Mwanzo 15

1 Baada ya mabo haya neno la Yahwe likamjia Abram katika maono, likisema, “Usiogope, Abram! mimi ni ngao yako na thawabu yako kubwa sana.”

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying: 'Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield, thy reward shall be exceeding great.'

2 Abram akasema, “Bwana Yahwe, utanipatia nini, kwa kuwa naenda bila mtoto, na mrithi wa nyumba yangu ni Eliezeri wa Dameski?”

And Abram said: 'O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go hence childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'

3 Abram akasema, “Kwakuwa hujanipatia uzao, tazama, mwangalizi wa nyumba yangu ndiye mrithi wangu.”

And Abram said: 'Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.'

4 Kisha, tazama, neno la Yahwe likaja kwake, kusema, “Mtu huyu hatakuwa mrithi wako; isipokuwa atakaye toka katika mwili wako ndiye atakuwa mrithi wako.”

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying: 'This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.'

5 Kisha akamtoa nje, na akasema, Tazama mbinguni, na uzihesabu nyota, ikiwa unaweza kuzihesabu.” Kisha akamwambia, hivyo ndivyo uzao wako utakavyokuwa.

And He brought him forth abroad, and said: 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them'; and He said unto him: 'So shall thy seed be.'

6 Akamwamini Yahwe, na akamuhesabia jambo hili kuwa mwenye haki.

And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.

7 Akamwambia, Mimi ni Yahwe, niliye kutoa katika Uru ya Wakaldayo, na kukupatia nchi hii kuirithi.”

And He said unto him: 'I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.'

8 Akasema, “Bwana Yahwe, nitajua je kuwa nitairithi?”

And he said: 'O Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?'

9 Kisha akamwambia, “Nipatie ndama wa umri wa miaka mitatu, mbuzi mke wa umri wa miaka mitatu, na kondoo mume wa umri wa miaka mitatu, na njiwa na mwana njiwa.”

And He said unto him: 'Take Me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.'

10 Akamletea hivi vyote, akavipasua katika sehemu mbili, akaweka kila kipande kuelekea mwenzake, ila ndege hakuawapasua.

And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other; but the birds divided he not.

11 Wakati ndege walipokuja juu ya mizoga, Abram akawafukuza.

And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 Kisha wakati jua lilipokuwa likizama, Abram akalala usingizi mzito na tazama, hofu ya giza kuu ikamfunika.

And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread, even a great darkness, fell upon him.

13 Kisha Yahwe akamwambia Abram, “Ujuwe kwa hakika kwamba uzao wako watakuwa wageni katika nchi ambayo si ya kwao, na watatumikishwa na kuteswa kwa miaka mia nne.

And He said unto Abram: 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14 Nitahukumu taifa ambalo watalitumikia, na baadye watatoka wakiwa na mali nyingi.

and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

15 Lakini utakwenda kwa baba zako kwa amani, na utazikwa katika uzee mwema.

But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

16 Katika kizazi cha nne watakuja tena hapa, kwa sababu uovu wa Waamori haujafikia mwisho wake.”

And in the fourth generation they shall come back hither; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.'

17 Jua lilipokuwa limezama na kuwa giza, tazama, chungu cha moshi wenye moto na miali ya mwanga ilipita kati ya vile vipande.

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and there was thick darkness, behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.

18 Siku hiyo Yahwe akafanya agano na Abram, akisema, “Ninatoa nchi hii kwa uzao wako, kutoka mto wa Misri hadi kwenye mto mkuu, Frati -

In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates;

19 Mkeni, Mkenizi, na Mkadmoni,

the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,

20 Mhiti, Mperizi, Mrefai,

and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,

21 Mwamori, Mkanaani, Mgirgashi, na Myebusi.

and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.'