1
Basi Yethro, kuhani wa Midiani, mkwewe Musa, alisikia habari ya mambo hayo yote Mungu aliyokuwa amemtendea Musa, na Waisraeli watu wake, jinsi Bwana alivyowaleta Israeli watoke Misri.
Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2
Ndipo Yethro mkwewe Musa akamtwaa Sipora, mke wa Musa, baada ya yeye kumrudisha,
After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,
3
pamoja na wanawe wawili; katika hao, jina la mmoja ni Gershomu, maana alisema, Mimi nimekuwa mgeni katika nchi ya ugenini;
along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4
na jina la wa pili ni Eliezeri, kwa kuwa alisema, Yeye Mungu wa baba yangu alikuwa msaada wangu, akaniokoa na upanga wa Farao.
The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5
Basi Yethro, mkwewe Musa, pamoja na mke wa Musa na wanawe wawili wakamwendea Musa huko nyikani, hapo alipokuwa amepanga, kwenye mlima wa Mungu;
Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
6
naye akamwambia Musa, Mimi Yethro mkweo nimekuja kwako, na mkeo, na wanawe wawili pamoja naye.
He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7
Basi Musa akatoka nje ili amlaki mkwewe, akasujudia na kumbusu; nao wakaulizana habari; kisha wakaingia hemani.
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.
8
Musa akamwambia mkwewe mambo hayo yote Bwana aliyomtenda Farao na Wamisri kwa ajili ya Israeli, na mambo mazito yote yaliyowapata njiani, na jinsi Bwana alivyowaokoa.
Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.
9
Yethro alifurahi kwa ajili ya wema wote Bwana aliowatendea Israeli, kwa alivyo waokoa mikononi mwa Wamisri.
And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
10
Kisha Yethro akasema, Na ahimidiwe Bwana aliyewaokoa na mikono ya Wamisri, na mkono wa Farao; aliyewaokoa watu hao watoke mikononi mwa Wamisri.
Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
11
Sasa najua ya kuwa Bwana ni mkuu kuliko miungu yote; naam, katika jambo hilo walilowatenda kwa unyeti.
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
12
Yethro mkwewe Musa akamletea Mungu sadaka ya kuteketezwa na dhabihu; na Haruni akaja, na wazee wote wa Israeli, wale chakula pamoja na mkwewe Musa mbele za Mungu.
Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
13
Asubuhi yake Musa akaketi ili awapishie hukumu watu; na hao watu wakasimama kumzunguka Musa tangu asubuhi hata jioni.
The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.
14
Mkwewe Musa alipoyaona yote aliyowafanyia watu, akasema, Ni jambo gani hili uwatendealo hao watu? Kwani wewe kuketi hapo peke yako, na watu wote kusimama kwako tangu asubuhi hata jioni?
When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”
15
Musa akamwambia mkwewe, Ni kwa sababu watu hunijilia mimi wapate kumwuliza Mungu;
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
16
wakiwa na neno, hunijilia; nami naamua kati ya mtu na mwenziwe, nami nawajuvisha amri za Mungu, na sheria zake.
“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”
17
Mkwewe Musa akamwambia, Jambo hili ufanyalo si jema.
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18
Huna budi utadhoofika wewe, na hawa watu walio pamoja nawe pia; maana jambo hili ni zito mno kwako; huwezi wewe kulitenda peke yako.
Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.
19
Sikiza sasa neno langu, nitakupa shauri, na Mungu na awe pamoja nawe; uwe wewe kwa ajili ya watu mbele ya Mungu, nawe umletee Mungu maneno yao;
Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
20
nawe utawafundisha zile amri na sheria, nawe utawaonyesha njia ambayo inawapasa kuiendea, na kazi ambayo inawapasa kuifanya.
Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.
21
Zaidi ya hayo utajipatia katika watu hawa watu walio na uwezo, wenye kumcha Mungu, watu wa kweli, wenye kuchukia mapato ya udhalimu; ukawaweka juu yao, wawe wakuu wa maelfu, na wakuu wa mia, na wakuu wa hamsini, na wakuu wa kumi;
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
22
nao wawaamue watu hawa sikuzote; kisha, kila neno lililo kubwa watakuletea wewe, lakini kila neno dogo wataliamua wenyewe; basi kwako wewe mwenyewe utapata nafasi zaidi, nao watauchukua huo mzigo pamoja nawe.
Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.
23
Kwamba utafanya jambo hili, na Mungu akikuagiza hivyo, basi utaweza kusimama wewe, na watu hawa wote nao watakwenda mahali pao kwa amani.
If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”
24
Basi Musa akasikiza neno la mkwewe, akayafanya yote aliyokuwa amemwambia.
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25
Musa akawachagua watu wenye uwezo katika Israeli yote, akawaweka wawe vichwa juu ya watu, wakuu wa maelfu, na wakuu wa mia, na wakuu wa hamsini, na wakuu wa kumi.
So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
26
Nao wakawaamua watu sikuzote; mashauri magumu wakamletea Musa, lakini kila neno dogo wakaliamua wenyewe.
And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
27
Kisha Musa akaagana na mkwewe; naye akaenda zake, mpaka nchi yake mwenyewe. </p>
Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.