Mwanzo 48
1 Ikawa baada ya mambo haya, mmojawapo akamwambia Yusufu, “Tazama, baba yako ni mgonjwa.” Hivyo akaondoka pamoja na wanawe wawili, Manase na Efrahimu.
After these things were done, it was reported to Joseph that his father was sick. And taking his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, he went directly to him.
2 Yakobo alipoambiwa, “Tazama, mwanao Yusufu amekuja kukuona,” Israeli akakusanya nguvu na kukaa juu ya kitanda.
And it was told to the old man, “Behold, your son Joseph is coming to you.” And being strengthened, he sat up in bed.
3 Yakobo akamwambia Yusufu, Mungu Mwenyezi alinitokea huko Luzu katika nchi ya Kanaani. Akanibariki na
And when he had entered to him, he said: “Almighty God appeared to me at Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me.
4 kuniambia, 'Tazama, nitakupa uzao mwingi, na kukuzidisha. Nitakufanya kuwa kusanyiko la mataifa. Nitakupa nchi hii wewe na uzao wako kuwa milki ya milele.'
And he said: ‘I will increase and multiply you, and I will make you influential among the people. And I will give this land to you, and to your offspring after you, as an everlasting possession.’
5 Na sasa wanao wawili, waliozaliwa kwako katika nchi ya Misri kabla sijaja Misri, ni wangu. Efrahimu na Manase watakuwa wangu, kama walivyo Rubeni na Simioni.
Therefore, your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came here to you, will be mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be treated by me just like Reuben and Simeon.
6 Watoto utakaowapata baada ya hapo ni wako; watahesabiwa katika majina ya ndugu zao katika urithi wao.
But the remainder, whom you will conceive after them, will be yours, and they will be called by the name of their brothers among their possessions.
7 Lakini kwangu mimi, nilipokuja kutoka Padani, kwa uzuni yangu Raheli alikufa njiani katika nchi ya Kanaani, wakati kungalipo kitambo kwenda Efrathi. Nilimzika pale katika njia iendayo Efrathi” (ndio, Bethlehemu).
As for me, when I came from Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the very journey, and it was springtime. And I entered Ephrath and buried her next to the way of Ephrath, which by another name is called Bethlehem.”
8 Israeli alipowaona wana wa Yusufu, akasema, “Ni nani hawa?”
Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”
9 Yusufu akamwambia baba yake, “Hawa ni wanangu, Mungu alionipa hapa:” Israeli akasema, “Walete kwangu, kwamba niwabariki.”
He responded, “They are my sons, whom God gave to me as a gift in this place.” “Bring them to me,” he said, “so that I may bless them.”
10 Basi macho ya Israeli yalikuwa yanashindwa kwa ajili ya umri wake, hivyo hakuweza kuona. Hivyo Yusufu akawasogeza karibu yake, na akawabusu na kuwakumbatia.
For Israel’s eyes were clouded by reason of his great age, and he was unable to see clearly. And when they were placed up against him, he kissed and embraced them.
11 Israeli akamwambia Yusufu, “Sikutazamia kuuona uso wako tena, Lakini Mungu ameniruhusu kuwaona hata wanao.”
And he said to his son: “I have not been cheated out of seeing you. Moreover, God has shown me your offspring.”
12 Yusufu akawaondoa kati ya magoti ya Israeli, na kisha akainama na uso wake juu ya nchi.
And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.
13 Yusufu akawachukua wote wawili, Efrahimu katika mkono wake wa kulia kuelekea mkono wa kushoto wa Israeli, na Manase katika mkono wake wa kulia kuelekea mkono wa kulia wa Israeli, na akawasogeza kwake.
And he placed Ephraim on his right, that is, towards the left hand of Israel. Yet truly Manasseh was on his left, namely, towards his father’s right hand. And he placed them both up against him.
14 Israeli akainua mkono wake wa kulia na kuuweka juu ya kichwa cha Efrahimu, aliyekuwa mdogo, na mkono wake wa kushoto juu ya kichwa cha Manase. Akaipishanisha mikono yake, kwani Manase ndiye alikuwa mzaliwa wa kwanza.
And he, extending his right hand, placed it over the head of Ephraim, the younger brother, but the left hand was on the head of Manasseh, who was the elder, so that his hands were crossed.
15 Israeli akambariki Yusufu, akisema, Mungu ambaye mbele zake baba zangu Ibrahimu na Isaka walitembea, Mungu aliyenilinda hata leo,
And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and he said: “God, in whose sight my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked; God, who pastured me from my youth until the present day;
16 malaika walionilinda na madhara yote, awabariki vijana hawa. Jina langu na litajwe kwao, na majina ya baba zangu Ibrahimu na Isaka. Na wawe makutano ya watu juu ya nchi.”
the Angel, who rescues me from all evils: bless these boys. And let my name be invoked over them, and also the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. And may they increase into a multitude across the earth.”
17 Yusufu alipoona baba yake ameweka mkono wake wa kulia juu ya kichwa cha Efrahimu, haikumpendeza. Akauchukuwa mkono wa baba yake auweke katika kichwa cha Manase.
But Joseph, seeing that his father had placed his right hand over the head of Ephraim, took it gravely. And grasping his father’s hand, he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head and transfer it onto the head of Manasseh.
18 Yusufu akamwambia baba yake, “Sivyo babangu; kwani huyu ndiye mzaliwa wa kwanza. Uweke mkono wako juu ya kichwa chake.”
And he said to his father: “It should not have come to pass this way, father. For this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand over his head.”
19 Baba yake akakataa na kusema, “Ninafahamu, mwanangu, nafahamu. Yeye naye atakuwa watu, naye pia atakuwa mkuu. Lakini mdogo wake atakuwa mkuu kuliko yeye, na uzao wake utakuwa wingi wa mataifa.”
But refusing, he said: “I know, my son, I know. And this one, indeed, will be among the people and will be multiplied. But his younger brother will be greater than he. And his offspring will increase among the nations.”
20 Israeli akawabariki siku hiyo kwa maneno haya, “Watu wa Israeli watatamka baraka kwa majina yenu wakisema, Mungu na akufanye kama Efrahimu na kama Manase'. “Kwa njia hii, Israeli akamweka Efrahimu mbele ya Manase.
And he blessed them at that time, saying: “In you, Israel will be blessed, and it will be said: ‘May God treat you like Ephraim, and like Manasseh.’” And he established Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 Israeli akamwambia Yusufu, “Tazama, ninakaribia kufa, lakini Mungu atakuwa nanyi, na atawarudisha katika nchi ya baba zenu.
And he said to his son Joseph: “See, I am dying, and God will be with you, and he will lead you back to the land of your fathers.
22 Kwako wewe, kwa kuwa uko juu ya ndugu zako, ninakupa mtelemko wa mlima niliouchukuwa kutoka kwa Waamori kwa upanga wangu na upinde wangu.”
I give you one part beyond that of your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
