Luka 15
1 Siku moja, watoza ushuru na wahalifu wengi walikwenda kumsikiliza Yesu.
Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;
2 Mafarisayo na walimu wa Sheria wakaanza kunung'unika: “Mtazameni mtu huyu! Anawakaribisha wenye dhambi, na tena anakula nao.”
and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"
3 Yesu akawajibu kwa mfano:
So in figurative language He asked them,
4 “Hivi, mtu akiwa na kondoo mia, akigundua kwamba mmoja wao amepotea, atafanya nini? Atawaacha wale tisini na tisa mbugani, na kwenda kumtafuta yule aliyepotea mpaka ampate.
"Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?
5 Akimpata, atambeba mabegani kwa furaha.
And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.
6 Anapofika nyumbani, atawaita rafiki zake akiwaambia, Furahini pamoja nami, kwa sababu nimempata yule kondoo wangu aliyepotea.
Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, 'Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep--the one I had lost.'
7 Kadhalika nawaambieni, ndivyo kutakavyokuwa na furaha mbinguni kwa ajili ya kutubu kwa mwenye dhambi mmoja, kuliko kwa ajili ya watu tisini na tisa wanaojiona kuwa wema, wasiohitaji kutubu.
I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.
8 “Au mwaonaje? Tuseme mwanamke fulani ana sarafu kumi za fedha, akipoteza moja, atafanya nini? Atawasha taa, aifagie nyumba na kuitafuta kwa uangalifu mpaka aipate.
"Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?
9 Akiipata, atawaita rafiki na jirani zake akisema, Furahini pamoja nami, kwa sababu nimeipata ile sarafu yangu iliyopotea.
And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, "'Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'
10 Kadhalika nawaambieni, ndivyo watakavyofurahi malaika wa Mungu kwa sababu ya mwenye dhambi mmoja anayetubu.”
"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."
11 Yesu akaendelea kusema, “Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja mwenye wana wawili.
He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.
12 Yule mdogo, alimwambia baba yake: Baba, nipe urithi wangu. Naye akawagawia mali yake.
The younger of them said to his father, "'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth between them.
13 Baada ya siku chache, yule mdogo aliuza urithi wake, akasafiri na fedha aliyopata, akaenda nchi ya mbali ambako aliitumia ovyo.
No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.
14 Alipomaliza kutumia kila kitu, kukatokea njaa kali katika nchi ile, naye akaanza kuhangaika.
At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.
15 Akaomba kazi kwa mwananchi mtu mmoja wa huko naye akampeleka shambani mwake kulisha nguruwe.
So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;
16 Alitamani kula maganda waliyokula wale nguruwe, ila hakuna mtu aliyempa kitu.
and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 Alipoanza kupata akili akafikiri: Mbona kuna wafanyakazi wengi wa baba yangu wanaokula na kusaza, nami ninakufa njaa?
"But on coming to himself he said, "'How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger!
18 Nitarudi kwa baba yangu na kumwambia: Baba, nimemkosea Mungu, na nimekukosea wewe pia.
I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:
19 Sistahili hata kuitwa mwanao. Nifanye kama mmoja wa wafanyakazi wako.
I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'
20 Basi, akaanza safari ya kurudi kwa baba yake. Alipokuwa bado yu mbali, baba yake alimwona, na kwa moyo wa huruma alimkimbilia, akamkumbatia na kumbusu.
"So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.
21 “Mwanawe akamwambia: Baba, nimemkosea Mungu, na nimekukosea wewe pia. Sistahili hata kuitwa mwanao.
"'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'
22 Lakini baba yake akawaambia watumishi wake: Haraka! Leteni nguo nzuri mkamvike! Mvisheni pete na viatu!
"But the father said to his servants, "'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.
23 Mchinjeni ndama mnono; tule kusherehekea!
Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;
24 Kwa sababu huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa, kumbe yu mzima alikuwa amepotea, lakini sasa amepatikana. Wakaanza kufanya sherehe.
for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry.
25 “Wakati huo kaka yake alikuwa bado shambani. Alipokuwa akirudi na kukaribia nyumbani akasikia vifijo na ngoma.
"Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.
26 Akamwita mmoja wa watumishi, akamwuliza: Kuna nini?
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
27 Huyo mtumishi akamwambia: Ndugu yako amerudi nyumbani, na baba yako amemchinjia ndama mnono kwa kuwa amempata akiwa salama salimini.
"'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'
28 Huyo kijana mkubwa akawaka hasira hata akakataa kuingia nyumbani. Baba yake akatoka nje na kumsihi aingie.
"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.
29 Lakini yeye akamjibu: Kumbuka! Miaka yote nimekutumikia, sijavunja amri yako hata mara moja. Umenipa nini? Hujanipa hata mwana mbuzi mmoja nikafanye sherehe pamoja na rafiki zangu!
"'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;
30 Lakini mtoto wako huyu aliyekula mali yako pamoja na makahaba, mara tu alipokuja umemchinjia yule ndama mnono.
but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'
31 Baba yake akamjibu: Mwanangu, wewe uko pamoja nami siku zote, na kila nilicho nacho ni chako.
"'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours.
32 Ilitubidi kufanya sherehe na kufurahi, kwa sababu huyu ndugu yako alikuwa amekufa, kumbe yu mzima; alikuwa amepotea, lakini sasa amepatikana.”
We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'"
