Tauanga 17

1 I korero ano a Ihowa ki a Mohi, i mea,

And the LORD said to Moses,

2 Korero ki nga tama a Iharaira, tangohia mai ano he tokotoko i tenei, i tenei, o ratou, i nga whare o o ratou matua, i nga ariki katoa o nga whare o o ratou matua, kia kotahi tekau ma rua nga tokotoko: me tuhituhi te ingoa o tenei, o tenei, ki tan a tokotoko.

“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,

3 Me tuhituhi ano hoki te ingoa o Arona ki te tokotoko a Riwai: a kia kotahi te tokotoko ma ia upoko o te whare o o ratou matua.

and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.

4 A me whakatakoto e koe ki roto ki te tapenakara o te whakaminenga ki mua o te whakaaturanga, ki te wahi e tutaki ai ahau ki a koutou.

Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.

5 Na, ko te tangata e whiriwhiri ai ahau, ka pihi tana tokotoko, a ka pehia atu e ahau te amuamu a nga tama a Iharaira, e amuamu nei ki a korua.

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

6 Na ka korero a Mohi ki nga tama a Iharaira, a homai ana e o ratou ariki katoa ki a ia, he tokotoko e tenei ariki, he tokotoko e tenei ariki, e nga whare o o ratou matua, kotahi tekau ma rua nga tokotoko: i roto ano i a ratou tokotoko te tokotoko a Arona.

So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.

7 A whakatakotoria ana nga tokotoko e Mohi ki te aroaro o Ihowa ki te tapenakara o te whakaaturanga.

Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

8 A i te aonga ake, na, ka haere a Mohi ki te tapenakara o te whakaaturanga; e! kua pihi te tokotoko a Arona, ta te whare o Riwai, kua wana, kua rapupuku, kua kohera hoki he puawai, kua hua he aramona.

The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.

9 Na kawea ana e Mohi nga tokotoko katoa i te aroaro o Ihowa ki nga tama katoa a Iharaira: a tirohia iho ana e ratou, tangohia ana hoki e ratou tana tokotoko, tana tokotoko.

Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

10 Na ka mea a Ihowa ki a Mohi, Whakahokia mai te tokotoko a Arona ki mua i te whakaaturanga, kia tiakina, hei tohu ki te hunga tutu; a ka kore i koe a ratou amuamu e rongo nei ahau, kei mate ratou.

The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”

11 A peratia ana e Mohi, rite tonu ki ta Ihowa i whakahau ai ki a ia tana i mea ai.

So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

12 Na ka mea nga tama a Iharaira ki a Mohi, Nana, ka mate matou, ka ngaro matou, ngaro katoa.

Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!

13 Ko te tangata e whakatata ana ki te tapenakara o Ihowa, ka mate: kia poto ranei matou katoa ki te mate?

Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”