Samuel 1 9
1 Kis nye kesinɔtɔ kple bubume aɖe tso Benyamin ƒe to la me. Fofoae nye Abiel, ame si nye Zeror vi, ame si nye Bekorat vi, ame si hã nye Afia vi.
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2 Saul nye Kis ƒe viŋutsu eye wònye ɖekakpui dzeɖekɛtɔ le Israel. Ekɔ wu ame sia ame le anyigba la dzi ale be ame kɔkɔtɔ siwo kplɔe ɖo la se abɔta ko nɛ.
He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 Gbe ɖeka Kis ƒe tedziwo bu eya ta wòɖo Saul kple subɔla aɖe ɖa be woayi aɖadi wo vɛ.
The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”
4 Wotsa le afi sia afi le Efraim ƒe tonyigba la dzi kple Salisa nyigba kple Salim nuto me kple Benyamin ƒe anyigba blibo la dzi gake womete ŋu kpɔ wo o.
He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
5 Esi wogadi wo le Zuf nyigba la hã dzi la, Saul gblɔ na subɔla la be, “Na míayi aƒe me elabena fifia la, fofonye atsi dzi ɖe míawo ŋu wu tedziawo ŋu!”
When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come! Let’s return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us.”
6 Ke subɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Meɖo ŋku nane dzi! Nyagblɔɖila aɖe le du sia me, ame sia ame bunɛ eye woxɔa edzi sena elabena nya sia nya si wògblɔna la vaa eme. Na míayi aɖadii, ɖewohĩ afia afi si tedziawo le la mí.”
The servant said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7 Saul ɖo eŋu be, “Naneke mele mía si míatsɔ axe fe nɛ o, nuɖuɖu gɔ̃ hã vɔ le mía si eye naneke kura meli míatsɔ nɛ o.”
Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 Subɔla la gblɔ be, “Klosaloga si ƒe kpekpeme nye gram etɔ̃ la le asinye. Míatsɔe na Mawu ƒe ame la, ale be wòagblɔ mɔ si míato la na mí.”
The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”
9 Tsã ne woyina nu bia ge Mawu le Israel la, wogblɔna be, “Mina míayi nukpɔla gbɔ,” elabena ame si woyɔna fifia be nyagblɔɖila, eyae woyɔna tsã be nukpɔla.
(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come! Let’s go to the seer;” for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)
10 Esi wonɔ togbɛ aɖe liam ɖo ta dua me la, wodo go ɖetugbi aɖewo woyina tsi du ge. Wobia ɖetugbiawo be wonya ne nyagblɔɖila la le dua me hã.
Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 Le ŋkeke mawo me la, woyɔa nyagblɔɖilawo be nukpɔlawo eya ta amewo gblɔna, be “Mina míayi aɖabia nukpɔla la” eye menye “Mina míayi aɖabia nyagblɔɖila la” abe ale si míegblɔna egbe ene o.
As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
12 Woɖo eŋu be, “Ɛ̃, ele afi sia. Edze mia ŋgɔ. Afɔ netsɔ na mi. Eva míaƒe dua me egbea elabena dukɔ la le vɔ sa ge le to dzi egbea.
They answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.
13 Ne mieɖo dua me teti ko la, miakpɔe hafi wòava ayi nuɖuƒe le toa dzi; elabena ameawo alala wòava ayra vɔsanuawo hafi ame siwo wokpe la naɖui. Eya ta miyi fifia, miakpɔe godoo le ɣeyiɣi sia me.”
As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
14 Ale woyi dua me eye esi woɖo agboa nu tututu ko la, wokpɔ Samuel, wòyina ɖe toa dzi.
They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.
15 Do ŋgɔ la, Yehowa gblɔ na Samuel be,
Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
16 “Le etsɔ si gbɔna ƒe ɣe aleawo ɣi la, maɖo ame aɖe ɖe wò tso Benyamin ƒe anyigba dzi. Si ami nɛ ne wòazu Israelviwo ƒe kplɔla. Eyae aɖe wo tso Filistitɔwo si me elabena mekpɔ nublanui na wo eye mese woƒe ɣlidodo.”
“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”
17 Esi Samuel kpɔ Saul ko la, Yehowa gblɔ nɛ be, “Ame siae nye ame si ƒe nya megblɔ na wò, eyae aɖu fia ɖe Israelviwo dzi.”
When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”
18 Saul te ɖe Samuel ŋu eye wòbiae be, “Meