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.
The Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, your family home, and travel to the country I'm going to show you.
2 Nitakufanya uwe taifa kubwa, na nitakubariki na kulifanya jinalako kuwa kubwa, na utafanyika baraka.
I will make you the ancestor of a great nation and I will bless you. I will make sure you have a great reputation and that you are a blessing to others.
3 Nitawabariki wakubarikio, lakini asiye kuheshimu nita mlaani. Kupitia kwako familia zote za nchi zitabarikiwa.
I will bless those who bless you; I will curse those who curse you. Everyone on 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 left following the Lord's instructions, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 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.
With him went his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, together with all the possessions they had collected and the people that had joined them in Harran. They left for the land of Canaan. When they arrived there,
6 Abram akapitia katikati ya nchi hadi Shekemu, hadi mwaloni wa More. Wakati huo wakanaani waliishi katika nchi hiyo.
Abram traveled on through the country as far as a place called Shechem, stopping at the oak tree of Moreh. At that time the country was occupied by Canaanites.
7 Yahwe akamtokea Abram, na kusema, “Nitawapa uzao wako nchi hii.” Kwa hiyo Abram akamjengea madhabahu, Yahwe ambaye alimtokea.
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I'm going to give this land to your descendants.” So Abram built an altar to the Lord there because that was where the Lord 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.
Then he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and set up camp there. Bethel was to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar to the Lord there and worshiped him.
9 Kisha Abram akaendelea kusafiri, akielekea upande wa Negebu.
After that he went on his way, heading towards the Negev.
10 Kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi, kwa hiyo Abram akaenda kukaa Misri, kwa kuwa njaa ilikua kali katika nchi.
But the land had been hit by famine. So Abram continued on to Egypt, planning to live there because the famine was so bad.
11 Wakati alipokaribia kuingia Misri, akamwambia Sarai mkewe, “tazama, najua kuwa wewe ni mwanamke mzuri.
As he approached Egypt and was about to cross the border, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12 Wamisri watakapokuona watasema, huyu ni mke wake, na wataniua mimi, lakini watakuacha wewe hai.
When the Egyptians see you, they'll say, ‘She's his wife,’ and they'll kill me but not you!
13 Hivyo wewe sema kuwa ni dada yangu, ili kwamba niwe salama kwa sababu yako, na kumba maisha yangu yatasalimika kwa sababu yako.”
Tell them you're my sister so I'll be treated well because of you, and my life will be spared for your sake.”
14 Ikawa kwamba Abram alipoingia Misri, Wamisri wakaona kwamba Sarai ni mzuri sana.
When Abram arrived in Egypt, the people there saw how beautiful Sarai was.
15 Wakuu wa Farao wakamuona, na kumsifia kwa Farao, na huyu mwanamke akachukuliwa kupelekwa nyumbani mwa Farao.
Pharaoh's officials also noticed and spoke positively about her to Pharaoh. So Sarai was taken to his palace to become one of his wives.
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.
Pharaoh treated Abram well because of her, giving him sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 Kisha Yahwe akampiga Farao na nyumba yake kwa mapigo makuu kwa sababau ya Sarai, mke wa Abram.
But the Lord caused Pharaoh and the people in his palace to suffer from terrible diseases because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
18 Farao akamwita Abram na kusema, “Nini hiki ambacho umenifanyia? Kwa nini hukuniambia kuwa alikuwa mke wako?
So Pharaoh ordered Abram brought to him and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me that 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's my sister,’ and let me take her to become one of my wives? So here's your wife! Take her and leave!”
20 Kisha Farao akatoa amri kwa watu wake kuhusiana naye, na wakamuondoa, yeye pamoja na mke wake na vyote alivyokuwa navyo.
Pharaoh ordered his guards to expel him and his wife from the country, along with everyone with them and all their possessions.
