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.
It came about after these things, that one said to Joseph, “Look, your father is sick.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
2 Yakobo alipoambiwa, “Tazama, mwanao Yusufu amekuja kukuona,” Israeli akakusanya nguvu na kukaa juu ya kitanda.
When Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph has arrived to see you,” Israel gathered strength and sat up in bed.
3 Yakobo akamwambia Yusufu, Mungu Mwenyezi alinitokea huko Luzu katika nchi ya Kanaani. Akanibariki na
Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan. 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 said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you. I will make of you an assembly of nations. I will give this land to your descendants 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.
Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, they are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.
6 Watoto utakaowapata baada ya hapo ni wako; watahesabiwa katika majina ya ndugu zao katika urithi wao.
The children you have after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance.
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).
But as for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath. I buried her there on the way to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).
8 Israeli alipowaona wana wa Yusufu, akasema, “Ni nani hawa?”
When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Whose are these?”
9 Yusufu akamwambia baba yake, “Hawa ni wanangu, Mungu alionipa hapa:” Israeli akasema, “Walete kwangu, kwamba niwabariki.”
Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” Israel said, “Bring them to me, 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.
Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age, so he could not see. So Joseph brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
11 Israeli akamwambia Yusufu, “Sikutazamia kuuona uso wako tena, Lakini Mungu ameniruhusu kuwaona hata wanao.”
Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, but God has even allowed me to see your children.”
12 Yusufu akawaondoa kati ya magoti ya Israeli, na kisha akainama na uso wake juu ya nchi.
Joseph brought them out from between Israel's knees, and then he bowed with his face to the earth.
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.
Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to 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.
Israel reached out with his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head. He crossed his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 Israeli akambariki Yusufu, akisema, Mungu ambaye mbele zake baba zangu Ibrahimu na Isaka walitembea, Mungu aliyenilinda hata leo,
Israel blessed Joseph, saying, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has cared for me to this 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 has protected me from all harm, may he bless these boys. May my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a multitude on 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.
When Joseph saw his father place his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18 Yusufu akamwambia baba yake, “Sivyo babangu; kwani huyu ndiye mzaliwa wa kwanza. Uweke mkono wako juu ya kichwa chake.”
Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon 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.”
His father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. Yet his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of 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.
Israel blessed them that day with these words, “The people of Israel will pronounce blessings by your names saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh'.” In this way, Israel put Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 Israeli akamwambia Yusufu, “Tazama, ninakaribia kufa, lakini Mungu atakuwa nanyi, na atawarudisha katika nchi ya baba zenu.
Israel said to Joseph, “See, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring 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.”
To you, as one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope that I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”
