1 Samuel 9
1 There was a rich and influential man whose name was Kish. He belonged to the tribe descended from Benjamin. Kish was the son of Abiel and the grandson of Zeror. He was from the family of Becorath and from the clan of Aphiah.
Kis nye kesinɔtɔ kple bubume aɖe tso Benyamin ƒe to la me. Fofoae nye Abiel, ame si nye Zeror vi, ame si nye Bekorat vi, ame si hã nye Afia vi.
2 Kish had a son whose name was Saul. He was more handsome than any of the other Israeli men, and he was a head/foot taller than any of the other Israeli men.
Saul nye Kis ƒe viŋutsu eye wònye ɖekakpui dzeɖekɛtɔ le Israel. Ekɔ wu ame sia ame le anyigba la dzi ale be ame kɔkɔtɔ siwo kplɔe ɖo la se abɔta ko nɛ.
3 One day, some of Kish’s female donkeys wandered off. So Kish told Saul, “Take one of my servants with you, and go and search for the donkeys!”
Gbe ɖeka Kis ƒe tedziwo bu eya ta wòɖo Saul kple subɔla aɖe ɖa be woayi aɖadi wo vɛ.
4 So Saul did that. He took a servant, and they walked through the hilly area where the descendants of Ephraim lived, and then they went through the areas named Shalishah and Shaalim, and then they went through all the area where the descendants of Benjamin lived, but they could not find the donkeys.
Wotsa le afi sia afi le Efraim ƒe tonyigba la dzi kple Salisa nyigba kple Salim nuto me kple Benyamin ƒe anyigba blibo la dzi gake womete ŋu kpɔ wo o.
5 Finally, they came to the area of Zuph. Then Saul said to the servant, “Let’s go back home. If we do not do that, my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
Esi wogadi wo le Zuf nyigba la hã dzi la, Saul gblɔ na subɔla la be, “Na míayi aƒe me elabena fifia la, fofonye atsi dzi ɖe míawo ŋu wu tedziawo ŋu!”
6 But the servant said, “I have another idea [IDM]. There is one of God’s prophets who lives in this town. People respect him very much, because everything he predicts comes true. Let’s go [talk] to him. Perhaps he can tell us where we can go [to find the donkeys].”
Ke subɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Meɖo ŋku nane dzi! Nyagblɔɖila aɖe le du sia me, ame sia ame bunɛ eye woxɔa edzi sena elabena nya sia nya si wògblɔna la vaa eme. Na míayi aɖadii, ɖewohĩ afia afi si tedziawo le la mí.”
7 Saul replied to the servant, “If we go talk with him, [we should give a gift to him, but] what can we give to him? We have no more food in our sacks. Do we have anything else to give to him?”
Saul ɖo eŋu be, “Naneke mele mía si míatsɔ axe fe nɛ o, nuɖuɖu gɔ̃ hã vɔ le mía si eye naneke kura meli míatsɔ nɛ o.”
8 The servant replied, “Look [at this]! I have a small silver coin. I can give this to him, and then he will tell us where to go [to find the donkeys].”
Subɔla la gblɔ be, “Klosaloga si ƒe kpekpeme nye gram etɔ̃ la le asinye. Míatsɔe na Mawu ƒe ame la, ale be wòagblɔ mɔ si míato la na mí.”
9 Saul said, “Okay, let’s go [talk to him.”] So they went to the town where the prophet lived. As they were going up the hill into the town, they met some young women who were coming out of the town to get some water [from a well]. One of them asked the women, “Is the seer in the town [today]?” [They said that because] previously, if people [in Israel] wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go to the seer,” and people who now are called prophets were at that time called ‘those who see [(visions from God/all that God sees)].’
Tsã ne woyina nu bia ge Mawu le Israel la, wogblɔna be, “Mina míayi nukpɔla gbɔ,” elabena ame si woyɔna fifia be nyagblɔɖila, eyae woyɔna tsã be nukpɔla.
Esi wonɔ togbɛ aɖe liam ɖo ta dua me la, wodo go ɖetugbi aɖewo woyina tsi du ge. Wobia ɖetugbiawo be wonya ne nyagblɔɖila la le dua me hã.
Le ŋkeke mawo me la, woyɔa nyagblɔɖilawo be nukpɔlawo eya ta amewo gblɔna, be “Mina míayi aɖabia nukpɔla la” eye menye “Mina míayi aɖabia nyagblɔɖila la” abe ale si míegblɔna egbe ene o.
12 The women replied, “Yes, he is in the town. In fact, he is [walking on the road] ahead of you. He has just arrived in the town, because the people are going to offer a sacrifice on the altar where the people gather [to worship God].
Woɖo eŋu be, “Ɛ̃, ele afi sia. Edze mia ŋgɔ. Afɔ netsɔ na mi. Eva míaƒe dua me egbea elabena dukɔ la le vɔ sa ge le to dzi egbea.
13 If you go quickly, you will [have time to talk to him] before he goes there. The people who have been invited will not start eating until he arrives there and (blesses/asks God to bless) the sacrifice.”
Ne mieɖo dua me teti ko la, miakpɔe hafi wòava ayi nuɖuƒe le toa dzi; elabena ameawo alala wòava ayra vɔsanuawo hafi ame siwo wokpe la naɖui. Eya ta miyi fifia, miakpɔe godoo le ɣeyiɣi sia me.”
14 So Saul and the servant entered the town. As they went through the gates, they saw Samuel as he was coming toward them, on the way to where people were going to offer sacrifices.
