Exodus 19

1 In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

1 Mnamo mwezi wa tatu baada ya Waisraeli kuondoka Misri, siku kama iyo hiyo, wakafika katika Jangwa la Sinai.

2 After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

2 Baada ya kuondoka Refidimu, waliingia katika Jangwa la Sinai na Israeli wakapiga kambi pale jangwani mbele ya mlima.

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel:

3 Kisha Mose akakwea kwenda kwa Mungu, naye Bwana akamwita kutoka kwenye ule mlima akasema, “Hivi ndivyo utakavyosema na nyumba ya Yakobo na utakachowaambia watu wa Israeli:

4 ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

4 ‘Ninyi wenyewe mmeona nililofanya huko Misri, jinsi nilivyowabeba kwenye mbawa za tai na kuwaleta kwangu.

5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.

5 Sasa kama mkinitii kikamilifu na kutunza Agano langu, basi ninyi mtakuwa mali yangu ya thamani kubwa miongoni mwa mataifa yote. Ijapokuwa dunia yote ni mali yangu,

6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

6 ninyi mtakuwa kwangu ufalme wa makuhani na taifa takatifu.’ Haya ndiyo maneno utakayosema kwa wana wa Israeli.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.

7 Kwa hiyo Mose akarudi, akawaita wazee wa watu na kuwaambia maneno yote ambayo Bwana alikuwa amemwamuru ayaseme.

8 And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

8 Watu wote wakajibu kwa pamoja, “Tutafanya kila kitu Bwana alichokisema.” Naye Mose akarudisha majibu yao kwa Bwana.

9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.

9 Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Nitakujia katika wingu zito, ili watu wanisikie nikinena nawe na kila mara waweke tumaini lao kwako.” Kisha Mose akamwambia Bwana yale ambayo watu walikuwa wamesema.

10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes

10 Naye Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Nenda kwa watu ukawaweke wakfu leo na kesho. Waambie wafue nguo zao

11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

11 na wawe tayari siku ya tatu, kwa sababu siku hiyo, Bwana atashuka juu ya mlima Sinai machoni pa watu wote.

12 And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

12 Weka mipaka kuzunguka mlima kwa ajili ya watu, uwaambie, ‘Mwe waangalifu, msije mkapanda mlimani au kuugusa. Yeyote atakayeugusa mlima hakika atauawa.

13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

13 Hakika atapigwa mawe au kupigwa mishale; mkono wa mtu hautamgusa. Akiwa mwanadamu au mnyama, hataruhusiwa kuishi.’ Ila tu wakati baragumu itakapopigwa kwa mfululizo, ndipo watu wote watakapopanda mlimani.”

14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

14 Baada ya Mose kushuka kutoka mlimani akawaendea watu na kuwaweka wakfu, wakafua nguo zao.

15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

15 Kisha akawaambia watu, “Jitayarisheni kwa ajili ya siku ya tatu. Mwanaume yeyote asimkaribie mwanamke.”

16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

16 Asubuhi ya siku ya tatu kulikuwa na ngurumo na radi pamoja na wingu nene juu ya mlima na mlio mkubwa sana wa tarumbeta. Kila mmoja aliyekuwa kambini akatetemeka.

17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

17 Kisha Mose akawaongoza watu kutoka kambini kukutana na Mungu, nao wakasimama chini ya mlima.

18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.

18 Mlima Sinai ulikuwa umefunikwa na moshi, kwa sababu Bwana alishuka juu yake katika moto. Moshi wa moto huo ulipanda juu kama moshi kutoka kwenye tanuru kubwa na mlima wote ukatetemeka kwa nguvu nyingi,

19 And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

19 nayo sauti ya tarumbeta ikawa kubwa zaidi na zaidi. Kisha Mose akazungumza na sauti ya Bwana ikamjibu.

20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,

20 Bwana akashuka juu ya Mlima Sinai na akamwita Mose apande juu mlimani. Kwa hiyo Mose akapanda juu,

21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.

21 naye Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Shuka ukawaonye watu ili wasijipenyeze kutafuta kumwona Bwana na wengi wao wakafa.

22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

22 Hata makuhani, watakaomkaribia Bwana ni lazima wajiweke wakfu, la sivyo Bwana atawaadhibu.”

23 But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

23 Mose akamwambia Bwana, “Watu hawawezi kupanda mlima Sinai kwa sababu wewe mwenyewe ulituonya ukisema, ‘Wekeni mipaka kuuzunguka mlima na kuutenga kama patakatifu.’”

24 And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”

24 Bwana akajibu, “Shuka ukamlete Aroni pamoja nawe. Lakini makuhani pamoja na watu wasije wakalazimisha kuja kwa Bwana, nisije nikawaadhibu.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

25 Basi Mose akashuka kwa watu na kuwaambia lile aliloambiwa.