Kutoka 33

1 Yahweh anasema na Musa, “Nenda kutoka hapa, wewe na watu ulio watoa kutoka nchi ya Misri. Nenda kwenye nchi nilio fanya nadhiri na Ibrahimu, Isaka, Yakobo, nilipo sema, 'Nitakupa wewe na uzao wako'.'

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’

2 Nitatuma malaika mbele yako, na kuwaondoa Wakanani, Waamori, Wahiti, Waperizi, Wahivi, na Wayebusi.

And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

3 Nenda kwenye hiyo nchi, inayo tiririka kwa maziwa na asali, lakini sitaenda nawe, kwasababu ninyi ni watu wajehuri. Ninaweza kuwaharibu njiani.”

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”

4 Watu walipo sikia haya maneno ya kushtua, walilia, na hakuna aliye vaa mikufu.

When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry.

5 Yahweh alisema kwa Musa, “Waambie Waisraeli, 'Ninyi ni watu wakorofi. Kama ningeenda miongoni mwenu ata kwa muda kidogo, nigewaharibu ninyi. Hivyo sasa, toa mikufu yenu ili niamue nini cha kufanya kwenu.”'

For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’”

6 Hivyo Waisraeli hawaku vaa mikufu kutoka Mlima Horebu na kwendelea.

So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

7 Musa akachukua hema na kukita nje ya kambi, umbali kidogo na kambini. Aliita hema ya kukutania. Kila mtu alliye muuliza Yahweh kitu chochote alienda kwenye hema ya kukutania, nje ya kambi.

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.

8 Kisha Musa alipo enda kwenye hema, watu wote walisima kando ya hema yao na kumuangalia Musa hadi alipo ingia ndani.

Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.

9 Wakati wowote Musa alipo ingia hemani, nguzo ya wingu ilishuka chini na kusimama nje ya lango la hema, na Yahweh alizungumza na Musa.

As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.

10 Wakati wowote watu walipo ona nguzo ya wingu imesimama langoni mwa hema, waliamka na kuabudu, kila langoni mwa hema yake.

When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.

11 Yahweh alizungumza na Musa uso kwa uso, kama mtu anapo zungumza na rafiki yake. Kisha Musa alirudi kambini, lakini mtumishi wake Yoshua mwana wa Nuni, kijana, alibaki hemani.

Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

12 Musa alisema na Yahweh, “Ona, umekuwa ukisema na mimi, 'Chukuwa watu hawa safarini,' lakini hauja niambia nani utamtuma na mimi. Umesema, 'Nina kujua kwa jina, na umepata upendeleo kwangu.'

Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’

13 Kama nimepata upendeleo machoni pako, nionyeshe njia zako ili nikujue na kuendelea kupata upendeleo machoni pako. Kumbuka ili taifa ni watu wako.”

Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

14 Yahweh akajibu, “Uwepo wangu utaenda nawe, na nitakupa pumziko.”

And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Musa akasema, “Kama uwepo wako hautaenda nasi, usitutoe hapa.

“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here.

16 Au je, itajulikanaje niimepata upendeleo machoni pako, mimi na watu wako? Haitakuwa kuwa tu kama ukienda nasi mimi na watu wako tutakuwa na utofauti na watu wengine wote waliopo katika uso wa dunia?”

For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17 Yahweh akamwambia Musa, “Nitafanya pia hichi kitu ulicho niomba, kwa kuwa umepata upendeleo machoni mwangu, na nina kujua kwa jina lako.”

So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

18 Musa akasema, Tafadhali nionyeshe utukufu wako.”

Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”

19 Yahweh akasema, “Nitafanya wema wangu wote ujulikani kwako, na nitatangaza jina langu 'Yahweh' kwako. Nitakuwa na neema kwake nitakae kuwa na neema, na nitaonyesha rehema kwake nitakaye onyesha rehema.”

“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

20 Lakini Yahweh akasema, “Hauta ona uso wangu, kwa kuwa hakuna aonaye uso wangu na kuiishi.”

But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

21 Yahweh akasema, “Ona, hapa kuna sehemu yangu; utasimama kwenye huu mwamba.

The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,

22 Wakati utukufu wangu unapita, nitakuweka kwenye shimo kubwa la mwamba na kukufunika kwa mkono wangu mpaka nitakapo pita.

and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

23 Kisha nitaondoa mkono wangu, na utaona mgongo wangu, ila uso wangu hautaonekana.”

Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”