Mwanzo 38
1 Ikawa wakati ule Yuda akawaacha ndugu zake na kukaa na Mwadulami fulani, jina lake Hira.
At that time Juda went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Odollamite, named Hiras.
2 Pale akakutana na binti Mkanaani jina lake Shua. Akamwoa na kulala naye.
And he saw there the daughter of a man of Chanaan, called Sue: and taking her to wife, he went in unto her.
3 Akawa mjamzito na kuzaa mwana. Akaitwa Eri.
And she conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Her.
4 Akawa mjamzito tena na kuzaa mwana tena. Akamwita jina lake Onani.
And conceiving again, she bore a son, and called him Onan.
5 Akazaa mwana mwingine akamwita jina lake Shela. Alikuwa huko Kezibu alipomzaa.
She bore also a third: whom she called Sela. After whose birth, she ceased to bear any more.
6 Yuda akaona mke kwa ajili ya Eri, mzaliwa wake wa kwanza. Jina lake Tamari.
And Juda took a wife for Her his firstborn, whose name was Thamar.
7 Eri, mzaliwa wa kwanza wa Yuda, alikuwa mwovu mbele za Yahwe. Yahwe akamwua.
And Her, the firstborn of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the Lord: and was slain by him.
8 Yuda akamwambia Onani, “Lala na mke wa nduguyo. Fanya wajibu wa shemeji kwake, na umwinulie nduguyo mwana.”
Juda, therefore said to Onan his son: Go in to thy brother’s wife and marry her, that thou mayst raise seed to thy brother.
9 Onani alijua kwamba mtoto asingekuwa wake. Pindi alipolala na mke wa kaka yake, alimwaga mbegu juu ya ardhi ili kwamba asimpatie nduguye mtoto.
He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in to his brother’s wife, spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother’s name.
10 Alilolifanya lilikuwa ovu mbele za Yahwe. Yahwe akamwua pia.
And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing.
11 Kisha Yuda akamwambia Tamari, mkwewe, “Ukakae mjane katika nyumb aya baba yako hadi Shela, mwanangu, atakapokuwa.” Kwani aliogopa, “Asije akafa pia, kama nduguze.” Tamari akaondoka na kuishi katika nyumba ya babaye.
Wherefore Juda said to Thamar his daughter in law: Remain a widow in thy father’s house, till Sela my son grow up: for he was afraid lest he also might die, as his brethren did. She went her way and dwelt in her father’s house.
12 Baada ya muda mrefu, binti Shua, mkewe Yuda, alikufa. Yuda akafarijika na kwenda kwa wakatao kondoo wake manyoya huko Timna, yeye na rafiki yake, Hira Mwadulami.
And after many days were past, the daughter of Sue the wife of Juda died: and when he had taken comfort after his mourning, he went up to Thamnas, to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hiras the Odollamite the shepherd of his flock.
13 Tamari akaambiwa, “Tazama, mkweo anakwenda Timna kukata kondoo wake manyoya.”
And it was told Thamar that her father in law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep.
14 Akavua mavazi yake ya ujane na akajifunika kwa ushungi. Akakaa katika lango la Enaimu, lililoko kando ya njia iendayo Timna. Kwa maana aliona kwamba Shela amekua lakini akupewe kuwa mke wake.
And she put off the garments of her widowhood, and took a veil: and changing her dress, sat in the cross way, that leadeth to Thamnas: because Sela was grown up, and she had not been married to him.
15 Yuda alipomwona alidhani ni kahaba kwa maana alikuwa amefunika uso wake.
When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known.
16 Akamwendea kando ya njia na kusema, “Njoo, tafadhari uniruhusu kulala nawe” - kwani hakujua kwamba alikuwa ni mkwewe - naye akasema, “Utanipa nini ili ulale nami?
And going to her, he said: Suffer me to lie with thee: for he knew her not to be his daughter in law. And she answered: What wilt thou give me to enjoy my company?
