Mwanzo 15
1 Baada ya mabo haya neno la Yahwe likamjia Abram katika maono, likisema, “Usiogope, Abram! mimi ni ngao yako na thawabu yako kubwa sana.”
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
2 Abram akasema, “Bwana Yahwe, utanipatia nini, kwa kuwa naenda bila mtoto, na mrithi wa nyumba yangu ni Eliezeri wa Dameski?”
But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 Abram akasema, “Kwakuwa hujanipatia uzao, tazama, mwangalizi wa nyumba yangu ndiye mrithi wangu.”
Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Kisha, tazama, neno la Yahwe likaja kwake, kusema, “Mtu huyu hatakuwa mrithi wako; isipokuwa atakaye toka katika mwili wako ndiye atakuwa mrithi wako.”
Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
5 Kisha akamtoa nje, na akasema, Tazama mbinguni, na uzihesabu nyota, ikiwa unaweza kuzihesabu.” Kisha akamwambia, hivyo ndivyo uzao wako utakavyokuwa.
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 Akamwamini Yahwe, na akamuhesabia jambo hili kuwa mwenye haki.
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
7 Akamwambia, Mimi ni Yahwe, niliye kutoa katika Uru ya Wakaldayo, na kukupatia nchi hii kuirithi.”
The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
8 Akasema, “Bwana Yahwe, nitajua je kuwa nitairithi?”
But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”
9 Kisha akamwambia, “Nipatie ndama wa umri wa miaka mitatu, mbuzi mke wa umri wa miaka mitatu, na kondoo mume wa umri wa miaka mitatu, na njiwa na mwana njiwa.”
And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
10 Akamletea hivi vyote, akavipasua katika sehemu mbili, akaweka kila kipande kuelekea mwenzake, ila ndege hakuawapasua.
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.
11 Wakati ndege walipokuja juu ya mizoga, Abram akawafukuza.
And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
12 Kisha wakati jua lilipokuwa likizama, Abram akalala usingizi mzito na tazama, hofu ya giza kuu ikamfunika.
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
13 Kisha Yahwe akamwambia Abram, “Ujuwe kwa hakika kwamba uzao wako watakuwa wageni katika nchi ambayo si ya kwao, na watatumikishwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14 Nitahukumu taifa ambalo watalitumikia, na baadye watatoka wakiwa na mali nyingi.
But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.
15 Lakini utakwenda kwa baba zako kwa amani, na utazikwa katika uzee mwema.
You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.
16 Katika kizazi cha nne watakuja tena hapa, kwa sababu uovu wa Waamori haujafikia mwisho wake.”
In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 Jua lilipokuwa limezama na kuwa giza, tazama, chungu cha moshi wenye moto na miali ya mwanga ilipita kati ya vile vipande.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.
18 Siku hiyo Yahwe akafanya agano na Abram, akisema, “Ninatoa nchi hii kwa uzao wako, kutoka mto wa Misri hadi kwenye mto mkuu, Frati -
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
19 Mkeni, Mkenizi, na Mkadmoni,
the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
20 Mhiti, Mperizi, Mrefai,
Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
21 Mwamori, Mkanaani, Mgirgashi, na Myebusi.
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
