1
Basi Yakobo akasikia maneno ya wana wa Labani, wakisema, Yakobo amechukua mali yote ya baba yetu; na kwa mali ya baba yetu amepata fahari hii yote.
Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”
2
Yakobo akaona uso wa Labani, ya kuwa hakumtazama vema kama jana na juzi.
And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
3
Bwana akamwambia Yakobo, Urudi mpaka nchi ya baba zako na kwa jamaa zako, nami nitakuwa pamoja nawe.
Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
4
Yakobo akatuma watu, akawaita Raheli na Lea waje nyikani kwenye wanyama wake. Akawaambia,
So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,
5
Naona uso wa baba yenu, kwamba hanitazami vema kama jana na juzi. Lakini Mungu wa baba yangu amekuwa pamoja nami.
and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.
6
Nanyi mmejua ya kwamba kwa nguvu zangu zote nimemtumikia baba yenu.
You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
7
Na baba yenu amenidanganya, akabadili mshahara wangu mara kumi; lakini Mungu hakumwacha kunidhuru.
And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8
Aliposema, Walio na madoadoa watakuwa mshahara wako, wanyama wote wakazaa madoadoa. Aliposema, Walio na milia watakuwa mshahara wako, ndipo wanyama wote wakazaa wenye milia.
If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.
9
Hivi Mungu akamnyang'anya mali yake baba yenu, na kunipa mimi.
Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
10
Ikawa, wakati wale wanyama walipochukua mimba, naliinua macho yangu nikaona katika ndoto, na tazama, mabeberu waliowapanda hao wanyama walikuwa na milia, na madoadoa, na marakaraka.
When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.
11
Na malaika wa Mungu akaniambia katika ndoto, Yakobo! Nikasema, Mimi hapa.
In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’
12
Akasema, Inua, basi, macho yako, ukaone; mabeberu wote wanaopanda wanyama wana milia, na madoadoa, na marakaraka; maana nimeona yote aliyokutendea Labani.
‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
13
Mimi ni Mungu wa Betheli, huko ulikotia mafuta nguzo, na kuniwekea nadhiri. Sasa ondoka, toka katika nchi hii, urudi mpaka nchi ile uliyozaliwa.
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”
14
Raheli na Lea wakajibu, wakamwambia, Je! Imetubakia sehemu au urithi katika nyumba ya baba yetu?
And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
15
Hakutufanya kama wageni, maana ametuuza, naye amekula fedha zetu kabisa?
Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.
16
Maana mali yote ambayo Mungu amemnyang'anya baba yetu, mali hiyo ndiyo yetu na ya wana wetu. Basi yo yote Mungu aliyokuambia, uyafanye.
Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
17
Ndipo Yakobo akaondoka, akapandisha wanawe na wakeze juu ya ngamia.
Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,
18
Akachukua wanyama wake wote, na mali yake yote aliyokuwa ameyapata, na wanyama aliowapata katika Padan-aramu, ili afike kwa Isaka babaye katika nchi ya Kanaani.
and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.
19
Basi Labani alikuwa amekwenda kuwakata manyoya kondoo zake, na Raheli akaviiba vinyago vya babaye.
Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
20
Yakobo akamhadaa Labani, Mshami, kwa kuwa hakumwambia ya kwamba anakimbia.
Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.
21
Basi akakimbia yeye na yote aliyokuwa nayo; akaondoka akauvuka mto, akaelekeza uso wake kwenda mlima wa Gileadi.
So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
22
Hata siku ya tatu Labani akaambiwa ya kwamba Yakobo amekimbia,
On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
23
akatwaa ndugu zake pamoja naye, akamfuata mwendo wa siku saba. Akampata katika mlima wa Gileadi.
So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
24
Mungu akamjia Labani, Mshami, katika ndoto ya usiku, akamwambia, Ujihadhari, usimwambie Yakobo neno la heri wala la shari.
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
25
Labani akamfikia Yakobo, na Yakobo alikuwa amepiga hema zake katika mlima, na Labani na ndugu zake wakapiga hema zao katika mlima wa Gileadi.
Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.
26
Labani akamwambia Yakobo, Umefanya nini? Umenihadaa, ukawachukua binti zangu kama mateka waliotwaliwa kwa upanga.
Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!
27
Mbona umekimbia kwa siri ukanihadaa, wala hukuniambia, nipate kuagana nawe uende zako kwa furaha, na nyimbo, na ngoma, na kinubi?
Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.
28
Wala hukuniacha niwabusu wanangu, na binti zangu; basi umetenda upumbavu.
But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.
29
Ninao uwezo mkononi mwangu wa kukufanyia madhara; lakini Mungu wa baba yako usiku huu ameniambia, akisema, Ujihadhari, usimwambie Yakobo neno la heri wala la shari.
