Acts 7

1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

1 Ndipo kuhani mkuu akamuuliza Stefano, “Je, mashtaka haya ni ya kweli?”

2 And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

2 Stefano akajibu, “Ndugu zangu na baba zangu, nisikilizeni! Mungu wa utukufu alimtokea baba yetu Abrahamu, alipokuwa bado yuko Mesopotamia, kabla hajaishi Harani,

3 and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’

3 akamwambia, ‘Ondoka kutoka nchi yako na kutoka kwa jamii yako, uende hadi nchi nitakayokuonyesha.’

4 So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.

4 “Hivyo aliondoka katika nchi ya Wakaldayo akaenda kukaa Harani. Baada ya kifo cha baba yake, Mungu akamtoa huko akamleta katika nchi hii ambayo mnaishi sasa.

5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

5 Mungu hakumpa urithi wowote katika nchi hii, hakumpa hata mahali pa kuweka wayo mmoja. Bali Mungu alimwahidi kuwa yeye na uzao wake baada yake wangeirithi hii nchi, ingawa wakati huo Abrahamu hakuwa na mtoto.

6 God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

6 Mungu akasema naye hivi: ‘Wazao wako watakuwa wageni kwenye nchi ambayo si yao, nao watafanywa watumwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.’

7 ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’

7 Mungu akasema, ‘Lakini mimi nitaliadhibu taifa watakalolitumikia kama watumwa, na baadaye watatoka katika nchi hiyo na wataniabudu mahali hapa.’

8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

8 Ndipo akampa Abrahamu Agano la tohara. Naye Abrahamu akamzaa Isaki na kumtahiri siku ya nane. Baadaye Isaki akamzaa Yakobo, naye Yakobo akawazaa wale wazee wetu kumi na wawili.

9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

9 “Kwa sababu wazee wetu walimwonea wivu Yosefu ndugu yao, walimuuza kama mtumwa huko Misri. Lakini Mungu alikuwa pamoja naye.

10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

10 Akamwokoa kutoka mateso yote yaliyompata, tena akampa kibali na hekima aliposimama mbele ya Farao, mfalme wa Misri, ambaye alimweka kuwa mtawala juu ya Misri na juu ya jumba lote la kifalme.

11 Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.

11 “Basi kukawa na njaa katika nchi yote ya Misri na Kanaani, ikasababisha dhiki kubwa, nao baba zetu wakawa hawana chakula.

12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.

12 Lakini Yakobo aliposikia kwamba kuna nafaka huko Misri, aliwatuma baba zetu, wakaenda huko kwa mara yao ya kwanza.

13 On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.

13 Walipokwenda mara ya pili, Yosefu alijitambulisha kwa ndugu zake, nao ndugu zake Yosefu wakajulishwa kwa Farao.

14 Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.

14 Ndipo Yosefu akawatuma kumleta Yakobo baba yake pamoja na jamaa yake yote, jumla yao walikuwa watu sabini na watano.

15 So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.

15 Hivyo Yakobo akaenda Misri ambako yeye na baba zetu walifia.

16 Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

16 Miili yao ilirudishwa Shekemu na kuzikwa katika kaburi ambalo Abrahamu alinunua kutoka kwa wana wa Hamori kwa kiasi fulani cha fedha.

17 As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

17 “Lakini wakati ulipokuwa unakaribia wa kutimizwa kwa ile ahadi ambayo Mungu alikuwa amempa Abrahamu, watu wetu walizidi kuongezeka sana huko Misri.

18 Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.

18 Ndipo mfalme mwingine ambaye hakujua lolote kuhusu Yosefu akatawala Misri.

19 He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

19 Huyu mfalme akawatendea watu wetu hila na kuwatesa baba zetu kwa kuwalazimisha wawatupe watoto wao wachanga ili wafe.

20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.

20 “Wakati huo Mose alizaliwa, naye hakuwa mtoto wa kawaida. Akalelewa nyumbani kwa baba yake kwa muda wa miezi mitatu.

21 When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

21 Waliposhindwa kumficha zaidi, wakamweka nje mtoni na binti Farao akamchukua akamtunza kama mtoto wake mwenyewe.

22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

22 Mose akafundishwa hekima yote ya Wamisri, akawa mtu hodari kwa maneno na matendo.

23 When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

23 “Mose alipokuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini aliamua kuwatembelea ndugu zake Waisraeli.

24 And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.

24 Aliona mmoja wao akidhulumiwa na Mmisri, akamtetea yule aliyeonewa, akampiga yule Mmisri akamuua kulipiza kisasi.

25 He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.

25 Mose alidhani kuwa ndugu zake wangetambua kwamba Mungu anamtumia ili kuwaokoa, lakini wao hawakuelewa.

26 The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’

26 Siku iliyofuata Mose aliwakuta Waisraeli wawili wakigombana, akajaribu kuwapatanisha kwa kuwaambia, ‘Enyi watu, ninyi ni ndugu, mbona mnataka kudhulumiana?’

27 But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?

27 “Lakini yule mtu aliyekuwa akimdhulumu mwenzake akamsukuma Mose kando, akamuuliza, ‘Ni nani aliyekufanya mtawala na mwamuzi juu yetu?

28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

28 Je, unataka kuniua kama ulivyomuua yule Mmisri jana?’

29 At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.

29 Mose aliposikia maneno haya, alikimbilia huko Midiani alikokaa kama mgeni, naye akapata watoto wawili wa kiume.

30 After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

30 “Basi baada ya miaka arobaini kupita, malaika wa Mungu akamtokea Mose jangwani karibu na Mlima Sinai katika kichaka kilichokuwa kinawaka moto.