Ale woyi dua me eye esi woɖo agboa nu tututu ko la, wokpɔ Samuel, wòyina ɖe toa dzi.
15 On the previous day, Yahweh had told Samuel,
Do ŋgɔ la, Yehowa gblɔ na Samuel be,
16 “At this time tomorrow, I will send to you a man from the land where the descendants of Benjamin live. Pour olive oil on his [head] to [indicate that he will] be the leader of my Israeli people. I have seen that my people are suffering [because the Philistine people are oppressing them], and I have heard my people as they have called out to me [for help]. The man on whose [head] you pour olive oil will rescue my people from the [MTY] Philistine people.”
“Le etsɔ si gbɔna ƒe ɣe aleawo ɣi la, maɖo ame aɖe ɖe wò tso Benyamin ƒe anyigba dzi. Si ami nɛ ne wòazu Israelviwo ƒe kplɔla. Eyae aɖe wo tso Filistitɔwo si me elabena mekpɔ nublanui na wo eye mese woƒe ɣlidodo.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “This is the man I told you about yesterday! He is the one who will rule my people!”
Esi Samuel kpɔ Saul ko la, Yehowa gblɔ nɛ be, “Ame siae nye ame si ƒe nya megblɔ na wò, eyae aɖu fia ɖe Israelviwo dzi.”
18 Saul saw Samuel as he was sitting at the town gateway [but he did not know that it was Samuel]. He went over to him and asked him, “Can you tell me, where is the house of the man who sees [(visions from God/all that God sees)]?”
Saul te ɖe Samuel ŋu eye wòbiae be, “Meɖe kuku, nukpɔla ƒe aƒe me ɖe?”
19 Samuel replied, “I am that man. Go ahead of me with your servant to the place where the people make sacrifices. Both of you will eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will tell you what you are wanting to know, and then I will send you home.
Enumake Samuel ɖo eŋu be, “Nyee nye nukpɔla la! Dze ŋgɔ nàyi toa dzi eye míaɖu nu ɖekae le afi ma. Etsɔ ŋdi la, magblɔ nu si nèdi be yeanya la na wò eye mado mɔ wò.
20 Also, do not worry any more about those donkeys that wandered away three days ago. (Someone has found them/They have been found). But [what you need to know is that] it is you and your family that all the Israeli people are wanting!” [RHQ]
Mègatsi dzi le tedzi siwo bu ŋkeke etɔ̃e nye esi la ŋu kura o elabena wokpɔ wo xoxo. Ke Israel ƒe kesinɔnuwo katã zu tɔwò azɔ!”
21 Saul replied, “I am from the tribe of Benjamin [RHQ]. That is the smallest tribe in Israel [RHQ]! And my family is the least important family in our tribe! So why are you talking to me like this, [about the Israeli people wanting me and my family]?”
Saul ɖo eŋu be, “Amegã, nya ka gblɔm nèle? Benyamin ƒe to si nye to suetɔ kekeake le Israel la mee metso eye nye ƒome hãe nye ƒome gblɔetɔ kekeake le to la me! Ame bubue nàgblɔ nya siawo na hafi!”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and the servant into the big dining room, and told them to sit at the head [of the table, indicating that he was] honoring them more than he was honoring the 30 people who had been invited.
Samuel kple Saul kple subɔla la yi xɔ gã la me eye wòna nɔƒe wo ɖe kplɔ̃ ta. Wode bubu wo ŋu wu ame blaetɔ̃ bubu siwo wokpe.
23 Then Samuel told the cook, “Bring to me the special piece [of meat] that I told you to set aside.”
Samuel gblɔ na nuɖuɖudzikpɔla la be, “Tsɔ lãkɔ damitɔ si mede asi na wò be nadzra ɖo nam la vɛ nam.”
24 So the cook brought the leg and the meat that was on it, and set it in front of Saul, [even though those portions were for only the priest to eat]. Samuel said to Saul, “Start eating it. I told the cook to save this for you, so that you could eat it at this time, when all these people whom I invited are here.” So Saul and Samuel ate together.
Ale nuɖuɖudzikpɔla la tsɔe va da ɖe Saul ƒe akɔme. Samuel gblɔ na Saul be, “Ɖu nu nam elabena wò tututue medzra nuɖuɖu sia ɖo na hafi mekpe ame bubuawo gɔ̃ hã!” Ale Saul ɖu nu kple Samuel.
25 After they finished eating, they returned to the town. Then Samuel took Saul up to the [flat] roof [of his house], and fixed a bed for him.
Esi wotrɔ va dua me le nuɖuɖua megbe la, Samuel kplɔ Saul yi eƒe xɔta ƒe gbadzaƒe eye woɖo dze le afi ma.
26 As the sun was rising the next morning, Samuel called up to Saul, “Get up! It is time for me to send you on the road back home.” So Saul got up, and [later] Samuel and Saul left the house together.
Le ŋufɔke ƒe ŋdi kanya la, Samuel yɔ Saul le xɔta eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Dzra ɖo na mɔzɔzɔ.” Esi Saul dzra ɖo vɔ la, eya kple Samuel dze mɔ.
27 When they got to the edge of the town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant ahead. After the servant left, Samuel said to Saul, “Stay here for a few minutes, in order that I can give you a message I received from God.”
Esi woɖo dua ƒe gbɔto la, Samuel gblɔ na Saul be, “Gblɔ na subɔla la be wòado ŋgɔ” eye subɔla la wɔ nenema. “Gake wò la, lala ne magblɔ gbedeasi si tso Mawu gbɔ la na wò.”
