Mwanzo 12
1 Kisha Yahwe akamwambia Abram, “Nenda utoke katika nchi yako, na toka kwa ndugu zako, na kwa jamaa za baba yako, uende katika nchi nitakayo kuonesha.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
2 Nitakufanya uwe taifa kubwa, na nitakubariki na kulifanya jinalako kuwa kubwa, na utafanyika baraka.
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 Nitawabariki wakubarikio, lakini asiye kuheshimu nita mlaani. Kupitia kwako familia zote za nchi zitabarikiwa.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
4 Kwa hiyo Abram akaondoka kama vile Yahwe alivyo mwambia kufanya, na Lutu akaenda pamoja naye. Abram alikuwa na miaka sabini na mitano wakati alipotoka Harani.
So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
5 Abram akamchukua Sarai mkewe, Lutu, mtoto wa ndugu yake, na vyote walivyomiliki ambavyo wamevikusanya, na watu ambao wamewapata wakiwa huko Harani. Wakatoka kwenda katika nchi ya Kanaani, wakafika nchi ya Kanaani.
And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
6 Abram akapitia katikati ya nchi hadi Shekemu, hadi mwaloni wa More. Wakati huo wakanaani waliishi katika nchi hiyo.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7 Yahwe akamtokea Abram, na kusema, “Nitawapa uzao wako nchi hii.” Kwa hiyo Abram akamjengea madhabahu, Yahwe ambaye alimtokea.
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
8 Kutoka pale akaenda kwenye nchi ya mlima mashariki mwa Betheli, ambapo alipiga hema yake, magaribi kukiwa na Betheli na mashariki kukiwa na mji wa Ai. Akajenga madhabahu ya Yahwe pale na kuliitia jina la Yahwe.
From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
9 Kisha Abram akaendelea kusafiri, akielekea upande wa Negebu.
And Abram journeyed on toward the Negev.
10 Kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi, kwa hiyo Abram akaenda kukaa Misri, kwa kuwa njaa ilikua kali katika nchi.
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
11 Wakati alipokaribia kuingia Misri, akamwambia Sarai mkewe, “tazama, najua kuwa wewe ni mwanamke mzuri.
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
12 Wamisri watakapokuona watasema, huyu ni mke wake, na wataniua mimi, lakini watakuacha wewe hai.
and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
13 Hivyo wewe sema kuwa ni dada yangu, ili kwamba niwe salama kwa sababu yako, na kumba maisha yangu yatasalimika kwa sababu yako.”
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.”
14 Ikawa kwamba Abram alipoingia Misri, Wamisri wakaona kwamba Sarai ni mzuri sana.
So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15 Wakuu wa Farao wakamuona, na kumsifia kwa Farao, na huyu mwanamke akachukuliwa kupelekwa nyumbani mwa Farao.
When Pharaoh’s officials saw Sarai, they commended her to him, and she was taken into the palace of Pharaoh.
16 Farao akamtendea kwa wema Abram kwa ajili yake, na akampatia kondoo, maksai, punda waume watumishi wa kiume, watumishi wa kike, punda wake, na ngamia.
He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
17 Kisha Yahwe akampiga Farao na nyumba yake kwa mapigo makuu kwa sababau ya Sarai, mke wa Abram.
The LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.
18 Farao akamwita Abram na kusema, “Nini hiki ambacho umenifanyia? Kwa nini hukuniambia kuwa alikuwa mke wako?
So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
19 Kwa nini ulisema, 'ni dada yangu; na mimi nikamchukua kuwa mke wangu? Sasa kwa sababu hiyo huyu hapa mke wako. Mchukue na uende zako.”
Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”
20 Kisha Farao akatoa amri kwa watu wake kuhusiana naye, na wakamuondoa, yeye pamoja na mke wake na vyote alivyokuwa navyo.
Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all his possessions.
