Mwanzo 18
1 Yahwe alimtokea Abraham katika Mialoni ya Mamre, alipokua ameketi mlangoni pa hema wakati wa jua.
And the LORD appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the 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 he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth,
3 Akasema, “Bwana, kama nimepata upendelea machoni pako, nakuomba usinipite na kuniacha mtumishi wako.
and said: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.
4 Naomba maji kidogo yaletwe, mnawe miguu yenu, na mjipumzishe chini ya mti.
Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves 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 fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.'
6 Kisha Abraham akaenda upesi hemani kwa Sara, na akasema, “Harakisha, chukua vipimo vitatu vya unga safi, uukande, na fanya mkate.”
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'
7 Kisha Abraham akakimbia kundini, akachukua ndama wa ng'ombe aliye laini na mzuri, na akampatia mtumishi na kwa haraka akamwandaa.
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress 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.
And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 Wakamwambia, “Mke wako Sara yuko wapi?” akajibu. “pale hemani.”
And they said unto him: 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, 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: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. —
11 Abraham na Sara walikuwa wazee, umri wao ulikuwa umeendelea sana, na Sara alikuwa amepita umri ambao mwanamke anaweza kuzaa watoto.
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah 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 Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'
13 Yahwe akamwambia Abraham, “Kwa nini Sara amecheka na kusema, Je ni kweli nitazaa mtoto, nikiwa mzee'?
And the LORD said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
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 any thing too hard for the LORD. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.'
15 Kisha Sara akakataa na kusema, “sikucheka,” kwa kuwa aliogopa. Yahwe akasema, “hapana ulicheka.”
Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'
16 Kisha wale wanaume walisimama kuondoka na wakatazama chini kuelekea Sodoma. Abraham akafuatana nao kuona njia yao.
And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 Lakini Yahwe akasema, Je ni mfiche Abraham kile ninacho kusudia kufanya,
And the LORD said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;
18 Ikiwa kwa hakika Abraham atakuwa mkuu na taifa lenye nguvu, na katika yeye mataifa yote ya dunia watabarikiwa?
seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
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 have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of 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: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous.
21 sasa nitashuka pale na kuona kilio kilicho nifikia dhidi yake, ikiwa kweli wamefanya au hawakufanya, nitajua.”
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.'
22 Kwa hiyo wale wanaume wakageuka toka pale, na kuelekea Sodoma, lakini Abraham akabaki amesimama mbele ya Yahwe.
And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23 Kisha Abraham alikaribia na kusema, “Je utawafutilia mbali watakatifu pamoja na waovu?
And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous 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?
Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are 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?”
That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee; shall not the judge of all the earth do justly?'
26 Yahwe akasema, “Katika Sodoma nikipata watakatifu hamsini kwenye mji, nita uacha mji wote kwa ajili ya hao.”
And the LORD said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the 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: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but 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.”
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.'
29 Akaongea naye tena, na kusema, “Itakuwaje ikiwa arobaini watapatikana pale?” Akajibu, “Sitafanya kwa ajili ya hao arobaini.”
And he spoke unto Him yet again, and said: 'Peradventure there shall be forty found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'
30 Akasema, Tafadhali usikasirike, Bwana, nikiongea. Pengine thelathini watapatikana pale.” Akajibu, 'Sitafanya, ikiwa nitapata thelathini pale.”
And he said: 'Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.' And He said: '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.”
And he said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.'
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.”
And he said: 'Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'
33 Yahwe akaendelea na njia yake mara tu baada ya kumaliza kuongea na Abraham, na Abraham akarudi nyumbani.
And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.
