Mwanzo 29
1 Kisha Yakobo akaendelea na safari yake na akafika katika nchi ya watu wa mashariki.
Jacob went quickly on his way, and arrived in the land of the eastern people.
2 Hata alipotazama, akaona kisima kondeni, na, tazama, makundi matatu ya kondoo yalikuwa yamelala kando yake. Kwani kutoka katika hicho wangeyanywesha makundi, na jiwe juu ya mdomo wa kisima lilikuwa kubwa.
As he looked around he saw a well in a field with three flocks of sheep lying down beside it, waiting to be given water. A large stone covered the top of the well.
3 Wakati makundi yote yangekusanyika pale, wachungaji wangevingirisha jiwe kutoka katika mdomo wa kisima na kuwanywesha kondoo, na kisha kurudisha jiwe juu ya mdomo wa kisima, mahali pake.
The usual practice was that once all the flocks had arrived, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the well and give their sheep water. Then they would put the stone back again.
4 Yakobo akawambia, “Ndugu zangu, ninyi mnatokea wapi?” nao wakasema, “Tunatoka Harani.”
Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We're from Haran,” they replied.
5 Akawambia, “Mnamfahamu Labani mwana wa Nahori?” Wakasema, “Tunamfahamu.”
“Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?” he asked. “Yes, we know him,” they replied.
6 Akawambia, “Je hajambo?” Wakasema, “Hajambo, na, tazama pale, Raheli binti yake anakuja na kondoo.”
“How is he?” he asked. “He's well,” they replied. “Look! In fact here's his daughter Rachel coming with the sheep right now.”
7 Yakobo akasema, “Tazama, ni mchana. Siyo wakati wa kukusanya kondoo pamoja. Mnapaswa kuwanywesha kondoo na kisha mkaenda na kuwaacha wachunge.”
“Look, there's still plenty of daylight left,” said Jacob. “It's too early to round up the sheep yet. Why not let them drink so they can go back to grazing?”
8 Wakamwambia, “Hatuwezi kuwanywesha mpaka makundi yote yakusanyike pamoja. Ndipo wanaume watakapovingirisha jiwe kutoka mlangoni mwa kisima, na ndipo tutakapowanywesha kondoo.”
“We can't do that until all the flocks have arrived,” they told him. “Then we roll away the stone from the well and let the sheep drink.”
9 Wakati bado Yakobo anaongea nao, Raheli akaja pamoja na kondoo wa babaye, kwani alikuwa akiwachunga.
While he was still talking with them Rachel arrived with the flock she was looking after for her father.
10 Yakobo alipomwona Raheli, binti wa Labani, kaka wa mamaye, na kondoo wa Labani, kaka wa mama yake, Yakobo akaja juu, akalivingirisha jiwe kutoka mlangoni mwa kisima, na akawanywesha kondoo wa Labani, kaka wa mama yake.
When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, he went over and rolled away the stone from the well so Laban's sheep could drink.
11 Yakobo akambusu Raheli na akalia kwa sauti.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept for joy.
12 Yakobo akamwambia Raheli kwamba alikuwa ni ndugu wa baba yake, na kwamba alikuwa mwana wa Rebeka. Kisha yeye akakimbia kumwambia baba yake.
(He had told her that he was the son of Laban's brother and Rebekah.) She ran and told her father what had happened.
13 Labani aliposikia habari kuhusu Yakobo mwana wa dada yake, akaenda kukutana naye, akamkumbatia, akambusu, na kumleta nyumbani kwake. Yakobo akamwambia Labani mambo haya yote.
As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob he ran out to meet him. He hugged him and kissed him, and took him home. After Jacob had explained everything to Laban,
14 Labani akamwambia, “Kwa hakika wewe ni mfupa wangu na nyama yangu.” Kisha Yakobo akakaa naye kama mwezi mmoja.
Laban told him, “No question about it—you're my own flesh and blood!” Jacob stayed with Laban for a month.
15 Kisha Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Je unitumikie bure kwa kuwa wewe ni ndugu yangu? Niambie, ujira wako utakuwaje?
One day Laban said to him, “You're my relative so you shouldn't be working for me for nothing! Tell me, what should I pay you?”
16 Basi Labani alikuwa na binti wawili. Jina la mkubwa lilikuwa ni Lea, na jina la mdogo lilikuwa Raheli.
Laban had two daughters. The older one was Leah, and the younger one was Rachel.
17 Macho ya Lea yalikuwa dhaifu, lakini Raheli alikuwa mzuri wa umbo na mwonekano.
Leah had kind eyes, but Rachel had a shapely figure and beautiful looks.
