Genesis 31

1 Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

1 Yakobo akawasikia wana wa Labani wakisema, “Yakobo amechukua kila kitu kilichokuwa cha baba yetu naye amepata utajiri huu wote kutokana na vile vilivyokuwa mali ya baba yetu.”

2 And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

2 Yakobo akatambua kwamba moyo wa Labani kwake haukuwa kama ulivyokuwa mwanzo.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

3 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Yakobo, “Rudi katika nchi ya baba zako na kwa watu wako, nami nitakuwa pamoja nawe.”

4 So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,

4 Hivyo Yakobo akatuma ujumbe kwa Raheli na Lea waje machungani yalikokuwa makundi yake.

5 and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.

5 Akawaambia, “Naona moyo wa baba yenu kwangu sivyo kama ulivyokuwa mwanzoni, lakini Mungu wa baba yangu amekuwa pamoja nami.

6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength.

6 Mnajua kwamba nimemtumikia baba yenu kwa nguvu zangu zote,

7 And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.

7 hata hivyo baba yenu amenidanganya kwa kubadilisha ujira wangu mara kumi. Hata hivyo, Mungu hakumruhusu kunidhuru.

8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

8 Kama alisema, ‘Wenye madoadoa watakuwa ujira wako,’ basi makundi yote yalizaa wenye madoadoa, kama alisema, ‘Wenye mistari watakuwa ujira wako,’ basi makundi yote yalizaa wenye mistari.

9 Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

9 Hivyo Mungu amechukua mifugo ya baba yenu na amenipa mimi.

10 When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

10 “Wakati fulani majira ya kuzaliana niliota ndoto ambayo niliinua macho na kuona kwamba wale mabeberu waliokuwa wakipanda kundi walikuwa wa mistari, madoadoa na mabakabaka.

11 In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

11 Malaika wa Mungu akaniambia katika ndoto, ‘Yakobo.’ Nikamjibu, ‘Mimi hapa.’

12 ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

12 Akasema, ‘Inua macho yako uone wale mabeberu wote wanaopanda kundi wana mistari, madoadoa au mabakabaka, kwa maana nimeona yale yote ambayo Labani amekuwa akikutendea.

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

13 Mimi ndiye Mungu wa Betheli, ulikomiminia ile nguzo mafuta na pale mahali uliponiwekea nadhiri. Sasa ondoka katika nchi hii mara moja urudi katika nchi uliyozaliwa.’”

14 And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?

14 Ndipo Raheli na Lea wakajibu, “Je bado tu tunalo fungu lolote katika urithi wa nyumba ya baba yetu?

15 Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.

15 Je, yeye hatuhesabu sisi kama wageni? Sio kwamba ametuuza tu, bali ametumia hata na vile vilivyolipwa kwa ajili yetu.

16 Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

16 Hakika utajiri wote ambao Mungu ameuchukua kutoka kwa baba yetu ni mali yetu na watoto wetu. Hivyo fanya lolote lile Mungu alilokuambia.”

17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,

17 Ndipo Yakobo akawapandisha watoto wake na wake zake juu ya ngamia,

18 and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

18 naye akawaswaga wanyama wote mbele yake pamoja na vitu vyote alivyokuwa amechuma huko Padan-Aramu kwenda kwa baba yake Isaki katika nchi ya Kanaani.

19 Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

19 Labani alipokuwa amekwenda kukata kondoo wake manyoya, Raheli aliiba miungu ya nyumba ya baba yake.

20 Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.

20 Zaidi ya hayo, Yakobo alimdanganya Labani Mwaramu kwa kutokumwambia kwamba anakimbia.

21 So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

21 Hivyo akakimbia pamoja na vitu vyote alivyokuwa navyo na kuvuka Mto Frati akaelekea nchi ya vilima katika Gileadi.

22 On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.

22 Siku ya tatu Labani akaambiwa kwamba Yakobo amekimbia.

23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

23 Akiwachukua jamaa zake, akamfuatia Yakobo kwa siku saba na kumkuta kwenye nchi ya vilima katika Gileadi.

24 But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

24 Ndipo Mungu akamjia Labani Mwaramu katika ndoto usiku na kumwambia, “Jihadhari usiseme neno lolote kwa Yakobo, liwe zuri au baya.”

25 Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.

25 Yakobo alikuwa amepiga hema lake katika nchi ya vilima katika Gileadi wakati Labani alipomkuta, Labani na jamaa yake wakapiga kambi huko pia.

26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

26 Ndipo Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Umefanya nini? Umenidanganya na umewachukua binti zangu kama mateka katika vita.

27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

27 Kwa nini ulikimbia kwa siri na kunidanganya? Kwa nini hukuniambia ili nikuage kwa furaha na nyimbo za matari na vinubi?

28 But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

28 Hata hukuniruhusu niwabusu wajukuu zangu na kuwaaga binti zangu. Umefanya kitu cha kipumbavu.

29 I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

29 Nina uwezo wa kukudhuru, lakini usiku uliopita Mungu wa baba yako alisema nami, akaniambia, ‘Jihadhari, usiseme neno lolote kwa Yakobo liwe zuri au baya.’

