1
Bwana akanena na Musa, Haya, ondokeni, katokeni hapo, wewe na hao watu uliowaleta wakwee kutoka nchi ya Misri, waende nchi hiyo niliyomwapia Ibrahimu, na Isaka, na Yakobo, niliposema, Nitakipa kizazi chako nchi hii;
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
2
nami nitamtuma malaika aende mbele yako; nami nitawafukuza Mkanaani, na Mwamori, na Mhiti, na Mperizi, na Mhivi, na Myebusi;
And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3
waifikilie nchi imiminikayo maziwa na asali; kwa maana mimi sitakwenda kati yenu; kwa sababu ninyi ni watu wenye shingo ngumu; nisiwaangamize ninyi katika njia.
Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
4
Watu waliposikia habari hizo mbaya wakaomboleza wala hapana mtu aliyevaa vyombo vyake vya uzuri.
When the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry.
5
Bwana akamwambia Musa, Waambie wana wa Israeli, Ninyi ni watu wenye shingo ngumu; kama mimi nikiingia kati yenu dakika moja, nitawaangamiza; basi sasa vueni vyombo vyenu vya uzuri ili nipate kujua nitakalowatenda.
For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’”
6
Basi wana wa Israeli wakavua vyombo vyao vyote vya uzuri, tangu mlima wa Horebu na mbele.
So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.
7
Basi desturi ya Musa, ilikuwa kuitwaa ile hema, na kuikita nje ya marago mbali na hayo marago; akaiita, hema ya kukutania. Hata kila mtu aliyekuwa akitaka neno kwa Bwana, akatoka, akaenda hata hema ya kukutania, iliyokuwa nje ya marago.
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
8
Hata Musa alipotoka kuiendea ile hema, watu wote waliondoka wakasimama, kila mtu mlangoni pa hema yake, akamtazama Musa, hata alipokwisha kuingia hemani.
Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.
9
Ikawa Musa alipoingia humo hemani, ile nguzo ya wingu ikashuka, ikasimama mlangoni pa ile hema; naye Bwana akasema na Musa.
As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
10
Watu wote wakaiona nguzo ya wingu ikisimama penye mlango wa hema; watu wote wakaondoka wakasujudu, kila mtu mlangoni pa hema yake.
When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.
11
Naye Bwana akasema na Musa uso kwa uso, kama vile mtu asemavyo na rafiki yake. Kisha akageuka akarejea hata maragoni; bali mtumishi wake Yoshua, mwana wa Nuni, naye ni kijana, hakutoka mle hemani.
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
12
Musa akamwambia Bwana, Angalia, wewe waniambia, Wachukue watu hawa; nawe hukunijulisha ni nani utakayemtuma pamoja nami. Walakini umesema, Nakujua jina lako, nawe umepata neema mbele zangu.
Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’
13
Basi, sasa nakuomba, ikiwa nimepata neema mbele zako, unionyeshe njia zako, nipate kukujua, ili nipate neema mbele zako; ukakumbuke ya kuwa taifa hilo ndilo watu wako.
Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
14
Akasema, Uso wangu utakwenda pamoja nawe, nami nitakupa raha.
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15
Naye akamwambia, Uso wako usipokwenda pamoja nami, usituchukue kutoka hapa.
“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here.
16
Kwa maana itajulikanaje kuwa nimepata neema mbele zako, mimi na watu wako? Siyo kwa sababu unakwenda pamoja nasi, hata mimi na watu wako tutengwe na watu wote walio juu ya uso wa nchi?
For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17
Bwana akamwambia Musa, Nitafanya na neno hili ulilolinena, kwa maana umepata neema mbele zangu, nami nakujua jina lako.
So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
18
Akasema, Nakusihi unionyeshe utukufu wako.
Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
19
Akasema, Nitapitisha wema wangu wote mbele yako, nami nitalitangaza jina la Bwana mbele yako; nami nitamfadhili yeye nitakayemfadhili; nitamrehemu yeye nitakayemrehemu.
“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
20
Kisha akasema, Huwezi kuniona uso wangu, maana mwanadamu hataniona akaishi.
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
21
Bwana akasema, Tazama, hapa pana mahali karibu nami, nawe utasimama juu ya mwamba;
The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,
22
kisha itakuwa wakati unapopita utukufu wangu, nitakutia katika ufa wa ule mwamba, na kukufunika kwa mkono wangu hata nitakapokuwa nimekwisha kupita;
and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23
nami nitaondoa mkono wangu, nawe utaniona nyuma yangu, bali uso wangu hautaonekana.
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”