Mwanzo 18
1 Yahwe alimtokea Abraham katika Mialoni ya Mamre, alipokua ameketi mlangoni pa hema wakati wa jua.
One day during that year when it was hot, Yahweh appeared to Abraham again near the big trees that belonged to Mamre, while Abraham was sitting in the entrance to his tent.
2 Akatazama juu na, tazama, akaona wanaume watatu wamesimama mbele yake. Alipo waona, alikimbia kupitia mlango wa hema kuwalaki na kuinama chini hadi ardhini.
Abraham looked up [MTY] and was surprised to see three men standing near him. [Actually, one was Yahweh, and the other two were angels]. When he saw them, he ran to meet them. He prostrated himself with his face on the ground to show respect,
3 Akasema, “Bwana, kama nimepata upendelea machoni pako, nakuomba usinipite na kuniacha mtumishi wako.
and said [to one of them], “Sir, if you are pleased with me, stay here for a little while [LIT].
4 Naomba maji kidogo yaletwe, mnawe miguu yenu, na mjipumzishe chini ya mti.
Allow my servants to bring a little water and wash your feet, and rest under this 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.”
Since you have come here to me, allow me to bring you some food [SYN] so that you can feel refreshed before you leave.” Yahweh replied, “All right, do as you have said.”
6 Kisha Abraham akaenda upesi hemani kwa Sara, na akasema, “Harakisha, chukua vipimo vitatu vya unga safi, uukande, na fanya mkate.”
So Abraham quickly went into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, get some of our best flour and make some loaves of bread!”
7 Kisha Abraham akakimbia kundini, akachukua ndama wa ng'ombe aliye laini na mzuri, na akampatia mtumishi na kwa haraka akamwandaa.
Then he ran to the herd of cattle and selected a calf whose meat would be tender and tasty. He gave it to one of his servants [and told him to] quickly kill it and cook 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.
When the meat was cooked, Abraham brought some curds and milk and the meat that had been prepared, and set them in front of his visitors. Then he stood near them, under a tree, while they ate.
9 Wakamwambia, “Mke wako Sara yuko wapi?” akajibu. “pale hemani.”
[One of] them asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He replied, “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.
Then the leader of the group said, “I will return to you (about this time/in the springtime) next year, and to your amazement, your wife Sarah will have an infant son.” It happened that Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind the one who was speaking.
11 Abraham na Sara walikuwa wazee, umri wao ulikuwa umeendelea sana, na Sara alikuwa amepita umri ambao mwanamke anaweza kuzaa watoto.
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was far past the time of when she could bear children.
12 Kwa hiyo Sara akajicheka mwenyewe, akijisemesha mwenyewe, “baada ya kuwa nimechakaa na bwana wangu ni mzee, je ni tapata furaha hii?”
So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “My body is worn out, and my husband is old. So how can I have the pleasure [of having a child]?” [RHQ]
13 Yahwe akamwambia Abraham, “Kwa nini Sara amecheka na kusema, Je ni kweli nitazaa mtoto, nikiwa mzee'?
Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why was she thinking, ‘I am too old, so how can I bear a child?’
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.”
I am Yahweh! (Is there anything too difficult for me?/There is nothing too difficult for me!) [RHQ] I will return about this time next year in the springtime, and Sarah will have an infant son.”
15 Kisha Sara akakataa na kusema, “sikucheka,” kwa kuwa aliogopa. Yahwe akasema, “hapana ulicheka.”
Then Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But Yahweh said, “Don’t deny it! You did laugh.”
16 Kisha wale wanaume walisimama kuondoka na wakatazama chini kuelekea Sodoma. Abraham akafuatana nao kuona njia yao.
When the three men got up to leave, they looked down into the valley toward Sodom [city]. Abraham was walking with them to say “goodbye” to them.
17 Lakini Yahwe akasema, Je ni mfiche Abraham kile ninacho kusudia kufanya,
Yahweh thought to himself, “It is not right for me to prevent Abraham from knowing what I plan to do [RHQ].
