1 Samuel 11
1 Nahash the Ammonite came with his army and besieged Jabesh-gilead. All the people of Jabesh said to him, “Make a peace treaty with us, and we will be your subjects.”
Ndipo Nahashi Mwamoni akaenda na kupiga kambi kuzunguka Yabeshi Gileadi. Watu wote wa Yabeshi wakamwambia Nahashi, “Fanya mkataba nasi, na tutakutumikia,”
2 But Nahash the Ammonite responded, “I'll make a peace treaty with you on one condition: that I gouge out everyone's right eye to bring shame on all Israelites.”
Nahashi Mwamoni akawajibu, “Kwa sharti hili nitafanya mkataba na ninyi, kwamba wote niwang'oe macho ya kulia, na kwa kitendo hiki kilete fedheha katika Israeli yote.”
3 “Let us have seven days so we can send messengers all over Israel,” replied the town elders of Jabesh. “If no one comes to help us, we will surrender to you.”
Basi wazee wa Yabeshi wakamjibu, “Tuache kwa siku saba, ili tuwatume wajumbe katika nchi yote ya Israeli. Ndiposa, kama hakuna mtu wa kutuokoa, tutasalimu amri kwako.”
4 When the messengers arrived in Gibeah of Saul and gave the message as the people listened, they all wept out loud.
Nao wajumbe wakafika Gibea, alipoishi Sauli, na wakawaeleza watu kile kilichotokea. Watu wote wakalia kwa sauti kuu.
5 Right then Saul was coming back from ploughing a field with his oxen. “Why is everyone so upset?” he asked. They told him what the men from Jabesh had said.
Na Sauli alikuwa akiwafuata nyuma maksai kutoka shambani. Sauli akauliza, “Watu wamepatwa na nini hadi wanalia?” Ndipo wakamweleza Sauli kile ambacho watu wa Yabeshi walikisema.
6 The Spirit of God came on Saul in power when he heard about this, and he grew very angry.
Sauli aliposikia kile walichosema, Roho ya Mungu ikamjia kwa nguvu, na akakasirika.
7 He took a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces. Then he sent them by messenger to every part of Israel with the message, “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” The Lord made the people anxious to do so, and they came out as one.
Akashika nira ya maksai, akawakata hao ng'ombe vipande vipande, na akavituma hivyo vipande katika nchi yote ya Israeli kwa kuwatumia wajumbe, Akasema, “Yeyote asiyejitokeza akimfuata Sauli na Samweli, hivi ndivyo ng'ombe wake watakavyofanywa.” Na hofu ya BWANA ikawaingia watu, na wakajitokeza wote kwa pamoja.
8 When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.
Alipowahesabu hapo Beseki, watu wa Israeli walikuwa elfu mia tatu, na watu wa Yuda elfu thelathini.
9 They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow you'll be rescued, by the time the sun is hot.’” The people of Jabesh were so happy when the messengers arrived and told them this.
Wakawaambia wale wajumbe waliotumwa, “Mtawaambia watu wa Yabeshi Gileadi, 'Kesho, wakati wa jua kali, Mtaokolewa.”' Basi wale wajumbe wakaenda na kuwaambia watu wa Yabeshi, na watu wakafurahi.
10 They told the Ammonites, “We will surrender to you tomorrow, and then you can do to us whatever you want.”
Ndipo watu wa Yabeshi wakamwambia Nahashi, “Kesho tutasalimu amri kwako, na utaweza kutufanyia chochote unachoona kinakupendeza.”
11 The next day Saul organized the army into three divisions. They attacked the Ammonite camp before dawn and went on killing them until the day grew hot. The survivors were so scattered that not even two of them were left together.
Siku iliyofuata Sauli akawapanga watu katika vikosi vitatu. Wakafika katikati ya Kambi wakati wa asubuhi, wakawashambulia na kuwashinda Waamoni ilipofika mchana. Waliosalimika nao walitawanyika, kiasi kwamba hata watu wawili hawakuachwa pamoja.
12 Then the people asked Samuel, “Who was saying, ‘Why should we have Saul as our king?’ Hand these men over so we can execute them.”
Ndipo watu wakamwambia Samweli, “Wako wapi waliosema, 'Hivi kweli Sauli atatutawala?' Walete watu hao, ili tuwauwe.”
13 But Saul replied, “No one's going to be executed today, for this is the day that the Lord saved Israel.”
Lakini Sauli akasema, “Hakuna atakayeuwawa siku ya leo, kwa sababu leo BWANA amemuokoa Isreli.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come with me—let's go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom.”
Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu, “Njoni, twendeni Gilgali na tuimarishe ufalme tena huko.”
15 Everyone went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king before the Lord. They sacrificed friendship offerings to the Lord, and Saul together with all the Israelites had a great celebration.
Hivyo watu wote wakaenda Gilgali na wakamsimika Sauli kuwa mfalme mbele za BWANA huko Gilgali. Na huko walitoa sadaka za amani mbele za BWANA, na watu wote wa Israeli wakafurahi sana.
