Samuel 1 8
1 Esi Samuel tsi la, eɖo via ŋutsuwo ʋɔnudrɔ̃lawoe na Israel
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 Via ŋutsu gbãtɔ ŋkɔe nye Yoel eye evelia ŋkɔe nye Abiya ame siwo drɔ̃ ʋɔnu le Beerseba.
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 Via ŋutsuwo meto wo fofo ƒe afɔtoƒe o. Woɖe asi le mɔ dzɔdzɔe ŋu, heti viɖe ƒoɖi yome, woxɔa zãnu eye wotsoa afia ŋkunɔ.
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 Ale Israel ƒe kplɔlawo katã kpe ta heva Samuel gbɔ le Rama
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 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.”
“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
6 Ke esi wogblɔ be, “Tia fia na mí be wòakplɔ mí” la, esia medze Samuel ŋu o; eya ta wòdo gbe ɖa na Yehowa.
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7 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.
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
8 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.
Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9 Azɔ la, ɖo to wo, gake xlɔ̃ nu wo vevie eye nàna woanya nu si fia si ava ɖu wo dzi la awɔ.”
Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
10 Ale Samuel gblɔ nya siwo katã Yehowa gblɔ la na ame siwo le ebiam be wòana fia yewo.
So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 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.
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.
12 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.
He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.
13 Axɔ mía vinyɔnuwo be woanye yeƒe amiʋeʋẽwɔlawo, nuɖalawo kple aboloƒolawo.
And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 Axɔ miaƒe agbledenyigba nyuitɔwo, waingblewo kple amitive nyuitɔwo le mia si atsɔ na eƒe dɔlawo.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
15 Axɔ miaƒe agblemenukuwo kple miaƒe wain tsetsewo ƒe ewolia eye wòatsɔ wo ana eƒe dɔnunɔlawo kple eƒe subɔlawo.
He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16 Axɔ miaƒe dɔlaŋutsuwo, dɔlanyɔnuwo kple nyi damiwo le miaƒe nyiha me kple miaƒe tedziwo na eya ŋutɔ ɖokui.
And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
17 Axɔ miaƒe lãhawo ƒe ewolia eye miawo ŋutɔ miazu eƒe kluviwo.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 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.”
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
19 Ke ameawo gbe toɖoɖo Samuel. Wogblɔ nɛ be, “Ao! Míedi fia be wòaɖu mía dzi.
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 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.”
Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
21 Esi Samuel se nya siawo katã si ameawo gblɔ la, egbugbɔ wo gblɔ na Yehowa.
Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22 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.
“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”
