Old Testament Reading 1- Genesis 1:26-28,31a [801-1]



A reading from the Book of Genesis



Then God said:

"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."



God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.



God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.

Mkatawale samaki wa baharini, ndege wa angani, na viumbe vyote vyenye uhai vitambaavyo juu ya nchi."

God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.



The word of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading 2 - Genesis 2:18-24 [801-2]

A reading from the Book of Genesis

The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."

So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name.

The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,

and while he was asleep,

akatoa ubavu wake mmoja na kuziba mahali pake kwa nyama.

The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.

When he brought her to the man, the man said:

"This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

The word of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading 3 - Genesis 24:48-51,58-67 [801-3

A reading from the Book of Genesis

The servant of Abraham said to Laban:
"I bowed down in worship to the LORD, blessing the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

If, therefore, you have in mind to show true loyalty to my master, let me know; but if not, let me know that, too.

basi naweza kuendelea ipasavyo."

Laban and his household said in reply: "This thing comes from the LORD; we can say nothing to you either for or against Here is Rebekah, ready for you; take her with you, that she may become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has said."

So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you wish to go with this man?"

She answered, "I do."

At this they allowed their sister Rebekah and her nurse to take leave, along with Abraham's servant and his men.

Invoking a blessing on Rebekah, they said:

“Dada, na ukue uwe maelfu ya maelfu;

And may your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!"

Then Rebekah and her maids started out; they mounted their camels and followed the man.

So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.

Wakati huo Isaka alikuwa ametoka Beer-lahai-roi na alikuwa akiishi katika eneo la Negebu.

One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.

Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel and asked the servant, "Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?"

"That is my master," replied the servant.

Then she covered herself with her veil.

The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.

Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife.

In his love for her Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.



The word of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading 4 - Tobit 7:6-14 [801-4]



A reading from the Book of Tobit

Raphael and Tobiah entered the house of Raguel and greeted him.

Raguel sprang up and kissed Tobiah, shedding tears of joy.

But when he heard that Tobit had lost his eyesight, he was grieved and wept aloud.

He said to Tobiah: "My child, God bless you! You are the son of a noble and good father.

But what a terrible misfortune that such a righteous and charitable man should be afflicted with blindness!"

He continued to weep in the arms of his kinsman Tobiah.

His wife Edna also wept for Tobit;

Na hata binti yao Sara alianza kulia.

Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a cordial reception.

Walipokwisha kuoga na kuketi kula chakula, Tobia akamwambia Rafaeli, “Ndugu Azaria, mwambie Ragueli aniruhusu nimwoe Sara jamaa yangu.

Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the boy: "Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man is more entitled to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother.

Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you, because you are my closest relative.

But I will explain the situation to you very frankly.

I have given her in marriage to seven men, all of whom were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her.

Lakini sasa, mwanangu, kula na kunywa. Nina hakika kwamba Bwana atawatunza ninyi nyote wawili."

Tobiah answered, "I will eat or drink nothing until you set aside what belongs to me."

Raguel akamwambia: "Nitafanya hivyo.

She is yours according to the decree of the Book of Moses.

Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven!

Take your kinswoman from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved.

She is yours today and ever after.

And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both.

Akupe rehema na amani."

Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him.

He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with the words: "Take her according to the law.

According to the decree written in the Book of Moses she is your wife.

Take her and bring her back safely to your father.

Na Mungu wa mbinguni awajalie ninyi wawili amani na fanaka.”

Kisha akamwita mama yake na kumwambia alete kitabu cha kukunjwa, ili afanye mkataba wa ndoa unaosema kwamba alimtoa Sara kwa Tobia awe mke wake kulingana na amri ya sheria ya Musa.

Her mother brought the scroll, and he drew up the contract, to which they affixed their seals.

Baadaye wakaanza kula na kunywa.

The word of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading 5 - Tobit 8:4b-8 [801-5]



A reading from the Book of Tobit

Usiku wa arusi yao, Tobia aliamka kitandani, akamwambia mkewe,

"Sister, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord

ili atuhurumie na kutupa ukombozi.”

Sarah got up, and they started to pray

and beg that deliverance might be theirs.

They began with these words:

“Umehimidiwa, Ee Mungu wa baba zetu;

praised be your name forever and ever.

Let the heavens and all your creation

praise you forever.

Ulimfanya Adamu na ukampa mke wake Hawa

to be his help and support;

na kutoka kwa hawa wawili kizazi cha wanadamu kilishuka.

Ulisema, Si vema huyo mtu awe peke yake;

let us make him a partner like himself.'

Sasa, Bwana, unajua kwamba ninamchukua mke wangu huyu

si kwa sababu ya tamaa,

but for a noble purpose.

Call down your mercy on me and on her,

na kuturuhusu kuishi pamoja hadi uzee wenye furaha."

Wakasema pamoja, "Amina, amina."

The word of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading 6 - Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31 [801-6]



A reading from the Book of Proverbs



When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.

He husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.

She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands.

Anaweka mikono yake kwenye kijiti cha kusokota, na vidole vyake vinazungusha kusokota.

Huwanyoshea maskini mikono yake, na kuwanyoshea wahitaji mikono yake.

Haiba ni udanganyifu na uzuri ni wa kupita muda; mwanamke amchaye BWANA ndiye atakayesifiwa.

Mpe thawabu ya kazi yake, na kazi zake zimsifu kwenye malango ya jiji.



The word of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading 7 - Song of Songs 2:8-10,14,16a; 8:6-7a [801-7]

A reading from the Song of Songs

Hark! my lover—here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills.

My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff,

Acha nikuone, nisikie sauti yako,

For your voice is sweet, and you are lovely."

My lover belongs to me and I to him. He says to me:

"Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm;

For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether-world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire.

Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away."

The word of the Lord.