Mwanzo 43
1 Njaa ilikuwa kali katika nchi.
The famine was severe in the land.
2 Ikawa walipokuwa wametumia chakula chote walichokitoa Misri, baba yao akawambia, “Nendeni tena; mtununulie chakula.”
It came about when they had eaten the grain that they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again; buy us some food.”
3 Yuda akamwambia, “Yule mtu alituonya kwa ukali, 'Hamtauona uso wangu ndugu yenu asipokuwa nanyi.'
Judah told him, “The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'
4 Ikiwa utamtuma ndugu yetu pamoja nasi, tutashuka na kuwanunulia chakula.
If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.
5 Lakini usipompeleka, hatutashuka. Kwa maana yule mtu alitwambia, 'Hamtauona uso wangu ndugu yenu asipokuwa nanyi.”
But if you do not send him, we will not go down. For the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'”
6 Israeli akawambia, “Kwa nini mlinitendea mimi vibaya hivyo kwa kumwambia mtu huyo kwamba mnaye ndugu mwingine?”
Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man that you had another brother?”
7 Wakasema, “Yule mtu alituuliza habari zetu na familia yetu kwa kina. Akasema, 'Je baba yenu bado yuko hai? Je mnaye ndugu mwingine?'Tukamjibu kulingana na maswali haya. Tungejuaje kwamba angetwambia, 'Mleteni ndugu yenu?”
They said, “The man asked details about us and our family. He said, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We answered him according to these questions. How could we have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'”
8 Yuda akamwambia Israeli baba yake, “Mtume kijana pamoja nami. Tutainuka na kwenda ili kwamba tuishi tusife, wote sisi, wewe, na hata watoto wetu.
Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me. We will rise and go that we may live and not die, both we, you, and also our children.
9 Mimi nitakuwa mdhamini wake. Utaniwajibisha mimi. Kama nisipomleta na kumweka mbele yako, basi nibebe lawama daima.
I will be a guarantee for him. You will hold me responsible. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
10 Kwani kama tusingekawia, bila shaka hata sasa tungekuwa tumekwisha rudi mara ya pili.”
For if we had not delayed, surely by now we would have come back here a second time.”
11 Israeli baba yao akawambia, “Kama ni hivyo, basi fanyeni hivi. Chukueni baadhi ya mazao mazuri ya nchi katika mifuko yenu. Mchukulieni yule mtu zawadi: baadhi ya malhamu, asali, viungo na manemane, jozi na lozi.
Their father Israel said to them, “If it be so, now do this. Take some of the best products of the land in your bags. Carry down to the man a gift—some balm and honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
12 Chukueni pesa mara mbili mikononi mwenu. Pesa iliyorudishwa katika magunia yenu, muichukue tena katika mikono yenu. Pengine walikosea.
Take double money in your hand. The money that was returned in the opening of your sacks, carry again in your hand. Perhaps it was a mistake.
13 Mchukueni ndugu yenu pia. Inukeni na mwende tena kwa mtu yule.
Take also your brother. Rise and go again to the man.
14 Mungu Mwenyezi na awape kuona rehema mbele ya huyo mtu, hivyo kwamba awafungulie ndugu yenu mwingine na Benjamini. Kama nikipotelewa na watoto, nimepotelewa.”
May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
15 Watu wale wakachukua zawadi hii, na katika mikono yao wakachukua mara mbili ya kiasi cha pesa, pamoja na Benjamini. Wakaamka na kushuka Misri na kusimama mbele ya Yusufu.
The men took this gift, and in their hand they took double the amount of money, along with Benjamin. They got up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
16 Yusufu alipomwona Benjamini akiwa nao, akamwambia mtunzaji wa nyumba yake, “Walete watu hao ndani ya nyumba, chinja mnyama na umwandae, kwani watu hawa watakula chakula cha mchana pamoja nami.”
When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.”
17 Mtunzaji wa nyumba akafanya kama Yusufu alivyosema. Akawaleta wale watu nyumbani kwa Yusufu.
The steward did as Joseph said. He brought the men to Joseph's house.
18 Wale ndugu wakaogopa kwa vile walivyoletwa katika nyumba ya Yusufu. Wakasema, “Ni kwa sababu ya pesa iliyorudishwa katika magunia yetu mara ya kwanza tulipoletwa ndani, kwamba atafute nafasi kinyume chetu. Kwamba aweze kutukamata na kutuchukua kama watumwa, na kuchukua punda wetu.” Wakamsogelea mtunzaji wa nyumba ya Yusufu,
The men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house. They said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time we were brought in, that he may seek an opportunity against us. He might arrest us and take us as slaves, and take our donkeys.”
