The Benjamites
1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.
Ikawa katika siku hizo, hapo kulipokuwa hapana mfalme katika Israeli, alikuwapo Mlawi mmoja aliyekuwa akikaa hali ya ugeni upande wa mbele wa nchi ya vilima vilima ya Efraimu, aliyejitwalia suria katika Bethlehemu-yuda.
2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months.
Kisha huyo suria yake akaandama ukahaba kinyume chake, kumwacha kwenda nyumbani kwa baba yake huko Bethlehemu-yuda, akakaa kuko muda wa miezi minne.
3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
Kisha mumewe akainuka akamfuata, aseme naye kwa upendo, ili apate kumrudisha tena, naye alikuwa na mtumishi wake pamoja naye na punda wawili; huyo mwanamke akamkaribisha katika nyumba ya baba yake; naye baba yake alipomwona akafurahi kuonana naye.
4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
Kisha mkwewe, babaye huyo mwanamke, akamzuia; akakaa naye siku tatu; basi wakala na kunywa na kulala kuko.
5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
Kisha ilikuwa siku ya nne, wakaamka asubuhi na mapema, naye akaondoka ili aende zake; baba yake huyo mwanamke akamwambia mkwewe, Tuza moyo wako, ule chakula kidogo, kisha baadaye mtakwenda zenu.
6 And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
Basi wakaketi, wakala na kunywa wote wawili pamoja; kisha baba yake mwanamke akamwambia huyo mtu, Uwe radhi, tafadhali, ukae usiku kucha, na moyo wako na ufurahi.
7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
Yule mtu akainuka ili aondoke; lakini mkwewe akamsihi-sihi, naye akalala kuko tena.
8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.
Basi akaamka asubuhi na mapema siku ya tano ili aende zake; na baba yake mwanamke akasema, Tuza moyo wako, tafadhali, ukae hata jua lipinduke; nao wakala chakula wote wawili.
9 And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
Kisha hapo mtu huyo alipoinuka ili aende zake, yeye na suria yake, na mtumishi wake, huyo mkwewe, baba yake mwanamke, akamwambia, Tazama mchana wakaribia jioni, tafadhali kaa usiku kucha; tazama mchana wakaribia mwisho wake, lala hapa, ili moyo wako ufurahi; hata kesho uende zako asubuhi na mapema, ili upate kwenda kwenu.
10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.
Lakini huyo mtu hakukubali kukaa usiku huo, ila akainuka, akaenda zake, akafika mkabala wa Yebusi (huo ndio Yerusalemu); nao walikuwako pamoja naye punda wawili waliotandikwa; suria yake naye alikuwa pamoja naye.
11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
Basi hapo walipokuwa karibu na Yebusi, mchana ulikuwa umeendelea mno; yule mtumishi akamwambia bwana wake, Haya, tafadhali, tugeuke kando na kuingia mji huu wa Wayebusi, tulale humu.
12 And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
Bwana wake akamwambia, Hatutageuka sisi kuingia mji wa wageni, ambao si wa wana wa Israeli; lakini tutapita mpaka Gibea.
13 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
Kisha akamwambia mtumishi wake, Haya, tuifikilie miji hii mmojawapo nasi tutalala katika Gibea au katika Rama.
14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
Basi wakashika njia kwenda zao mbele; jua likawachwea walipokuwa karibu na Gibea, ambao ni mji wa Benyamini.
15 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
Wakageuka huko, wapate kuingia na kulala katika Gibea; akaingia ndani, akaketi katika njia kuu ya mji; kwa kuwa hapakuwa na mtu awaye yote aliyewakaribisha nyumbani kwake kulala.
16 And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.
Kisha, tazama, akatokea mtu mume mzee, atoka kazini kwake shambani, wakati wa jioni; mtu huyo alikuwa ni wa ile nchi ya vilima vilima ya Efraimu, naye alikuwa anakaa katika Gibea hali ya ugeni lakini wenyeji wa mahali hapo walikuwa Wabenyamini.
17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
Naye alipovua macho yake, akamwona huyo mtu msafiri katika njia kuu ya mji; huyo mzee akamwuliza, Waenda wapi wewe? Nawe watoka wapi?
18 And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
Akamwambia, Sisi twapita hapa kutoka Bethlehemu-yuda, twaenda huko upande wa mbali wa nchi ya vilima vilima ya Efraimu; ndiko nilikotoka nami nilikwenda Bethlehemu-yuda; nami sasa naiendea nyumba ya Bwana wala hapana mtu anikaribishaye nyumbani mwake.
19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
Walakini nyasi tunazo, na chakula cha hawa punda zetu; mkate pia tunao na divai kwa mimi na huyu kijakazi wako, na kwa huyu kijana aliye pamoja nasi watumishi wako; hapana uhitaji wa kitu cho chote.
20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
Kisha huyo mzee alisema, Na iwe amani kwako; lakini na haya yaliyokupungukia na yawe juu yangu mimi lakini usilale njiani.
21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
Basi akamtia ndani ya nyumba yake, akawapa punda chakula; nao wakaosha miguu, wakala na kunywa.
22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
Hapo walipokuwa wakifurahisha mioyo yao, tazama, watu wa mji huo, watu mabaradhuli wakaizingira hiyo nyumba pande zote, wakagonga mlango; wakasema na huyo mwenye nyumba, huyo mzee, na kumwambia, Mlete nje mtu yule aliyefika nyumbani kwako, ili tupate kumjua.
23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay , I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.
Naye mtu mwenye nyumba akawatokea hapo nje, na kuwaambia, La, sivyo, ndugu zangu nawasihi msifanye uovu jinsi hii; kwa kuwa mtu huyu ameingia ndani ya nyumba yangu, msifanye upumbavu huu.
24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
Tazama, binti yangu yupo hapa, ni mwanamwali, na suria wake huyo mtu; nitawaleta hapa nje sasa nanyi watwezeni, na kuwatenda hayo myaonayo kuwa ni mema; lakini mtu huyu msimtende jambo la upumbavu namna hii.
25 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Lakini hao watu hawakukubali kumsikia; basi mtu huyo akamshika suria wake, na kumleta nje kwao; nao wakamjua, na kumtenda uovu usiku kucha hata asubuhi kisha kulipoanza kupambauka wakamwacha aende zake.
26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was , till it was light.
Ndipo huyo mwanamke akaja alfajiri, akaanguka chini mlangoni pa nyumba ya mtu yule alimokuwamo bwana wake, hata kulipokucha.
27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
Bwana wake akaondoka asubuhi, akaifungua milango ya nyumba, akatoka nje ili aende zake, na tazama, huyo mwanamke suria yake alikuwa ameanguka pale mlangoni pa nyumba, na mikono yake ilikuwa i pale kizingitini.
28 And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
Akamwambia, Haya ondoka, twende zetu; lakini hakuna aliyemjibu; ndipo akamwinua akamweka juu ya punda; mtu huyo akaondoka, akaenda mahali pake mwenyewe.
29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
Naye alipokwisha kuingia nyumbani mwake, akatwaa kisu, kisha akamshika huyo suria yake, akampasua kiungo kwa kiungo, vipande kumi na viwili akampeleka katika mipaka yote ya Israeli.
30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds .
Basi ikawa, wote walioliona jambo hilo wakasema, Jambo kama hili halijatendeka wala kuonekana tangu siku hiyo wana wa Israeli walipokwea kutoka katika nchi ya Misri hata leo; haya, lifikirini, fanyeni shauri, mkanene.
