1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.
Samweli alipokuwa mzee, akaweka wanawe kuwa waamuzi wa Israeli.
2 His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.
Mzaliwa wa kwanza alikuwa Yoeli, na la wa pili lilikuwa Abiya, nao wakatumika huko Beer-Sheba.
3 However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.
Lakini wanawe hawakuenenda katika njia zake. Waliziacha wakageukia faida za udanganyifu nao wakapokea rushwa na kupotosha haki.
4 So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet Samuel at Ramah.
Basi wazee wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika pamoja na kumjia Samweli huko Rama.
5 “Look here,” they told him, “you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”
Wakamwambia, “Wewe umekuwa mzee, nao wanao hawaenendi katika njia zako, sasa tuteulie mfalme wa kutuongoza, kama ilivyo kwa mataifa mengine yote.”
6 Samuel thought this was a bad idea when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us,” so he prayed to the Lord about it.
Lakini wao waliposema, “Tupe mfalme wa kutuongoza,” hili lilimchukiza Samweli, hivyo akamwomba Bwana.
7 “Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but me as their king.
Naye Bwana akamwambia: “Sikiliza yale yote watu wanakuambia. Si wewe ambaye wamekukataa, bali wamenikataa mimi kuwa mfalme wao.
8 They're doing just as they have always done since I led them out of Egypt right up to now. They have abandoned me and worshiped other gods, and they're doing just the same to you.
Kama vile walivyofanya tangu siku nilipowapandisha kutoka Misri mpaka siku hii ya leo; wakiniacha mimi na kutumikia miungu mingine, ndivyo wanavyokufanyia wewe.
9 So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”
Sasa wasikilize, lakini waonye kwa makini na uwafahamishe yale watakayotendewa na mfalme atakayewatawala.”
10 Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.
Samweli akawaambia wale watu waliokuwa wakiomba wapewe mfalme maneno yote ya Bwana.
11 “This is what a king will do when he rules over you,” he told them. “He will take your sons and make them serve as charioteers and horsemen, and to run as a guard in front of his chariot.
Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo atakavyowatendea mfalme atakayewatawala. Atawachukua wana wenu na kuwafanya watumike kwa magari yake ya vita na farasi, nao watakimbia mbele ya magari yake.
12 Some of them he will make commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some will have to plow his fields and reap his harvest. Some will be assigned to making weapons of war and chariot equipment.
Baadhi yao atawaweka kuwa majemadari wa jeshi wa maelfu na majemadari wa jeshi wa hamsini, wengine kulima mashamba yake na kuvuna mavuno yake, pia na wengine kutengeneza silaha za vita na vifaa kwa ajili ya magari yake.
13 He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.
Atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi na waokaji.
14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.
Atayachukua mashamba yenu yaliyo mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu na mashamba yenu ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.
15 He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.
Ataichukua sehemu ya kumi ya nafaka yenu na ya zabibu zenu na kuwapa maafisa wake na watumishi wake.
16 He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.
Atawachukua watumishi wenu wa kiume na wa kike, na ngʼombe wenu walio wazuri sana na punda kwa matumizi yake mwenyewe.
17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.
Atachukua sehemu ya kumi ya makundi yenu ya kondoo na mbuzi, na ninyi wenyewe mtakuwa watumwa wake.
18 On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”
Siku ile itakapowadia, mtalia kwa kutaka msaada kutokana na mfalme mliyemchagua, naye Bwana hatawajibu.”
19 But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!
Lakini watu wakakataa kumsikiliza Samweli wakasema, “Hapana! Tunataka mfalme wa kututawala.
20 That way we can be like all the other nations. Our king will rule us, and will lead us when we go out to fight our battles.”
Kisha tutakuwa kama mataifa mengine yote, tukiwa na mfalme wa kutuongoza na kwenda mbele yetu na kutupigania vita vyetu.”
21 Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.
Samweli aliposikia yote watu waliyosema, akarudia kuyasema mbele za Bwana.
22 The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”
Bwana akamjibu, “Wasikilize na uwape mfalme.” Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mmoja arudi mjini kwake.”
