Kutoka 33

1 Yahweh anasema na Musa, “Nenda kutoka hapa, wewe na watu ulio watoa kutoka nchi ya Misri. Nenda kwenye nchi nilio fanya nadhiri na Ibrahimu, Isaka, Yakobo, nilipo sema, 'Nitakupa wewe na uzao wako'.'

And the LORD spoke unto Moses: 'Depart, go up hence, thou and the people that thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land of which I swore unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying: Unto thy seed will I give it —

2 Nitatuma malaika mbele yako, na kuwaondoa Wakanani, Waamori, Wahiti, Waperizi, Wahivi, na Wayebusi.

and I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite —

3 Nenda kwenye hiyo nchi, inayo tiririka kwa maziwa na asali, lakini sitaenda nawe, kwasababu ninyi ni watu wajehuri. Ninaweza kuwaharibu njiani.”

unto a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people; lest I consume thee in the way.'

4 Watu walipo sikia haya maneno ya kushtua, walilia, na hakuna aliye vaa mikufu.

And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man did put on him his ornaments.

5 Yahweh alisema kwa Musa, “Waambie Waisraeli, 'Ninyi ni watu wakorofi. Kama ningeenda miongoni mwenu ata kwa muda kidogo, nigewaharibu ninyi. Hivyo sasa, toa mikufu yenu ili niamue nini cha kufanya kwenu.”'

And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto the children of Israel: Ye are a stiffnecked people; if I go up into the midst of thee for one moment, I shall consume thee; therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.'

6 Hivyo Waisraeli hawaku vaa mikufu kutoka Mlima Horebu na kwendelea.

And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from mount Horeb onward.

7 Musa akachukua hema na kukita nje ya kambi, umbali kidogo na kambini. Aliita hema ya kukutania. Kila mtu alliye muuliza Yahweh kitu chochote alienda kwenye hema ya kukutania, nje ya kambi.

Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it without the camp, afar off from the camp; and he called it The tent of meeting. And it came to pass, that every one that sought the LORD went out unto the tent of meeting, which was without the camp.

8 Kisha Musa alipo enda kwenye hema, watu wote walisima kando ya hema yao na kumuangalia Musa hadi alipo ingia ndani.

And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the Tent.

9 Wakati wowote Musa alipo ingia hemani, nguzo ya wingu ilishuka chini na kusimama nje ya lango la hema, na Yahweh alizungumza na Musa.

And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the Tent; and the LORD spoke with Moses.

10 Wakati wowote watu walipo ona nguzo ya wingu imesimama langoni mwa hema, waliamka na kuabudu, kila langoni mwa hema yake.

And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, all the people rose up and worshipped, every man at his tent door.

11 Yahweh alizungumza na Musa uso kwa uso, kama mtu anapo zungumza na rafiki yake. Kisha Musa alirudi kambini, lakini mtumishi wake Yoshua mwana wa Nuni, kijana, alibaki hemani.

And the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he would return into the camp; but his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tent.

12 Musa alisema na Yahweh, “Ona, umekuwa ukisema na mimi, 'Chukuwa watu hawa safarini,' lakini hauja niambia nani utamtuma na mimi. Umesema, 'Nina kujua kwa jina, na umepata upendeleo kwangu.'

And Moses said unto the LORD: 'See, Thou sayest unto me: Bring up this people; and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said: I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight.

13 Kama nimepata upendeleo machoni pako, nionyeshe njia zako ili nikujue na kuendelea kupata upendeleo machoni pako. Kumbuka ili taifa ni watu wako.”

Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy ways, that I may know Thee, to the end that I may find grace in Thy sight; and consider that this nation is Thy people.'

14 Yahweh akajibu, “Uwepo wangu utaenda nawe, na nitakupa pumziko.”

And He said: 'My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.'

15 Musa akasema, “Kama uwepo wako hautaenda nasi, usitutoe hapa.

And he said unto Him: 'If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16 Au je, itajulikanaje niimepata upendeleo machoni pako, mimi na watu wako? Haitakuwa kuwa tu kama ukienda nasi mimi na watu wako tutakuwa na utofauti na watu wengine wote waliopo katika uso wa dunia?”

For wherein now shall it be known that I have found grace in Thy sight, I and Thy people? is it not in that Thou goest with us, so that we are distinguished, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?'

17 Yahweh akamwambia Musa, “Nitafanya pia hichi kitu ulicho niomba, kwa kuwa umepata upendeleo machoni mwangu, na nina kujua kwa jina lako.”

And the LORD said unto Moses: 'I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken, for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name.'

18 Musa akasema, Tafadhali nionyeshe utukufu wako.”

And he said: 'Show me, I pray Thee, Thy glory.'

19 Yahweh akasema, “Nitafanya wema wangu wote ujulikani kwako, na nitatangaza jina langu 'Yahweh' kwako. Nitakuwa na neema kwake nitakae kuwa na neema, na nitaonyesha rehema kwake nitakaye onyesha rehema.”

And He said: 'I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.'

20 Lakini Yahweh akasema, “Hauta ona uso wangu, kwa kuwa hakuna aonaye uso wangu na kuiishi.”

And He said: 'Thou canst not see My face, for man shall not see Me and live.'

21 Yahweh akasema, “Ona, hapa kuna sehemu yangu; utasimama kwenye huu mwamba.

And the LORD said: 'Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock.

22 Wakati utukufu wangu unapita, nitakuweka kwenye shimo kubwa la mwamba na kukufunika kwa mkono wangu mpaka nitakapo pita.

And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand until I have passed by.

23 Kisha nitaondoa mkono wangu, na utaona mgongo wangu, ila uso wangu hautaonekana.”

And I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'