Mwanzo 47
1 Yosefu akaenda na kumwambia Farao, “Baba yangu na ndugu zangu wamekuja kutoka nchi ya Kanaani wakiwa na makundi yao ya kondoo, mbuzi na ngʼombe, pamoja na kila kitu walicho nacho, nao sasa wapo huko Gosheni.”
Then Joseph went in and told Pharao, saying: My father and brethren, their sheep and their herds, and all that they possess, are come out of the land of Chanaan: and behold they stay in the land of Gessen.
2 Akachagua ndugu zake watano na kuwaonyesha kwa Farao.
Five men also the last of his brethren, he presented before the king:
3 Farao akawauliza hao ndugu zake, “Kazi yenu ni nini?” Wakamjibu, “Watumishi wako ni wachunga mifugo, kama vile baba zetu walivyokuwa.”
And he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: We thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.
4 Pia wakamwambia Farao, “Tumekuja kukaa huku kwa muda mfupi, kwa sababu njaa ni kali huko Kanaani, na mifugo ya watumishi wako haina malisho. Kwa hiyo sasa, tafadhali uruhusu watumishi wako wakae huko Gosheni.”
We are come to sojourn in thy land, because there is no grass for the flocks of thy servants, the famine being very grievous in the land of Chanaan: and we pray thee to give orders that we thy servants may be in the land of Gessen.
5 Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Baba yako na ndugu zako wamekuja kwako,
The king therefore said to Joseph: Thy father and thy brethren are come to thee.
6 nayo nchi ya Misri ipo mbele yako, uwakalishe baba yako na ndugu zako katika sehemu iliyo bora kupita zote katika nchi. Na waishi Gosheni. Kama unamfahamu yeyote miongoni mwao mwenye uwezo maalum, waweke wawe wasimamizi wa mifugo yangu.”
The land of Egypt is before thee: make them dwell in the best place, and give them the land of Gessen. And if thou knowest that there are industrious men among them, make them rulers over my cattle.
7 Ndipo Yosefu akamleta Yakobo baba yake na kumtambulisha mbele ya Farao. Baada ya Yakobo kumbariki Farao,
After this Joseph brought in his father to the king, and presented him before him: and he blessed him.
8 Farao akamuuliza, “Je una umri gani?”
And being asked by him: How many are the days of the years of thy life?
9 Naye Yakobo akamwambia Farao, “Siku za miaka ya kusafiri kwangu ni miaka 130. Miaka yangu imekuwa michache na ya taabu, wala haikufikia miaka ya kusafiri ya baba zangu.”
He answered: The days of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years, few, and evil, and they are not come up to the days of the pilgrimage of my fathers.
10 Kisha Yakobo akambariki Farao, naye akaondoka mbele ya uso wake.
And blessing the king, he went out.
11 Ndipo Yosefu akawakalisha baba yake na ndugu zake katika nchi ya Misri na kuwapa milki katika sehemu bora sana ya nchi, wilaya ya Ramesesi, kama Farao alivyoelekeza.
But Joseph gave a possession to his father and his brethren in Egypt, in the best place of the land, in Ramesses, as Pharao had commanded.
12 Pia Yosefu akampa baba yake, na ndugu zake na wote wa nyumbani mwa baba yake vyakula, kwa kulingana na hesabu ya watoto wao.
And he nourished them, and all his father’s house, allowing food to every one.
13 Hata hivyo, hapakuwepo chakula katika sehemu yote kwa kuwa njaa ilikuwa kali sana; Misri na Kanaani zote zikaharibiwa kwa sababu ya njaa.
For in the whole world there was want of bread, and a famine had oppressed the land: more especially of Egypt and Chanaan.
14 Yosefu akakusanya fedha zote zilizopatikana kutoka mauzo ya nafaka huko Misri na Kanaani, akazileta kwenye jumba la kifalme la Farao.
Out of which he gathered up all the money for the corn which they bought, and brought it into the king’s treasure.
15 Fedha za watu wa Misri na Kanaani zilipokwisha, Wamisri wote wakamjia Yosefu na kumwambia, “Tupatie chakula. Kwa nini tufe mbele ya macho yako? Fedha zetu zimekwisha.”
And when the buyers wanted money, all Egypt came to Joseph, saying: Give us bread: why should we die in thy presence, having now no money.
16 Yosefu akawaambia, “Basi leteni mifugo yenu, nitawauzia chakula kwa kubadilisha na mifugo yenu, kwa kuwa fedha zenu zimekwisha.”
And he answered them: Bring me your cattle, and for them I will give you food, if you have no money.
17 Kwa hiyo wakaleta mifugo yao kwa Yosefu, naye akawapa chakula kwa kubadilishana na farasi zao, kondoo na mbuzi zao, ngʼombe na punda zao. Katika mwaka huo wote Yosefu akawapa chakula kwa kubadilishana na mifugo yao yote.
And when they had brought them, he gave them food in exchange for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and asses and he maintained them that year for the exchange of their cattle.