19 nao wakaongea naye mlangoni mwa nyumba,
They approached the steward of Joseph's house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
20 wakisema, “Bwana wangu, tulikuja mara ya kwanza kununua chakula.
saying, “My master, we came down the first time to buy food.
21 Ikawa, tulipofika katika eneo la kupumzikia, tukafungua magunia yetu, na, tazama, pesa ya kila mtu ilikuwa katika gunia lake, pesa yetu kwa kiasi kamili. Tumeileta katika mikono yetu.
It came about, when we reached the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the opening of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hands.
22 Tumekuja na pesa nyingine pia mikonon mwetu ili kununua chakula. Hatujui aliyeziweka pesa katika magunia yetu.”
Other money we have also brought down in our hand to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”
23 Mtunzaji wa nyumba akasema, “Amani iwe kwenu, msiogope. Mungu wenu na Mungu wa baba yenu ndiye aliyeweka pesa katika magunia yenu. Nilipokea pesa yenu.” Kisha mtunzaji wa nyumba akamleta Simoni kwao.
The steward said, “Peace be to you, do not fear. Your God and the God of your father must have put your money in your sacks. I received your money.” The steward then brought Simeon out to them.
24 Msimamizi wa nyumba akawapeleka watu hao katika nyumba ya Yusufu. Akawapa maji, nao wakaosha miguu yao. Akawalisha punda wao.
The steward took the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave feed to their donkeys.
25 Wakaandaa zawadi kwa ajili ya Yusufu aliyekuwa akija mchana, kwani walikuwa wamesikia kwamba watakula pale.
They prepared the gifts for Joseph's coming at noon, for they had heard that they would eat there.
26 Yusufu alipokuja nyumbani, wakaleta nyumbani zawadi iliyokuwa mikononi mwao, nao wakainama mbele yake hata chini.
When Joseph came home, they brought the gifts which were in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the ground.
27 Akawauliza juu ya hali zao na kusema,”Je baba yenu hajambo, yule mzee mliyemnena? Je bado yu hai?”
He asked them about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 Wakasema, “Mtumishi wako baba yetu hajambo. Na bado yu hai” Wakajinyenyekeza na kuinama chini.
They said, “Your servant our father is well. He is still alive.” They prostrated themselves and bowed down.
29 Alipoinua macho yake akamwona Benjamini ndugu yake, mwana wa mamaye, naye akasema, “Je huyu ndiye mdogo wenu mliyemsema?” Na kisha akasema, “Mungu na awe mwenye neema kwako, mwanangu.”
When he lifted up his eyes he saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and he said, “Is this your youngest brother of whom you spoke to me?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”
30 Yusufu akaharakisha kutoka chumbani, kwani aliguswa sana kuhusu nduguye. Akatafuta mahali pa kulia. Akaingia chumbani mwake na kulia umo.
Joseph hurried to go out of the room, for he was deeply moved about his brother. He sought somewhere to weep. He went to his room and wept there.
31 Akaosha uso wake na kutoka nje. Akajizuia mwenyewe, akasema, “karibuni chakula.”
He washed his face and came out. He controlled himself, saying, “Serve the food.”
32 Watumishi wakamhudumia Yusufu peke yake na wale ndugu peke yao. Wamisri pale wakala pamoja naye peke yao kwa sababu Wamisri hawakuweza kula mkate na Waebrania, kwani hilo ni chukizo kwa Wamisri.
The servants served Joseph by himself and the brothers by themselves. The Egyptians there ate with him by themselves because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is detestable to the Egyptians.
33 Wale ndugu wakakaa mbele yake, mzaliwa wa kwanza kwa kulingana na haki yake ya uzaliwa, na mdogo kulingana na ujana wake. Wale watu wakashangaa wote.
The brothers sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth. The men were astonished together.
34 Yusufu akapeleka sehemu kwao kutoka katika chakula kilichokuwa mbele yake. Lakini sehemu ya Benjamini ilikuwa mara tano zaidi ya kila ndugu zake. Wakanywa na wakamfurahia.
Joseph sent portions to them from the food in front of him. But Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of his brothers. They drank and were merry with him.
