Luka 15
1 Siku moja, watoza ushuru na wahalifu wengi walikwenda kumsikiliza Yesu.
Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him.
2 Mafarisayo na walimu wa Sheria wakaanza kunung'unika: “Mtazameni mtu huyu! Anawakaribisha wenye dhambi, na tena anakula nao.”
And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!"
3 Yesu akawajibu kwa mfano:
And he told them a parable.
4 “Hivi, mtu akiwa na kondoo mia, akigundua kwamba mmoja wao amepotea, atafanya nini? Atawaacha wale tisini na tisa mbugani, na kwenda kumtafuta yule aliyepotea mpaka ampate.
"Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 Akimpata, atambeba mabegani kwa furaha.
"And after he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing.
6 Anapofika nyumbani, atawaita rafiki zake akiwaambia, Furahini pamoja nami, kwa sababu nimempata yule kondoo wangu aliyepotea.
"When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Kadhalika nawaambieni, ndivyo kutakavyokuwa na furaha mbinguni kwa ajili ya kutubu kwa mwenye dhambi mmoja, kuliko kwa ajili ya watu tisini na tisa wanaojiona kuwa wema, wasiohitaji kutubu.
"I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.
8 “Au mwaonaje? Tuseme mwanamke fulani ana sarafu kumi za fedha, akipoteza moja, atafanya nini? Atawasha taa, aifagie nyumba na kuitafuta kwa uangalifu mpaka aipate.
"Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it?
9 Akiipata, atawaita rafiki na jirani zake akisema, Furahini pamoja nami, kwa sababu nimeipata ile sarafu yangu iliyopotea.
"And when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’
10 Kadhalika nawaambieni, ndivyo watakavyofurahi malaika wa Mungu kwa sababu ya mwenye dhambi mmoja anayetubu.”
"Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."
11 Yesu akaendelea kusema, “Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja mwenye wana wawili.
And he said. "There was a man who had two sons.
12 Yule mdogo, alimwambia baba yake: Baba, nipe urithi wangu. Naye akawagawia mali yake.
"The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your property which is coming to me.’ So he divided his means among them.
13 Baada ya siku chache, yule mdogo aliuza urithi wake, akasafiri na fedha aliyopata, akaenda nchi ya mbali ambako aliitumia ovyo.
"Not many days after that the younger son gathered everything together and took his journey into a distant country; and there he wasted his money on living unsavingly.
14 Alipomaliza kutumia kila kitu, kukatokea njaa kali katika nchi ile, naye akaanza kuhangaika.
"After he had spent everything there came a terrible famine in the land, and he began to be in want.
15 Akaomba kazi kwa mwananchi mtu mmoja wa huko naye akampeleka shambani mwake kulisha nguruwe.
"So he went and hired to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him out into the fields to feed swine.
16 Alitamani kula maganda waliyokula wale nguruwe, ila hakuna mtu aliyempa kitu.
"And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 Alipoanza kupata akili akafikiri: Mbona kuna wafanyakazi wengi wa baba yangu wanaokula na kusaza, nami ninakufa njaa?
"When he came to himself he said. "‘How many of my father’s hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger!
18 Nitarudi kwa baba yangu na kumwambia: Baba, nimemkosea Mungu, na nimekukosea wewe pia.
"‘I will rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight,
19 Sistahili hata kuitwa mwanao. Nifanye kama mmoja wa wafanyakazi wako.
"‘"I am no more worthy to be called your son; only make me like one of your hired men."‘
20 Basi, akaanza safari ya kurudi kwa baba yake. Alipokuwa bado yu mbali, baba yake alimwona, na kwa moyo wa huruma alimkimbilia, akamkumbatia na kumbusu.
"So he arose and went to his father; but while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21 “Mwanawe akamwambia: Baba, nimemkosea Mungu, na nimekukosea wewe pia. Sistahili hata kuitwa mwanao.
"The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.’
22 Lakini baba yake akawaambia watumishi wake: Haraka! Leteni nguo nzuri mkamvike! Mvisheni pete na viatu!
"‘Fetch the best robe, quick,’ said the father to his slaves, ‘and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet.
23 Mchinjeni ndama mnono; tule kusherehekea!
"‘Bring that fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry,
24 Kwa sababu huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa, kumbe yu mzima alikuwa amepotea, lakini sasa amepatikana. Wakaanza kufanya sherehe.
"‘for this son of mine was dead and is alive again - he was lost and is found.’
25 “Wakati huo kaka yake alikuwa bado shambani. Alipokuwa akirudi na kukaribia nyumbani akasikia vifijo na ngoma.
"So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,
26 Akamwita mmoja wa watumishi, akamwuliza: Kuna nini?
"and he summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire of him what all this meant.
27 Huyo mtumishi akamwambia: Ndugu yako amerudi nyumbani, na baba yako amemchinjia ndama mnono kwa kuwa amempata akiwa salama salimini.
"‘Your brother is come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him safe and sound.’
28 Huyo kijana mkubwa akawaka hasira hata akakataa kuingia nyumbani. Baba yake akatoka nje na kumsihi aingie.
"But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father.
29 Lakini yeye akamjibu: Kumbuka! Miaka yote nimekutumikia, sijavunja amri yako hata mara moja. Umenipa nini? Hujanipa hata mwana mbuzi mmoja nikafanye sherehe pamoja na rafiki zangu!
"‘All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a kid so that I might make merry with my friends.
30 Lakini mtoto wako huyu aliyekula mali yako pamoja na makahaba, mara tu alipokuja umemchinjia yule ndama mnono.
"‘But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with harlots, you have killed him the fatted calf.’
31 Baba yake akamjibu: Mwanangu, wewe uko pamoja nami siku zote, na kila nilicho nacho ni chako.
"‘My dear son,’ answered his father, ‘you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.
32 Ilitubidi kufanya sherehe na kufurahi, kwa sababu huyu ndugu yako alikuwa amekufa, kumbe yu mzima; alikuwa amepotea, lakini sasa amepatikana.”
"‘But it was fitting that we should make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.’"
