Mwanzo 31

1 Basi Yakobo akasikia maneno ya wana wa Labani, wakisema, “Yakobo amechukuwa yote yaliyokuwa ya baba yetu, na ni kutoka katika mali ya baba yetu amepata utajiri wake.”

Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 Yakobo akaona mwonekano katika uso wa Labani. Akaona kwamba nia yake imebadilika.

And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

3 Kisha Yahwe akamwambia Yakobo, “Rudi katika nchi ya baba zako na ya ndugu zako, nami nitakuwa nawe.”

Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4 Yakobo akatuma kuwaita Raheli na Lea uwandani katika kundi lake la kondoo

So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,

5 naye akawambia, “Naona nia ya baba yenu kwangu imebadilika, lakini Mungu wa baba yangu amekuwa nami.

and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.

6 Nanyi mnajua kwamba ni kwa nguvu zangu zote nimemtumikia baba yenu.

You know that I have served your father with all my strength.

7 Baba yenu amenidanganya na amebadilisha ujira wangu mara kumi, lakini Mungu hakumruhusu kunidhuru.

And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.

8 Ikiwa alisema, 'Wanyama wenye mabaka watakuwa ujira wako,' ndipo kondoo wote walipozaa watoto wenye mabaka. Na aliposema, wenye milia watakuwa ujira wako,' ndipo kundi lote lilipozaa watoto wenye milia.

If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

9 Kwa njia hii Mungu amemnyang'anya mifugo baba yenu na kunipa mimi.

Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

10 Wakati fulani wa majira ya kupandana, niliona katika ndoto mabeberu yaliyowapanda kundi. Mabeberu yalikuwa ya milia, mabaka na madoa.

When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 Malaika wa Mungu akaniambia katika ndoto, 'Yakobo.' Nikasema, 'Mimi hapa.'

In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12 Akasema, 'Inua macho yako uone mabeberu wanaolipanda kundi. Wana milia, madoa na na mabaka, kwani nimeona kila jambo Labani analokutendea.

‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

13 Mimi ni Mungu wa Betheli, mahali ulipoitia nguzo mafuta, mahali uliponitolea nadhiri. Basi sasa inuka na uondoke katika nchi hii na kurudi katika nchi uliyozaliwa.

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up and leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

14 Raheli na Lea wakajibu na kumwambia, “Je kuna sehemu yoyote au urithi wetu katika nyumba ya baba yetu?

And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?

15 Je hatutendei kama wageni? Kwa maana ametuuza na kwa ujumla ametapanya pesa zetu.

Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.

16 Mali zote ambazo sasa Mungu amemnyang'anya baba yetu ni zetu na watoto wetu. Sasa basi, lolote Mungu alilokuambia, fanya.

Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

17 Kisha Yakobo akainuka na kuwapandisha wanawe na wakeze kwenye ngamia.

Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,

18 Akawaongoza mifugo wake wote mbele yake, pamoja na mali zake zote, wakiwemo wanyama aliowapata huko Padani Aramu. Kisha akaenda kuelekea kwa Isaka baba yake katika nchi ya Kanaani.

and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

19 Labani alipokuwa amekwenda kuwakata manyoya kondoo wake, Raheli akaiba miungu ya nyumba ya baba yake.

Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

20 Yakobo pia akamdanganya Labani Mwarami, kwa kutomtaarifu kwamba anaondoka.

Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.

21 Hivyo akaondoka na vyote alivyokuwa navyo na kwa haraka akavuka mto, na akaenda kuelekea nchi ya vilima ya Gileadi.

So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

22 Siku ya tatu Labani akaambiwa kwamba Yakobo amekimbia.

On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.

23 Hivyo akawachukua ndugu zake pamoja naye na kumfuatia kwa safari ya siku saba. Akampata katika nchi ya vilima ya Gileadi.

So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 Basi Mungu akaja kwa Labani Mwarami katika ndoto usiku na kumwambia, “Ujiadhari kumwambia Yakobo jambo lolote liwe jema au baya.”

But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25 Labani akampata Yakobo. Basi Yakobo alikuwa amepiga hema yake katika nchi ya vilima. Labani pia akapiga kambi pamoja na ndugu zake katika nchi ya kilima ya Gileadi.

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.

26 Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Umefanya nini, kwamba umewachukua binti zangu kama mateka wa vita?

Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

27 Kwa nini umekimbia kwa siri na kunihadaa kwa kutokuniambia? Ningekuruhusu uondoke kwa sherehe na kwa nyimbo, kwa matari na vinubi.

Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

28 Haukuniacha niwabusu wajukuu wangu na binti zangu kwa kuwaaga. Basi umefanya upumbavu.

But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

29 Iko katika uwezo wangu kukudhuru, lakini Mungu wa baba yako alisema nami usiku wa leo na kuniambia, 'Jiadhari usimwambie Yakobo neno la heri wala shari.'

