Mwanzo 48
1 Baada ya muda Yosefu akaambiwa kwamba, “Baba yako ni mgonjwa.” Kwa hiyo akawachukua wanawe wawili Manase na Efraimu, pamoja naye.
After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick: and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.
2 Yakobo alipoambiwa, “Mwanao Yosefu amekujia kukuona,” Israeli akakusanya nguvu zake, akaketi kitandani.
And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to thee. And being strengthened he sat on his bed.
3 Yakobo akamwambia Yosefu, “Mungu Mwenyezi alinitokea huko Luzu katika nchi ya Kanaani, huko akanibariki,
And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God Almighty appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan: and he blessed me,
4 naye akaniambia, ‘Nitakufanya ustawi na kuongezeka hesabu yako, nitakufanya kuwa jamii ya mataifa, nami nitakupa nchi hii uimiliki milele wewe na wazao wako baada yako.’
And he said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
5 “Sasa basi, wanao wawili waliozaliwa kwako huku Misri kabla sijaja hapa kwako watahesabiwa kuwa ni wangu; Efraimu na Manase watakuwa wangu, kama vile Reubeni na Simeoni walivyo wangu.
So thy two sons who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon.
6 Lakini watoto utakaowazaa baada yao watakuwa wako. Katika nchi watakayoirithi, watatambuliwa kwa jina la ndugu zao.
But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.
7 Nilipokuwa ninarudi kutoka Padani, katika huzuni yangu Raheli alifariki katika nchi ya Kanaani tulipokuwa tungali tukisafiri, tukiwa karibu kufika Efrathi. Kwa hiyo nilimzika huko, kando ya njia iendayo Efrathi” (yaani Bethlehemu).
For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was springtime: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.
8 Wakati Israeli alipowaona wana wa Yosefu, akauliza, “Hawa ni nani?”
Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?
9 Yosefu akamjibu baba yake, “Hawa ni wana ambao Mungu amenipa nikiwa huku.” Ndipo Israeli akasema, “Walete kwangu ili niwabariki.”
He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said: Bring them to me that I may bless them.
10 Basi macho ya Israeli yalikuwa hayaoni vizuri kwa sababu ya uzee, naye aliona kwa shida. Kwa hiyo Yosefu akawaleta wanawe karibu na baba yake, Israeli akawabusu na akawakumbatia.
For Israel’s eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them.
11 Israeli akamwambia Yosefu, “Kamwe sikutazamia kuuona uso wako tena, lakini sasa Mungu ameniruhusu kuwaona watoto wako pia.”
And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee: moreover God hath showed me thy seed.
12 Ndipo Yosefu akawaondoa wanawe magotini mwa Israeli naye akasujudu hadi nchi.
And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground.
13 Yosefu akachukua wale wana wawili, Efraimu kwenye mkono wake wa kuume akimwelekeza kwenye mkono wa kushoto wa Israeli, na Manase katika mkono wake wa kushoto akimwelekeza kwenye mkono wa kuume wa Israeli, akawaleta karibu na babu yao.
And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his father’s right hand, and brought them near to him.
14 Lakini Israeli akaupeleka mkono wake wa kuume, akauweka juu ya kichwa cha Efraimu, ingawa alikuwa ndiye mdogo, na mkono wake wa kushoto akaukatisha, akauweka juu ya kichwa cha Manase, ingawa Manase alikuwa ndiye mzaliwa wa kwanza.
But he stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses who was the elder, changing his hands.
15 Ndipo akambariki Yosefu akisema, “Mungu ambaye baba zangu Abrahamu na Isaki walimtii, Mungu ambaye amekuwa mchungaji wa maisha yangu yote mpaka leo hii,
And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this day;
16 Malaika ambaye aliniokoa kutoka madhara yote, yeye na awabariki vijana hawa. Na waitwe kwa jina langu na kwa majina ya baba zangu Abrahamu na Isaki, wao na waongezeke kwa wingi katika dunia.”
The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys: and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abraham, and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.
17 Yosefu alipoona baba yake akiweka mkono wa kuume juu ya kichwa cha Efraimu, hakupendezwa, kwa hiyo akauchukua mkono wa baba yake kutoka kichwa cha Efraimu na kuuweka juu ya kichwa cha Manase.
And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father’s hand he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head, and to remove it to the head of Manasses.
18 Yosefu akamwambia, “Hapana, baba yangu, huyu ndiye mzaliwa wa kwanza; uweke mkono wako wa kuume juu ya kichwa chake.”
And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father: for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.
19 Lakini baba yake akakataa, akasema, “Ninajua, mwanangu, ninajua. Yeye pia atakuwa taifa, naye pia atakuwa mkuu. Hata hivyo, ndugu yake mdogo atakuwa mkuu kuliko yeye, nao wazao wake watakuwa kundi la mataifa.”
But he refusing, said: I know, my son, I know: and this also shall become peoples, and shall be multiplied: but this younger brother shall be greater than he: and his seed shall grow into nations.
20 Akawabarikia siku ile na kusema, “Kwa jina lenu Israeli watatamka baraka hii: ‘Mungu na awafanye kama Efraimu na Manase.’” Kwa hiyo akamtanguliza Efraimu mbele ya Manase.
And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel be blessed, and it shall be said: God do to thee as to Ephraim, and as to Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.
21 Ndipo Israeli akamwambia Yosefu, “Mimi ninakaribia kufa, lakini Mungu atakuwa pamoja nanyi, na atawarudisha katika nchi ya baba zenu.
And he said to Joseph his son: Behold I die, and God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.
22 Kwako wewe, kama aliye juu ya ndugu zako, ninakupa sehemu moja zaidi ya ndugu zako, lile eneo nililoteka kwa Waamori kwa upanga wangu na upinde wangu.”
I give thee a portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorrhite with my sword and bow.
