Leviticus 25

1 Then the LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,

1 Bwana akamwambia Mose katika Mlima Sinai,

2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD.

2 “Sema na Waisraeli uwaambie: ‘Mtakapoingia katika nchi ninayowapa ninyi, nchi yenyewe ni lazima ishike Sabato kwa ajili ya Bwana.

3 For six years you may sow your field and prune your vineyard and gather its crops.

3 Kwa miaka sita mtapanda mazao katika mashamba yenu, nanyi kwa miaka sita mtaikata mizabibu yenu matawi na kuvuna mazao yake.

4 But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard.

4 Lakini mwaka wa saba nchi lazima iwe na Sabato ya mapumziko, Sabato kwa Bwana. Msipande mbegu katika mashamba yenu, wala msikate mizabibu yenu matawi.

5 You are not to reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your untended vines. The land must have a year of complete rest.

5 Msivune na kuweka akiba kinachoota chenyewe, wala kuvuna na kusindika zabibu ambayo hamkuhudumia mashamba yake. Nchi lazima iwe na mwaka wa mapumziko.

6 Whatever the land yields during the Sabbath year shall be food for you—for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, the hired hand or foreigner who stays with you,

6 Chochote nchi itoacho katika mwaka wa Sabato kitakuwa chakula chenu wenyewe, watumishi wenu wa kiume na wa kike, mfanyakazi aliyeajiriwa, na mkazi wa muda anayeishi miongoni mwenu,

7 and for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. All its growth may serve as food.

7 vilevile malisho ya mifugo yenu na wanyama pori katika nchi yenu. Chochote nchi itakachozalisha kinaweza kuliwa.

8 And you shall count off seven Sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven Sabbaths of years amount to forty-nine years.

8 “ ‘Hesabu Sabato saba za miaka, yaani miaka saba mara saba, ili Sabato saba za miaka utakuwa muda wa miaka arobaini na tisa.

9 Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land.

9 Ndipo tarumbeta itapigwa kila mahali katika siku ya kumi ya mwezi wa saba. Katika Siku ya Upatanisho, piga tarumbeta katika nchi yako yote.

10 So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan.

10 Mwaka wa hamsini mtauweka wakfu na kutangaza uhuru katika nchi kwa wakazi wake wote. Itakuwa ni yubile kwenu; kila mmoja wenu atairudia mali ya jamaa yake, na kila mmoja kurudi kwenye ukoo wake.

11 The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you; you are not to sow the land or reap its aftergrowth or harvest the untended vines.

11 Mwaka wa hamsini utakuwa yubile kwenu, msipande wala msivune kile kiotacho chenyewe, au kuvuna zabibu zisizohudumiwa.

12 For it is a Jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You may eat only the crops taken directly from the field.

12 Kwa kuwa ni yubile, nayo itakuwa takatifu kwenu; mtakula tu kile kilichotoka moja kwa moja mashambani.

13 In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his own property.

13 “ ‘Katika huu Mwaka wa Yubile, kila mmoja atarudi kwenye mali yake mwenyewe.

14 If you make a sale to your neighbor or a purchase from him, you must not take advantage of each other.

14 “ ‘Ikiwa utauza ardhi kwa mmoja wa wazawa wa nchi yako, au ukinunua ardhi kutoka kwake, mmoja asimpunje mwingine.

15 You are to buy from your neighbor according to the number of years since the last Jubilee; he is to sell to you according to the number of harvest years remaining.

15 Utanunua ardhi kwa mzawa wa nchi yako kwa misingi ya hesabu ya miaka baada ya Yubile. Naye ataiuza kwako kwa misingi ya hesabu ya miaka iliyobaki kwa kuvuna mavuno.

16 You shall increase the price in proportion to a greater number of years, or decrease it in proportion to a lesser number of years; for he is selling you a given number of harvests.

16 Miaka inapokuwa mingi, utaongeza bei, nayo miaka ikiwa michache, utapunguza bei, kwa sababu kile anachokuuzia kwa hakika ni hesabu ya mazao.

17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.

17 Mmoja asimpunje mwingine, bali utamcha Mungu wako. Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wako.

18 You are to keep My statutes and carefully observe My judgments, so that you may dwell securely in the land.

18 “ ‘Fuateni amri zangu, mwe waangalifu kutii amri zangu, nanyi mtaishi salama katika nchi.

