< 1 Samuel 8 >

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
Kwasekusithi uSamuweli esemdala wabeka amadodana akhe ukuze abe ngabahluleli koIsrayeli.
2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
Lebizo lendodana yakhe elizibulo lalinguJoweli, lebizo leyesibili yakhe linguAbhiya; ayengabahluleli eBherishebha.
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
Kodwa amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngendlela zakhe, kodwa aphambukela enzuzweni embi, emukela isivalamlomo, aphambula isahlulelo.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
Kwasekubuthana abadala bonke bakoIsrayeli, beza kuSamuweli eRama,
5 “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
bathi kuye: Khangela, wena usumdala, lamadodana akho kawahambi ngendlela zakho; ngakho sibekele inkosi ukuze isahlulele njengazo zonke izizwe.
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
Kodwa leyonto yayimbi emehlweni kaSamuweli lapho besithi: Sinike inkosi ukusahlulela. USamuweli wasekhuleka eNkosini.
7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labantu kukho konke abakutshoyo kuwe, ngoba kakusuwe abakwalayo, kodwa bala mina ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwabo.
8 Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo kusukela ngosuku engabenyusa ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamuhla, bangitshiyile bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; benza njalo lakuwe.
9 Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
Ngakho khathesi, lalela ilizwi labo; kodwa nxa ubafakazele kakhulu, ubazise indlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwabo.
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
USamuweli wasetshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi wonke amazwi eNkosi.
11 He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.
Wasesithi: Le izakuba yindlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenu; izathatha amadodana enu izibekele wona enqoleni zayo lakubagadi bamabhiza ayo, agijime phambi kwezinqola zayo.
12 He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.
Izazibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu, lokulima amasimu ayo, lokuvuna isivuno sayo, lokwenza izikhali zayo zempi, lezikhali zezinqola zayo.
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abe ngabenzi bamakha, labapheki, labaphekizinkwa.
14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
Izathatha amasimu enu, lezivini zenu lezivande zenu zemihlwathi, ezinhle, ikunike inceku zayo.
15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
Izathatha okwetshumi yenhlanyelo yenu leyezivini zenu, iyinike induna zayo lenceku zayo.
16 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
Izathatha inceku zenu lencekukazi zenu lamajaha enu angcono labobabhemi benu, ikusebenzise emsebenzini wayo.
17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu; lina-ke libe yizinceku zayo.
18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
Njalo lizakhala ngalolosuku ngenxa yenkosi yenu elizikhethele yona; kodwa iNkosi kayiyikuliphendula mhlalokho.
19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
Kodwa abantu bala ukulilalela ilizwi likaSamuweli, bathi: Hatshi, kodwa kuzakuba lenkosi phezu kwethu,
20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
ukuze lathi sibe njengezizwe zonke, lenkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.
21 Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
USamuweli esewazwile wonke amazwi abantu, wawalandisa endlebeni zeNkosi.
22 “Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”
INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labo, ubabekele inkosi. USamuweli wasesithi emadodeni akoIsrayeli: Hambani liye ngulowo lalowo emzini wakhe.

< 1 Samuel 8 >