Deuteronomy 18

1 The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance.

1 Makuhani ambao ni Walawi, yaani kabila lote la Lawi, hawatakuwa na mgawo wala urithi pamoja na Israeli. Wataishi kwa sadaka zitolewazo kwa ajili ya Bwana za kuteketezwa kwa moto, kwa maana huo ndio urithi wao.

2 Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

2 Hawatakuwa na urithi miongoni mwa ndugu zao; Bwana ndiye urithi wao, kama alivyowaahidi.

3 This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach.

3 Hili ndilo fungu la makuhani kutoka kwa watu watakaotoa dhabihu ya fahali au kondoo: mguu wa mbele, mataya na matumbo.

4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock.

4 Mtawapa malimbuko ya nafaka zenu, divai mpya, mafuta na sufu ya kwanza kutoka manyoya ya kondoo zenu,

5 For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.

5 kwa kuwa Bwana Mungu wenu amewachagua pamoja na wazao wao kutoka makabila yenu kusimama na kuhudumu katika jina la Bwana siku zote.

6 Now if a Levite moves from any town of residence throughout Israel and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose,

6 Ikiwa Mlawi atahama kutoka mmojawapo ya miji yenu popote katika Israeli ambapo anaishi, akaja kwa moyo wote mahali ambapo Bwana atapachagua,

7 then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD.

7 anaweza akahudumu katika jina la Bwana Mungu wake kama Walawi wenzake wote wanaohudumu hapo mbele za Bwana.

8 They shall eat equal portions, even though he has received money from the sale of his father’s estate.

8 Atashiriki sawa katika mafao yao, hata kama amepokea fedha kutoka mauzo ya mali ya jamaa yake.

9 When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.

9 Wakati mtakapoingia katika nchi ambayo Bwana Mungu wenu anawapa, msijifunze kuiga njia za machukizo za mataifa ya huko.

10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

10 Asionekane mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu ampitishaye mwanawe au binti yake katika moto, atakayefanya uaguzi, ulozi, anayetabiri nyakati, anayejishughulisha na uchawi,

11 casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead.

11 wala arogaye kwa kupiga mafundo, wala mwaguzi au anayeabudu mizimu, wala awaombaye wafu.

12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

12 Mtu yeyote afanyaye mambo haya ni chukizo kwa Bwana, tena ni kwa sababu ya matendo haya ya kuchukiza wayafanyayo ndiyo maana Bwana Mungu wenu atayafukuza mataifa hayo mbele yenu.

13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

13 Kamwe msilaumiwe mbele za Bwana Mungu wenu.

14 Though these nations, which you will dispossess, listen to conjurers and diviners, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

14 Mataifa mtakayowafukuza husikiliza wale wafanyao ulozi na uaguzi. Lakini kwenu ninyi, Bwana Mungu wenu hajawaruhusu kufanya hivyo.

15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.

15 Bwana Mungu wenu atawainulia nabii kama mimi kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zenu wenyewe. Msikilizeni yeye.

16 This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!”

16 Kwa kuwa hivi ndivyo mlivyomwomba Bwana Mungu wenu kule Horebu siku ile ya kusanyiko, wakati mliposema, “Na tusiisikie sauti ya Bwana Mungu wetu, wala kuuona moto huu mkubwa tena, ama sivyo tutakufa.”

17 Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well.

17 Bwana akaniambia: “Wanachosema ni vyema.

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

18 Nitawainulia nabii kama wewe kutoka miongoni mwa ndugu zao; nitaweka maneno yangu kinywani mwake, naye atawaambia kila kitu nitakachomwamuru.

19 And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.

19 Kama mtu yeyote hatasikiliza maneno yangu ambayo huyo nabii atayasema kwa Jina langu, mimi mwenyewe nitamwajibisha.

20 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”

20 Lakini nabii ambaye atathubutu kusema kwa Jina langu kitu chochote ambacho sikumwamuru akiseme, au nabii ambaye husema kwa jina la miungu mingine ni lazima auawe.”

21 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?”

21 Mnaweza kuulizana wenyewe, “Tutawezaje kujua wakati ujumbe haukusemwa na Bwana?”

22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

22 Ikiwa kile nabii anachotangaza kwa jina la Bwana hakikutokea au kutimia, huo ni ujumbe ambao Bwana hakusema. Nabii huyo amesema kwa ujuaji. Msimwogope huyo.