19 Then the land will yield its fruit, so that you can eat your fill and dwell in safety in the land.

19 Kisha nchi itazaa matunda yake, nanyi mtakula na kushiba na kuishi humo kwa salama.

20 Now you may wonder, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not sow or gather our produce?’

20 Mwaweza kuuliza, “Tutakula nini katika mwaka wa saba ikiwa hatutapanda wala kuvuna mazao yetu?”

21 But I will send My blessing upon you in the sixth year, so that the land will yield a crop sufficient for three years.

21 Nitawapelekeeni baraka ya pekee katika mwaka wa sita, kwamba nchi itazalisha mazao ya kutosha kwa miaka mitatu.

22 While you are sowing in the eighth year, you will be eating from the previous harvest, until the ninth year’s harvest comes in.

22 Mnapopanda mwaka wa nane, mtakula mavuno ya miaka iliyopita. Pia mtaendelea kuyala mazao hayo hadi mvune mavuno ya mwaka wa tisa.

23 The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me.

23 “ ‘Kamwe ardhi isiuzwe kwa mkataba wa kudumu, kwa sababu nchi ni mali yangu, nanyi ni wageni na wapangaji wangu.

24 Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

24 Katika nchi yote mtakayoshika kuwa milki yenu, ni lazima mtoe ukombozi wa ardhi.

25 If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his nearest of kin may come and redeem what his brother has sold.

25 “ ‘Ikiwa mmoja wa wazawa wa nchi yako amekuwa maskini na akauza baadhi ya mali yake, ndugu yake wa karibu atakuja na kukomboa kile ndugu yako alichokiuza.

26 Or if a man has no one to redeem it for him, but he prospers and acquires enough to redeem his land,

26 Iwapo mtu huyo hana jamaa wa karibu wa kukomboa mali hiyo kwa ajili yake, lakini yeye mwenyewe akafanikiwa na kupata mali itoshayo kuikomboa,

27 he shall calculate the years since its sale, repay the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and return to his property.

27 ataamua tena thamani yake kwa miaka tangu alipoiuza, na kurudisha kiasi kilichobaki cha thamani kwa mtu ambaye alikuwa amemuuzia mali hiyo, naye ataweza kuirudia mali yake.

28 But if he cannot obtain enough to repay him, what he sold will remain in possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, however, it is to be released, so that he may return to his property.

28 Lakini kama hatapata njia ya kumlipa mnunuzi, ile mali aliyouza itabaki kumilikiwa na mnunuzi mpaka Mwaka wa Yubile. Mali hiyo itarudishwa mwaka wa Yubile, naye ataweza kuirudia mali yake.

29 If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains his right of redemption until a full year after its sale; during that year it may be redeemed.

29 “ ‘Ikiwa mtu atauza nyumba iliyo ndani ya mji uliozungukwa kwa ukuta, yeye anayo haki ya kuikomboa mwaka mzima baada ya mauzo ya hiyo nyumba. Wakati huo anaweza kuikomboa.

30 If it is not redeemed by the end of a full year, then the house in the walled city is permanently transferred to its buyer and his descendants. It is not to be released in the Jubilee.

30 Ikiwa haikukombolewa kabla ya mwaka mmoja kamili kupita, nyumba iliyo ndani ya mji uliozungukwa kwa ukuta itakuwa mali ya kudumu ya mnunuzi na wazao wake. Haitarudishwa mwaka wa Yubile.

31 But houses in villages with no walls around them are to be considered as open fields. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee.

31 Lakini nyumba zilizo vijijini bila ya kuwa na kuta zilizozizunguka zitahesabiwa kama mashamba. Zinaweza kukombolewa, nazo zirudishwe katika mwaka wa Yubile.

32 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess.

32 “ ‘Walawi siku zote wana haki ya kukomboa nyumba zao katika miji ya Walawi wanayoimiliki.

33 So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites.

33 Kwa hiyo mali ya Mlawi inaweza kukombolewa, yaani nyumba iliyouzwa katika mji wowote wanaoushikilia itarudishwa mwaka wa Yubile, kwa sababu nyumba zilizo katika miji ya Walawi ni mali yao miongoni mwa Waisraeli.

34 But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession.

34 Lakini nchi ya malisho iliyo mali ya miji yao kamwe isiuzwe, ni milki yao ya kudumu.

35 Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.

