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 these things happened, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so they can have a festival for 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.”
Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh? Why should I listen to his voice and let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh; moreover, 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.”
They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh our God so that he does not attack us with plague 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 are you taking the people from their work? Go back to your work.”
5 Pia alisema, “Sasa kuna Waebrania wengi nchini mwetu, na ninyi mnawafanya waache kazi zao.”
He also said, “There are now many people in our land, and you are making them stop their work.”
6 Siku ile ile, Farao alitoa amri kwa wasimamizi na wanyapara wa wale watu. Akasema,
On that same day, Pharaoh gave a command to the people's taskmasters and foremen. He said,
7 “Tofauti na ilivyokuwa mwanzo, “Tofauti ni ilivyokuwa awali, msiwapatie tena watu majani ya kutengenezea tofali. Waacheni wao waende kujitafutia majani wenyewe.
“Unlike before, you must no longer give the people straw to make bricks. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
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.'
However, you must still demand from them the same number of bricks as they made before. Do not accept any fewer, because they are lazy. That is why they are calling out and saying, 'Allow us to go and sacrifice to our God.'
9 Waongezeeni kazi wanaume ili wasipate tena muda wa kusikiliza maneno ya upotoshaji.”
Increase the workload for the men so that they keep at it and pay no more attention to deceptive words.”
10 Kwa hiyo viongozi wa watu na waangalizi wao waliwajulisha watu. Walisema, “Hivi ndivyo farao amesema: 'Sitawapeni tena malighafi.
So the people's taskmasters and foremen went out and informed the people. They said, “This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you any straw.
11 Nyinyi wenyewe mtaenda kutafuta majani popote mtakapopata, lakini kazi zenu hazitapunguzwa.
You yourselves must go and get straw wherever you can find it, but your workload will not be reduced.'”
12 Basi watu hao wakatawanyika katika nchi yote ya Misri ili wapate kukusanya matakataka badala ya majani.
So the people scattered throughout all 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 urging them and saying, “Finish your work, just as when straw was given to you.”
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?”
Pharaoh's taskmasters beat the Israelite foremen, those same men whom they had put in charge of the workers. The taskmasters kept asking them, “Why have you not produced all the bricks required of you, either yesterday and today, as you used to do in the past?”
15 Basi Wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakamwendea Farao na kumlilia. Walisema, “Kwanini unawatendea watumishi wako hivi?
So the Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out to him. They said, “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 is being given to your servants anymore, but they are still telling us, 'Make bricks!' We, your servants, are even beaten now, but it is the fault of your own people.”
17 Lakini Farao akasema, “Ninyi ni wavivu! Wavivu ninyi! Ninyi mwasema, 'Turuhusu twende kumtolea Yahwe sadaka.'
But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy! You are lazy! You say, 'Allow us to go sacrifice to Yahweh.'
18 Sasa rudini kazini. Hamtapewa majani tena, lakini mnapaswa kutengeneza idadi ile ile ya matofali.”
So now go back to work. No more straw will be given to you, but you must still make the same number 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 saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the daily number of bricks.”
20 Wakakutana na Musa na Haruni, waliokuwa wamesimama nje ya Ikulu wakati wanatoka kwa Farao.
They met Moses and Aaron, who were standing outside the palace, as they went away from Pharaoh.
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.”
They said to Moses and Aaron, “May Yahweh look at you and punish you, because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. You have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
22 Musa akarudi kwa BWANA na kumwambia, “Bwana, kwanini umewatenda mabaya watu hawa? Kwanini kunituma mimi kwanza?
Moses went back to Yahweh and said, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you send me in the first place?
23 Tangu nilipokuja kwa Farao kusema naye kwa jina lako, amewatenda mabaya watu hawa, wala hujawaokoa watu wako hata kidogo.”
Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have not set your people free at all.”
