< Mathayo 2 >

1 Baada ya Yesu kuzaliwa katika Bethelehem ya Uyahudi katika siku za mfalme Herode, watu wasomi kutoka mashariki ya mbali walifika Yerusalemu wakisema,
Now when Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, lo! there came magians from the East to Jerusalem,
2 “Yuko wapi yeye ambaye aliyezaliwa Mfalme wa Wayahudi? Tuliiona nyota yake mashariki nasi tumekuja kumwabudu.”
saying, Where is the king of the Jews that hath been born? for we saw his star in the East, and came to do him homage.
3 Pindi Mfalme herode aliposikia haya alifadhaika, na Yerusalemu yote pamoja naye.
But when Herod the king heard of these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 Herode akawakusanya wakuu wa makuhani wote na waandishi wa watu, naye akawauliza, “Kristo atazaliwa wapi?”
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 Wakamwabia, “Katika Bethelehemu ya Uyahudi, kwa kuwa hivi ndivyo ilivyoandikwa na nabii,
And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 Nawe Bethelehemu, katika nchi ya Yuda, si mdogo miongoni mwa viongozi wa Yuda, kwa kuwa kutoka kwako atakuja mtawala atakayewachunga watu wangu Israeli.”
“And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art by no means least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a ruler, who shall feed my people Israel.”
7 Hivyo Herode aliwaita wale wasomi kwa siri na kuwauliza ni wakati gani hasa nyota ilikuwa imeonekana.
Then Herod, having privately called the magians ascertained from them exactly the time when the star appeared.
8 Akawatuma Bethelehem, akisema, “Nendeni kwa uangalifu mkamtafute mtoto aliyezaliwa. Wakati mtakapomwona, nileteeni habari ili kwamba mimi pia niweze kuja na kumwabudu.”
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search carefully for the child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may go and do him homage.
9 Baada ya kuwa wamemsikia mfalme, waliendelea na safari yao, na nyota ile waliyokuwa wameiona mashariki iliwatangulia hadi iliposimama juu ya mahali mtoto aliyezaliwa alipokuwa.
When they had heard the king, they departed. And lo! the star, which they had seen in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the child was.
10 Wakati walipoiona nyota, walifurahi kwa furaha kuu mno.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy;
11 Waliingia nyumbani na kumuona mtoto aliyezaliwa na Mariamu mama yake. Walimsujudia na kumwabudu. Walifungua hazina zao na kumtolea zawadi za dhahabu, uvumba, na manemane.
and when they had come into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and did homage to him; and opening their treasures, they presented him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 Mungu aliwaonya katika ndoto wasirudi kwa Herode, hivyo, waliondoka kurudi katika nchi yao kwa njia nyingine.
And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
13 Baada ya kuwa wameondoka, malaika wa Bwana alimtokea Yusufu katika ndoto na kusema, “Inuka, mchukue mtoto na mama yake na mkimbilie Misri. Bakini huko mpaka nitakapowaambia, kwa kuwa Herode atamtafuta mtoto ili amwangamize.
And when they had gone, lo! an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I speak to thee; for Herod will seek the child, to destroy him.
14 Usiku huo Yusufu aliamka na kumchukua mtoto na mama yake na kukimbilia Misri.
And he arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt;
15 Aliishi huko hadi Herode alipo kufa. Hii ilitimiza kile Bwana alichokuwa amenena kupitia nabii, “Kutoka Misri nimemwita mwanangu.”
and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “I called my son out of Egypt.”
16 Kisha Herode, alipoona kuwa amedhihakiwa na watu wasomi, alikasirika sana. Aliagiza kuuawa kwa watoto wote wa kiume waliokuwa Bethelehemu na wote katika eneo lile ambao walikuwa na umri wa miaka miwili na chini yake kulingana na wakati aliokuwa amekwisha thibitisha kabisa kutoka kwa wale watu wasomi.
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been deceived by the magians, was greatly enraged; and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magians.
17 Ndipo lilipotimizwa lile neno lililonenwa kwa kinywa cha nabii Yeremia,
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18 “Sauti ilisikika Ramah, kilio na maombolezo makubwa, Raheli akiwalilia watoto wake, na alikataa kufarijiwa, kwa sababu hawapo tena.”
“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they were no more.”
19 Herode alipo kufa, tazama malaika wa Bwana alimtokea Yusufu katika ndoto huko Misri na kusema,
But when Herod was dead, lo! an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 “Inuka mchukue mtoto na mama yake, na mwende katika nchi ya Israeli kwa maana waliokuwa wakitafuta uhai wa mtoto wamekufa.”
saying, Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel; for they who sought the child's life are dead.
21 Yusufu aliinuka, akamchukua mtoto pamoja na mama yake, na wakaja katika nchi ya Israeli.
And he arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 Lakini aliposikia kuwa Arikelau alikuwa anatawala Yuda mahali pa baba yake Herode, aliogopa kwenda huko. Baada ya Mungu kumuonya katika ndoto, aliondoka kwenda mkoa wa Galilaya
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judaea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned by God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee,
23 na alienda kuishi katika mji uitwao Nazareti. Hili lilitimiza kile kilichokuwa kimekwisha kunenwa kwa njia ya manabii, kwamba ataitwa Mnazareti.
and came and took up his abode in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, “He will be called a Nazarene,”

< Mathayo 2 >