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.
Basi kulikuwa na mtu mmoja kutoka Benyamini, mtu mashuhuri. Jina lake aliitwa Kishi mwana wa Abieli, mwana wa Zerori, mwana wa Bekorathi, mwana wa Afia, mwana wa Mbenyamini.
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.
Huyu alikuwa na mtoto wa kiume aliyeitwa Sauli, kijana mzuri wa uso. Hapakuwapo mwanaume mzuri wa uso kuliko huyu miongoni mwa watu wote wa Israeli. Kutoka mabegani kwenda juu alikuwa mrefu kuliko watu wengine.
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!”
Na punda wa Kishi, baba yake na Sauli walipotea. hivyo Kishi akamwambia Sauli mwanawe, “Mchukue mmoja wa watumishi; uamke uende kuwatafuta punda,”
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.
Sauli akapita katika nchi ya vilima vilima ya Efraimu na akaenda akapita katika nchi ya Shalisha, lakini hawakuwaona. Kisha walipita katika nchi ya Shaalimu, lakini hawakuwa huko. Baadaye alipita katika nchi ya Wabenyamini, lakini hawakuwaona wale punda.
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.”
Na walipofika nchi ya Sufu, Sauli alimwambia mtumishi wake aliyekuwa naye, “Njoo na turudi, pengine baba aweza kuacha kuchunga punda na kuanza kutuhofia sisi.”
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].”
Lakini mtumishi akamwmbia, “Sikiliza, Yupo mtu wa Mungu katika mji huu. Naye ni mtu wa kuheshimiwa sana; kila asemalo huwa kweli. Hebu twende huko; labda anaweza kutuambia tupitie wapi katika safari yetu.”
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?”
Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumish iwake, “Lakini kama tukienda kwake, twaweza kumpelekea nini? Maana hata mkate katika mfuko wetu umekwisha, na hakuna zawadi ya kumpelekea mtumishi wa Mungu. Tuna kitu gani?
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].”
Huyo mtumishi akamjibu Sauli na kusema, “Hapa, ninayo robo ya shekeli ya fedha ambayo nitampa mtumishi wa Mungu, atuambie ni njia ipi yatupasa tuiendee.”
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)].’
(Zamani katika Israeli, mtu alipotaka kujua neno kuhusu mapenzi ya Mungu, alisema, “Njoo, haya twende kwa mwonaji.” Kwa maana nabii wa leo, zamani aliitwa Mwonaji).
Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Umesema vyema. Haya, njoo twende.” Basi wakaenda katika mji ambao mtu wa Mungu alikuwamo.
Walipopanda mlima kuelekea mjini, walikutana na wasichana wakienda kuteka maji; Sauli na mtumishi wake wakawauliza, “Mwonaji hupo hapa?”
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].
Nao wakawajibu, na kusema, “Yupo; tazameni, yuko mbele yenu. Harakisheni, kwa maana anakuja mjini leo, sababu leo watu wanatoa dhabihu zao mahali pa juu.
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.”
Mara tu mtakapoingia mjini mtamuona, kabla hajapanda mahali pa juu kla chakula. Watu hawatakula hata atakapokuja, kwa sababu ndiye ataibariki dhabihu; na baadaye wale ambao wamealikwa hula. Basi pandeni, mtamuona sasa hivi.”
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.
Kwa hiyo walikwea kwenda mjini. Walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, walimuona Samweli akija mbele yao, akipanda kwenda mahali pa juu.
15 On the previous day, Yahweh had told Samuel,
Siku moja kabla Sauli hajafika, BWANA alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli:
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.”
“Kesho wakati kama huu nitakutumia mtu kutoka nchi ya Benyamini, nawe utamtia mafuta awe mfalme juu ya watu wangu Israeli. Atawaokoa watu wangu kutoka mkono wa Wafilisti. Kwa kuwa nimewaonea huruma watu wangu na kilio cha kutaka msaada kimenifikia.”
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!”
Samweli alipomuona Sauli, BWANA akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekwambia habari zake! Yeye ndiye atakayewatawala watu wangu.”
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)]?”
Ndipo Sauli akaja karibu na Samweli katika lango na kusema, “Niambie nyumba ya Mwonaji iko wapi?
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.
Samweli akamjibu Sauli akisema, “Mimi ndiye mwonaji. Tangulia mbele hadi mahali pa juu, nami nitakueleza kila kitu kilichomoyoni mwako.
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]
Kama punda wenu waliopotea siku tatu zilizopita, msihofu kuhusu hao punda, kwa kuwa wamekwishapatikana. Na yote yaliyotamanika kwa ajili ya Israeli yanamwangukia nani? Siyo kwako na nyumba ya baba yako yote?”
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]?”
Sauli akamjibu na kusema, Siyo mimi Mbenyamini, kutoka kabila lililo dogo sana kwa makabila ya Israeli? Siyo ukoo wangu ulio mdogo sana kwa kabila la Benyamini? Kwa nini basi unaniambia kwa namna hii?”
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.
Hivyo Samweli akamchukua Sauli na mtumishi wake, akawaingiza ukumbini, akawakalisha mahali pa heshima pa wale walioalikwa, idadi yao takribani watu thelathini.
23 Then Samuel told the cook, “Bring to me the special piece [of meat] that I told you to set aside.”
Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Lete sehemu niliyokupatia, sehemu ambayo nilikwambia hivi, “Itenge.”'
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.
Basi mpishi alichukua paja lililokuwa limeinuliwa katika dhabihu na kile kilichokuwa pamoja nalo, akaitenga mbele ya Sauli. Kisha Samweli akasema, “Angalia kile kilichokuwa kimetunzwa kwa ajili yako! Kula, kwa sababu kilitunzwa hadi wakati maalum ufike kwa ajili yako. Na kwa sasa waweza kusema, 'Nimewaalika watu.”' Kwa hiyo Sauli alikula pamoja na Samweli siku hiyo.
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.
Walipokuwa wamekwisha shuka chini kutoka sehemu ya juu na kuingia mjini, Samweli akazungumza na Sauli darini.
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.
Na kulipopambazuka, Samweli alimwita Sauli darini na kusema, “Amka, kusudi nikusindikize uende zako,” Hivyo Sauli aliamka, na wote wawili, yeye na Samweli walitoka kwenda mtaani.
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.”
Walipokuwa wakienda nje ya viunga vya mji, Samweli akamwambia Sauli, “Mwambie mtumishi wako atanguliye mbele yetu(na alitangulia mbele), Lakini wewe sharti usubiri kidogo, nipate kukuambia ujumbe wa Mungu.”
