Mwanzo 18
1 Yahwe alimtokea Abraham katika Mialoni ya Mamre, alipokua ameketi mlangoni pa hema wakati wa jua.
And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day.
2 Akatazama juu na, tazama, akaona wanaume watatu wamesimama mbele yake. Alipo waona, alikimbia kupitia mlango wa hema kuwalaki na kuinama chini hadi ardhini.
And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing near him: and as soon as he saw them he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground.
3 Akasema, “Bwana, kama nimepata upendelea machoni pako, nakuomba usinipite na kuniacha mtumishi wako.
And he said: Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away from thy servant:
4 Naomba maji kidogo yaletwe, mnawe miguu yenu, na mjipumzishe chini ya mti.
But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest ye under the tree.
5 Nami acha nilete chakula kidogo, ili kwamba mjiburudishe wenyewe. Ndipo baadae mwaweza kwenda zenu, kwa kuwa mmekuja kwa mtumishi wenu.” Nao wakasema, “Fanya kama ulivyo sema.”
And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart, afterwards you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your servant. And they said: Do as thou hast spoken.
6 Kisha Abraham akaenda upesi hemani kwa Sara, na akasema, “Harakisha, chukua vipimo vitatu vya unga safi, uukande, na fanya mkate.”
Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 Kisha Abraham akakimbia kundini, akachukua ndama wa ng'ombe aliye laini na mzuri, na akampatia mtumishi na kwa haraka akamwandaa.
And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf very tender and very good, and gave it to a young man: who made haste and boiled it.
8 Akatwaa siagi na maziwa na ndama aliye kwisha andaliwa, na akaweka chakula mbele yao, naye akasimama karibu nao chini ya mti wakati wanakula.
He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree.
9 Wakamwambia, “Mke wako Sara yuko wapi?” akajibu. “pale hemani.”
And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy wife? He answered: Lo, she is in the tent.
10 akasema, “Hakika nitarejea kwako majira ya machipuko, na tazama Sara mkeo atakuwa na mtoto wa kiume.” Sara alikuwa akisikiliza mlangoni pa hema iliyokuwa nyuma yake.
And he said to him: I will return and come to thee at this time, life accompanying and Sara thy wife shall have a son. Which when Sara heard, she laughed behind the door of the tent.
11 Abraham na Sara walikuwa wazee, umri wao ulikuwa umeendelea sana, na Sara alikuwa amepita umri ambao mwanamke anaweza kuzaa watoto.
Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women.
12 Kwa hiyo Sara akajicheka mwenyewe, akijisemesha mwenyewe, “baada ya kuwa nimechakaa na bwana wangu ni mzee, je ni tapata furaha hii?”
And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old and my lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure?
13 Yahwe akamwambia Abraham, “Kwa nini Sara amecheka na kusema, Je ni kweli nitazaa mtoto, nikiwa mzee'?
And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall I who am an old woman bear a child indeed?
14 Je kuna jambo lolote gumu sana kwa Yahwe? Itakuwa katika wakati nilioweka mimi majira ya machipuko, nitarejea kwako. Majira haya mwakani Sara atakuwa na mtoto wa kiume.”
Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall have a son.
15 Kisha Sara akakataa na kusema, “sikucheka,” kwa kuwa aliogopa. Yahwe akasema, “hapana ulicheka.”
Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But the Lord said, Nay: but thou didst laugh:
16 Kisha wale wanaume walisimama kuondoka na wakatazama chini kuelekea Sodoma. Abraham akafuatana nao kuona njia yao.
And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way.
17 Lakini Yahwe akasema, Je ni mfiche Abraham kile ninacho kusudia kufanya,
And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do:
18 Ikiwa kwa hakika Abraham atakuwa mkuu na taifa lenye nguvu, na katika yeye mataifa yote ya dunia watabarikiwa?
Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed?
19 Kwa kuwa nimemchagua ili awaelekeze wanawe na nyumba yake baada yake waishike njia ya Yahwe, watende utakatifu na haki, ili kwamba Yahwe ampatie Abraham yale aliyo yasema kwake.”
For I know that he will command his children, and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: that for Abraham’s sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he hath spoken unto him.
20 Kisha Yahwe akasema, “Kwa sababu kilio cha Sodoma na Gomora ni kikuu, na kwa kuwa dhambi yao ni kubwa,
And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous.
21 sasa nitashuka pale na kuona kilio kilicho nifikia dhidi yake, ikiwa kweli wamefanya au hawakufanya, nitajua.”
I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know.
22 Kwa hiyo wale wanaume wakageuka toka pale, na kuelekea Sodoma, lakini Abraham akabaki amesimama mbele ya Yahwe.
And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord.
23 Kisha Abraham alikaribia na kusema, “Je utawafutilia mbali watakatifu pamoja na waovu?
And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked?
24 Huenda wakawepo wenye haki hamsini katika mji. Je utawakatilia mbali na usiuache mji kwa ajili ya hao watakatifu hamsini walioko hapo?
If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein?
25 Hasha usifanye hivyo, kuwauwa watakatifu pamoja na waovu, ili kwamba watakatifu watendewe sawa na waovu. Hasha! Je muhukumu wa ulimwengu wote hatatenda haki?”
Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this judgment.
26 Yahwe akasema, “Katika Sodoma nikipata watakatifu hamsini kwenye mji, nita uacha mji wote kwa ajili ya hao.”
And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.
27 Abraham akajibu na kusema, “Tazama, Nimeshika kusema na Bwana wangu, hata kama mimi ni mavumbi na majivu!
And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.
28 Itakuwaje ikiwa kuna watano pungufu katika idadi ya hao watakatifu hamsini? Je utaangamiza mji wote kwa upungufu wa hao watano?” Akasema, “Sitaangamiza, ikiwa nitapata watu arobaini na watano pale.”
What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty.
29 Akaongea naye tena, na kusema, “Itakuwaje ikiwa arobaini watapatikana pale?” Akajibu, “Sitafanya kwa ajili ya hao arobaini.”
And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty.
30 Akasema, Tafadhali usikasirike, Bwana, nikiongea. Pengine thelathini watapatikana pale.” Akajibu, 'Sitafanya, ikiwa nitapata thelathini pale.”
Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 Akasema, Tazama, Nimeshika kusema na Bwana wangu! Pengine ishirini watapatikana pale.” Akajibu, “Sitaharibu kwa ajili ya hao ishirini.”
Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.
32 Akasema, “Tafadhali usikasirike, Bwana, na nitasema jambo hili kwa mara ya mwisho. Huenda kumi wakaonekana kule.” Na akasema, sitaangamiza kwa ajili ya hao kumi.”
I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.
33 Yahwe akaendelea na njia yake mara tu baada ya kumaliza kuongea na Abraham, na Abraham akarudi nyumbani.
And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.
