Esther 1
1 In the days of Artaxerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one hundred twenty-seven provinces,
Hili ndilo lililotokea wakati wa utawala wa Mfalme Ahasuero, yule aliyetawala juu ya majimbo mia na ishirini na saba tangu Bara Hindi hadi Kushi.
2 when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city of Susa was the root of his kingdom.
Wakati huo Mfalme Ahasuero alitawala katika kiti chake cha enzi katika ngome ya mji wa Shushani.
3 And so, in the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all the leaders and his servants, for the most powerful among the Persians and the distinguished among the Medes, and for the rulers of the provinces before him,
Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wake, alifanya karamu kwa ajili ya wakuu wake wote pamoja na maafisa. Akawaalika viongozi wa jeshi wa Uajemi na Umedi, wana wa wafalme na wakuu wa majimbo.
4 so that he might show the glorious riches of his kingdom, as well as its greatness, and so boast of his power, for a long time, namely, one hundred and eighty days.
Kwa siku zote 180 mfalme alionyesha utajiri mwingi wa ufalme wake, fahari na utukufu wa enzi yake.
5 And when the days of the feast were nearly completed, he invited all the people, who had been found in Susa, from the greatest even to the least, and he commanded a feast to be prepared, for seven days, in the court of the garden and the arboretum, which had been planted by the care and by the hand of the king.
Siku hizo zilipopita, mfalme alifanya karamu kwa muda wa siku saba, katika bustani ya ndani katika jumba la kifalme, kwa ajili ya watu wote kuanzia mdogo hadi mkubwa, waliokuwa katika ngome ya mji wa Shushani.
6 And, in every direction, tents the color of the sky and of flax as well as hyacinth were hung up, suspended by cords of linen and even purple, which had been placed through rings of ivory and were held up with marble columns. The couches also, of gold and silver, had been arranged over a pavement of emerald-green, bearing scattered jewels, which was decorated with a wonderful variety of images.
Bustani ilikuwa na mapazia ya kitani nyeupe na buluu, yaliyofungiwa kamba za kitani nyeupe na kitambaa cha zambarau, kwenye pete za fedha juu ya nguzo za marmar. Kulikuwepo viti vya dhahabu na vya fedha vilivyokuwa vimewekwa kwenye ile sakafu iliyotengenezwa kwa mawe ya rangi, marmar, lulumizi na mawe mengine ya thamani.
7 Moreover, those who had been invited drank from golden cups, and dishes of foods were brought in one after another. Likewise, choice wine was presented in abundance, as was worthy of royal magnificence.
Vyombo vya dhahabu vilitumika kwa watu kunywea mvinyo, kila kimoja tofauti na kingine, naye mfalme akatoa mvinyo kwa wingi kwa kadiri ya ukarimu wake.
8 Nor was anyone compelled to drink who was unwilling, but, just as the king had appointed, one of his nobles was set over each table, so that each one might select what he wanted.
Kwa amri ya mfalme kila mgeni aliruhusiwa kunywa alichotaka, kwa kuwa mfalme alitoa maagizo kwa watumishi wote wa kuhudumu mvinyo kumhudumia kila mtu kwa jinsi alivyotaka.
9 Likewise, Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the palace where king Artaxerxes was accustomed to stay the night.
Malkia Vashti pia akawafanyia wanawake karamu katika jumba la kifalme la Mfalme Ahasuero.
10 And so, on the seventh day, when the king was more cheerful, and, after excessive drinking, had become warmed with wine, he ordered Mehuman, and Biztha, and Harbona, and Bigtha, and Abagtha, and Zethar, and Charkas, seven eunuchs who served in his presence,
Siku ya saba, wakati Mfalme Ahasuero alikuwa amesisimka roho yake kwa mvinyo, aliamuru matowashi saba waliokuwa wakimhudumia, yaani, Mehumani, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethari na Karkasi,
11 to bring in queen Vashti before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to the whole people and to the leaders, for she was very beautiful.
kumleta Malkia Vashti mbele ya mfalme akiwa amevaa taji lake la kifalme, ili aonyeshe uzuri wake kwa watu na wakuu, kwa kuwa alikuwa ni mzuri wa kupendeza.
