Mwanzo 20

1 Abraham akasafiri kutoka pale hadi nchi ya Negebu, na akakaa kati ya Kadeshi na Shuri. Akawa mgeni akiishi Gerari.

Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,

2 Abraham akasema kususu mkewe Sara, “ni dada yangu.” Kwa hiyo Abimeleki mfalme wa Gerari akatuma watu wake kumchukua Sara.

Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

3 Lakini Mungu akamtokea Abimeleki usiku katika ndoto, akamwambia, “Tazama, wewe ni mfu kutokana na mwanamke uliye mchukua, kwa kuwa ni mke wa mtu.”

One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

4 Basi Abimeleki alikuwa bado hajamkaribia hivyo akasema, “Bwana, Je utaua hata taifa lenye haki?

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

5 Je si yeye mwenyewe aliye niambia, 'Sara ni dada yangu?' Hata Sara mwenyewe alisema, 'ni kaka yangu.' Nimefanya hili katika uadilifu wa moyo wangu na katika mikono isiyo na hatia.”

Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6 Kisha Mungu akasema naye katika ndoto, “Kweli, ninajua pia kwamba umefanya hili katika uadilifu wa moyo wako, na pia nilikuzuia usitende dhambi dhidi yangu mimi. Ndiyo maana sikuruhusu umshike.

Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

7 Kwa hiyo, mrudishe huyo mke wa mtu, kwa kuwa ni nabii. Atakuombea, na utaishi. Lakini usipo mrudisha, ujuwe kwamba wewe pamoja na wote walio wa kwako mtakufa hakika.

Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

8 Abimeleki akaamka asubuhi na mapema akawaita watumishi wake wote waje kwake. Akawasimulia mambo haya yote, na watu wale wakaogopa sana.

Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

9 Kisha Abimeleki akamwita Abraham na kumwambia, “Umetufanyia jambo gani? Ni kwa jinsi gani nimekutenda dhambi kwamba umeniletea mimi na ufalme wangu dhambi hii kubwa? Umenifanyia mimi jambo ambalo halipaswi kufanywa.”

Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”

10 Abimeleki akamwambia Abraham, “Nini kilikushawishi wewe kutenda jambo hili?”

Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11 Abraham akasema, “Ni kwasababu nilifikiri hakika hakuna hofu ya Mungu katika sehemu hii, na kwamba wataniua kwa ajili ya mke wangu.'

Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’

12 Licha ya kwamba kweli ni dada yangu, binti wa baba yangu, ingawa si binti wa mama yangu; na ndiye alifanyika kuwa mke wangu.

Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

13 Wakati Mungu aliponiondoa katika nyumba ya baba yangu na kusafiri kutoka mahali kwenda mahali pengine, nilimwambia mke wangu, kwa kila sehemu tutakayo kwenda, unioneshe uaminifu wako kama mke wangu: Kila mahali tutakapo kwenda, useme juu yangu kuwa, “Ni kaka yangu.”'''

So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 Ndipo Abimeleki akatwaa kondoo, maksai, watumwa wa kiume na wa kike akampatia Abraham. Basi Abimeleki akamrudisha Sara, mke wa Abraham.

So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

15 Abimeleki akasema, Tazama, Nchi yangu i mbele yako. Kaa mahali utakapopendezewa.”

And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

16 Na kwa Sara akasema, Tazama, nimempatia kaka yako vipande elfu vya fedha. Navyo ni kwa ajili ya kufunika kosa lolote dhidi yako machoni pa wote walio pamoja na wewe, na mbele ya kila mtu ambaye umemfanya kuwa na haki.”

And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17 Kisha Abraham akaomba kwa Mungu, Na Mungu akamponya Abimeleki, mkewe, na watumwa wake wa kike kiasi kwamba wakaweza kupata watoto.

Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

18 Kwa kuwa Yahwe alikuwa amewafanya wanawake wote wa nyumaba ya Abimeleki kuwa tasa kabisa, kwa sababu ya Sara, mke wa Abraham.

for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.