1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
Esi Samuel tsi la, eɖo via ŋutsuwo ʋɔnudrɔ̃lawoe na Israel
2 They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
Via ŋutsu gbãtɔ ŋkɔe nye Yoel eye evelia ŋkɔe nye Abiya ame siwo drɔ̃ ʋɔnu le Beerseba.
3 But they were not like their father. They wanted only to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’s disputes/cases.
Via ŋutsuwo meto wo fofo ƒe afɔtoƒe o. Woɖe asi le mɔ dzɔdzɔe ŋu, heti viɖe ƒoɖi yome, woxɔa zãnu eye wotsoa afia ŋkunɔ.
4 Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
Ale Israel ƒe kplɔlawo katã kpe ta heva Samuel gbɔ le Rama
5 They said to him, “Listen! You are now old, and your sons are not like you. Appoint a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!”
Wogblɔ nɛ be, “Azɔ la ètsi eye viwò ŋutsuwo meto wò afɔtoƒe o, eya ta tia fia na mí be wòakplɔ mí abe ale si wòle le dukɔ bubuwo dome ene.”
6 Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
Ke esi wogblɔ be, “Tia fia na mí be wòakplɔ mí” la, esia medze Samuel ŋu o; eya ta wòdo gbe ɖa na Yehowa.
7 Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ([do not think/the truth is not]) that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.
Yehowa gblɔ na Samuel be, “Wɔ nu si wobia tso asiwò la na wo elabena menye wòe wogbe o, ke boŋ nyee wogbe abe woƒe fia ene.
8 Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me, and they have worshiped other gods. And now they are also rejecting you in the same way.
Tso esime mekplɔ wo dzoe le Egipte la, wogbea nu le gbɔnye enuenu eye wodzea mawu bubuwo yome. Azɔ la, wole nu ma ke wɔm ɖe ŋuwò.
9 Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
Azɔ la, ɖo to wo, gake xlɔ̃ nu wo vevie eye nàna woanya nu si fia si ava ɖu wo dzi la awɔ.”
10 So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
Ale Samuel gblɔ nya siwo katã Yehowa gblɔ la na ame siwo le ebiam be wòana fia yewo.
11 He said, “If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you: He will force many of your sons to join the army. He will make [some of] them run in front of his chariots [to clear people out of his way].
Egblɔ na wo be, “Esia nye nu si fia si aɖu mia dzi la awɔ; atsɔ mia viŋutsuwo be woanye yeƒe tasiaɖamkulawo kple sɔdolawo eye wòana woasi du le eƒe tasiaɖamwo ŋgɔ.
12 [Some of] them will be commanders of his soldiers, but others will work for him like slaves. He will force some of them to plow his fields and [then later] harvest his crops. He will force others to make his weapons and equipment for his chariots.
Atsɔ wo dometɔ aɖewo aɖo ame akpewo nu eye wo dometɔ aɖewo anɔ ame blaatɔ̃ aɖewo nu. Ɖewo aŋlɔ eƒe agblewo, axa nukuwo nɛ, nenema ke ɖewo hã anye eƒe aʋawɔnuwo wɔlawo kple tasiaɖamŋutinuwo wɔlawo.
13 The king will take [some of] your daughters [from you and force them] to make perfumes for him and cook food for him and bake [bread for him].
Axɔ mía vinyɔnuwo be woanye yeƒe amiʋeʋẽwɔlawo, nuɖalawo kple aboloƒolawo.
14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
Axɔ miaƒe agbledenyigba nyuitɔwo, waingblewo kple amitive nyuitɔwo le mia si atsɔ na eƒe dɔlawo.
15 He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
Axɔ miaƒe agblemenukuwo kple miaƒe wain tsetsewo ƒe ewolia eye wòatsɔ wo ana eƒe dɔnunɔlawo kple eƒe subɔlawo.
16 He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
Axɔ miaƒe dɔlaŋutsuwo, dɔlanyɔnuwo kple nyi damiwo le miaƒe nyiha me kple miaƒe tedziwo na eya ŋutɔ ɖokui.
17 He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
Axɔ miaƒe lãhawo ƒe ewolia eye miawo ŋutɔ miazu eƒe kluviwo.
18 When that time comes, you will complain loudly to the king, the king that you yourselves have chosen, but Yahweh will not (pay attention to/help) you.”
Ne ŋkeke ma va ɖo la, miafa avi be woana gbɔdzɔe mi tso fia si mietia la si me eye Yehowa matɔ na mi le ŋkeke ma dzi o.”
19 But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!
Ke ameawo gbe toɖoɖo Samuel. Wogblɔ nɛ be, “Ao! Míedi fia be wòaɖu mía dzi.
20 We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers when they go to fight.”
Ekema míanɔ abe dukɔ bubuawo katã ene eye fia anɔ mía si, ame si akplɔ mí eye wòado anɔ ŋgɔ na mí, awɔ aʋawo na mí.”
21 When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
Esi Samuel se nya siawo katã si ameawo gblɔ la, egbugbɔ wo gblɔ na Yehowa.
22 Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
Yehowa ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ɖo to wo eye nàna fia wo.” Tete Samuel gblɔ na Israel ŋutsuawo be, “Ame sia ame netrɔ yi eƒe du me.” Samuel lɔ̃ eye wòɖo ame sia ame ɖe eƒe du me.