12 She refused, and she showed contempt towards the king’s command, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs. Whereupon the king, being angry and inflamed with a very great fury,
Lakini wakati watumishi walipotoa amri ya mfalme, Malkia Vashti alikataa kuja. Ndipo mfalme alighadhibika, na hasira yake ikawaka.
13 questioned the wise men, who, according to royal custom were always near him and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws as well as the judgments of their ancestors,
Kwa kuwa ilikuwa desturi ya mfalme kupata ushauri kwa wataalamu katika mambo ya sheria na haki, alizungumza na watu wenye busara, ambao walijua nyakati,
14 (but first and foremost were Carshena, and Shethar, and Admatha, and Tarshish, and Meres, and Marsena, and Memucan, seven rulers of the Persians as well as the Medes, who saw the face of the king and who were accustomed to sitting down first after him, )
nao waliokuwa karibu na mfalme ni Karshena, Shethari, Admatha, Tarshishi, Meresi, Marsena na Memukani, wakuu saba wa Uajemi na Umedi waliokuwa na nafasi ya pekee kwa mfalme nao walikuwa na vyeo vya juu kabisa katika utawala wake.
15 as to what sentence should fall upon Vashti the queen, who had refused to do the commandment of king Artaxerxes, which he had delivered to her by the eunuchs.
Mfalme akauliza, “Kulingana na sheria, Malkia Vashti anapaswa kutendewa nini? Malkia hakutii amri ya Mfalme Ahasuero ambayo matowashi walimpelekea.”
16 And Memucan answered, in the hearing of the king as well as the rulers, “Queen Vashti has wounded not only the king, but also all the people and the leaders, who are in all the provinces of king Artaxerxes.
Kisha Memukani akajibu mbele ya mfalme na wakuu, “Malkia Vashti si kwamba amemkosea mfalme tu bali pia amewakosea wakuu wote na watu wa himaya yote ya Mfalme Ahasuero.
17 For word about the queen will go out to all the women, so that they will show contempt for their husbands, and they will say, ‘King Artaxerxes ordered that queen Vashti should enter before him, and she would not.’
Kwa maana tendo hili la malkia litajulikana kwa wanawake wote, kwa hiyo watawadharau waume zao na kusema, ‘Mfalme Ahasuero aliagiza Malkia Vashti aletwe mbele yake, lakini alikataa.’
18 And so, by this example all the wives of the leaders of the Persians and the Medes will belittle the authority of their husbands; therefore, the indignation of the king is just.
Leo hii wanawake wa wakuu wa Uajemi na Umedi ambao wamesikia juu ya tabia ya malkia watawatendea wakuu wote wa mfalme vivyo hivyo. Hapatakuwepo na mwisho wa dharau na magomvi.
19 If it pleases you, let an edict be sent out from your presence, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and the Medes, which it is forbidden to disregard, that Vashti shall no longer enter before the king, but let another, who is better than her, receive her queenship.
“Kwa hiyo, kama itampendeza mfalme, atoe amri ya kifalme na iandikwe katika sheria ya Uajemi na Umedi, ambayo haitabadilika, kwamba Vashti kamwe asije tena mbele ya Mfalme Ahasuero. Pia mfalme na atoe hiyo nafasi yake ya umalkia kwa mwanamke mwingine aliye bora kumliko yeye.
20 And let this be published in all the provinces of your empire, (which is very wide, ) and let all wives, the greater as much as the lesser, give honor to their husbands.”
Kisha mbiu hii ya mfalme itakapotangazwa katika himaya yake iliyo kubwa sana, wanawake wote watawaheshimu waume zao, kuanzia mdogo hadi mkubwa.”
21 His counsel pleased the king and the rulers, and the king acted according to the counsel of Memucan,
Mfalme na wakuu wake walipendezwa na shauri hili, hivyo basi mfalme akafanya kama Memukani alivyopendekeza.
22 and he sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom, so that every nation was able to hear and to read, in various languages and letters, that husbands are to be the greater rulers in their own houses, and that this should be published to every people.
Alipeleka barua katika sehemu zote za ufalme wake, kwa kila jimbo kwa maandishi yake mwenyewe na kwa kila watu katika lugha yao wenyewe, akitangaza kwa msemo wa kila watu kwamba inampasa kila mwanaume kuwa mtawala wa nyumba yake mwenyewe.
