Mwanzo 31
1 Yakobo akawasikia wana wa Labani wakisema, “Yakobo amechukua kila kitu kilichokuwa cha baba yetu naye amepata utajiri huu wote kutokana na vile vilivyokuwa mali ya baba yetu.”
But afterwards, he heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and being enlarged by his ability, he has become famous.”
2 Yakobo akatambua kwamba moyo wa Labani kwake haukuwa kama ulivyokuwa mwanzo.
Likewise, he observed that Laban’s face was not the same toward him as it was yesterday and the day before.
3 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Yakobo, “Rudi katika nchi ya baba zako na kwa watu wako, nami nitakuwa pamoja nawe.”
Most importantly, the Lord was saying to him, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your generation, and I will be with you.”
4 Hivyo Yakobo akatuma ujumbe kwa Raheli na Lea waje machungani yalikokuwa makundi yake.
He sent and called for Rachel and Leah, in the field where he pastured the flocks,
5 Akawaambia, “Naona moyo wa baba yenu kwangu sivyo kama ulivyokuwa mwanzoni, lakini Mungu wa baba yangu amekuwa pamoja nami.
and he said to them: “I see that your father’s face is not the same toward me as it was yesterday and the day before. But the God of my father has been with me.
6 Mnajua kwamba nimemtumikia baba yenu kwa nguvu zangu zote,
And you know that I have served your father with all my strength.
7 hata hivyo baba yenu amenidanganya kwa kubadilisha ujira wangu mara kumi. Hata hivyo, Mungu hakumruhusu kunidhuru.
Even so, your father has circumvented me, and he has changed my wages ten times. And yet God has not permitted him to harm me.
8 Kama alisema, ‘Wenye madoadoa watakuwa ujira wako,’ basi makundi yote yalizaa wenye madoadoa, kama alisema, ‘Wenye mistari watakuwa ujira wako,’ basi makundi yote yalizaa wenye mistari.
Whenever he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ all the sheep gave birth to speckled newborns. Yet truly, when he said the contrary, ‘You will take whatever is white for your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to white ones.
9 Hivyo Mungu amechukua mifugo ya baba yenu na amenipa mimi.
And it is God who has taken your father’s substance and given it to me.
10 “Wakati fulani majira ya kuzaliana niliota ndoto ambayo niliinua macho na kuona kwamba wale mabeberu waliokuwa wakipanda kundi walikuwa wa mistari, madoadoa na mabakabaka.
For after the time had arrived for the ewes to conceive, I lifted up my eyes, and I saw in my sleep that the males climbing on the females were of variegated, and spotted, and diverse colors.
11 Malaika wa Mungu akaniambia katika ndoto, ‘Yakobo.’ Nikamjibu, ‘Mimi hapa.’
And the Angel of God said to me in my sleep, ‘Jacob.’ And I responded, ‘Here I am.’
12 Akasema, ‘Inua macho yako uone wale mabeberu wote wanaopanda kundi wana mistari, madoadoa au mabakabaka, kwa maana nimeona yale yote ambayo Labani amekuwa akikutendea.
And he said: ‘Lift up your eyes, and see that all the males climbing on the females are variegated, spotted, and also speckled. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
13 Mimi ndiye Mungu wa Betheli, ulikomiminia ile nguzo mafuta na pale mahali uliponiwekea nadhiri. Sasa ondoka katika nchi hii mara moja urudi katika nchi uliyozaliwa.’”
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the stone and made a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and depart from this land, returning to the land of your nativity.’”
14 Ndipo Raheli na Lea wakajibu, “Je bado tu tunalo fungu lolote katika urithi wa nyumba ya baba yetu?
And Rachel and Leah responded: “Have we anything left behind among the resources and inheritance of our father’s house?
15 Je, yeye hatuhesabu sisi kama wageni? Sio kwamba ametuuza tu, bali ametumia hata na vile vilivyolipwa kwa ajili yetu.
Has he not considered us as foreigners, and sold us, and consumed our price?