30 Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

30 Sasa umeondoka kwa sababu umetamani kurudi nyumbani kwa baba yako. Lakini kwa nini umeiba miungu yangu?”

31 “I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

31 Yakobo akamjibu Labani, “Niliogopa, kwa sababu nilifikiri ungeweza kuninyangʼanya binti zako kwa nguvu.

32 If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.

32 Lakini kama ukimkuta yeyote aliye na miungu yako, hataishi. Mbele ya jamaa yetu, angalia mwenyewe uone kama kuna chochote chako hapa nilicho nacho, kama kipo, kichukue.” Basi Yakobo hakujua kwamba Raheli alikuwa ameiba hiyo miungu.

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

33 Kwa hiyo Labani akaingia ndani ya hema la Yakobo na ndani ya hema la Lea na ndani ya hema la watumishi wawili wa kike, lakini hakukuta chochote. Baadaye alipotoka katika hema la Lea, akaingia hema la Raheli.

34 Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.

34 Basi Raheli ndiye alikuwa amechukua ile miungu ya nyumbani kwao na kuiweka katika matandiko ya ngamia na kukalia. Labani akatafuta kila mahali kwenye hema lakini hakupata chochote.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols.

35 Raheli akamwambia baba yake, “Usikasirike, bwana wangu kwa kuwa siwezi kusimama ukiwepo, niko katika hedhi.” Labani akatafuta lakini hakuweza kuipata miungu ya nyumbani kwake.

36 Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?

36 Yakobo akakasirika na kumshutumu Labani, akisema, “Uhalifu wangu ni nini?” Akamuuliza Labani, “Ni dhambi gani niliyofanya hata unaniwinda?

37 You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.

37 Sasa kwa kuwa umepekua vitu vyangu vyote umepata nini kilicho cha nyumbani mwako? Kiweke hapa mbele ya jamaa yako na yangu, nao waamue kati yetu sisi wawili.

38 I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.

38 “Mpaka sasa nimekuwa pamoja nawe miaka ishirini. Kondoo wako na mbuzi wako hawajaharibu mimba, wala sijala kondoo dume kutoka makundi yako.

39 I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.

39 Sikukuletea mfugo aliyeraruliwa na wanyama pori, nilibeba hasara mimi mwenyewe. Tena ulinidai malipo kwa chochote kilichoibwa mchana au usiku.

40 As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.

40 Hii ndiyo iliyokuwa hali yangu: Niliumia kwa joto la mchana na baridi usiku, pia usingizi ulinipa.

41 Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!

41 Ilikuwa hivi kwa miaka ile ishirini niliyokuwa nyumbani kwako. Nilikutumikia miaka ile kumi na minne kwa ajili ya binti zako wawili, miaka sita kwa ajili ya makundi yako, nawe ulibadilisha ujira wangu mara kumi.

42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”

42 Kama Mungu wa baba yangu, Mungu wa Abrahamu na Hofu ya Isaki, hakuwa pamoja nami, hakika ungenifukuza mikono mitupu. Lakini Mungu ameona taabu yangu na kazi ngumu ya mikono yangu, naye usiku uliopita amekukemea.”

43 But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

43 Labani akamjibu Yakobo, “Wanawake hawa ni binti zangu, watoto hawa ni watoto wangu na makundi haya ni makundi yangu. Vyote unavyoviona ni vyangu. Lakini hata hivyo ninaweza kufanya nini kuhusu hawa binti zangu, au kuhusu watoto waliowazaa?

44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”

44 Njoo sasa na tufanye agano, wewe na mimi, na liwe kama shahidi kati yetu.”

45 So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,

45 Hivyo Yakobo akachukua jiwe, akalisimamisha kama nguzo.

46 and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.

46 Akawaambia jamaa yake, “Kusanyeni mawe.” Hivyo wakachukua mawe na kuyakusanya yakawa lundo, wakala chakula hapo karibu na hilo lundo.

47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.

47 Labani akaliita Yegar-Sahadutha na Yakobo akaliita Galeedi.

48 Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.

48 Labani akasema, “Lundo hili ni shahidi kati yako na mimi leo.” Ndiyo maana likaitwa Galeedi.

49 It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.

49 Pia liliitwa Mispa, kwa sababu alisema, “Bwana na aweke ulinzi kati yako na mimi wakati kila mmoja akiwa mbali na mwingine.

50 If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

50 Kama ukiwatenda mabaya binti zangu au ukioa wake wengine zaidi ya binti zangu, hata ingawa hakuna hata mmoja aliye pamoja nasi, kumbuka kwamba Mungu ni shahidi kati yako na mimi.”

51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.

51 Pia Labani akamwambia Yakobo, “Hili ndilo lundo, na hii ndiyo nguzo niliyoisimamisha kati yako na mimi.

52 This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.

52 Lundo hili ni shahidi na nguzo hii ni shahidi, kwamba sitavuka lundo hili kuja upande wako kukudhuru, nawe kwamba hutavuka lundo hili na nguzo hii kuja upande wangu kunidhuru.

53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

53 Mungu wa Abrahamu na Mungu wa Nahori, Mungu wa baba zao, aamue kati yetu.” Hivyo Yakobo akaapa kwa jina la Hofu ya baba yake Isaki.

54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

54 Yakobo akatoa dhabihu juu ya kilima na akawaalika jamaa zake kula chakula. Baada ya kula, wakalala huko.

55 Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left to return home.

55 Kesho yake asubuhi na mapema, Labani akawabusu wajukuu zake, binti zake na kuwabariki. Kisha akaondoka, akarudi nyumbani.