1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
USamuyeli eseluphele wabeka amadodana akhe ukuba ngabahluleli baka-Israyeli.
2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
Ibizo lezibulo lakhe lalinguJoweli, ibizo leyesibili lingu-Abhija, njalo ayesebenza eBherishebha.
3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
Kodwa amadodana akhe kawahambanga ezindleleni zakhe. Aphambukela eceleni emva kokuthola inzuzo yenkohliso amukela lemfumbathiso, onakalisa lokwahlulela ngemfanelo.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
Ngakho bonke abadala bako-Israyeli babuthana ndawonye basebesiya kuSamuyeli eRama.
5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
Bathi kuye, “Usuluphele, njalo amadodana akho kawahambi ezindleleni zakho, ngakho sibekele inkosi ezasikhokhela, njengezinye izizwe zonke ezilayo.”
6 But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
Kodwa kwathi besithi, “Sinike inkosi ezasikhokhela,” lokhu kwamcunula uSamuyeli; ngakho wakhuleka kuThixo.
7 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
Njalo uThixo wathi kuye: “Lalela konke lokho abantu abakutshoyo kuwe; akusuwe abamalayo, kodwa bale mina njengeNkosi yabo.
8 They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing to you.
Njengalokhu abakwenzayo kusukela ngosuku engabakhupha ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamhlanje, bangala bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu, lokhu yikho abakwenzayo kuwe.
9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”
Ngakho balalele; kodwa ubaxwayise kakhulu njalo ubazise okuzakwenziwa kubo yinkosi ezababusa.”
10 So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king.
USamuyeli wabatshela wonke amazwi kaThixo abantu ababecela inkosi kuye.
11 He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots.
Wathi, “Nanku okuzakwenziwa yinkosi ezalibusa: Izathatha amadodana enu iwasebenzise lezinqola zayo zempi lamabhiza, njalo azagijima phambi kwezinqola zayo zempi.
12 He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
Amanye uzawenza abe ngabalawuli bezinkulungwane labalawuli bamatshumi amahlanu; njalo amanye azalima amasimu ayo avune kanye lamabele ayo, amanye njalo azakwenza izikhali zayo zempi kanye lempahla zezinqola zayo zempi.
13 He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
Izathatha amadodakazi enu ukuba abe ngabenzi bamakha labapheki kanye labapheki bezinkwa.
14 He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants.
Izathatha amasimu enu avundileyo lezivini kanye lezivande zama-oliva ikunike izinceku zayo.
15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.
Izathatha okwetshumi emabeleni enu lokwesivuno samavini ikunike izikhulu zayo.
16 He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.
Izisebenzi zenu ezesilisa lezesifazane lenkomo zenu ezinhle kanye labobabhemi izakuthatha ikusebenzise.
17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
Izathatha okwetshumi emihlambini yenu njalo lina ngokwenu lizakuba yizigqili zayo.
18 Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”
Nxa lolosuku selufikile lizakhalela ukukhululwa enkosini eliyikhethileyo, kodwa uThixo kayikuliphendula ngalolosuku.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must be a king over us
Kodwa abantu bala ukumlalela uSamuyeli. Bathi, “Hatshi! Sifuna inkosi ezasibusa.
20 so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
Lapho-ke sizakuba njengezinye izizwe zonke, silenkosi esikhokhelayo njalo ihambe phambi kwethu ilwe izimpi zethu.”
21 When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
Kwathi uSamuyeli esekuzwile konke okwakutshiwo ngabantu, wakubika kuThixo.
22 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own city.”
Uthixo waphendula wathi, “Lalela ilizwi labo ubaphe inkosi.” USamuyeli wasesithi ebantwini bako-Israyeli, “Umuntu wonke kabuyele emzini wakibo.”