16 Hakika utajiri wote ambao Mungu ameuchukua kutoka kwa baba yetu ni mali yetu na watoto wetu. Hivyo fanya lolote lile Mungu alilokuambia.”
But God has taken our father’s riches and handed these to us and to our sons. Therefore, do all that God has instructed you.”
17 Ndipo Yakobo akawapandisha watoto wake na wake zake juu ya ngamia,
And so Jacob rose up, and having placed the children and his wives upon camels, he went forth.
18 naye akawaswaga wanyama wote mbele yake pamoja na vitu vyote alivyokuwa amechuma huko Padan-Aramu kwenda kwa baba yake Isaki katika nchi ya Kanaani.
And he took all his substance and flocks, and whatever he had acquired in Mesopotamia, and he journeyed to his father Isaac, in the land of Canaan.
19 Labani alipokuwa amekwenda kukata kondoo wake manyoya, Raheli aliiba miungu ya nyumba ya baba yake.
At that time, Laban had gone to shear the sheep, and so Rachel stole her father’s idols.
20 Zaidi ya hayo, Yakobo alimdanganya Labani Mwaramu kwa kutokumwambia kwamba anakimbia.
And Jacob was not willing to confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing.
21 Hivyo akakimbia pamoja na vitu vyote alivyokuwa navyo na kuvuka Mto Frati akaelekea nchi ya vilima katika Gileadi.
And when he had gone away with all such things that were justly his, and, having crossed the river, was continuing on toward Mount Gilead,
22 Siku ya tatu Labani akaambiwa kwamba Yakobo amekimbia.
it was reported to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23 Akiwachukua jamaa zake, akamfuatia Yakobo kwa siku saba na kumkuta kwenye nchi ya vilima katika Gileadi.
And taking his brothers with him, he pursued him for seven days. And he overtook him at Mount Gilead.
24 Ndipo Mungu akamjia Labani Mwaramu katika ndoto usiku na kumwambia, “Jihadhari usiseme neno lolote kwa Yakobo, liwe zuri au baya.”
And he saw in a dream, God saying to him, “Beware that you not speak anything harsh against Jacob.”
25 Yakobo alikuwa amepiga hema lake katika nchi ya vilima katika Gileadi wakati Labani alipomkuta, Labani na jamaa yake wakapiga kambi huko pia.
And now Jacob had pitched his tent at the mountain. And when he, with his brothers, had overtaken him, he set his tent at the same place at Mount Gilead.
26 Ndipo Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Umefanya nini? Umenidanganya na umewachukua binti zangu kama mateka katika vita.
And he said to Jacob: “Why have you acted this way, departing from me in secret, with my daughters like captives of the sword?
27 Kwa nini ulikimbia kwa siri na kunidanganya? Kwa nini hukuniambia ili nikuage kwa furaha na nyimbo za matari na vinubi?
Why would you want to flee without my knowledge and without telling me, though I might have led you forward with gladness, and songs, and timbrels, and lyres?
28 Hata hukuniruhusu niwabusu wajukuu zangu na kuwaaga binti zangu. Umefanya kitu cha kipumbavu.
You have not permitted me to kiss my sons and daughters. You have acted foolishly. And now, indeed,
29 Nina uwezo wa kukudhuru, lakini usiku uliopita Mungu wa baba yako alisema nami, akaniambia, ‘Jihadhari, usiseme neno lolote kwa Yakobo liwe zuri au baya.’
my hand has power to repay you with harm. But the God of your father said to me yesterday, ‘Beware that you not speak anything stern against Jacob.’
30 Sasa umeondoka kwa sababu umetamani kurudi nyumbani kwa baba yako. Lakini kwa nini umeiba miungu yangu?”
It may be that you desired to go to your own, and that you longed for the house of your father. But why have you stolen my gods?”