18 Yakobo alimpenda Raheli, hivyo akasema, “Nitakutumikia miaka saba kwa ajili ya Raheli, binti yako mdogo.”
Jacob was in love with Rachel so he promised Laban, “I'll do seven years work for you for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Labani akasema, Itakuwa vema kukupa wewe, kuliko kumpa mtu mwingine. Kaa nami.”
“Well it's better for me to give her to you than anyone else,” Laban replied. “So stay here and work for me.”
20 Hivyo Yakobo akamtumikia kwa miaka saba kwa ajili ya Raheli; nayo ilionekana kwake kama siku chache tu, kwa ajili ya upendo aliokuwa nao kwake.
Jacob worked for Laban for seven years, but to him they seemed like just a few days because he really loved her.
21 Kisha Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Nipe mke wangu, kwani siku zangu zimetimia - ili kwamba nimwoe!
Then Jacob said to Laban, “I've completed the time we agreed. Now give me your daughter to be my wife.”
22 Hivyo Labani akawaalika watu wa mahali hapo na kuandaa sherehe.
So Laban organized a wedding banquet and invited everyone around to come.
23 Wakati wa jioni, Labani akamchukua Lea binti yake mkubwa na kumleta kwa Yakobo, aliyelala naye.
But once it was dark Laban brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her.
24 Labani akampa mtumishi wake wakike Zilpa kuwa mjakazi wa Lea.
(Laban also arranged for his servant Zilpah to be Leah's personal maid.)
25 Ilipofika asubuhi, tazama, kumbe ni Lea! Yakobo akamwambia Labani, “Ni nini hiki ulichonifanyia? Je sikukutumikia kwa ajili ya Raheli? Kwa nini basi umenihadaa?
When morning came, he saw it was Leah! He went to Laban and asked angrily, “What have you done to me? It was for Rachel that I worked for you! Why have you deceived me?”
26 Labani akamwambia, “Siyo utamaduni wetu kumtoa bindi mdogo kabla ya mzaliwa wa kwanza.
“Here we don't give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn,” Laban replied.
27 Timiza juma la bibi arusi, na tutakupa yule mwingine pia kwa mbadala wa kunitumikia miaka mingine saba.”
“Finish this week of wedding celebrations and then I'll give you the other daughter as well, as long as you work another seven years for me.”
28 Yakobo akafanya hivyo, na akatimiza juma la Lea. Kisha Labani akampa Raheli binti yake kuwa mke wake.
Jacob agreed. He finished the week of wedding celebrations for Leah, and then Laban gave Jacob his daughter Rachel as his wife as well.
29 Lakini pia Labani akampa Raheli binti yake Bilha, kuwa mjakazi wake.
(Laban also arranged for his servant Bilhah to be Rachel's personal maid.)
30 Hivyo Yakobo akalala na Raheli, pia, lakini akampenda Raheli zaidi ya Lea. Hivyo Yakobo akamtumikia Labani kwa miaka saba mingine.
So Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years for Rachel.
31 Yahwe akaona kwamba Lea hakupendwa, hivyo akalifungua tumbo lake, lakini Raheli hakuwa na mtoto.
The Lord saw that Leah wasn't loved he helped Leah to have children, but not Rachel.
32 Lea akashika mimba na kuzaa mwana, naye akamwita Rubeni. Kwani alisema, “Kwa sababu Yahwe ameliangalia teso langu; bila shaka mme wangu sasa atanipenda.”
Leah became pregnant, and had a son she named Reuben, for she said, “The Lord saw how much I was suffering and now my husband will love me!”
33 Kisha akashika mimba tena na kuzaa mwana. Akasema, “Kwa sababu Yahwe amesikia kwamba sipendwi, kwa hiyo amenipa mwana mwingine,” na akamwita Simoni.
Then Leah became pregnant again, and had another son. She said, “The Lord has heard that I'm not loved so he gave me this son.” So she named him Simeon.
34 Kisha akashika mimba tena na kuzaa mwana. Akasema, “Wakati huu mme wangu ataungana nami, kwa kuwa nimemzalia wana watatu.” Kwa hiyo akaitwa Lawi.
Leah became pregnant for the third time, and had another son. She said, “Finally my husband will be attached to me because now I've given him three sons.” That's why he was named Levi.
35 Akashika mimba tena na kuzaa mwana. Akasema, “Wakati huu nitamsifu Yahwe.” Kwa hiyo akamwita jina lake Yuda; kisha akaacha kuzaa watoto.
Once again Leah became pregnant and had another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I can really praise the Lord!” After that she had no more children.