18 Mwaka ule ulipokwisha, wakamjia mwaka uliofuata na kumwambia, “Hatuwezi kuficha ukweli mbele za bwana wetu kwamba, kwa kuwa fedha zetu zimekwisha na wanyama wetu ni mali yako, sasa hakuna chochote kilichosalia kwa ajili ya bwana wetu isipokuwa miili yetu na ardhi yetu.
And they came the second year, and said to him: We will not hide from our lord, how that our money is spent, and our cattle also are gone: neither art thou ignorant that we have nothing now left but our bodies and our lands.
19 Kwa nini tuangamie mbele ya macho yako, sisi pamoja na nchi yetu? Utununue sisi pamoja na ardhi yetu ili kubadilishana kwa chakula. Nasi pamoja na nchi yetu tutakuwa watumwa wa Farao. Tupe sisi mbegu ili tuweze kuishi wala tusife, nchi yetu isije ikawa ukiwa.”
Why therefore shall we die before thy eyes? we will be thine, both we and our lands: buy us to be the king’s servants, and give us seed, lest for want of tillers the land be turned into a wilderness.
20 Kwa hiyo Yosefu akamnunulia Farao nchi yote ya Misri. Wamisri, mmoja baada ya mwingine, waliuza mashamba yao, kwa sababu njaa ilikuwa kali sana kwao. Nchi ikawa mali ya Farao,
So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt, every man selling his possessions, because of the greatness of the famine. And he brought it into Pharao’s hands:
21 naye Yosefu akawafanya watu watumike kama watumwa, kuanzia upande mmoja wa Misri hadi upande mwingine.
And all its people from one end of the borders of Egypt, even to the other end thereof,
22 Hata hivyo, hakununua nchi ya makuhani, kwa sababu walikuwa wanapata mgawo wao wa kawaida kutoka kwa Farao, nao walikuwa na chakula cha kuwatosha kutokana na mgawo waliopewa na Farao. Hii ndiyo sababu hawakuuza ardhi yao.
Except the land of the priests, which had been given them by the king: to whom also a certain allowance of food was given out of the public stores, and therefore they were not forced to sell their possessions.
23 Yosefu akawaambia watu, “Kwa vile nimewanunua ninyi pamoja na nchi yenu leo kuwa mali ya Farao, hapa kuna mbegu kwa ajili yenu ili mweze kuziotesha.
Then Joseph said to the people: Behold as you see, both you and your lands belong to Pharao: take seed and sow the fields,
24 Lakini wakati mazao yatakapokuwa tayari, mpeni Farao sehemu ya tano. Sehemu hizo nne zitakazobaki mtaziweka kama mbegu kwa ajili ya mashamba na kwa ajili ya chakula chenu wenyewe na cha watu wa nyumbani mwenu na watoto wenu.”
That you may have corn. The fifth part you shall give to the king: the other four you shall have for seed, and for food for your families and children.
25 Wakamwambia, “Umeokoa maisha yetu. Basi na tupate kibali mbele ya macho ya bwana wetu; tutakuwa watumwa wa Farao.”
And they answered: Our life is in thy hand: only let my lord look favourably upon us, and we will gladly serve the king.
26 Basi Yosefu akaiweka iwe sheria kuhusu nchi ya Misri, ambayo inatumika mpaka leo, kwamba, sehemu ya tano ya mazao ni mali ya Farao. Ni nchi ya makuhani tu ambayo haikuwa ya Farao.
From that time unto this day, in the whole land of Egypt, the fifth part is paid to the king, and it is become as a law, except the land of the priests, which was free from this covenant.
27 Basi Waisraeli wakaishi Misri katika nchi ya Gosheni. Wakapata mali huko wakastawi na kuongezeka kwa wingi sana.
So Israel dwelt in Egypt, that is, in the land of Gessen, and possessed it: and grew, and was multiplied exceedingly.
28 Yakobo akaishi Misri miaka kumi na saba, nayo miaka ya maisha yake ilikuwa 147.
And he lived in it seventeen years: and all the days of his life came to a hundred and forty-seven years.
29 Wakati ulipokaribia wa Israeli kufa, akamwita mwanawe Yosefu na kumwambia, “Kama nimepata kibali machoni pake, weka mkono wako chini ya paja langu na uniahidi kuwa utanifanyia fadhili na uaminifu. Usinizike Misri,
And when he saw that the day of his death drew nigh, he called his son Joseph, and said to him: If I have found favour in thy sight, put thy hand under my thigh; and thou shalt shew me this kindness and truth, not to bury me in Egypt:
30 lakini nitakapopumzika na baba zangu, unichukue kutoka Misri, ukanizike walipozikwa.” Yosefu akamwambia, “Nitafanya kama unavyosema.”
But I will sleep with my fathers, and thou shalt take me away out of this land, and bury me in the burying place of my ancestors. And Joseph answered him: I will do what thou hast commanded.
31 Akamwambia, “Niapie.” Ndipo Yosefu akamwapia, naye Israeli akaabudu, akiwa ameegemea juu ya kichwa cha fimbo yake.
And he said: Swear then to me. And as he was swearing, Israel adored God, turning to the bed’s head.
