< 1 Samuel 8 >
1 And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
Samweli alipozeeka, aliwaweka watoto wake wawe waamuzi juu ya Israeli.
2 And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.
Mtoto wake wa kwanza aliitwa Yoeli, na mtoto wake wa pili aliitwa Abiya. Hawa walikuwa waamuzi katika Bersheba.
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
Watoto wake hawakuenenda katika njia za baba yao, bali walipiga mbio kutafuta mapato ya udhalimu. Walipokea rushwa na na kupotosha hukumu.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah,
Ndipo wazee wote wa Israeli walikutana pamoja na kumwendea Samweli huko Rama.
5 and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.
Wakamwambia, “Angalia, wewe umekuwa mzee, na watoto wako hawaenendi katika njia zako. Tuchagulie mfalme wakutuamua kama yalivyo mataifa yote.”
6 And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.
Lakini haikumpendeza Sameli waliposema, “Utupatie mfalme wa kutuamua.” Hivyo akamwomba BWANA.
7 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Na BWANA akamwambia Samweli, “Sikiliza sauti ya watu kwa kila jambo wanalokwambia; kwa sababu hwajakukataa wewe, bali wamenikataa mimi nisiwe mfalme wao.
8 According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
Sasa wanafanya kama vile walivyotenda tangu siku ile nilipowatoa huko Misri, kwa kuniacha, na kuwatumikia miungu mingine, na ndivyo hivyo pia wanakufanyia na wewe.
9 And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
Basi sasa uwasikilize; lakini uwaonye sawasawa na uwafahamishe tabia ya mfalme atakaye waongoza.
10 And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king.
Kwa hiyo Samweli akawaambia watu waliokuwa wakiomba mfalme maneno yote ya BWANA.
11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;
Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo jinsi mfalme atakavyowatawala.
12 and [he will take them] that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.
Atawachukua watoto wenu wa kiume na kuwaweka juu ya magari ya vita na kuwa wapanda farasi wake, na kukimbia mbele ya magari yake. Atawaweka ma- kapteni wake juu ya maelfu ya askari, na ma-kapteni juu ya askari hamsini. Wengine atawafanya wakulima wamashamba yake, wengine wavunaji wa mazao yake, wengine watatengeneza silaha zake na zana za magari yake.
13 And he will take your daughters for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
Naye atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi, na waoka mikate.
14 And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants.
Atachukua mashamba yenu mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu, na yale ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.
Atachukua moja ya kumi ya nafaka zenu na mizabibu na na kuwapa maofisa na watumishi wake.
16 And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work.
Atawachukua watumwa wenu na wajakazi wenu na vijana wenu waliowazuri na punda wenu; atawatumikisha wote kwa ajili yake.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants.
Atawatoza moja ya kumi ya mifugo yenu, na mtakuwa watumwa wake.
18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.
Ndipo mtalia siku ile kwa sababu ya mfalme wenu mliyemchagua kwa ajili yenu; lakini siku ile BWANA hatawajibu
19 And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,
Lakini watu walikataa kumsikiliza Samweli; wakasema, “Hapana!” Lazima awepo mfalme juu yetu.
20 that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.
Ili tuweze kuwa kama mataifa mengine yote, na hivyo mfalme wetu aweze kutuamua na atoke mbele yetu na atupiganie vita yetu.
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah.
Naye Samweli aliposikia maneno yote ya watu, akayarudia katika masiko ya BWANA.
22 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.
BWANA akamwambia Samweli, “Sikiliza sauti yao na uwafanyie mfalme.” Hivyo Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mtu na arudi mjini kwake.”