1
Kisha Yakobo akashika njia yake, akafika nchi ya wana wa mashariki.
Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
2
Naye akaangalia, na tazama, kiko kisima kondeni, na makundi matatu ya kondoo yamelala karibu nacho, kwa sababu katika kisima kile hunywesha makundi; na palikuwa na jiwe kubwa juu ya kinywa cha kisima.
He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.
3
Makundi yote hukusanyika huko, watu wakafingirisha hilo jiwe katika kinywa cha kisima wakawanywesha kondoo, na kulirudisha jiwe juu ya kinywa cha kisima mahali pake.
When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4
Yakobo akawauliza, Ndugu zangu, watu wa wapi ninyi? Wakasema, Tu wa Harani sisi.
“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.
5
Akawauliza, Je! Mnamjua Labani, mwana wa Nahori? Wakasema, Tunamjua.
“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.
6
Akawauliza, Je! Hajambo? Wakasema, Hajambo; tazama, Raheli binti yake anakuja na kondoo.
“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
7
Akasema, Tazama, ukali mchana bado, wala sio wakati wa kukusanya wanyama; wanywesheni kondoo, mwende kuwalisha.
“Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8
Wakasema, Hatuwezi, hata yakusanyike makundi yote, watu wakafingirishe jiwe katika kinywa cha kisima, ndipo tunapowanywesha kondoo.
But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
9
Hata alipokuwa akisema nao, Raheli akaja na kondoo za baba yake, maana aliwachunga.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10
Ikawa Yakobo alipomwona Raheli binti Labani, ndugu wa mamaye, na kondoo za Labani, ndugu wa mamaye, Yakobo akakaribia, na kulifingirisha lile jiwe litoke katika kinywa cha kisima, akawanywesha kondoo za Labani, ndugu wa mamaye.
As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
11
Yakobo akambusu Raheli, akainua sauti yake akalia.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
12
Yakobo akamwarifu Raheli ya kuwa yeye ni ndugu wa babaye, na ya kuwa ni mwana wa Rebeka. Basi akapiga mbio akampasha babaye habari.
He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
13
Ikawa Labani aliposikia habari za Yakobo, mwana wa nduguye, akaenda mbio amlaki, akamkumbatia, akambusu, akamleta nyumbani kwake. Naye akamwambia Labani maneno hayo yote.
When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
14
Labani akamwambia, Ndiwe kweli mfupa wangu na nyama yangu. Naye akakaa kwake muda wa mwezi mmoja.
Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
15
Labani akamwambia Yakobo, Kwa sababu wewe ni ndugu yangu, basi, je! Unitumikie bure? Niambie mshahara wako utakuwa nini?
Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16
Labani alikuwa na binti wawili, jina la mkubwa ni Lea, na jina la mdogo ni Raheli.
Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
17
Naye Lea macho yake yalikuwa dhaifu, lakini Raheli alikuwa mzuri wa umbo, na mzuri uso.
Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18
Yakobo akampenda Raheli akasema, Nitakutumikia miaka saba kwa kumpata Raheli, binti yako mdogo.
Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19
Labani akasema, Afadhali nikupe wewe kuliko mtu mwingine; kaa kwangu.
Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”
20
Yakobo akatumika miaka saba kwa kumpata Raheli. Ikawa machoni pake kama siku chache tu kwa vile alivyompenda.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
21
Yakobo akamwambia Labani, Nipe mke wangu, maana siku zangu zimetimia; niingie kwake.
Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
22
Labani akakusanya watu wote wa mahali pale, akafanya karamu.
So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
23
Ikawa wakati wa jioni akamtwaa Lea, binti yake, akamletea Yakobo, naye akaingia kwake.
But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.
24
Labani akampa Lea mjakazi wake Zilpa, awe mjakazi wake.
And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.
25
Ikawa, kulipokuwa asubuhi, kumbe! Ni Lea. Akamwambia Labani, Nini hii uliyonitenda?
When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
26
Sikukutumikia kwa Raheli? Mbona umenidanganya? Labani akasema, Havitendeki hivi kwetu, kumtoa mdogo kabla ya mkubwa;
Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
27
timiza siku zake saba, nasi tutakupa huyu naye kwa utumishi utakaonitumikia, miaka saba mingine.
Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
28
Yakobo akafanya hivi, akatimiza siku zake saba. Naye akampa Raheli binti yake kuwa mkewe.
And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
29
Labani akampa binti yake Raheli mjakazi wake Bilha, awe mjakazi wake.
Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
30
Akaingia kwa Raheli naye, akampenda Raheli kuliko Lea, akatumika kwa ajili yake miaka saba mingine.
Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
31
Bwana akaona ya kwamba Lea hakupendwa, naye akafungua tumbo lake; bali Raheli alikuwa hazai.
When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32
Lea akapata mimba akazaa mwana, akampa jina lake, Reubeni, maana alisema, Kwa kuwa Bwana ameona teso langu; sasa mume wangu atanipenda.
And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33
Akapata mimba tena akazaa mwana, akasema, Kwa kuwa Bwana amesikia ya kwamba mimi sikupendwa, amenipa na huyu; akamwita jina lake Simeoni.
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
34
Akapata mimba tena, akazaa mwana, akasema, Basi wakati huu mume wangu ataungana nami, kwa sababu nimemzalia wana watatu. Kwa hiyo akamwita jina lake Lawi.
Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
35
Akapata mimba tena, akazaa mwana. Akasema, Mara hii nitamsifu Bwana; kwa hiyo akamwita jina lake Yuda; akaacha kuzaa.
And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.