Kutoka 1

1 Haya ndiyo majina ya wana wa Israeli waliokuja Misri pamoja na Yakobo kila moja na familia yake:

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

2 Rubeni, Simioni, Lawi, na Yuda,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 Isakari, Zebuluni, na Benjamini,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 Dani, Naftali, Gadi, na Asheri.

Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5 Jumla ya watu wa ukoo wa Yakobo walikuwa sabini. Yusufu alikuwa Misri tayari.

All the people who were descendants of Jacob were seventy in number. Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Ndipo Yusufu, pamoja na kaka zake wote, na kizazi chote wakafa.

Then Joseph, all his brothers, and all that generation died.

7 Waisraeli walifanikiwa sana, wakaongezeka sana idadi yao, na wakawa na nguvu maana nchi ilijazwa na wao.

The Israelites were fruitful, increased greatly in numbers, and became very strong; the land was filled with them.

8 Wakati huu sasa mfalme mpya asiyemjua Yusufu aliinuka katika Misri.

Now then a new king arose over Egypt, one who did not know about Joseph.

9 Akawaambia watu wake, “Tazama, hawa Waisraeli ni wengi na wenye nguvu kuliko sisi.

He said to his people, “Look, the Israelites are more numerous and stronger than we are.

10 Njooni na tukae nao kwa akili, ama sivyo wataendelea kuongezeka na kama vita ikiibuka, wataungana na adui zetu, watapigana nasi, na kisha wataondoka.”

Come, let us deal with them wisely, otherwise they will continue to grow in numbers, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the land.”

11 Hivyo wakawekea walinzi ambao waliwatesa kwa kuwatumikisha kazi ngumu. Waisraeli walijenga maghala ya miji kwa ajili ya Farao: Pishoni na Ramsei.

So they put taskmasters over them to oppress them with hard labor. The Israelites built store cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Rameses.

12 Lakini kadiri Wamisri walivyowatesa, ndivyo Waisraeli waliendelea kuongezeka na kusambaa. Hivyo Wamisri wakaanza kuwaogopa Waisraeli.

But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites increased in numbers and spread. So the Egyptians began to dread the Israelites.

13 Wamisri waliwafanya Waisraeli wafanye kazi kwa nguvu nyingi.

The Egyptians made the Israelites work rigorously.

14 Waliyafanya maisha yao kuwa machungu kwa kuwafanyisha kazi ngumu kwa vinu na matofali na kwa kila aina ya kazi za shambani. Kazi zao zote zilikuwa ngumu.

They made their lives bitter with hard service with mortar and brick, and with all kinds of work in the fields. All their required work was hard.

15 Kisha mfalme wa Misri akawaambia wakunga wa Kiebrania; mmoja wao aliitwa jina lake Shifra, na mwingine aliitwa Puha.

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives; the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the other Puah.

16 Akasema, “Wakati mnapowasaidia wanawake wa Kiebrania wanapojifungua, chunguzeni wanapozaa. Ikiwa ni mtoto wa kiume, basi muueni; bali ikiwa ni mtoto wa kike, basi mwacheni aishi.”

He said, “When you assist the Hebrew women on the birthstool, observe when they give birth. If it is a son, then you must kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she may live.”

17 Lakini wale Wakunga walimwogopa Mungu na hawakufanya kama mfalme wa Misri alivyowaagiza; badala yake waliwaacha watoto wa kiume waishi.

But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt ordered them; instead, they let the baby boys live.

18 Mfalme wa Misri akawaita Wakunga na kuwaambia, “Kwanini mmefanya haya, na kuwaacha watoto wa kiume wakaishi?”

The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?”

19 Wale Wakunga wakamjibu Farao, “Hawa wanawake wa Kiebrania siyo kama wanawake wa Kimisri. Hawa wana nguvu na jasiri sana maana wao humaliza kuzaa kabla hata mkunga hajafika.”

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and have finished giving birth before a midwife comes to them.”

20 Mungu aliwalinda hawa Wakunga. Watu waliongezeka kwa idadi na kuwa na nguvu sana.

God protected these midwives. The people increased in numbers and became very strong.

21 Kwa sababu wale Wakunga walimwogopa Mungu, aliwapa familia.

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

22 Farao akawaagiza watu wote, “Lazima mmutupe kila mtoto wa kiume anayezaliwa katika mto, lakini kila mtoto wa kike wamwache aishi.”

Pharaoh ordered all his people, “You must throw every son that is born into the river, but every daughter you will let live.”