Kutoka 5
1 Baada ya mambo haya kutokea, Musa na Aruni walienda kwa Farao na kumwambia, ““Hivi ndivyo Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli anasema: 'Waache watu wangu waende, ili wapate kunifanyia karamu jangwani.'”
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
2 Farao akasema, “Yahwe ni nani? Kwa nini mimi nisikiliz sauti yake na kuwaacha Israeli waende? Mimi simjui Yahwe; na la zaidi, sitawaacha Israeli waende.”
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
3 Wakasema, “Mungu wa Waebrania amekutana nasi. Tuache twende safari jangwani kwa siku tatu ili tutoe sadaka kwa Yahwe Mungu wetu ili asituadhibu kwa mapigo au kwa upanga.”
“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”
4 Lakini mfalme wa Misri aliwaambia, “Musa na Aruni, kwa nini mnawatoa watu kazini mwao? Nendeni kazini kwenu.”
But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”
5 Pia alisema, “Sasa kuna Waebrania wengi nchini mwetu, na ninyi mnawafanya waache kazi zao.”
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
6 Siku ile ile, Farao alitoa amri kwa wasimamizi na wanyapara wa wale watu. Akasema,
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:
7 “Tofauti na ilivyokuwa mwanzo, “Tofauti ni ilivyokuwa awali, msiwapatie tena watu majani ya kutengenezea tofali. Waacheni wao waende kujitafutia majani wenyewe.
“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.
8 Ingawa wanapaswa kuleta hesabu sawa ya matofali watakayotengeneza kama ilivyokuwa awali. Msipokee pungufu, kwasababu wao ni wavivu. Ndiyo maana wanapiga kelele na kusema, 'turuhusu tuende tukamtolee sadaka Mungu wetu.'
But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9 Waongezeeni kazi wanaume ili wasipate tena muda wa kusikiliza maneno ya upotoshaji.”
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
10 Kwa hiyo viongozi wa watu na waangalizi wao waliwajulisha watu. Walisema, “Hivi ndivyo farao amesema: 'Sitawapeni tena malighafi.
So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.
11 Nyinyi wenyewe mtaenda kutafuta majani popote mtakapopata, lakini kazi zenu hazitapunguzwa.
Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
12 Basi watu hao wakatawanyika katika nchi yote ya Misri ili wapate kukusanya matakataka badala ya majani.
So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13 Wasimamizi wao wakawahimiza na kusema, “Malizeni kazi zenu, sawa na wakati ule majani yalipokuwapo.”
The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
14 Wanyapara wa Farao wakawapiga wasimamizi wa Waisraeli, watu walewale ambao waliwaweka kuwa wasimamizi wa watumishi. Wale Wanyapara wakakazana kuwauliza, “Kwanini hamjatimiza idadi ya matofali inayotakiwa kwenu, siku ya jana na hata leo kama ambavyo mlifanya siku za nyuma?”
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”
15 Basi Wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakamwendea Farao na kumlilia. Walisema, “Kwanini unawatendea watumishi wako hivi?
So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16 Sisi watumishi wako hatupewi majani tena, lakini bado wanatuambia sisi, “Tengenezeni tofali!' Sisi watumwa wako tunapigwa sasa, lakini kosa hilo ni la watu wako.”
No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
17 Lakini Farao akasema, “Ninyi ni wavivu! Wavivu ninyi! Ninyi mwasema, 'Turuhusu twende kumtolea Yahwe sadaka.'
“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18 Sasa rudini kazini. Hamtapewa majani tena, lakini mnapaswa kutengeneza idadi ile ile ya matofali.”
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
19 Wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakagundua ya kuwa walikuwa kwenye shida kubwa mara walipoambiwa, “Hamtapunguza kamwe idadi ya matofali mnayotengeneza kila siku.”
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20 Wakakutana na Musa na Haruni, waliokuwa wamesimama nje ya Ikulu wakati wanatoka kwa Farao.
When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21 Wakawaambia Musa na Haruni, “Yahwe awatazame ninyi na kuwaadhibu, kwa sababu mmetufanya sisi kuonekana wabaya mbele ya Farao na watumishi wake. Mmetia upanga mikononi mwao ili watuue.”
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
22 Musa akarudi kwa BWANA na kumwambia, “Bwana, kwanini umewatenda mabaya watu hawa? Kwanini kunituma mimi kwanza?
So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
23 Tangu nilipokuja kwa Farao kusema naye kwa jina lako, amewatenda mabaya watu hawa, wala hujawaokoa watu wako hata kidogo.”
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”
