1 Samuel 9
1 And there is a man of Benjamin, and his name [is] Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor,
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 has a son, and his name [is] Saul, a choice youth and handsome, and there is not a man among the sons of Israel more handsome than he—from his shoulder and upward, 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 donkeys of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish says to his son Saul, “Now take one of the young men with you, and rise, go, seek the donkeys.”
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 passes over through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passes over through the land of Shalisha, and they have not found [them]; and they pass over through the land of Shaalim, and they are not; and he passes over through the land of Benjamin, and they have not found [them].
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 have come to the land of Zuph, and Saul has said to his young man who [is] with him, “Come, and we return, lest my father leave off from the donkeys, and has been sorrowful for 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 says to him, “Now behold, a man of God [is] in this city, and the man is honored; all that he speaks certainly comes; now, we go there, it may be he declares to us our way on which we have gone.”
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 says to his young man, “And behold, we go, and what do we bring to the man? For the bread has gone from our vessels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God—what [is] with us?”
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 young man adds to answer Saul and says, “Behold, there is found a fourth of a shekel of silver with me: and I have given to the man of God, and he has declared our way to us.”
Mtumishi akamjibu Sauli tena, akasema, “Tazama, nina fedha robo shekeli. Hiyo nitampa huyo mtu wa Mungu ili aweze kutuambia twende kwa njia ipi.”
9 Formerly in Israel, thus said the man in his going to seek God: “Come and we go to the seer.” For the “prophet” of today is formerly called “the 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 says to his young man, “Your word [is] good; come, we go”; and they go to the city where the man of God [is].
Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Vyema, njoo na twende.” Basi wakaenda mjini alipokuwepo huyo mtu wa Mungu.
11 They are going up in the ascent of the city, and have found young women going out to draw water, and say to them, “Is the seer in this [place]?”
Walipokuwa wakipanda mlima kwenda mjini, wakakutana na baadhi ya wasichana wanakuja kuchota maji, nao wakawauliza, “Je, mwonaji yuko?”
12 And they answer them and say, “He is; behold, before you! Hurry, now, for he has come to the city today, for the people [have] a sacrifice today in a 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 At your going into the city so you find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people do not eat until his coming, for he blesses the sacrifice; afterward, they who are called eat, and now, go up, for you should find him at this time.”
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 go up to the city; they are coming into the midst of the city, and behold, Samuel is coming out to meet them, to go up to the high place;
Wakapanda mjini, nao walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, tazama, Samweli alikuwa akija kuelekea walikokwenda mahali pa juu.
15 and YHWH had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul, saying,
Basi siku moja kabla Sauli hajaja, Bwana alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli jambo hili:
16 “At this time tomorrow, I send to you a man out of the land of Benjamin—and you have anointed him for leader over My people Israel, and he has saved My people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen My people, for its cry has come to 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 When Samuel has seen Saul, then YHWH has answered him, “Behold, the man of whom I have spoken to you; this [one] restrains My people.”
Samweli alipomwona Sauli, Bwana akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekuambia habari zake, kwamba yeye atawatawala watu wangu.”
18 And Saul draws near to Samuel in the midst of the gate and says, “Please declare to me where this seer’s house [is].”
Sauli akamkaribia Samweli langoni na kumuuliza, “Tafadhali, je, waweza kuniambia mahali nyumba ya mwonaji ilipo?”
19 And Samuel answers Saul and says, “I [am] the seer; go up before me into the high place, and you have eaten with me today, and I have sent you away in the morning, and all that [is] in your heart I declare to you.
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 donkeys which are lost from you [for] three days as of today, do not set your heart to them, for they have been found; and to whom [is] all the desire of Israel? Is it not to you and to all your 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 answers and says, “Am I not a Benjamite—of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? And why have you spoken to me according to this word?”
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 takes Saul, and his young man, and brings them into the chamber, and gives a place to them at the head of those called; and they [are] about thirty men.
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 says to the cook, “Give the portion which I gave to you, of which I said to you, Set it by you.”
Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Leta ile sehemu ya nyama niliyokupa, ile niliyokuambia iweke kando.”
24 (And the cook lifts up the leg, and that which [is] on it, and sets [it] before Saul), and he says, “Behold, that which is left; [it] is set before your face—eat, for it is kept for you for this appointed time, [at my] saying, I have called the people”; and Saul eats with Samuel on 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 come down from the high place to the city, and he speaks with Saul on 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 rise early, and it comes to pass, at the ascending of the dawn, that Samuel calls to Saul, on the roof, saying, “Rise, and I send you away”; and Saul rises, and they go out, both of them—he and Samuel, outside.
Walipoamka mapema alfajiri, Samweli akamwita Sauli darini, akamwambia, “Jiandae, nami nitakuaga uende zako.” Sauli alipokuwa tayari yeye na Samweli wakatoka nje pamoja.
27 They are going down in the extremity of the city, and Samuel has said to Saul, “Say to the young man that he should pass on before us (and he passes on), and you, stand at this time, and I cause you 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.”