18 Ikiwa kwa hakika Abraham atakuwa mkuu na taifa lenye nguvu, na katika yeye mataifa yote ya dunia watabarikiwa?
Abraham’s descendants [MTY] will become a great and powerful nation. And people of [MTY] all nations will be blessed because of what I do for 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.”
I have chosen him in order that he will teach his children and their families to obey me and do what is right and fair, and then I will do for Abraham what I promised.”
20 Kisha Yahwe akasema, “Kwa sababu kilio cha Sodoma na Gomora ni kikuu, na kwa kuwa dhambi yao ni kubwa,
So Yahweh said to Abraham, “I have heard the terrible things that have been said about the people of [MTY] Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sins are very great.
21 sasa nitashuka pale na kuona kilio kilicho nifikia dhidi yake, ikiwa kweli wamefanya au hawakufanya, nitajua.”
So I will go down now, and I will see if all the terrible things that I have heard are true or not true.”
22 Kwa hiyo wale wanaume wakageuka toka pale, na kuelekea Sodoma, lakini Abraham akabaki amesimama mbele ya Yahwe.
Then the two men turned and started walking toward Sodom. But Yahweh remained, standing in front of Abraham.
23 Kisha Abraham alikaribia na kusema, “Je utawafutilia mbali watakatifu pamoja na waovu?
Abraham came closer to him and said, “Will you really destroy righteous people along with wicked ones?
24 Huenda wakawepo wenye haki hamsini katika mji. Je utawakatilia mbali na usiuache mji kwa ajili ya hao watakatifu hamsini walioko hapo?
What will you do if there are only 50 righteous people in the city? Will you really get rid of them all, and not spare the place/city for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in the city?
25 Hasha usifanye hivyo, kuwauwa watakatifu pamoja na waovu, ili kwamba watakatifu watendewe sawa na waovu. Hasha! Je muhukumu wa ulimwengu wote hatatenda haki?”
It would certainly not be right for you to do such a thing, to kill righteous people along with wicked ones, and treat righteous people and wicked people the same way. You could not do that, because you, who are the judge of everyone on the earth, will certainly do what is right [regarding the people of Sodom]!” [RHQ]
26 Yahwe akasema, “Katika Sodoma nikipata watakatifu hamsini kwenye mji, nita uacha mji wote kwa ajili ya hao.”
Yahweh replied, “If I find 50 righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the whole place/city for their sake.”
27 Abraham akajibu na kusema, “Tazama, Nimeshika kusema na Bwana wangu, hata kama mimi ni mavumbi na majivu!
Abraham replied, “I should not be bold like this and speak to you, God, because I am as worthless as dust and ashes [MET].
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.”
But what will you do if there are only 45 righteous people? Will you destroy everyone in the whole city because there are only 45 and not 50 righteous people?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy it if I find that there are 45 righteous people.”
29 Akaongea naye tena, na kusema, “Itakuwaje ikiwa arobaini watapatikana pale?” Akajibu, “Sitafanya kwa ajili ya hao arobaini.”
Abraham continued to speak to him [like this], saying, “What will you do if you find that there are only 40 righteous people there?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy them all, for the sake of the 40.”
30 Akasema, Tafadhali usikasirike, Bwana, nikiongea. Pengine thelathini watapatikana pale.” Akajibu, 'Sitafanya, ikiwa nitapata thelathini pale.”
Abraham said, “God, please don’t be angry now. Let me speak again. What will you do if there are only 30 righteous people?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find that there are 30 there.”
31 Akasema, Tazama, Nimeshika kusema na Bwana wangu! Pengine ishirini watapatikana pale.” Akajibu, “Sitaharibu kwa ajili ya hao ishirini.”
Abraham said, “I should not be bold and speak to you like this, God. But what will you do if you find that there are only 20 righteous people there?” He replied, “I will not destroy the whole city, for the sake of those 20.”
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.”
Abraham said, “God, don’t be angry now. Just let me speak one time more. What will you do if you find that there are only ten righteous people there?” Yahweh answered, “I will not destroy the city for the sake of those ten.”
33 Yahwe akaendelea na njia yake mara tu baada ya kumaliza kuongea na Abraham, na Abraham akarudi nyumbani.
Abraham said no more, and as soon as Yahweh finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
