Kutoka 1
1 Haya ndiyo majina ya wana wa Israeli waliokuja Misri pamoja na Yakobo kila moja na familia yake:
These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:
2 Rubeni, Simioni, Lawi, na Yuda,
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;
3 Isakari, Zebuluni, na Benjamini,
Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;
4 Dani, Naftali, Gadi, na Asheri.
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
5 Jumla ya watu wa ukoo wa Yakobo walikuwa sabini. Yusufu alikuwa Misri tayari.
The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.
6 Ndipo Yusufu, pamoja na kaka zake wote, na kizazi chote wakafa.
Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,
7 Waisraeli walifanikiwa sana, wakaongezeka sana idadi yao, na wakawa na nguvu maana nchi ilijazwa na wao.
but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
8 Wakati huu sasa mfalme mpya asiyemjua Yusufu aliinuka katika Misri.
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
9 Akawaambia watu wake, “Tazama, hawa Waisraeli ni wengi na wenye nguvu kuliko sisi.
“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
10 Njooni na tukae nao kwa akili, ama sivyo wataendelea kuongezeka na kama vita ikiibuka, wataungana na adui zetu, watapigana nasi, na kisha wataondoka.”
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
11 Hivyo wakawekea walinzi ambao waliwatesa kwa kuwatumikisha kazi ngumu. Waisraeli walijenga maghala ya miji kwa ajili ya Farao: Pishoni na Ramsei.
So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
12 Lakini kadiri Wamisri walivyowatesa, ndivyo Waisraeli waliendelea kuongezeka na kusambaa. Hivyo Wamisri wakaanza kuwaogopa Waisraeli.
But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.
13 Wamisri waliwafanya Waisraeli wafanye kazi kwa nguvu nyingi.
They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
14 Waliyafanya maisha yao kuwa machungu kwa kuwafanyisha kazi ngumu kwa vinu na matofali na kwa kila aina ya kazi za shambani. Kazi zao zote zilikuwa ngumu.
and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
15 Kisha mfalme wa Misri akawaambia wakunga wa Kiebrania; mmoja wao aliitwa jina lake Shifra, na mwingine aliitwa Puha.
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
16 Akasema, “Wakati mnapowasaidia wanawake wa Kiebrania wanapojifungua, chunguzeni wanapozaa. Ikiwa ni mtoto wa kiume, basi muueni; bali ikiwa ni mtoto wa kike, basi mwacheni aishi.”
“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”
17 Lakini wale Wakunga walimwogopa Mungu na hawakufanya kama mfalme wa Misri alivyowaagiza; badala yake waliwaacha watoto wa kiume waishi.
The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.
18 Mfalme wa Misri akawaita Wakunga na kuwaambia, “Kwanini mmefanya haya, na kuwaacha watoto wa kiume wakaishi?”
So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
19 Wale Wakunga wakamjibu Farao, “Hawa wanawake wa Kiebrania siyo kama wanawake wa Kimisri. Hawa wana nguvu na jasiri sana maana wao humaliza kuzaa kabla hata mkunga hajafika.”
The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”
20 Mungu aliwalinda hawa Wakunga. Watu waliongezeka kwa idadi na kuwa na nguvu sana.
So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
21 Kwa sababu wale Wakunga walimwogopa Mungu, aliwapa familia.
And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.
22 Farao akawaagiza watu wote, “Lazima mmutupe kila mtoto wa kiume anayezaliwa katika mto, lakini kila mtoto wa kike wamwache aishi.”
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