I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

30 Na sasa, umeondoka kwa sababu umeitamani sana nyumba ya baba yako. Lakini kwa nini umeiba miungu yangu?

Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

31 Yakobo akajibu na kumwambia Labani, “Ni kwa sababu niliogopa na kudhani kuwa ungeninyang'anya binti zako kwa nguvu ndiyo maana nikaondoka kwa siri.

“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

32 Yeyote aliyeiiba miungu yako hataendelea kuishi. Mbele ya ndugu zetu, onesha chochote kilichochako nilichonacho na uchukue.” Kwa maana Yakobo hakujua kwamba Raheli alikuwa ameviiba.

If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.

33 Labani akaingia katika hema ya Yakobo, katika hema ya Lea, na katika hema za wale wajakazi wawili, lakini hakuviona. Akatoka katika hema ya Lea na kuingia katika hema ya Raheli.

So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

34 Basi Raheli alikuwa ameichukua miungu ya nyumbani, na kuiweka katika ngozi ya ngamia, na kukaa juu yake. Labani akatafuta katika hema yote, lakini hakuiona.

Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Akamwambia baba yake, “Usikasirike, bwana wangu, kwamba siwezi kusimama mbele yako, kwani nipo katika kipindi changu.” Hivyo akatafuta lakini hakuiona miungu ya nyumbani mwake.

Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched, but could not find the household idols.

36 Yakobo akakasirika na kuojiana na Labani. Akamwambia, “Kosa langu ni nini? Dhambi yangu ni ipi, hata ukanifuatia kwa ukali?

Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?

37 Kwa maana umechunguza mali zangu zote. Umeona nini kati ya kitu chochote cha nyumbani mwako? Viweke hapa mbele ya ndugu zetu, ili waamue kati yetu wawili.

You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.

38 Kwa miaka ishirini nimekuwa nawe. Kondoo wako na mbuzi wako hawakutoa mimba, wala sikula dume lolote la kondoo katika wanyama wako.

I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.

39 Kilichoraruliwa na hayawani sikukuletea. Badala yake, nilichukua upotevu huo, kwamba wameibwa mchana au usiku.

I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.

40 Nilikuwepo wakati wote; mchana joto lilinipata, na baridi wakati wa usiku; na sikupata usingizi.

As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.

41 Miaka hii ishirini nimekuwa katika nyumba yako. Nilikufanyia kazi miaka kumi na nne kwa ajili ya binti zako wawili, na miaka sita kwa ajili ya wanyama wako. Umebadili ujira wangu mara kumi.

Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!

42 Isipokuwa Mungu wa baba yangu, Mungu wa Ibrahimu, yule Isaka anayemwofu, amekuwa nami, bila shaka sasa ungenipeleka mikono mitupu. Mungu ameliona teso langu na jinsi nilivyofanya kazi kwa bidii, na hivyo akakukemea usiku wa leo.

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”

43 Labani akajibu na kumwambia Yakobo, “Mabinti hawa ni mabinti zangu, wajukuu ni wajukuu wangu, na wanyama ni wanyama wangu. Yote uyaonayo ni yangu. Lakini nitafanya nini leo kwa hawa binti zangu, au kwa watoto wao waliowazaa?

But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

44 Hivyo sasa, na tufanye agano, wewe nami, na liwe shahidi kati yangu nawe.”

Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”

45 Hivyo Yakobo akachukua jiwe na kuliweka kama nguzo.

So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,

46 Yakobo akawambia ndugu zake, “Kusanyeni mawe.” Hivyo wakachukua mawe na kufanya rundo. Kisha wakala pale kati ya lile rundo.

and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.

47 Labani aliliita Yega Saha Dutha, lakini Yakobo akaiita Galeedi

Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.

48 Labani akasema, “Rundo hili ni shahidi kati yangu nawe leo.” Kwa hiyo jina lake likaitwa Galedi.

Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.

49 Inaitwa pia Mispa, kwa sababu Labani alisema, “Yahwe na atuangalie mimi nawe, tunapokuwa hatuonani.

It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.

50 Ikiwa utawatesa binti zangu, au ikiwa utachukua wanawake wengine mbali na binti zangu, japokuwa hakuna mwingine yupo nasi, tazama, Mungu ni shahidi kati yangu nawe.”

If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

51 Labani akamwambia Yakobo, Tazama rundo hili, na tazama nguzo, nililoliweka kati yako nami.

Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.

52 Rundo hili ni shahidi, na nguzo ni shahidi, kwamba sitapita rundo hili kuja kwako, na kwamba wewe hautapita rundo hili kuja kwangu, kwa madhara.

This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.

53 Mungu wa Ibrahimu, na mungu wa Nahori, miungu ya baba zao, waamue kati yetu.”Yakobo akaapa kwa Hofu ya Isaka baba yake.

May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

54 Yakobo akatoa sadaka juu ya mlima na akawaita ndugu zake kula chakula. Walikula na kukaa usiku kucha juu ya mlima.

Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

55 Labani akaamka asubuhi na mapema, akawabusu wajuu zake na binti zake na kuwabariki. Kisha Labani akaondoka na kurudi kwake.

Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.