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 had said to Abram, Depart from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, to a 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 thou shalt be 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 curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all 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 departed, as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed from 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 to go forth 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 to the place of Sichem, to the plain 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 to Abram, and said, To thy seed will I give this land: and there he built an altar to the LORD, who 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.
And he departed from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he built an altar to 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 dwell there; for the famine was grievous 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 had come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to 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.
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee 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 my soul shall 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 had 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.
The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before 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 treated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and male donkeys, and male and female servants, and female donkeys, and camels.
17 Kisha Yahwe akampiga Farao na nyumba yake kwa mapigo makuu kwa sababau ya Sarai, mke wa Abram.
And the LORD afflicted 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 to me? why didst thou not tell me that she is 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 I might have taken her to me for a 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 commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