17 Akasema, “Nitakuletea mwana mbuzu wa kundi.” Akasema, “Je utanipa rehani hata utakapo leta?”
He said: I will send thee a kid out of the flock. And when she said again: I will suffer what thou wilt, if thou give a pledge, till thou send what thou promisest,
18 Akasema, “Nikupe rehani gani?” Naye akasema, “Mhuri wako na mshipi, na fimbo iliyo mkononi mwako.” Akampa na kulala naye. Akawa mjamzito.
Juda said: What wilt thou have for a pledge? She answered: Thy ring and bracelet, and the staff which thou holdest in thy hand. The woman therefore at one copulation conceived.
19 Akaamka na kuondoka. Akavua ushungi wake na kuvaa vazi la ujane wake.
And she arose and went her way: and putting off the apparel which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 Yuda akatuma mwana mbuzi kutoka kundini kwa mkono wa rafiki yake Mwadulami ili aichukue rehani kutoka katika mkono wa mwanamke, lakini hakumwona.
And Juda sent a kid by his shepherd, the Odollamite, that he might receive the pledge again, which he had given to the woman: but he, not finding her,
21 Kisha Mwadulami akauliza watu wa sehemu hiyo,”Yupo wapi kahaba aliyekuwa Enaimu kando ya njia?” Wakasema, hapajawai tokea kahaba hapa.”
Asked the men of that place: Where is the woman that sat in the cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this place,
22 Akarudi kwa Yuda na kusema, “Sikumwona. Pia watu wa eneo hilo wamesema, 'Hajawai kuwapo kahaba hapa.”
He returned to Juda, and said to him: I have not found her; moreover the men of that place said to me, that there never sat a harlot there.
23 Yuda akasema, “Mwache akae na vitu, tusije tukaaibika. Hakika, nimemletea mwanambuzi, lakini hukumwona.”
Juda said: Let her take it to herself; surely she cannot charge us with a, lie: I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didst not find her.
24 Ikawa baada ya miezi mitatu Yuda akaambiwa, “Tamari mkweo amefanya ukahaba, na kwa hakika, yeye ni mjamzito.” Yuda akasema, “Mleteni hapa ili achomwe.”
And behold after three months they told Juda, saying: Thamar, thy daughter in law hath played the harlot, and she appeareth to have a big belly. And Juda said: Bring her out that she may be burnt.
25 Alipoletwa nje, alipeleka ujumbe kwa mkwewe, “Mimi ni mjamzito kwa mtu mwenye vitu hivi.” Akasema, “Tambua tafadhari, mhuri huu na mshipi na fimbo ni vya nani.”
But when she was led to execution, she sent to her father in law, saying: By the man, to whom these things belong, I am with child. See whose ring, and bracelet, and staff this is.
26 Yuda akavitambua na kusema, “Yeye ni mwenye haki kuliko mimi, kwani sikumpa Shela, mwanangu awe mme wake.” Hakulala naye tena.
But he acknowledging the gifts, said: She is juster than I: because I did not give her to Sela, my son. However, he knew her no more.
27 Muda wake wa kujifungua ukafika, tazama, mapacha walikuwa tumboni mwake.
And when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying:
28 Ikawa alipokuwa akijifungua mmoja akatoa mkono nje, na mkunga akachukua kitambaa cha rangi ya zambarau na kukifunga katika mkono wake na kusema, “Huyu ametoka wa kwanza.”
This shall come forth the first.
29 Ikawa aliporudisha mkono wake, tazama, ndugu yake akatoka kwanza. Mkunga akasema, “Umetokaje” Na akaitwa Peresi.
But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth: and the woman said: Why is the partition divided for thee? and therefore called his name Phares.
30 Kisha ndugu yake akatoka, akiwa na utepe wa zambarau juu ya mkono wake, naye akaitwa Zera.
Afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread: and she called him Zara.
