Kuhani Mkuu akasema, Je! Mambo hayo ndivyo yalivyo?
The high priest said, "Are these things so?"
Naye akasema, Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, sikilizeni: Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Ibrahimu, alipokuwa katika Mesopotamia, kabla hajakaa Harani,
He said, "Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
akamwambia, Toka katika nchi yako na katika jamaa zako, ukaende hata nchi nitakayokuonyesha.
and said to him, 'Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.'
Ndipo alipotoka katika nchi ya Wakaldayo, akakaa Harani, akatoka huko baada ya kufa babaye, Mungu akamhamisha mpaka nchi hii mnayokaa ninyi sasa.
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living.
Wala hakumpa urithi humu hata kiasi cha kuweka mguu; akaahidi kwamba atampa, iwe milki yake, na ya uzao wake baadaye alipokuwa hana mtoto.
He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he still had no child.
Mungu akanena hivi, ya kwamba wazao wake watakuwa wageni katika nchi ya watu wengine, nao watawafanya kuwa watumwa wao, na kuwatenda mabaya kwa muda wa miaka mia nne.
God spoke in this way: that his seed would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.
Na lile taifa watakaowafanya watumwa nitawahukumu mimi, alisema Mungu; na baada ya hayo watatoka, nao wataniabudu mahali hapa.
'I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,' said God, 'and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.'
Akampa agano la tohara; basi Ibrahimu akamzaa Isaka, akamtahiri siku ya nane. Isaka akamzaa Yakobo. Yakobo akawazaa wale kumi na wawili, wazee wetu.
He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
Wale wazee wetu wakimwonea wivu Yusufu, wakamwuza aende Misri. Mungu akawa pamoja naye,
"The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,
akamtoa katika dhiki zake zote, akampa fadhili na hekima mbele ya Farao, mfalme wa Misri; naye akamfanya awe mtawala juu ya Misri na nyumba yake yote.
and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Basi kukawa njaa katika nchi yote ya Misri na Kanaani, na dhiki nyingi, wala baba zetu hawakupata chakula cha kuwatosha.
Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food.
Hata Yakobo aliposikia ya kwamba huko Misri kuna nafaka, akawatuma baba zetu mara ya kwanza.
But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time.
Hata safari ya pili Yusufu akajitambulisha kwa ndugu zake, jamaa ya Yusufu ikawa dhahiri kwa Farao.
On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's race was revealed to Pharaoh.
Yusufu akatuma watu akamwita Yakobo babaye na jamaa zake wote pia, watu sabini na watano.
Joseph sent, and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.
Basi Yakobo akashuka mpaka Misri; akafa yeye na baba zetu;
Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, himself and our fathers,
wakachukuliwa mpaka Shekemu wakazikwa katika kaburi lile, ambalo Ibrahimu alilinunua kwa kima cha fedha kwa wana wa Hamori, huko Shekemu.
and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.
Basi wakati wa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alimpa Ibrahimu ulipokuwa unakaribia, wale watu wakazidi na kuongezeka sana huko Misri,
"But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
hata mfalme mwingine akainuka juu ya Misri, asiyemfahamu Yusufu.
until there arose a different king, who didn't know Joseph.
Huyo akawafanyia hila kabila yetu, na kuwatenda mabaya baba zetu, akiwaamuru wawatupe watoto wao wachanga, ili wasiishi.
The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn't stay alive.
Wakati huo akazaliwa Musa, naye alikuwa mzuri sana, akalelewa muda wa miezi mitatu katika nyumba ya babaye.
At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father's house.
Hata alipotupwa, binti Farao akamtwaa, akamlea awe kama mwanawe.
When he was thrown out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son.
Musa akafundishwa hekima yote ya Wamisri, akawa hodari wa maneno na matendo.
Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.
Umri wake ulipopata kama miaka arobaini akaazimu moyoni mwake kwenda kuwatazama ndugu zake Waisraeli.
But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may be also correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, the children of Israel.
Akamwona mmoja akidhulumiwa, akamtetea, akamlipia kisasi yule aliyekuwa akionewa, akampiga huyo Mmisri.
Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.
Alidhani kwamba ndugu zake watafahamu ya kuwa Mungu anawapa wokovu kwa mkono wake, lakini hawakufahamu.
He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn't understand.
Siku ya pili yake akawatokea walipokuwa wakishindana, akataka kuwapatanisha, akisema, Enyi bwana zangu, ninyi ni ndugu. Mbona mnadhulumiana?
"The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, 'Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?'
Lakini yeye aliyemdhulumu mwenziwe akamsukumia mbali, akisema, Ni nani aliyekuweka wewe kuwa mkuu na mwamuzi juu yetu?
But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
Je! Wataka kuniua mimi kama ulivyomwua yule Mmisri jana?
Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'
Musa akakimbia kwa neno hilo, akakaa hali ya ugeni katika nchi ya Midiani, akazaa wana wawili huko.
Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
Hata miaka arobaini ilipotimia, malaika wa Bwana akamtokea katika jangwa la mlima wa Sinai katika mwali wa moto, kijitini.
"When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
Musa alipouona, akastaajabia maono yale, na alipokaribia ili atazame, sauti ya Bwana ikamjia,
When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him,
Mimi ni Mungu wa baba zako, Mungu wa Ibrahimu, na Mungu wa Isaka, na Mungu wa Yakobo. Musa akatetemeka, asithubutu kutazama.
