Mwanzo 44
1 Yusufu akamwamru msimamizi wa nyumba yake, akisema, “Jaza magunia ya watu hawa kwa chakula, kiasi wawezacho kubeba, na uweke pesa ya kila mtu katika mdomo wa gunia lake.
Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.
2 Uweke kikombe changu, cha fedha, katika mdomo wa gunia la mdogo, na pesa yake ya chakula pia.” Msimamizi akafanya kama Yusufu alivyosema.
Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.
3 Kukapambazuka asubuhi, na wale watu wakaruhusiwa kuondoka, wao na punda zao.
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.
4 Walipokuwa wametoka mjini lakini hawajafika mbali, Yusufu akamwambia msimamizi wa nyumba yake, “Inuka, uwafuatie wale watu, na utakapowapata, wambie, 'Kwa nini mmelipa uovu badala ya mema?
They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?
5 Je hiki siyo kikombe ambacho bwana wangu hukinywea, na kikombe akitumiacho kwa uaguzi? Mmefanya vibaya, kwa jambo hili mlilolifanya.”
Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”
6 Msimamizi wa nyumba akawapata na kuwambia maneno haya.
When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.
7 Wakasema, “Kwa nini bwana wetu anasema maneno kama haya? Na iwe mbali na watumishi wako kwamba wanaweza kufanya jambo hili.
“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.
8 Tazama, pesa tulizozikuta katika midomo ya magunia yetu, tulizileta kwako kutoka katika nchi ya Kanaani. Ni kwa jinsi gani basi tunaweza kuiba katika nyumba ya bwana wako fedha au dhahabu?
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?
9 Yeyote kitakayeonekana kwake miongoni mwa watumishi wako, atakufa, nasi sote tutakuwa watumwa wa bwana wangu.”
If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”
10 Msimamizi akasema, “Basi na iwe kwa kadili ya maneno yenu. Yeye ambaye kikombe kitaonekana kwake atakuwa mtumwa wangu, nanyi wengine mtakuwa bila hatia.”
“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”
11 Kisha kila mtu akaharakisha na kulishusha gunia lake chini. na kila mtu akalifungua gunia lake.
So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
12 Msimamizi akatafuta. akaanza na mkubwa wa wote na kumaliza kwa mdogo wa wote, na kikombe kikaonekana katika gunia la Benjamini.
The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
13 Wakararua mavazi yao. Kila mtu akapakia juu ya punda wake nao wakarudi mjini.
Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.
14 Yuda na ndugu zake wakaja katika nyumba ya Yusufu. Bado alikuwepo pale, nao wakainama mbele zake hata chini.
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.
15 Yusufu akawambia, “Je ni nini hili mlilolifanya? Je hamjui kwamba mtu kama mimi anafanya uaguzi.
“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
16 Yuda akasema, “Je tunaweza kumwambia nini bwana wangu? Tuseme nini? au ni jinsi gani twaweza kujithibitisha wenyewe? Mungu ameona uovu wa watumishi wako. Tazama, sisi ni watumwa wa bwana wangu, wote sisi na yule ambaye kikombe kimeonekana mkononi mwake.”
“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
17 Yusufu akasema, “Na iwe mbali nami kwamba naweza kufanya hivyo. Mtu ambaye kikombe kimeonekana mkononi mwake, huyu ndiye atakuwa mtumwa wangu, lakini ninyi wengine, nendeni kwa amani kwa baba yenu.”
But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
18 Ndipo Yuda alipomkaribia na kusema, “Bwana wangu, tafadhari mwache mtumishi wako aseme neno katika masikio ya bwana wangu, na usiziache hasira zako kuwaka dhidi ya mtumishi wako, kwani wewe ni kama Farao.
Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.
19 Bwana wangu aliwauliza watumishi wake, kusema, Je mnaye baba au ndugu?'
My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
20 Nasi tukamwambia bwana wangu, 'Tunaye baba, ni mzee, na mwana wa uzee wake, ni mdogo. Na ndugu yake alishakufa, na yeye peke yake ndiye amebaki kwa mama yake, na baba yake anampenda.'
And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
21 Nawe ukawambia matumishi wako, 'Mleteni ili nimwone.'
Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’
22 Nasi tukamwambia bwana wangu, 'Kijana hawezi kumwacha babaye. Kwani akimwacha babaye baba yake angekufa.'
So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’
23 Na ukawambia watumishi wako, 'Mdogo wenu asipokuja pamoja nanyi, hamtauona uso wangu tena.'
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’
24 Na ikawa tulipokwenda kwa mtumishi wako baba yangu, tulimwambia maneno ya bwana wangu.
Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.
25 Na baba yetu akasema, Nendeni tena, mkatununulie chakula.'
Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’
26 Nasi tukasema, “Hatuwezi kushuka. Ikiwa mdogo wetu atakuwa nasi, ndipo tutakaposhuka, kwani hatuwezi kuuona uso wa mtu yule mdogo wetu asipokuwa pamoja nasi.'
But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’
27 Mtumishi wako baba yetu akatwambia, 'Mnajua kwamba mke wangu alinizalia wana wawili.
And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
28 Na mmoja akatoka kwangu nami nikasema, “Bila shaka ameraruliwa vipande, na tangu hapo sijamwona.”
When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.
29 Nanyi mkimchukua huyu naye kutoka kwangu mabaya yanaweza kumpata, mtashusha mvi zangu kwa kaburini kwa huzuni. (Sheol h7585)
Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’ (Sheol h7585)
30 Kwa hiyo, basi, nitapokuja kwa mtumishi wako baba yangu, na kijana hayupo nasi, kwa kuwa uhai wake umefungamanishwa katika uhai wa kijana,
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,
31 itakuwa, atakapoona kwamba kijana hayupo nasi atakufa. Na watumishi wako watazishusha mvi za mtumishi wako baba yetu kaburini kwa masikitiko. (Sheol h7585)
sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. (Sheol h7585)
32 Kwani mtumishi wako alikuwa mdhamini wa kijana kwa baba yangu na alisema, 'Ikiwa sitamleta kwako, ndipo nitakapokuwa mwenye hatia kwa baba yangu daima.”
Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’
33 Kwa hiyo sasa, tafadhari mwache mtumishi wake akae kama mtumwa kwa bwana wangu badala ya kijana, na umwache kijana aende na ndugu zake.
Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.
34 Kwa maana nitakwenda jinsi gani kwa baba yangu ikiwa kijana hayupo nami? Ninaogopa kuona mabaya yatakayompata baba yangu.”
For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”
