1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Basi neno la Bwana lilimjia Yona, mwana wa Amitai, kusema,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Ondoka, uende Ninawi, mji ule mkubwa, ukapige kelele juu yake; kwa maana uovu wao umepanda juu mbele zangu.
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Lakini Yona akaondoka akimbilie Tarshishi, apate kujiepusha na uso wa Bwana; akatelemka hata Yafa, akaona merikebu inayokwenda Tarshishi; basi, akatoa nauli, akapanda merikebuni, aende pamoja nao Tarshishi, ajiepushe na uso wa Bwana.
4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Lakini Bwana alituma upepo mkuu baharini, ikawa tufani kubwa baharini, hata merikebu ikawa karibu na kuvunjika.
5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Basi wale mabaharia wakaogopa, kila mtu akamwomba mungu wake; nao wakatupa baharini shehena iliyokuwa merikebuni, ili kuupunguza uzito wake. Lakini Yona alikuwa ameshuka hata pande za ndani za merikebu; akajilaza, akapata usingizi.
6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
Basi nahodha akamwendea, akamwambia, Una nini, Ewe ulalaye usingizi? Amka, ukamwombe Mungu wako; labda Mungu huyo atatukumbuka, tusipotee.
7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Wakasemezana kila mtu na mwenzake, Haya, na mpige kura, mpate kujua mabaya haya yametupata kwa sababu ya nani. Basi wakapiga kura, nayo kura ikamwangukia Yona.
8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
Ndipo wakamwambia, Tafadhali utuambie, wewe ambaye mabaya haya yametupata kwa sababu yako; kazi yako ni kazi gani? Nawe umetoka wapi? Nchi yako ni nchi ipi? Nawe u mtu wa kabila gani?
9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land .
Akawaambia, Mimi ni Mwebrania; nami namcha Bwana, Mungu wa mbingu, aliyeziumba bahari na nchi kavu.
10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Ndipo watu wale wakaogopa mno, wakamwambia, Ni jambo gani hili ulilolitenda! Kwa maana watu wale walijua ya kuwa amekimbia, ajiepushe na uso wa Bwana, kwa sababu alikuwa amewajulisha.
11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
Basi wakamwambia, Tukutende nini, ili bahari itulie? Kwa maana bahari ilikuwa inazidi kuchafuka.
12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Naye akawaambia, Nikamateni, mnitupe baharini; basi bahari itatulia; kwa maana najua ya kuwa ni kwa ajili yangu tufani hii imewapata.
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
Lakini wale watu wakavuta makasia kwa nguvu, ili wapate kurudi pwani, wasiweze; kwa maana bahari ilizidi kuwachafukia sana.
14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
Basi wakamlilia Bwana, wakasema, Twakuomba, Ee Bwana, twakuomba, tusiangamie kwa ajili ya uhai wa mtu huyu, wala usitupatilize kwa ajili ya damu isiyo na hatia; kwa maana wewe, Bwana, umefanya kama ulivyopenda.
15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Basi wakamkamata Yona, wakamtupa baharini, nayo bahari ikaacha kuchafuka.
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Ndipo wale watu wakamwogopa Bwana mno, wakamtolea Bwana sadaka, na kuweka nadhiri.
The Prophet's Prayer
17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Bwana akaweka tayari samaki mkubwa ili ammeze Yona, naye Yona akawa ndani ya tumbo la samaki yule muda wa siku tatu, mchana na usiku.
