1
Hata baadaye, Musa na Haruni wakaenda wakamwambia Farao, wakasema, Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asema hivi, Wape watu wangu ruhusa waende, ili kunifanyia sikukuu jangwani.
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
2
Farao akasema, Bwana ni nani, hata niisikilize sauti yake, na kuwapa Israeli ruhusa waende zao? Mimi simjui Bwana, wala sitawapa Israeli ruhusa waende zao.
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
3
Wakasema, Mungu wa Waebrania amekutana nasi; twakuomba, tupe ruhusa twende safari ya siku tatu jangwani, tumtolee dhabihu Bwana, Mungu wetu; asije akatupiga kwa tauni, au kwa upanga.
“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”
4
Mfalme wa Misri akawaambia Enyi Musa na Haruni, mbona mnawaachisha watu kazi zao? Enendeni zenu kwa mizigo yenu.
But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”
5
Kisha Farao akasema, Tazameni, watu wa nchi sasa ni wengi, nanyi mnawapumzisha, wasichukue mizigo yao.
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
6
Na siku ile ile Farao akawaamuru wasimamizi wa watu, na wanyapara wao, akisema,
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:
7
Msiwape watu tena majani ya kufanyia matofali, kama mlivyofanya tangu hapo; na waende wakatafute majani wenyewe.
“You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.
8
Lakini hesabu ya matofali waliyokuwa wakifanya tokea hapo, wawekeeni iyo hiyo, msiipunguze hata kidogo, kwa maana ni wavivu hao; kwa hiyo wanapiga kelele, wakisema, Tupe ruhusa twende kumtolea Mungu wetu dhabihu.
But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9
Wapeni watu hao kazi nzito zaidi, waitaabikie; wala wasiangalie maneno ya uongo.
Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
10
Hao wasimamizi wa watu na wanyapara wao wakatoka, wakasema na watu, wakanena, Farao asema hivi, Mimi siwapi majani.
So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.
11
Enendeni wenyewe, jipatieni majani hapo mtakapoyaona; kwa maana kazi yenu haitapunguzwa hata kidogo.
Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’”
12
Basi hao watu wakatawanyika katika nchi yote ya Misri ili wapate kukusanya matakataka ya mashamba badala ya majani.
So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13
Wasimamizi wao wakawahimiza, wakisema, Timizeni kazi zenu, shughuli zenu za kila siku, kama wakati ule majani yalipokuwapo.
The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
14
Na wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli, ambao wasimamizi wa Farao wamewaweka juu yao, wakapigwa, wakiambiwa, Kwa nini hamkutimiza kazi yenu jana na leo; kwa kufanya matofali kama hapo kwanza?
Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”
15
Basi wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakaenda, wakamlilia Farao, wakisema, Mbona umetutendea hivi, sisi watumwa wako?
So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way?
16
Watumwa wako hawapewi majani, nao wanatuambia, Fanyeni matofali; na tazama, watumwa wako wapigwa; lakini kosa hilo ni la watu wako mwenyewe.
No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
17
Akasema, Wavivu ninyi; wavivu; kwa ajili hii mwasema, Tupe ruhusa twende kumtolea Bwana dhabihu.
“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18
Basi, enendeni sasa, mkafanye kazi; kwa maana hamtapewa majani, na pamoja na hayo mtaleta hesabu ile ile ya matofali.
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
19
Basi wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakaona ya kwamba wa katika hali mbaya, walipoambiwa, Hamtapunguza hesabu ya matofali yenu hata kidogo; ndizo shughuli zenu za kila siku.
The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20
Wakakutana na Musa na Haruni, waliokuwa wanasimama njiani, hapo walipotoka kwa Farao;
When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.
21
wakawaambia, Bwana awaangalie na kuamua; kwa kuwa mmefanya harufu yetu kuwa chukizo mbele ya Farao, na mbele ya watumishi wake, mkatia upanga mikononi mwao, watuue.
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”
22
Musa akarudi kwa Bwana, akasema, Bwana, mbona umewatenda mabaya watu hawa? Kwani kunituma mimi?
So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
23
Kwa maana tangu nilipokwenda kwa Farao, kusema naye kwa jina lako, amewatenda mabaya watu hawa; wala hukuwaokoa watu wako hata kidogo. </p>
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”