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.
Waaliwo omusajja Omubenyamini eyali omututumufu erinnya lye Kiisi, mutabani wa Abiyeeri, mutabani wa Zeroli, mutabani wa Bekolaasi, mutabani wa Afiya, Omubenyamini.
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.
Yalina mutabani we erinnya lye Sawulo, nga mulenzi alabika bulungi, era nga tewali amwenkana obulungi mu bantu ba Isirayiri, nga muwanvu okusinga abantu bonna.
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!”
Endogoyi za Kiisi, kitaawe wa Sawulo zaali zibuze. Kiisi n’agamba mutabani we Sawulo nti, “Twala omu ku baweereza, mugende munoonye endogoyi.”
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.
Ne bayitira mu nsi ey’ensozi eya Efulayimu ne mu nsi ya Salisa, naye ne bataziraba. Ne bayita ne mu nsi ya Saalimu naye ne bataziraba. Ne bayita ne mu nsi ye Benyamini, naye ne zibabula.
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.”
Awo bwe baatuuka mu nsi ya Zufu, Sawulo n’agamba omuweereza eyali naye nti, “Jjangu tuddeyo, sikuba nga kitange ava ku b’endogoyi, n’atandika okweraliikirira ffe.”
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].”
Naye omuweereza n’amuddamu nti, “Laba, mu kibuga muno mulimu omusajja wa Katonda, era assibwamu nnyo ekitiibwa, na buli ky’ayogera kituukirira. Tugendeyo, oboolyawo anaayinza okututegeeza ekkubo lye tuba tukwata.”
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?”
Sawulo n’agamba omuweereza we nti, “Naye bwe tugendayo, omusajja tunaamutwalira ki? Emmere eweddemu mu nsawo zaffe, ate tewali na kirabo kya kutwalira musajja wa Katonda. Tulinawo ki?”
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].”
Omuweereza n’addamu Sawulo nti, “Laba, wano nninawo gulaamu ssatu eza ffeeza, era ze nzija okuwa omusajja wa Katonda atutegeeze ekkubo lye tuba tukwata.”
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)].’
(Edda mu Isirayiri, omuntu bwe yagendanga okwebuuza ku Katonda, yayogeranga nti, “Jjangu tugende ew’omulabi;” kubanga ayitibwa nnabbi mu nnaku zino, edda ye yayitibwanga omulabi).
Sawulo n’amuddamu nti, “Oteesezza bulungi, jjangu tugende.” Ne basitula okugenda mu kibuga omusajja wa Katonda gye yali.
Awo bwe baali nga balinnyalinnya akasozi okugenda mu kibuga ne basisinkana abawala abaali bagenda okusena amazzi, ne bababuuza nti, “Omulabi gy’ali?”
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].
Ne babaddamu nti, “Gy’ali. Ali mu maaso awo. Mwanguweeko, yaakatuuka kati mu kibuga, kubanga leero abantu balina ssaddaaka ey’okuweerayo mu kifo ekigulumivu.
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.”
Bwe munaaba nga mwakayingira mu kibuga, mujja kumusisinkana nga tannayambuka kuliira mu kifo ekigulumivu. Abantu tebajja kulya nga tannatuuka, kubanga alina okusabira ssaddaaka omukisa n’oluvannyuma abayitiddwa balyoke balye. Kaakano mwanguwe mugende, mujja kumusisinkana.”
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.
Awo ne bayambuka okugenda mu kibuga. Bwe baali bakiyingira ne balaba Samwiri ng’ajja gye bali, ng’ayolekedde ekifo ekigulumivu.
15 On the previous day, Yahweh had told Samuel,
Kyokka bwe waali wakyabulayo olunaku lumu Sawulo ajje, Mukama yali abikkulidde Samwiri ekigambo ng’agamba nti,
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.”
“Enkya ku ssaawa nga zino nzija kukusindikira omusajja okuva mu nsi ya Benyamini. Mufukeeko amafuta okuba omukulembeze w’abantu bange, Isirayiri; oyo y’alirokola abantu bange okuva mu mukono gw’Abafirisuuti. Ntunuulidde abantu bange; okukaaba kwabwe kutuuse gye ndi.”
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!”
Awo Samwiri olwalengera Sawulo, Mukama n’amugamba nti, “Omusajja gwe nakutegeezezzaako wuuyo. Oyo y’ajja okufuga abantu bange.”
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)]?”
Sawulo n’asemberera Samwiri mu mulyango, n’amubuuza nti, “Ssebo oyinza okundagirira ennyumba y’omulabi w’eri?”
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.
Samwiri n’amuddamu nti, “Nze mulabi, nkulemberaamu nga twambuka mu kifo ekigulumivu, kubanga leero onooliira wamu nange, enkya ku makya nzija kukuleka ogende era nzija kukubuulira ebyo byonna ebiri ku mutima gwo.
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]
Naye ebifa ku ndogoyi zo ezimaze ennaku essatu nga zibuze, tobyeraliikirira, kubanga zaazuuliddwa. Okwegomba kwa Isirayiri yonna kunaaba kw’ani, bwe kutaabe ku ggwe n’ennyumba ya kitaawo yonna?”
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]?”
Sawulo n’addamu nti, “Nze ndi Mubenyamini, era nva mu kika ekisingirayo ddala obutono, ate nga n’ennyumba yaffe y’esingira ddala okuba eya wansi mu nnyumba zonna ez’ekika kya Benyamini. Lwaki oyogera nange ebigambo ebifaanana ng’ebyo?”
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.
Awo Samwiri n’atwala Sawulo n’omuweereza we mu kisenge ekinene, n’abatuuza mu bifo eby’oku mwanjo mu maaso g’abo bonna abaayitibwa abaali bawera ng’amakumi asatu.
23 Then Samuel told the cook, “Bring to me the special piece [of meat] that I told you to set aside.”
Samwiri n’agamba omufumbi nti, “Leeta ekifi ky’ennyama, kye nakuteresezza, kye nakugambye oteeke wabbali.”
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.
Awo omufumbi n’addira ekisambi, n’ebyakiriko n’akiteeka mu maaso ga Sawulo. Samwiri n’ayogera nti, “Laba kino kye kyakuterekeddwa. Kirye kubanga kyakuterekeddwa okutuusa ekiseera kino olw’omukolo guno, okuva ku kiseera kiri, bwe nagamba nti, ‘Nnina abagenyi abayite.’” Awo Sawulo n’aliira wamu ne Samwiri ku lunaku olwo.
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.
Bwe baava mu kifo ekigulumivu ne baserengeta mu kibuga, Samwiri n’atwala Sawulo waggulu ku nnyumba ye ne banyumyamu.
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.
Awo enkeera Samwiri n’agolokoka mu makya n’akoowoola Sawulo nti, “Golokoka nkusibule odde ku lugendo lwo.” Sawulo ne yeteekateeka, ye ne Samwiri ne baserengeta okugenda mu kibuga.
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.”
Bwe baali baserengeta nga banaatera okutuuka ekibuga we kikoma, Samwiri n’agamba Sawulo nti, “Gamba omuweereza wo ayitewo, atukulemberemu, gwe osigaleko wano, nkutegeeze obubaka obuva eri Katonda.”
