1
Ibrahimu akaondoka huko kwenda nchi ya kusini, akakaa kati ya Kadeshi na Shuri, naye akatembea katika Gerari.
Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,
2
Ibrahimu akamnena Sara mkewe, Huyu ni ndugu yangu. Basi Abimeleki mfalme wa Gerari akapeleka watu akamtwaa Sara.
Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
3
Lakini Mungu akamjia Abimeleki katika ndoto ya usiku, akamwambia, Umekuwa mfu wewe kwa sababu ya mwanamke huyu uliyemtwaa, maana ni mkewe mtu.
One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
4
Basi Abimeleki alikuwa hakumkaribia, akasema, Ee Bwana, Je! Utaua hata taifa lenye haki?
Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
5
Je! Hakuniambia mwenyewe, Huyu ni ndugu yangu? Na mwanamke mwenyewe naye alisema, Huyu ni ndugu yangu. Kwa ukamilifu wa moyo wangu, na kwa kuwa safi mikono yangu, nimefanya hivi.
Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6
Mungu akamwambia katika ndoto, Nami nimejua ya kwamba kwa ukamilifu wa moyo wako umefanya hivi, ndipo nami nikakuzuia usinitendee dhambi, kwa hiyo sikukuacha umguse.
Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
7
Basi sasa umrudishe mwanamke kwa mtu huyo, maana yeye ni nabii, naye atakuombea, upate kuishi. Bali usipomrudisha, fahamu ya kwamba kwa hakika utakufa wewe na watu wote ulio nao.
Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
8
Abimeleki akaamka asubuhi na mapema, akawaita watumwa wake wote, akawaambia maneno hayo yote masikioni mwao, nao watu hao wakaogopa sana.
Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
9
Kisha Abimeleki akamwita Ibrahimu, akamwambia, Umetutenda nini? Nimekukosa nini, hata ukaleta juu yangu na juu ya ufalme wangu dhambi kuu? Umenitenda matendo yasiyotendeka.
Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
10
Abimeleki akamwambia Ibrahimu, Umeona nini hata ukatenda jambo hili?
Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
11
Ibrahimu akasema, Kwa sababu naliona, Yakini hapana hofu ya Mungu mahali hapa, nao wataniua kwa ajili ya mke wangu.
Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
12
Naye kweli ni ndugu yangu, binti wa baba yangu ila siye mwana wa mama yangu, ndipo akawa mke wangu.
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
13
Ikawa hapo Mungu aliponisafirisha kutoka nyumba ya baba yangu, nikamwambia, Hii ndiyo fadhili yako, utakayonifanyia. Kila mahali tuingiapo, useme, Huyu ni ndugu yangu.
So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14
Basi Abimeleki akatwaa kondoo, na ng'ombe, na watumwa, na wajakazi, akampa Ibrahimu, akamrudishia Sara mkewe.
So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
15
Abimeleki akasema, Nchi yangu iko mbele yako, kaa upendapo.
And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
16
Naye akamwambia Sara, Tazama! Nimempa ndugu yako fedha elfu, itakuwa kifunika macho kwako mbele ya wote walio pamoja nawe, nawe utakuwa na haki mbele ya watu wote.
And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
17
Ibrahimu akamwomba Mungu, Mungu akamponya Abimeleki, na mkewe, na wajakazi wake, nao wakazaa wana.
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
18
Maana Bwana alikuwa ameyafunga matumbo ya watu wa nyumbani mwa Abimeleki, wasizae, kwa ajili ya Sara mkewe Ibrahimu. </p>
for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.