31 Yakobo akamjibu Labani, “Niliogopa, kwa sababu nilifikiri ungeweza kuninyangʼanya binti zako kwa nguvu.
Jacob answered: “I set out, unknown to you, because I feared that you might take away your daughters by violence.
32 Lakini kama ukimkuta yeyote aliye na miungu yako, hataishi. Mbele ya jamaa yetu, angalia mwenyewe uone kama kuna chochote chako hapa nilicho nacho, kama kipo, kichukue.” Basi Yakobo hakujua kwamba Raheli alikuwa ameiba hiyo miungu.
But, since you accuse me of theft, with whomever you will find your gods, let him be slain in the sight of our brothers. Search; anything of yours that you will find with me, take it away.” Now when he said this, he did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
33 Kwa hiyo Labani akaingia ndani ya hema la Yakobo na ndani ya hema la Lea na ndani ya hema la watumishi wawili wa kike, lakini hakukuta chochote. Baadaye alipotoka katika hema la Lea, akaingia hema la Raheli.
And so Laban, entering the tent of Jacob, and of Leah, and of both the handmaids, did not find them. And when he had entered the tent of Rachel,
34 Basi Raheli ndiye alikuwa amechukua ile miungu ya nyumbani kwao na kuiweka katika matandiko ya ngamia na kukalia. Labani akatafuta kila mahali kwenye hema lakini hakupata chochote.
she quickly hid the idols under the camel’s bedding, and she sat upon them. And when he had searched the entire tent and found nothing,
35 Raheli akamwambia baba yake, “Usikasirike, bwana wangu kwa kuwa siwezi kusimama ukiwepo, niko katika hedhi.” Labani akatafuta lakini hakuweza kuipata miungu ya nyumbani kwake.
she said: “Do not be angry, my lord, that I am unable to rise up in your sight, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of women.” So his careful search was thwarted.
36 Yakobo akakasirika na kumshutumu Labani, akisema, “Uhalifu wangu ni nini?” Akamuuliza Labani, “Ni dhambi gani niliyofanya hata unaniwinda?
And Jacob, being inflated, said with contention: “For which fault of mine, or for what sin of mine, have you become so enraged against me
37 Sasa kwa kuwa umepekua vitu vyangu vyote umepata nini kilicho cha nyumbani mwako? Kiweke hapa mbele ya jamaa yako na yangu, nao waamue kati yetu sisi wawili.
and searched all the items of my house? What have you found from all the substance of your house? Place it here before my brothers, and your brothers, and let them judge between me and you.
38 “Mpaka sasa nimekuwa pamoja nawe miaka ishirini. Kondoo wako na mbuzi wako hawajaharibu mimba, wala sijala kondoo dume kutoka makundi yako.
For what reason have I been with you for twenty years? Your ewes and she-goats were not barren; the rams of your flocks I did not consume.
39 Sikukuletea mfugo aliyeraruliwa na wanyama pori, nilibeba hasara mimi mwenyewe. Tena ulinidai malipo kwa chochote kilichoibwa mchana au usiku.
Neither did I reveal to you what was seized by the wild beast. I replaced all that was damaged. Whatever was lost by theft, you collected it from me.
40 Hii ndiyo iliyokuwa hali yangu: Niliumia kwa joto la mchana na baridi usiku, pia usingizi ulinipa.
Day and night, I was burned by heat and by frost, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41 Ilikuwa hivi kwa miaka ile ishirini niliyokuwa nyumbani kwako. Nilikutumikia miaka ile kumi na minne kwa ajili ya binti zako wawili, miaka sita kwa ajili ya makundi yako, nawe ulibadilisha ujira wangu mara kumi.
And in this way, for twenty years, I have served you in your house: fourteen for your daughters, and six for your flocks. You have also changed my wages ten times.
42 Kama Mungu wa baba yangu, Mungu wa Abrahamu na Hofu ya Isaki, hakuwa pamoja nami, hakika ungenifukuza mikono mitupu. Lakini Mungu ameona taabu yangu na kazi ngumu ya mikono yangu, naye usiku uliopita amekukemea.”
