1
Basi watoza ushuru wote na wenye dhambi walikuwa wakimkaribia wamsikilize.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
2
Mafarisayo na waandishi wakanung'unika, wakisema, Mtu huyu huwakaribisha wenye dhambi, tena hula nao.
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3
Akawaambia mfano huu, akisema,
Then Jesus told them this parable:
4
Ni nani kwenu, mwenye kondoo mia, akipotewa na mmojawapo, asiyewaacha wale tisini na kenda nyikani, aende akamtafute yule aliyepotea hata amwone?
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5
Naye akiisha kumwona, humweka mabegani pake akifurahi.
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6
Na afikapo nyumbani kwake, huwaita rafiki zake na jirani zake, akawaambia, Furahini pamoja nami, kwa kuwa nimekwisha kumpata kondoo wangu aliyepotea.
comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
7
Nawaambia, Vivyo hivyo kutakuwa na furaha mbinguni kwa ajili ya mwenye dhambi mmoja atubuye, kuliko kwa ajili ya wenye haki tisini na kenda ambao hawana haja ya kutubu.
I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
8
Au kuna mwanamke gani mwenye shilingi kumi, akipotewa na moja, asiyewasha taa na kufagia nyumba, na kutafuta kwa bidii hata aione?
Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9
Na akiisha kuiona, huwaita rafiki zake na jirani zake, akawaambia, Furahini pamoja nami, kwa kuwa nimeipata tena shilingi ile iliyonipotea.
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
10
Nawaambia, Vivyo hivyo kuna furaha mbele ya malaika wa Mungu kwa ajili ya mwenye dhambi mmoja atubuye.
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
11
Akasema, Mtu mmoja alikuwa na wana wawili;
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12
yule mdogo akamwambia babaye, Baba, nipe sehemu ya mali inayoniangukia. Akawagawia vitu vyake.
The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13
Hata baada ya siku si nyingi, yule mdogo akakusanya vyote, akasafiri kwenda nchi ya mbali; akatapanya mali zake huko kwa maisha ya uasherati.
After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
14
Alipokuwa amekwisha tumia vyote, njaa kuu iliingia nchi ile, yeye naye akaanza kuhitaji.
After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
15
Akaenda akashikamana na mwenyeji mmoja wa nchi ile; naye alimpeleka shambani kwake kulisha nguruwe.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16
Akawa akitamani kujishibisha kwa maganda waliyokula nguruwe, wala hapana mtu aliyempa kitu.
He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
17
Alipozingatia moyoni mwake, alisema, Ni watumishi wangapi wa baba yangu wanaokula chakula na kusaza, na mimi hapa ninakufa kwa njaa.
Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death!
18
Nitaondoka, nitakwenda kwa baba yangu na kumwambia, Baba, nimekosa juu ya mbingu na mbele yako;
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19
sistahili kuitwa mwana wako tena; nifanye kama mmoja wa watumishi wako.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20
Akaondoka, akaenda kwa babaye. Alipokuwa angali mbali, baba yake alimwona, akamwonea huruma, akaenda mbio akamwangukia shingoni, akambusu sana.
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21
Yule mwana akamwambia, Baba, nimekosa juu ya mbingu na mbele yako; sistahili kuitwa mwana wako tena.
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22
Lakini baba aliwaambia watumwa wake, Lileteni upesi vazi lililo bora, mkamvike; mtieni na pete kidoleni, na viatu miguuni;
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23
mleteni ndama yule aliyenona mkamchinje; nasi tule na kufurahi;
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
24
kwa kuwa huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa, naye amefufuka; alikuwa amepotea, naye ameonekana. Wakaanza kushangilia.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25
Basi, yule mwanawe mkubwa alikuwako shamba na alipokuwa akija na kuikaribia nyumba, alisikia sauti ya nyimbo na machezo.
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26
Akaita mtumishi mmoja, akamwuliza, Mambo haya, maana yake nini?
So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27
Akamwambia, Ndugu yako amekuja, na baba yako amemchinja ndama aliyenona, kwa sababu amempata tena, yu mzima.
‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28
Akakasirika, akakataa kuingia ndani. Basi babaye alitoka nje, akamsihi.
The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29
Akamjibu baba yake, akasema, Tazama, mimi nimekutumikia miaka mingapi hii, wala sijakosa amri yako wakati wo wote, lakini hujanipa mimi mwana-mbuzi, nifanye furaha na rafiki zangu;
But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30
lakini, alipokuja huyu mwana wako aliyekula vitu vyako pamoja na makahaba, umemchinjia yeye ndama aliyenona.
But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31
Akamwambia, Mwanangu, wewe u pamoja nami sikuzote, na vyote nilivyo navyo ni vyako.
‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32
Tena, kufanya furaha na shangwe ilipasa, kwa kuwa huyu ndugu yako alikuwa amekufa, naye amefufuka; alikuwa amepotea, naye ameonekana.
But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”