, “Tazama, jua bado liko juu, si wakati wa kukusanya mifugo. Nywesheni kondoo na mwarudishe malishoni.”
He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water 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.”
They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 Alipokuwa akizungumza nao, Raheli akaja pamoja na kondoo wa baba yake, kwa maana alikuwa mchunga kondoo.
While he was yet speaking 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.
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, 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.
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.
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. 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.
When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob 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,
Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 Labani akamwambia, “Kwa vile wewe ni jamaa yangu, ndiyo sababu unifanyie kazi bila ujira? Niambie ujira wako utakuwa nini.”
Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16 Labani alikuwa na binti wawili, binti mkubwa aliitwa Lea na binti mdogo aliitwa Raheli.
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’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18 Yakobo akampenda Raheli, akamwambia Labani, “Nitakutumikia kwa miaka saba kwa ajili ya kumpata Raheli binti yako mdogo.”
Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Labani akasema, “Ni bora zaidi nikupe Raheli kuliko kumpa mtu mwingine yeyote. Kaa pamoja na mimi hapa.”
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her 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.
Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 Ndipo Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Nipe mke wangu. Muda wangu umekamilika, nami nataka nikutane naye kimwili.”
Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22 Basi Labani akaalika watu wote wa mahali pale na akafanya karamu.
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.
In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24 Naye Labani akamtoa Zilpa, mtumishi wake wa kike, kuwa mtumishi wa Lea, binti yake.
Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
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?”
In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 Labani akajibu, “Si desturi yetu kumwoza binti mdogo kabla ya kumwoza binti mkubwa.
Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, 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 the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
28 Naye Yakobo akafanya hivyo. Akamaliza juma na Lea, kisha Labani akampa Raheli binti yake kuwa mke wake.
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 Labani akamtoa Bilha mtumishi wake wa kike kwa Raheli ili kuwa mtumishi wake.
Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 Pia Yakobo akakutana na Raheli kimwili, naye akampenda Raheli zaidi kuliko Lea. Yakobo akamtumikia Labani kwa miaka mingine saba.
He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31 Bwana alipoona kwamba Lea hapendwi, akampa watoto, lakini Raheli alikuwa tasa.
The LORD saw that Leah was hated, and 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.”
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because the LORD has looked at my affliction; for 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.
She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him 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.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 Akapata tena mimba, naye alipozaa mwana, akasema, “Wakati huu nitamsifu Bwana.” Kwa hiyo akamwita Yuda. Kisha akaacha kuzaa watoto.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
