1
Ikawa njaa katika nchi hiyo, mbali na njaa ile ya kwanza iliyokuwa siku za Ibrahimu. Isaka akamwendea Abimeleki, mfalme wa Wafilisti, huko Gerari.
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
2
Bwana akamtokea, akasema, Usishuke kwenda Misri, kaa katika nchi nitakayokuambia.
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.
3
Kaa ugenini katika nchi hiyo, nami nitakuwa pamoja nawe, na kukubariki, maana nitakupa wewe na uzao wako nchi hizi zote. Nami nitakifanya imara kiapo nilichomwapia Ibrahimu baba yako.
Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.
4
Nitazidisha uzao wako kama nyota za mbinguni, nami nitawapa uzao wako nchi hizi zote, na katika uzao wako mataifa yote ya dunia watajibarikia.
I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,
5
Kwa sababu Ibrahimu alisikia sauti yangu, akayahifadhi maagizo yangu, na amri zangu, na hukumu zangu, na sheria zangu.
because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
6
Isaka akakaa katika Gerari.
So Isaac settled in Gerar.
7
Watu wa mahali hapo wakamwuliza habari za mkewe. Akasema, Ni ndugu yangu huyu maana aliogopa kusema, Ni mke wangu, watu wa nchi wasije wakamwua kwa ajili ya Rebeka; kwa maana alikuwa mzuri wa uso.
But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”
8
Ikawa alipokuwa amekaa huko siku nyingi, Abimeleki, mfalme wa Wafilisti, akachungulia dirishani, akamwona Isaka anacheza-cheza na Rebeka mkewe.
When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.
9
Abimeleki akamwita Isaka, akasema, Yakini huyu ni mkeo, mbona ulisema, Ni ndugu yangu huyu? Isaka akamwambia, Kwa sababu nalisema, Nisife kwa ajili yake.
Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”
10
Abimeleki akasema, Ni nini hii uliyotutendea? Labda mtu mmojawapo angalilala na mkeo bila kufikiri, nawe ungalitutia hatiani.
“What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
11
Basi Abimeleki akawaamuru watu wote, akisema, Amgusaye mtu huyu au mkewe lazima atauawa.
So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”
12
Isaka akapanda mbegu katika nchi ile, akapata mwaka ule vipimo mia kwa kimoja, Bwana akambariki.
Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,
13
Na mtu huyu akawa mkuu, akazidi kusitawi, hata akawa mkuu sana.
and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy.
14
Akawa na mali ya kondoo, na mali ya ng'ombe, na watumwa wengi. Hao Wafilisti wakamhusudu.
He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.
15
Na vile visima vyote walivyochimba watumwa wa baba yake, siku za Ibrahimu babaye, Wafilisti walikuwa wamevifukia, wakavijaza kifusi.
So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.
16
Abimeleki akamwambia Isaka, Utoke kwetu, maana wewe una nguvu sana kuliko sisi.
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”
17
Basi Isaka akatoka huko akapiga kambi katika bonde la Gerari, akakaa huko.
So Isaac left that place and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.
18
Isaka akarudi akavichimbua vile visima vya maji walivyovichimba siku za Ibrahimu babaye; maana wale Wafilisti walikuwa wamevifukia baada ya kufa kwake Ibrahimu; naye akaviita majina kufuata majina alivyoviita babaye.
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. And he gave these wells the same names his father had given them.
19
Watumwa wa Isaka wakachimba katika lile bonde, wakapata kisima cha maji yanayobubujika.
Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh water there.
20
Wachungaji wa Gerari wakagombana na wachungaji wa Isaka wakisema, Maji haya ni yetu. Ndipo akakiita jina la kile kisima Eseki, kwa sababu waligombana naye.
But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him.
21
Wakachimba kisima kingine, wakagombania na hicho tena. Akakiita jina lake Sitna.
Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.
22
Akaondoka huko akachimba kisima kingine, wala hicho hawakukigombania. Akakiita jina lake Rehobothi, akasema, Kwa kuwa sasa Bwana ametufanyia nafasi, nasi tutazidi katika nchi.
He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
23
Akapanda kutoka hapo mpaka Beer-sheba.
From there Isaac went up to Beersheba,
24
Bwana akamtokea usiku uleule, akasema, Mimi ni Mungu wa Ibrahimu baba yako, usiogope, maana mimi ni pamoja nawe, nami nitakubarikia, na kuzidisha uzao wako kwa ajili ya Ibrahimu mtumishi wangu.
and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”
25
Akajenga madhabahu huko, akaliitia jina la Bwana. Akapiga hema yake huko, na watumwa wa Isaka wakachimba kisima huko.
So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well there.
26
Ndipo Abimeleki akamwendea kutoka Gerari, pamoja na Ahuzathi rafiki yake, na Fikoli, jemadari wa jeshi lake.
Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.
27
Isaka akawauliza, Mbona mwanijia, nanyi mmenichukia, mkanifukuza kwenu?
“Why have you come to me?” Isaac asked them. “You hated me and sent me away.”
28
Wakasema, Hakika tuliona ya kwamba Bwana alikuwa pamoja nawe; nasi tukasema, Na tuapiane, sisi na wewe, na kufanya mapatano nawe
“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
29
ya kuwa hutatutenda mabaya, iwapo sisi hatukukugusa wewe, wala hatukukutendea ila mema, tukakuacha uende zako kwa amani; nawe sasa u mbarikiwa wa Bwana.
that you will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only good to you, sending you on your way in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”
30
Basi akawafanyia karamu, nao wakala, wakanywa.
So Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
31
Wakaondoka asubuhi na mapema, wakaapiana wao kwa wao, kisha Isaka akawapa ruhusa, nao wakaenda zao kwa amani.
And they got up early the next morning and swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.
32
Ikawa siku ileile, watumwa wa Isaka wakaja wakampasha habari za kile kisima walichokuwa wamekichimba, wakamwambia, Tumeona maji.
On that same day, Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. “We have found water!” they told him.
33
Naye akakiita jina lake Shiba; kwa hiyo jina la mji huo ni Beer-sheba, hata leo.
So he called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the city is Beersheba.
34
Esau alipokuwa mwenye miaka arobaini, akamwoa Yudithi, binti Beeri, Mhiti, na Basemathi, binti Eloni, Mhiti.
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.
35
Roho zao Isaka na Rebeka zikajaa uchungu kwa ajili yao. </p>
And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.