35 “ ‘Ikiwa mmoja wa wazawa wa nchi yako amekuwa maskini, naye akashindwa kujitegemeza mwenyewe katikati yako, msaidie kama vile ambavyo ungelimsaidia mgeni au kama mkazi wa muda, ili aweze kuendelea kuishi katikati yako.

36 Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.

36 Usichukue riba wala faida yoyote kutoka kwake, bali utamwogopa Mungu wako, ili mzawa wa nchi yako aweze kuendelea kuishi katikati yako.

37 You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.

37 Usimkopeshe fedha ili alipe na riba, wala usimuuzie chakula kwa faida.

38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

38 Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wako, niliyekuleta kutoka nchi ya Misri nikupe nchi ya Kanaani, nami niwe Mungu wako.

39 If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.

39 “ ‘Ikiwa mmoja wa wazawa wa nchi yako amekuwa maskini katikati yako, naye akajiuza kwako, usimfanye atumike kama mtumwa.

40 Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

40 Atatendewa kama mfanyakazi aliyeajiriwa, au kama mkazi wa muda katikati yako, naye atatumika mpaka Mwaka wa Yubile.

41 Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.

41 Ndipo yeye na watoto wake wataachiwa, naye atarudi kwa watu wa ukoo wake, na kwenye mali ya baba zake.

42 Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.

42 Kwa sababu Waisraeli ni watumishi wangu niliowaleta kutoka nchi ya Misri, kamwe wasiuzwe kama watumwa.

43 You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.

43 Usiwatawale kwa ukatili, lakini utamcha Mungu wako.

44 Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.

44 “ ‘Watumwa wako wa kiume na wa kike watatoka katika mataifa yanayokuzunguka; kutoka kwao waweza kununua watumwa.

45 You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property.

45 Pia waweza kununua baadhi ya wakazi wa muda wanaoishi katikati yako, na jamaa ya koo zao waliozaliwa katika nchi yako, nao watakuwa mali yako.

46 You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

46 Hao waweza kuwarithisha watoto wako kuwa urithi wao, na wanaweza kuwafanya watumwa maisha yao yote, lakini usiwatawale ndugu zako Waisraeli kwa ukatili.

47 If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,

47 “ ‘Ikiwa mgeni au mkazi wa muda katikati yako atakuwa tajiri, na mmoja wa wazawa wa nchi yako akawa maskini, naye akajiuza kwa yule mgeni anayeishi katikati yako, au kwa mmoja wa jamaa wa koo za wageni,

48 he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him:

48 anayo haki ya kukombolewa baada ya kujiuza. Mmoja wa jamaa zake aweza kumkomboa:

49 either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.

49 Mjomba wake, au binamu yake, au yeyote aliye ndugu wa damu katika ukoo wake aweza kumkomboa. Au ikiwa atafanikiwa, anaweza kujikomboa mwenyewe.

50 He and his purchaser will then count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale will be determined by the number of years, based on the daily wages of a hired hand.

50 Yeye na huyo aliyemnunua watahesabu muda kuanzia mwaka aliojiuza hadi Mwaka wa Yubile. Mahali pa kuanzia bei ya kuachiwa kwake itakadiriwa kwa ujira unaolipwa mfanyakazi aliyeajiriwa kwa idadi ya hiyo miaka.

51 If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption in proportion to his purchase price.

51 Ikiwa imebaki miaka mingi, ni lazima atalipia ukombozi wake fungu kubwa la bei iliyolipwa kumnunua yeye.

52 If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to calculate and pay his redemption according to his remaining years.

52 Ikiwa miaka iliyobaki ni michache kufikia Mwaka wa Yubile, atafanya hesabu yake, naye atalipa malipo yanayostahili kwa ajili ya ukombozi wake.

53 He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.

53 Atatendewa kama mtu wa kuajiriwa mwaka hadi mwaka; lazima uone kwamba yule aliyemnunua hamtawali kwa ukatili.

54 Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children shall be released in the Year of Jubilee.

54 “ ‘Hata ikiwa hakukombolewa kwa njia mojawapo ya hizi, yeye na watoto wake wataachiwa katika Mwaka wa Yubile,

55 For the Israelites are My servants. They are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

55 kwa maana Waisraeli ni mali yangu kama watumishi. Wao ni watumishi wangu, niliowatoa kutoka nchi ya Misri. Mimi ndimi Bwana Mungu wako.