Samuel 1 8
1 Esi Samuel tsi la, eɖo via ŋutsuwo ʋɔnudrɔ̃lawoe na Israel
When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.
2 Via ŋutsu gbãtɔ ŋkɔe nye Yoel eye evelia ŋkɔe nye Abiya ame siwo drɔ̃ ʋɔnu le Beerseba.
His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers 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.
However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 Ale Israel ƒe kplɔlawo katã kpe ta heva Samuel gbɔ le Rama
So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet 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 here,” they told him, “you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. Choose a king to rule over 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.
Samuel thought this was a bad idea when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us,” so he prayed to the Lord about it.
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.
“Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but 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.
They're doing just as they have always done since I led them out of Egypt right up to now. They have abandoned me and worshiped other gods, and they're doing just the same 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.”
So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”
10 Ale Samuel gblɔ nya siwo katã Yehowa gblɔ la na ame siwo le ebiam be wòana fia yewo.
Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them 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.
“This is what a king will do when he rules over you,” he told them. “He will take your sons and make them serve as charioteers and horsemen, and to run as a guard in front of his chariot.
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.
Some of them he will make commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some will have to plow his fields and reap his harvest. Some will be assigned to making weapons of war and chariot equipment.
13 Axɔ mía vinyɔnuwo be woanye yeƒe amiʋeʋẽwɔlawo, nuɖalawo kple aboloƒolawo.
He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.
14 Axɔ miaƒe agbledenyigba nyuitɔwo, waingblewo kple amitive nyuitɔwo le mia si atsɔ na eƒe dɔlawo.
He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.
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 harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.
16 Axɔ miaƒe dɔlaŋutsuwo, dɔlanyɔnuwo kple nyi damiwo le miaƒe nyiha me kple miaƒe tedziwo na eya ŋutɔ ɖokui.
He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.
17 Axɔ miaƒe lãhawo ƒe ewolia eye miawo ŋutɔ miazu eƒe kluviwo.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be 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.”
On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”
19 Ke ameawo gbe toɖoɖo Samuel. Wogblɔ nɛ be, “Ao! Míedi fia be wòaɖu mía dzi.
But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!
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.”
That way we can be like all the other nations. Our king will rule us, and will lead us when we go out to fight our battles.”
21 Esi Samuel se nya siawo katã si ameawo gblɔ la, egbugbɔ wo gblɔ na Yehowa.
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to 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.
The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”
