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.
Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee.
2 Nitakufanya uwe taifa kubwa, na nitakubariki na kulifanya jinalako kuwa kubwa, na utafanyika baraka.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.
3 Nitawabariki wakubarikio, lakini asiye kuheshimu nita mlaani. Kupitia kwako familia zote za nchi zitabarikiwa.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'
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 went, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of 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 Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6 Abram akapitia katikati ya nchi hadi Shekemu, hadi mwaloni wa More. Wakati huo wakanaani waliishi katika nchi hiyo.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7 Yahwe akamtokea Abram, na kusema, “Nitawapa uzao wako nchi hii.” Kwa hiyo Abram akamjengea madhabahu, Yahwe ambaye alimtokea.
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said: 'Unto thy seed will I give this land'; and he builded there an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto 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.
And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east; and he builded there an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
9 Kisha Abram akaendelea kusafiri, akielekea upande wa Negebu.
And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
10 Kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi, kwa hiyo Abram akaenda kukaa Misri, kwa kuwa njaa ilikua kali katika nchi.
And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.
11 Wakati alipokaribia kuingia Misri, akamwambia Sarai mkewe, “tazama, najua kuwa wewe ni mwanamke mzuri.
And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife: 'Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon.
12 Wamisri watakapokuona watasema, huyu ni mke wake, na wataniua mimi, lakini watakuacha wewe hai.
And it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say: This is his wife; and they will kill me, but thee they will keep alive.
13 Hivyo wewe sema kuwa ni dada yangu, ili kwamba niwe salama kwa sababu yako, na kumba maisha yangu yatasalimika kwa sababu yako.”
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.'
14 Ikawa kwamba Abram alipoingia Misri, Wamisri wakaona kwamba Sarai ni mzuri sana.
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15 Wakuu wa Farao wakamuona, na kumsifia kwa Farao, na huyu mwanamke akachukuliwa kupelekwa nyumbani mwa Farao.
And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
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.
And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.
17 Kisha Yahwe akampiga Farao na nyumba yake kwa mapigo makuu kwa sababau ya Sarai, mke wa Abram.
And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18 Farao akamwita Abram na kusema, “Nini hiki ambacho umenifanyia? Kwa nini hukuniambia kuwa alikuwa mke wako?
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said: 'What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy 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 saidst thou: She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife; now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.'
20 Kisha Farao akatoa amri kwa watu wake kuhusiana naye, na wakamuondoa, yeye pamoja na mke wake na vyote alivyokuwa navyo.
And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him; and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.
