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.
And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top 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.
And in the mouth of the younger’s sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.
3 Kukapambazuka asubuhi, na wale watu wakaruhusiwa kuondoka, wao na punda zao.
And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.
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?
And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone forward a little way; Joseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good?
5 Je hiki siyo kikombe ambacho bwana wangu hukinywea, na kikombe akitumiacho kwa uaguzi? Mmefanya vibaya, kwa jambo hili mlilolifanya.”
The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh, and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.
6 Msimamizi wa nyumba akawapata na kuwambia maneno haya.
He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words.
7 Wakasema, “Kwa nini bwana wetu anasema maneno kama haya? Na iwe mbali na watumishi wako kwamba wanaweza kufanya jambo hili.
And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact?
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?
The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord’s house, gold or silver?
9 Yeyote kitakayeonekana kwake miongoni mwa watumishi wako, atakufa, nasi sote tutakuwa watumwa wa bwana wangu.”
With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen 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.”
And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be blameless.
11 Kisha kila mtu akaharakisha na kulishusha gunia lake chini. na kila mtu akalifungua gunia lake.
Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and every man opened his sack.
12 Msimamizi akatafuta. akaanza na mkubwa wa wote na kumaliza kwa mdogo wa wote, na kikombe kikaonekana katika gunia la Benjamini.
Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest and ending at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.
13 Wakararua mavazi yao. Kila mtu akapakia juu ya punda wake nao wakarudi mjini.
Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again, returned into the town.
14 Yuda na ndugu zake wakaja katika nyumba ya Yusufu. Bado alikuwepo pale, nao wakainama mbele zake hata chini.
And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph, (for he was not yet gone out of the place), and they altogether fell down before him on the ground.
15 Yusufu akawambia, “Je ni nini hili mlilolifanya? Je hamjui kwamba mtu kama mimi anafanya uaguzi.
And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.
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.”
And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.
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.”
Joseph answered: God forbid that I should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.
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 Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy servant: for after Pharao thou art,
19 Bwana wangu aliwauliza watumishi wake, kusema, Je mnaye baba au ndugu?'
My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you 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 thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead: and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly.
21 Nawe ukawambia matumishi wako, 'Mleteni ili nimwone.'
And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him.
22 Nasi tukamwambia bwana wangu, 'Kijana hawezi kumwacha babaye. Kwani akimwacha babaye baba yake angekufa.'
We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die.
23 Na ukawambia watumishi wako, 'Mdogo wenu asipokuja pamoja nanyi, hamtauona uso wangu tena.'
And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more.
24 Na ikawa tulipokwenda kwa mtumishi wako baba yangu, tulimwambia maneno ya bwana wangu.
Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said.
25 Na baba yetu akasema, Nendeni tena, mkatununulie chakula.'
And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.
26 Nasi tukasema, “Hatuwezi kushuka. Ikiwa mdogo wetu atakuwa nasi, ndipo tutakaposhuka, kwani hatuwezi kuuona uso wa mtu yule mdogo wetu asipokuwa pamoja nasi.'
And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man’s face.
27 Mtumishi wako baba yetu akatwambia, 'Mnajua kwamba mke wangu alinizalia wana wawili.
Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.
28 Na mmoja akatoka kwangu nami nikasema, “Bila shaka ameraruliwa vipande, na tangu hapo sijamwona.”
One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him: and hitherto he appeareth not.
29 Nanyi mkimchukua huyu naye kutoka kwangu mabaya yanaweza kumpata, mtashusha mvi zangu kwa kaburini kwa huzuni. (Sheol h7585)
If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. (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,
Therefore if I shall go to thy servant our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him, )
31 itakuwa, atakapoona kwamba kijana hayupo nasi atakufa. Na watumishi wako watazishusha mvi za mtumishi wako baba yetu kaburini kwa masikitiko. (Sheol h7585)
And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy servants shall bring down his gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. (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.”
Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever.
33 Kwa hiyo sasa, tafadhari mwache mtumishi wake akae kama mtumwa kwa bwana wangu badala ya kijana, na umwache kijana aende na ndugu zake.
Therefore I thy servant will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.
34 Kwa maana nitakwenda jinsi gani kwa baba yangu ikiwa kijana hayupo nami? Ninaogopa kuona mabaya yatakayompata baba yangu.”
For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.