If the God of my father Abraham and the fear of Isaac had not been close to me, perhaps by now you would have sent me away naked. But God looked kindly on my affliction and the labor of my hands, and he rebuked you yesterday.”
43 Labani akamjibu Yakobo, “Wanawake hawa ni binti zangu, watoto hawa ni watoto wangu na makundi haya ni makundi yangu. Vyote unavyoviona ni vyangu. Lakini hata hivyo ninaweza kufanya nini kuhusu hawa binti zangu, au kuhusu watoto waliowazaa?
Laban answered him: “My daughters and sons, and your flocks, and all that you discern are mine. What can I do to my sons and grandchildren?
44 Njoo sasa na tufanye agano, wewe na mimi, na liwe kama shahidi kati yetu.”
Come, therefore, let us enter into a pact, so that it may be a testimony between me and you.”
45 Hivyo Yakobo akachukua jiwe, akalisimamisha kama nguzo.
And so Jacob took a stone, and he set it up as a memorial.
46 Akawaambia jamaa yake, “Kusanyeni mawe.” Hivyo wakachukua mawe na kuyakusanya yakawa lundo, wakala chakula hapo karibu na hilo lundo.
And he said to his brothers, “Bring stones.” And they, gathering together stones, made a tomb, and they ate upon it.
47 Labani akaliita Yegar-Sahadutha na Yakobo akaliita Galeedi.
And Laban called it, ‘Tomb of Witness,’ and Jacob, ‘Pile of Testimony;’ each of them according to the fitness of his own language.
48 Labani akasema, “Lundo hili ni shahidi kati yako na mimi leo.” Ndiyo maana likaitwa Galeedi.
And Laban said: “This tomb will be a witness between me and you this day.” (And for this reason, its name has been called Gilead, that is, ‘Tomb of Witness.’)
49 Pia liliitwa Mispa, kwa sababu alisema, “Bwana na aweke ulinzi kati yako na mimi wakati kila mmoja akiwa mbali na mwingine.
“May the Lord consider and judge between us, when we will have withdrawn from one another.
50 Kama ukiwatenda mabaya binti zangu au ukioa wake wengine zaidi ya binti zangu, hata ingawa hakuna hata mmoja aliye pamoja nasi, kumbuka kwamba Mungu ni shahidi kati yako na mimi.”
If you afflict my daughters, and if you bring in other wives over them, no one is a witness of our words except God, who understands beforehand.”
51 Pia Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Hili ndilo lundo, na hii ndiyo nguzo niliyoisimamisha kati yako na mimi.
And again he said to Jacob. “Lo, this tomb and the stone that I have set up between me and you,
52 Lundo hili ni shahidi na nguzo hii ni shahidi, kwamba sitavuka lundo hili kuja upande wako kukudhuru, nawe kwamba hutavuka lundo hili na nguzo hii kuja upande wangu kunidhuru.
will be a witness. This tomb,” I say, “and the stone, they are for testimony, in case either I cross beyond it going toward you, or you cross beyond it thinking to harm me.
53 Mungu wa Abrahamu na Mungu wa Nahori, Mungu wa baba zao, aamue kati yetu.” Hivyo Yakobo akaapa kwa jina la Hofu ya baba yake Isaki.
May the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Therefore, Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.
54 Yakobo akatoa dhabihu juu ya kilima na akawaalika jamaa zake kula chakula. Baada ya kula, wakalala huko.
And after he had immolated sacrifices on the mountain, he called his brothers to eat bread. And when they had eaten, they lodged there.
55 Kesho yake asubuhi na mapema, Labani akawabusu wajukuu zake, binti zake na kuwabariki. Kisha akaondoka, akarudi nyumbani.
In truth, Laban rose up in the night, and he kissed his sons and daughters, and he blessed them. And he returned to his place.
