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, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” 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.
Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the 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, and 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, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for 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, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine.
6 Watoto utakaowapata baada ya hapo ni wako; watahesabiwa katika majina ya ndugu zao katika urithi wao.
Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name 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).
As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”
8 Israeli alipowaona wana wa Yusufu, akasema, “Ni nani hawa?”
Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who 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.” He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will 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 the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see well. 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 didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”
12 Yusufu akawaondoa kati ya magoti ya Israeli, na kisha akainama na uso wake juu ya nchi.
Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself 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 towards Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them near 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 stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 Israeli akambariki Yusufu, akisema, Mungu ambaye mbele zake baba zangu Ibrahimu na Isaka walitembea, Mungu aliyenilinda hata leo,
He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long 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 redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon 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 that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to remove 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 on 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. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring 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.
He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in your name, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set 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, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again 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.”
Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”
