Exodus 14

1 Then the LORD said to Moses,

1 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose,

2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon.

2 “Waambie Waisraeli wageuke nyuma na wapige kambi karibu na Pi-Hahirothi, kati ya Migdoli na bahari. Watapiga kambi kando ya bahari, mkabala na Baal-Sefoni.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’

3 Farao atafikiri kwamba, ‘Hao Waisraeli wanatangatanga katika nchi kwa kuchanganyikiwa, nalo jangwa limewafungia.’

4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did.

4 Nami nitaufanya moyo wa Farao mgumu, naye atawafuatilia. Lakini nitajipatia utukufu kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe kupitia Farao na jeshi lake lote, nao Wamisri watajua kuwa mimi ndimi Bwana.” Kwa hiyo Waisraeli wakafanya hivyo.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

5 Mfalme wa Misri alipoambiwa kuwa Waisraeli wamekimbia, Farao na maafisa wake wakabadili nia zao kuhusu Waisraeli, wakasema, “Tumefanya nini? Tumewaachia Waisraeli waende zao na tumeukosa utumishi wao!”

6 So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him.

6 Kwa hiyo akaandaliwa gari lake la vita, naye akaenda pamoja na jeshi lake.

7 He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.

7 Akachukua magari bora mia sita, pamoja na magari mengine yote ya Misri, pamoja na maafisa wa magari hayo yote.

8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly.

8 Bwana akaufanya mgumu moyo wa Farao, mfalme wa Misri, kwa hiyo akawafuatia Waisraeli, waliokuwa wakiondoka Misri kwa ujasiri.

9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.

9 Nao Wamisri, yaani farasi wote wa Farao na magari ya vita, wapanda farasi na vikosi vya askari, wakawafuatia Waisraeli, wakawakuta karibu na Pi-Hahirothi, mkabala na Baal-Sefoni walipokuwa wamepiga kambi kando ya bahari.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD.

10 Farao alipokaribia, Waisraeli wakainua macho yao, wakawaona Wamisri wakija nyuma yao. Wakashikwa na hofu, wakamlilia Bwana.

11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

11 Wakamwambia Mose, “Je, ni kwamba hayakuwako makaburi huko Misri hata umetuleta tufe huku jangwani? Umetufanyia nini kututoa Misri?

12 Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

12 Hatukukuambia tulipokuwa huko Misri, tuache tuwatumikie Wamisri? Ingekuwa vyema zaidi kwetu kuwatumikia Wamisri kuliko kufa jangwani!”

13 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.

13 Mose akawajibu Waisraeli, “Msiogope. Simameni imara, nanyi mtauona wokovu Bwana atakaowapatia leo. Hao Wamisri mnaowaona leo kamwe hamtawaona tena.

14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

14 Bwana atawapigania ninyi, nanyi mnatakiwa kutulia tu.”

15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.

15 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Kwa nini wewe unanililia? Waambie Waisraeli waendelee mbele.

16 And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

16 Inua fimbo yako na unyooshe mkono wako juu ya bahari ili kuyagawa maji, hivyo kwamba Waisraeli wapate kupita mahali pakavu baharini.

17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

17 Nitaifanya mioyo ya Wamisri kuwa migumu kusudi waingie baharini wakiwafuatia. Nami nitajipatia utukufu kupitia Farao pamoja na jeshi lake lote, kupitia magari yake ya vita na wapanda farasi wake.

18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

18 Nao Wamisri watajua kwamba Mimi ndimi Bwana nitakapojipatia utukufu kupitia Farao, magari yake ya vita na wapanda farasi wake.”

19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,

19 Ndipo malaika wa Mungu, aliyekuwa akisafiri mbele ya jeshi la Israeli, akaondoka akakaa nyuma yao. Pia ile nguzo ya wingu ikaondoka hapo mbele yao na kusimama nyuma,

20 so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.

20 ikakaa kati ya majeshi ya Misri na Israeli. Usiku kucha wingu likaleta giza upande mmoja na nuru kwa upande mwingine, kwa hiyo hakuna aliyemkaribia mwenzake usiku kucha.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,

21 Ndipo Mose akanyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari, naye Bwana akayasukuma maji ya bahari nyuma kwa upepo mkali wa mashariki usiku ule wote na kupafanya nchi kavu. Maji yakagawanyika,

22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

22 nao Waisraeli wakapita baharini mahali pakavu, maji yakiwa ukuta upande wao wa kuume na upande wao wa kushoto.

23 And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen—and followed them into the sea.

23 Wamisri wakawafuatia ndani ya bahari, pamoja na farasi wote wa Farao, magari ya vita na wapanda farasi.

24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.

24 Karibia mapambazuko, Bwana akaliangalia jeshi la Wamisri kutoka ile nguzo ya moto na ya wingu, akalifadhaisha.

25 He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”

25 Mungu akayaondoa magurudumu ya magari yao, kwa hivyo wakayaendesha kwa shida. Nao Wamisri wakasema, “Tuachane na Waisraeli! Bwana anawapigania dhidi ya Misri.”

26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.”

26 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Nyoosha mkono wako juu ya bahari ili maji yarudiane yawafunike Wamisri, magari yao ya vita na wapanda farasi wao.”

27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea.

27 Mose akanyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari, wakati wa mapambazuko bahari ikarudiana na kuwa kama kawaida. Wamisri wakajaribu kuyakimbia maji, lakini Bwana akawasukumia ndani ya bahari.

28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

28 Maji yakarudiana na kuyafunika magari ya vita na wapanda farasi pamoja na jeshi lote la Farao lililokuwa limewafuata Waisraeli ndani ya bahari. Hakuna hata mmoja wao aliyenusurika.

29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

29 Lakini Waisraeli wakapita baharini mahali pakavu, ukiwepo ukuta wa maji upande wao wa kuume na upande wao wa kushoto.

30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore.

30 Siku ile Bwana akawaokoa Waisraeli kutoka mikononi mwa Wamisri, nao Waisraeli wakawaona Wamisri wamelala ufuoni mwa bahari wakiwa wamekufa.

31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

31 Basi Waisraeli walipoona uwezo mkubwa Bwana aliodhihirisha dhidi ya Wamisri, watu wakamwogopa Bwana na wakaweka tumaini lao kwake na kwa Mose mtumishi wake.