'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Moses trembled, and dared not look.
Bwana akamwambia, Vua viatu miguuni mwako, kwa maana mahali hapa unaposimama ni nchi takatifu.
The Lord said to him, 'Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
Yakini nimeona mateso ya watu wangu waliomo Misri, nimesikia kuugua kwao, nami nimeshuka niwatoe. Basi sasa, nitakutuma mpaka Misri.
I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.'
Musa huyo waliyemkataa, wakisema, Ni nani aliyekuweka kuwa mkuu na mwamuzi? Ndiye aliyetumwa na Mungu kuwa mkuu na mkombozi, kwa mkono wa yule malaika aliyemtokea katika kile kijiti.
"This Moses, whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'--God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Huyo ndiye aliyewatoa, akifanya ajabu na ishara katika nchi ya Misri, na katika bahari ya Shamu, na katika jangwa muda wa miaka arobaini.
This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
Musa huyo ndiye aliyewaambia Waisraeli, Bwana Mungu wenu atawainulieni nabii, katika ndugu zenu, kama mimi; msikieni yeye.
This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, 'The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.{TR adds "You shall listen to him."}'
Yeye ndiye aliyekuwa katika kanisa jangwani pamoja na yule malaika aliyesema naye katika mlima wa Sinai, tena pamoja na baba zetu; ndiye aliyepokea maneno ya uzima atupe sisi.
This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us,
Mtu huyo baba zetu hawakutaka kumtii, bali wakamsukumia mbali, na kwa mioyo yao wakarejea Misri,
to whom our fathers wouldn't be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,
wakamwambia Haruni, Tufanyie miungu, watakaotutangulia; maana huyo Musa, aliyetutoa katika nchi ya Misri, hatujui lililompata.
saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.'
Wakafanya ndama siku zile, wakaleta dhabihu kwa sanamu ile, wakafurahia kazi za mikono yao.
They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
Basi Mungu akaghairi, akawaacha ili waliabudu jeshi la mbinguni, kama ilivyoandikwa katika chuo cha manabii, Je! Mlinitolea mimi dhabihu na sadaka Miaka arobaini katika jangwa, enyi nyumba ya Israeli?
But God turned, and gave them up to serve the host of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices Forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
Nanyi mlichukua hema ya Moleki, Na nyota za mungu wenu Refani, Sanamu mlizozifanya ili kuziabudu; Nami nitawafahamisha mwende mbali kupita Babeli.
You took up the tent of Moloch, The star of your god Rephan, The figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'
Ile hema ya ushahidi ilikuwa pamoja na baba zetu jangwani, kama alivyoagiza yeye aliyesema na Musa, ya kwamba aifanye sawasawa na mfano ule aliouona;
"Our fathers had the tent of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen;
ambayo baba zetu, kwa kupokezana, wakaiingiza pamoja na Yoshua katika milki ya Mataifa wale, ambao Mungu aliwafukuza mbele ya baba zetu, mpaka siku za Daudi;
which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David,
aliyepata fadhili mbele za Mungu, naye aliomba ampatie Mungu wa Yakobo maskani.
who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.
Lakini Sulemani alimjengea nyumba.
But Solomon built him a house.
Ila Yeye aliye juu hakai katika nyumba zilizofanywa kwa mikono, kama vile asemavyo nabii,
However, the Most High doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, Na nchi ni pa kuwekea miguu yangu; Ni nyumba gani mtakayonijengea? Asema Bwana,
'heaven is my throne, And the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?' says the Lord; 'Or what is the place of my rest?
Au ni mahali gani nitakapostarehe? Si mkono wangu uliofanya haya yote?
Didn't my hand make all these things?'
Enyi wenye shingo gumu, msiotahiriwa mioyo wala masikio, siku zote mnampinga Roho Mtakatifu; kama baba zenu walivyofanya, na ninyi ni vivyo hivyo.
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
Ni yupi katika manabii ambaye baba zenu hawakumwudhi? Nao waliwaua wale waliotabiri habari za kuja kwake yule Mwenye Haki; ambaye ninyi sasa mmekuwa wasaliti wake, mkamwua;
Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
ninyi mlioipokea torati kwa agizo la malaika msiishike.
You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn't keep it!"
Basi waliposikia maneno haya, wakachomwa mioyo, wakamsagia meno.
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Lakini yeye akijaa Roho Mtakatifu, akakaza macho yake, akitazama mbinguni, akauona utukufu wa Mungu, na Yesu akisimama upande wa mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Akasema, Tazama! Naona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adamu amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.
and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
Wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kuu, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamrukia kwa nia moja,
But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord.
wakamtoa nje ya mji, wakampiga kwa mawe. Nao mashahidi wakaweka nguo zao miguuni pa kijana mmoja aliyeitwa Sauli.
They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Wakampiga kwa mawe Stefano, naye akiomba, akisema, Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu.
They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit!"
Akapiga magoti, akalia kwa sauti kuu, Bwana, usiwahesabie dhambi hii. Akiisha kusema haya akalala. Na Sauli alikuwa akiona vema kwa kuuawa kwake.
He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep.