1 Samuel 9
1 And there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjaminite, a mighty man of wealth.
Kulikuwako Mbenyamini mmoja, mtu maarufu, ambaye aliitwa Kishi mwana wa Abieli, mwana wa Serori, mwana wa Bekorathi, mwana wa Afia wa Benyamini.
2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, choice and comely; and there was not among the children of Israel a comelier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
Alikuwa na mwana aliyeitwa Sauli, kijana anayevutia sana, hakuwepo aliyelingana naye miongoni mwa Waisraeli, alikuwa mrefu kuliko wengine wote.
3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, Take, I pray, one of the young men with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
Basi punda wa Kishi baba yake Sauli walipotea, naye Kishi akamwambia mwanawe Sauli, “Mchukue mmoja wa watumishi mwende pamoja naye kuwatafuta punda.”
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found [them] not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found [them] not.
Hivyo akapita katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu na katika eneo la Shalisha, lakini hawakuwapata. Wakaendelea katika sehemu ya Shaalimu, lakini punda hawakuwepo huko. Kisha wakapita katika nchi ya Benyamini, lakini hawakuwapata.
5 They had come to the land of Zuph when Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return; lest my father give up the asses, and be anxious about us.
Walipofika sehemu ya Sufu, Sauli akamwambia mtumishi aliyekuwa pamoja naye, “Njoo, sisi na turudi, au baba yangu ataacha kufikiria juu ya punda na kuanza kufadhaika kutuhusu sisi.”
6 And he said to him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is held in honour; all that he says comes surely to pass. Let us now go thither: perhaps he will shew us the way that we should go.
Lakini mtumishi akajibu, “Tazama, katika mji huu yupo mtu wa Mungu, anayeheshimiwa sana na kila kitu asemacho hutokea kweli. Sasa na twende huko. Huenda atatuambia twende njia ipi.”
7 And Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and we have no present to give to the man of God: what have we?
Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Kama tukienda, tutampa nini huyo mtu? Chakula kimekwisha kwenye mifuko yetu. Hatuna zawadi ya kumpelekea huyo mtu wa Mungu. Je tuna nini?”
8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
Mtumishi akamjibu Sauli tena, akasema, “Tazama, nina fedha robo shekeli. Hiyo nitampa huyo mtu wa Mungu ili aweze kutuambia twende kwa njia ipi.”
9 (In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)
(Zamani katika Israeli, kama mtu alikwenda kuuliza neno kwa Mungu, angalisema, “Njoo na twende kwa mwonaji,” kwa sababu nabii wa sasa alikuwa akiitwa mwonaji.)
10 And Saul said to his servant, Well said: come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.
Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Vyema, njoo na twende.” Basi wakaenda mjini alipokuwepo huyo mtu wa Mungu.
11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they met maidens going forth to draw water; and they said to them, Is the seer here?
Walipokuwa wakipanda mlima kwenda mjini, wakakutana na baadhi ya wasichana wanakuja kuchota maji, nao wakawauliza, “Je, mwonaji yuko?”
12 And they answered them and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.
Wakajibu, “Yuko, yu mbele yenu amewatangulia, sasa fanyeni haraka, ndiyo tu amekuja mjini kwetu leo, kwa kuwa watu wana dhabihu huko mahali pa juu.
13 As soon as ye come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people eat not until he has come, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that are invited. And now go up; for this very day shall ye find him.
Mara tu mwingiapo mjini, mtamkuta kabla hajapanda kwenda mahali pa juu kula. Watu hawataanza kula mpaka atakapofika kwa sababu ni lazima kwanza yeye abariki dhabihu, ndipo wale walioalikwa watakapokula. Pandeni sasa, mtamkuta kwa wakati huu.”
14 And they went up into the city. As they were coming into the midst of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out towards them, to go up to the high place.
Wakapanda mjini, nao walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, tazama, Samweli alikuwa akija kuelekea walikokwenda mahali pa juu.
15 Now Jehovah had apprised Samuel one day before Saul came, saying,
Basi siku moja kabla Sauli hajaja, Bwana alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli jambo hili:
16 To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him prince over my people Israel; and he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
“Kesho wakati kama huu nitakupelekea mtu kutoka nchi ya Benyamini. Umtie mafuta awe kiongozi juu ya watu wangu Israeli, ndiye atakayewakomboa watu wangu na mkono wa Wafilisti. Nimewaangalia watu wangu, kwa kuwa kilio chao kimenifikia.”
17 And as Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah answered him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee! this man shall rule over my people.
Samweli alipomwona Sauli, Bwana akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekuambia habari zake, kwamba yeye atawatawala watu wangu.”
18 And Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
Sauli akamkaribia Samweli langoni na kumuuliza, “Tafadhali, je, waweza kuniambia mahali nyumba ya mwonaji ilipo?”
19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer: go up before me to the high place, and ye shall eat with me to-day; and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.
Samweli akamjibu Sauli, “Mimi ndiye mwonaji, panda utangulie mbele yangu mpaka mahali pa juu, kwa kuwa leo itakupasa kula pamoja nami na asubuhi nitakuruhusu uende na nitakuambia yale yote yaliyo moyoni mwako.
20 And as for the asses that thou didst lose three days ago, set not thy heart on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel [set]? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
Kuhusu wale punda uliowapoteza siku tatu zilizopita, usifadhaike kwa habari yao; wamepatikana. Ni kwa nani ambaye shauku yote ya Israeli imeelekea, kama si kwako na jamaa yote ya baba yako?”
21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? and why dost thou speak such words to me?
Sauli akajibu, “Je, mimi si Mbenyamini, kutoka kabila dogo kuliko yote ya Israeli, nao ukoo wangu si ndio mdogo kuliko koo zote za kabila la Benyamini? Kwa nini uniambie jambo la namna hiyo?”
22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited; and they were about thirty persons.
Kisha Samweli akamleta Sauli na mtumishi wake ndani ukumbini na kuwaketisha mahali pa heshima zaidi miongoni mwa wale waliokuwa wamealikwa; jumla yao walikuwa kama watu thelathini.
23 And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion that I gave thee, of which I said to thee, Set it by thee.
Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Leta ile sehemu ya nyama niliyokupa, ile niliyokuambia iweke kando.”
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and what was on it, and set [it] before Saul. And he said, Behold that which has been reserved! set it before thee, eat; for against the set time has it been kept for thee, since I said, I will invite the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
Hivyo mpishi akachukua mguu pamoja na kile kilichokuwa juu yake akaiweka mbele ya Sauli. Samweli akasema, “Hiki ndicho ambacho kimewekwa kwa ajili yako. Ule, kwa sababu kilitengwa kwa ajili yako kwa tukio hili, tangu niliposema, ‘Nimewaalika wageni.’” Naye Sauli akala pamoja na Samweli siku ile.
25 And they came down from the high place into the city, and he spoke with Saul upon the roof.
Baada ya kushuka kutoka mahali pa juu na kufika mjini, Samweli alizungumza na Sauli juu ya dari ya nyumba yake.
26 And they arose early; and when it was about the dawning of the day, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.
Walipoamka mapema alfajiri, Samweli akamwita Sauli darini, akamwambia, “Jiandae, nami nitakuaga uende zako.” Sauli alipokuwa tayari yeye na Samweli wakatoka nje pamoja.
27 As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still now, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.
Hata walipokuwa wakiteremka kuelekea mwisho wa mji, Samweli akamwambia Sauli, “Mwambie mtumishi atangulie mbele yetu.” Naye mtumishi akafanya hivyo. “Lakini subiri hapa kwa kitambo kidogo, ili nipate kukupa ujumbe kutoka kwa Mungu.”
