Exodus 1

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:

1 Haya ndiyo majina ya wana wa Israeli ambao walikwenda Misri na Yakobo, kila mmoja akiwa pamoja na jamaa yake:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

2 Reubeni, Simeoni, Lawi na Yuda;

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

3 Isakari, Zabuloni na Benyamini;

4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

4 Dani na Naftali, Gadi na Asheri.

5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.

5 Wazao wote wa Yakobo walikuwa watu sabini; Yosefu alikuwa tayari yuko Misri.

6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,

6 Basi Yosefu na kaka zake wote na kizazi kile chote walikufa,

7 but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

7 lakini Waisraeli walikuwa wamezaana na kuongezeka sana, idadi yao ikawa kubwa mno, kwa hiyo wakaijaza nchi.

8 Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

8 Kisha mfalme mpya ambaye hakufahamu habari za Yosefu akatawala Misri.

9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.

9 Akawaambia watu wake, “Tazameni, Waisraeli wamekuwa wengi mno kwa idadi kutuliko sisi.

10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

10 Njooni, ni lazima tuwashughulikie kwa uangalifu, la sivyo watazidi kuwa wengi zaidi, na ikiwa patatokea vita, watajiunga na adui zetu kupigana dhidi yetu na kuondoka katika nchi hii.”

11 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

11 Basi Wamisri wakaweka wasimamizi wa kuwasimamia na kuwatesa Waisraeli kwa kazi ngumu, nao wakajenga miji ya Pithomu na Ramesesi ya kuweka akiba ya Farao.

12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.

12 Lakini walivyozidi kuteswa ndivyo walivyozidi kuongezeka na kuenea katika nchi; Wamisri wakawaogopa Waisraeli,

13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly

13 kwa hiyo wakawatumikisha kwa ukatili.

14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

14 Wakafanya maisha ya Waisraeli kuwa machungu kwa kufanya kazi ngumu ya kutengeneza lami na kufyatua matofali, na kazi zote za mashambani; katika kazi zao zote ngumu, Wamisri waliwatumia Waisraeli kwa ukatili.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,

15 Mfalme wa Misri akawaambia wakunga wa Kimisri waliowazalisha wanawake wa Kiebrania, ambao majina yao ni Shifra na Pua,

16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”

16 “Mtakapowazalisha wanawake wa Kiebrania, chunguzeni wanapojifungua. Ikiwa ni mtoto wa kiume, muueni, lakini ikiwa ni msichana, mwacheni aishi.”

17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.

17 Lakini hao wakunga walimcha Mungu na hawakufanya kile mfalme wa Misri alichowaambia kufanya, bali wakawaacha watoto wa kiume waishi.

18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

18 Ndipo mfalme wa Misri akawaita hao wakunga, akawauliza, “Kwa nini mmefanya hivi? Mbona mmeacha watoto wa kiume waishi?”

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

19 Wakunga wakamjibu Farao, “Wanawake wa Kiebrania ni tofauti na wanawake wa Kimisri; wao wana nguvu, nao hujifungua watoto kabla wakunga hawajafika.”

20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.

20 Kwa hiyo Mungu akawatendea mema wakunga hao. Waisraeli wakaongezeka na kuendelea kuwa wengi zaidi.

21 And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.

21 Kwa vile hao wakunga walimcha Mungu, Mungu akawajalia kuwa na jamaa zao wenyewe.

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”

22 Kisha Farao akatoa agizo hili kwa watu wake wote: “Kila mtoto wa kiume atakayezaliwa kwa Waebrania lazima atupwe katika Mto Naili, bali kila mtoto wa kike aachwe aishi.”