I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
30
Basi sasa, umetoka kwa sababu umetamani sana nyumba ya baba yako. Mbona basi umeiiba miungu yangu?
Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
31
Yakobo akajibu, akamwambia Labani, Kwa sababu naliogopa, nikasema, Usije ukaninyang'anya binti zako kwa nguvu.
“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.
32
Awaye yote utakayemwona kuwa nayo miungu yako, yeye asiishi. Mbele ya ndugu zetu ukitambue kilicho chako kwangu, ukakichukue. Maana Yakobo hakujua ya kwamba Raheli ameiiba.
If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
33
Labani akaingia katika hema ya Yakobo, na hema ya Lea, na hema ya vijakazi wawili, wala hakuiona. Akatoka katika hema ya Lea, akaingia katika hema ya Raheli.
So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
34
Basi Raheli alikuwa amevitwaa vile vinyago ameviweka katika matandiko ya ngamia, na kuvikalia. Labani akapapasa hema yote wala hakuviona.
Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.
35
Naye Raheli akamwambia babaye, Bwana wangu asikasirike kwa sababu siwezi kuinuka mbele yako, maana nimeshikwa na mambo ya kike. Akatafuta, wala hakuviona vile vinyago.
Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols.
36
Yakobo akakasirika, akagombana na Labani. Yakobo akajibu, akamwambia Labani, N'nini hatia yangu? Nayo ni nini dhambi yangu, hata ukanifuatia namna hii?
Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
37
Umepapasa-papasa vyombo vyangu vyote; ni kitu gani ulichokiona cha nyumbani mwako? Kiweke hapa mbele ya ndugu zangu, na ndugu zako, wakaamue kati yetu.
You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.
38
Miaka hii ishirini nimekaa kwako; kondoo zako wala mbuzi zako wake hawakuharibu mimba wala waume katika wanyama wako sikuwala.
I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.
39
Kilichoraruliwa na hayawani sikukuletea, mimi mwenyewe nimetwaa hasara yake, wewe umekidai katika mkono wangu, ikiwa kilichukuliwa mchana, au ikiwa kilichukuliwa usiku.
I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.
40
Hii ilikuwa hali yangu; mchana jua likanipata, na baridi usiku, usingizi ukanitoka machoni mwangu.
As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41
Miaka hii ishirini nimekaa nyumbani mwako; nilikutumikia miaka kumi na minne kwa binti zako wawili, na miaka sita kwa wanyama wako, nawe umebadili mshahara wangu mara kumi.
Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!
42
Kama Mungu wa baba yangu, Mungu wa Ibrahimu na Hofu ya Isaka, hangalikuwa pamoja nami, hakika sasa ungalinifukuza mikono mitupu. Mateso yangu na kazi za mikono yangu Mungu ameziona, akakukemea usiku huu.
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
43
Labani akajibu, akamwambia Yakobo, Hao binti ni binti zangu, na wana ni wanangu, na wanyama ni wanyama wangu, na yote uyaonayo ni yangu; nami naweza kuwatendea nini leo binti zangu na wana wao waliowalea?
But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?
44
Haya! Na tufanye agano, mimi na wewe, liwe kwa ushahidi kati ya mimi na wewe.
Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
45
Yakobo akatwaa jiwe akalisimamisha kama nguzo.
So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,
46
Yakobo akawaambia ndugu zake, Kusanyeni mawe. Wakatwaa mawe, wakafanya chungu, nao wakala huko karibu na ile chungu.
and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.
47
Labani aliiita Yegarsahadutha, lakini Yakobo aliiita Galedi.
Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48
Labani akasema, Chungu hii ni shahidi kati ya mimi na wewe hivi leo. Kwa hiyo likaitwa jina lake Galedi,
Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.
49
na Mispa, maana alisema, Mungu avizie kati ya mimi na wewe, wakati tusipoonana.
It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
50
Ukiwatesa binti zangu, na ukitwaa wake zaidi ya binti zangu, wala hapana mtu pamoja nasi, tazama, Mungu ni shahidi kati ya mimi na wewe.
If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
51
Labani akamwambia Yakobo, Tazama chungu hii utazame na nguzo niliyoitia kati ya mimi na wewe.
Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.
52
Chungu hii na iwe shahidi, na nguzo hii na iwe shahidi, ya kuwa mimi sitapita chungu hii kuja kwako, wala wewe hutapita chungu hii na nguzo hii uje kwangu, kwa madhara.
This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.
53
Mungu wa Ibrahimu, na Mungu wa Nahori, Mungu wa baba yao, ahukumu kati yetu.
May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54
Yakobo akachinja sadaka katika mlima, akawaita ndugu zake waje wale chakula, nao wakala chakula, wakakaa usiku kucha mlimani.
Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
55
Labani akaondoka asubuhi na mapema, akawabusu wanawe na binti zake, akawabariki; kisha Labani akaenda zake, akarudi kwao.
Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.