31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:

31 Alipoona mambo haya, alishangaa yale maono. Aliposogea ili aangalie kwa karibu, akaisikia sauti ya Bwana, ikisema:

32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

32 ‘Mimi ndimi Mungu wa baba zako, Mungu wa Abrahamu, Isaki na Yakobo.’ Mose alitetemeka kwa hofu na hakuthubutu kutazama.

33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

33 “Ndipo Bwana akamwambia, ‘Vua viatu vyako kwa maana mahali unaposimama ni patakatifu.

34 I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

34 Hakika nimeona mateso ya watu wangu huko Misri. Nimesikia kilio chao cha uchungu, nami nimeshuka ili niwaokoe. Basi sasa njoo, nami nitakutuma Misri.’

35 This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

35 “Huyu ndiye Mose yule waliyemkataa wakisema, ‘Ni nani aliyekufanya mtawala na mwamuzi juu yetu?’ Alikuwa ametumwa na Mungu mwenyewe kuwa mtawala na mkombozi wao, kwa njia ya yule malaika aliyemtokea katika kile kichaka.

36 He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

36 Aliwaongoza wana wa Israeli kutoka Misri, baada ya kufanya ishara na maajabu mengi huko Misri, katika Bahari ya Shamu, na katika jangwa kwa muda wa miaka arobaini.

37 This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’

37 “Huyu ndiye yule Mose aliyewaambia Waisraeli, ‘Mungu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe.’

38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.

38 Huyu ndiye yule Mose aliyekuwa katika kusanyiko huko jangwani, ambaye malaika alisema naye pamoja na baba zetu kwenye Mlima Sinai, naye akapokea maneno yaliyo hai ili atupatie.

39 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

39 “Lakini baba zetu walikataa kumtii Mose, badala yake wakamkataa na kuielekeza mioyo yao Misri tena.

40 They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’

40 Wakamwambia Aroni, ‘Tufanyie miungu watakaotuongoza, kwa maana mtu huyu Mose aliyetutoa nchi ya Misri, hatujui yaliyompata.’

41 At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.

41 Huu ni ule wakati walitengeneza sanamu katika umbo la ndama, wakailetea sadaka kufanya maadhimisho kwa ajili ya kile kitu walichokitengeneza kwa mikono yao wenyewe.

42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

42 Ndipo Mungu akageuka, akawaacha waabudu jeshi lote la mbinguni, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Kitabu cha Manabii: “ ‘Je, mliniletea dhabihu na sadaka kwa miaka arobaini kule jangwani, ee nyumba ya Israeli?

43 You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

43 La, ninyi mliinua madhabahu ya Moleki, na nyota ya mungu wenu Refani, vinyago mlivyotengeneza ili kuviabudu. Kwa hiyo nitawapeleka mbali’ kuliko Babeli.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.

44 “Baba zetu walikuwa na lile Hema la Ushuhuda huko jangwani. Lilikuwa limetengenezwa kama Mungu alivyokuwa amemwelekeza Mose, kulingana na kielelezo alichoona.

45 And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,

45 Baba zetu wakiisha kulipokea hema kwa kupokezana wakiongozwa na Yoshua katika milki ya nchi kutoka kwa yale mataifa ambayo Mungu aliyafukuza mbele yao, nalo likadumu katika nchi mpaka wakati wa Daudi,

46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

46 ambaye alipata kibali kwa Mungu, naye akaomba kwamba ampatie Mungu wa Yakobo maskani.

47 But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.

47 Lakini alikuwa Solomoni ndiye alimjengea Mungu nyumba.

48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

48 “Hata hivyo, Yeye Aliye Juu Sana hakai kwenye nyumba zilizojengwa kwa mikono ya wanadamu. Kama nabii alivyosema:

49 ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

49 “ ‘Mbingu ni kiti changu cha enzi, nayo dunia ni mahali pa kuweka miguu yangu. Mtanijengea nyumba ya namna gani? asema Bwana. Au mahali pangu pa kupumzikia patakuwa wapi?

50 Has not My hand made all these things?’

50 Je, mkono wangu haukufanya vitu hivi vyote?’

51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

51 “Enyi watu wenye shingo ngumu, msiotahiriwa mioyo wala masikio, daima hamwachi kumpinga Roho Mtakatifu, kama walivyofanya baba zenu.

52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

52 Je, kuna nabii gani ambaye baba zenu hawakumtesa? Waliwaua wale waliotabiri habari za kuja kwake yule Mwenye Haki. Nanyi sasa mmekuwa wasaliti wake na wauaji.

53 you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

53 Ninyi ndio mlipokea sheria zilizoletwa kwenu na malaika, lakini hamkuzitii.”

54 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.

54 Waliposikia haya wakaghadhibika, wakamsagia meno.

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

55 Lakini yeye Stefano, akiwa amejaa Roho Mtakatifu, alikaza macho mbinguni, akaona utukufu wa Mungu, na Yesu akiwa amesimama mkono wa kuume wa Mungu.

56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

56 Akasema, “Tazameni! Naona mbingu zimefunguka, na Mwana wa Adamu amesimama upande wa kuume wa Mungu.”

57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.

57 Lakini wao wakapiga kelele kwa sauti kubwa, wakaziba masikio yao, wakamrukia kwa nia moja.

58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

58 Wakamtupa nje ya mji, wakampiga kwa mawe. Nao mashahidi wakaweka mavazi yao miguuni mwa kijana mmoja ambaye jina lake aliitwa Sauli.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

59 Walipokuwa wakimpiga mawe, Stefano aliomba, “Bwana Yesu, pokea roho yangu.”

60 Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

60 Kisha akapiga magoti, akalia kwa sauti kubwa akasema, “Bwana usiwahesabie dhambi hii.” Baada ya kusema hayo, akalala.