1 Samuel 3

1 The boy Samuel served before the Lord under Eli's supervision. At that time messages from the Lord were rare—visions were not common.

Yule mtoto Samweli alimtumikia BWANA chini ya uangalizi wa Eli. Neno la BWANA halikupatikana kwa wingi siku hizo; hapakuwa na maono ya mara kwa mara ya kinabii.

2 One evening, Eli had gone to bed in his room. His eyes were now so weak that he couldn't see.

Wakati huo, nguvu ya macho ya Eli ilikuwa imefifia kiasi cha kutoweza kuona vizuri, na alikuwa amelala kitandani mwake.

3 The lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Lord's Temple where the Ark of God was.

Ile taa ya BWANA bado ilikuwa bado inawaka, na Samweli alikuwa amelala katika nyumba ya BWANA, palipokuwa na sanduku la Mungu.

4 Then the Lord called, “Samuel!” He answered, “I'm here.”

BWANA akamwita Samweli, naye akaitika, “Niko hapa”

5 He ran to Eli, and said, “I'm here—you called me.” “I didn't call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.

Samweli alimwedea Eli na kusema, “Niko hapa, sababu uliniita.” Eli akasema, “Sikukuita; kalale tena.” Hivyo Samweli akarudi na kulala.

6 Then the Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli and said, “I'm here—you called me.” “I didn't call you, my son,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.”

BWANA akamwita tena, “Samweli.” Saamweli aliamka tena na kwenda kwa Eli na kusema, Niko hapa, sababu umeniita.” Eli akajibu, “Sijakuita, mwanangu; kalale tu tena.” 8

7 (Samuel hadn't yet come to know the Lord and had not received any message from him.)

Basi Samweli bado hakuwa na uzoefu kuhusu Bwana, wala hakuwahi kupata ujumbe wowote kutoka kwa BWANA ukifunuliwa kwake.

8 The Lord called again for the third time, “Samuel!” He got up went to Eli and said, “I'm here—you called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the Lord calling the boy.

BWANA akamwita tena Samweli kwa mara ya tatu. Samweli alinyanyuka tena na kwenda kwa Eli na kusema, “Niko hapa, sababu uliniita,” Ndipo Eli alitambua kwamba BWANA alimwita kijana.

9 Eli told Samuel, “Go back to bed, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, because your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to his bed.

Kisha Eli aka, mwambia Samweli, “Nenda ukalale tena; ikiwa atakuita tena, sharti useme, 'Sema, BWANA, maana mtumwa wako anasikiliza.”' Hivyo Samweli akaenda na kulala mahali pake tena.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling just as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, because your servant is listening.”

BWANA alikuja na kusimama; akaita vilevile kama vile mwanzoni, “Samweli, Samweli.” Ndipo Samweli akasema, “Nena, kwa sababu mtumwa wako anasikiliza.”

11 The Lord told Samuel: “Pay attention, because I'm going to do something in Israel that will surprise everyone who hears it.

BWANA akasema na Samweli, “Tazama, Niko tayari kufanya jambo katika Israeli ambalo masikio ya kila mmoja akisikia atashtuka. -14

12 That's when I will carry out against Eli and his family everything I have said, from beginning to end.

Siku hiyo nitatimiza kila kitu nilichokisema dhidi ya Eli kuhusu nyumba yake, kutoka mwanzo hadi mwisho.

13 I told him that I will judge his family forever because of the sins he knows about, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not try and stop them.

Nimemwambia kwamba niko tayari kuhukumu nyumba yake mara moja kwa ile dhambi aliyoifahamu, kwa sababu watoto wake walijiletea laana juu yao wenyewe na hakuwazuia.

14 That's why I swore to Eli and his family, ‘The guilt of Eli and his descendants will never be removed by sacrifice or offering.’”

Hii ndiyo sababu nimeapa kwa nyumba ya Eli, kwamba dhambi za nyumba yake hazitasahehewa kwa dhabihu au kwa sadaka kamwe.” 16

15 Samuel remained in bed until the morning. Then he got up and opened the doors of the Lord's Temple as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

Samweli akalala hadi asubuhi; baadaye alifungua milango ya nyumba ya BWANA. Lakini Samweli aliogopa kumwambia Eli kuhusu maono hayo.

16 But Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “I'm here,” Samuel answered.

Kisha Eli akamwita Samweli na kusema, “Samweli, mwanangu.” Samweli akasema, “Niko hapa.” 18

17 “What did he tell you?” Eli asked. “Don't hide it from me. May God punish you very severely if you hide anything he told you from me!”

Akamuuliza, “Ni neno gani alilokusemesha? Tafadhali usinifiche jambo hilo. Mungu akutendee hivyo na kukuzidishia, endapo utanificha kitu chochote kati ya yote ambayo amesema nawe.”

18 So Samuel told him everything and didn't hide anything from him. “It's the Lord,” Eli replied. “May he do what he thinks is good.”

Samweli akamweleza kila kitu; hakumficha jambo lolote. Eli akasema, “Ni BWANA. Na afanye linaloonekana jema kwake.”

19 Samuel continued to grow up. The Lord was with him and made sure all he said was trustworthy.

Samweli akakua, na BWANA alikuwa pamoja naye na hakuacha kutimiza maneno yake ya unabii.

20 Everyone in the whole of Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

Israeli yote tokea Dani hadi Beersheba walijua kwamba Samweli aliteuliwa kuwa nabii wa BWANA.

21 The Lord went on appearing at Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel and delivered his messages,

Naye BWANA alionekana tena huko Shilo, maana alijifunua mwenyewe kwa Samweli huko Shilo kwa neno lake.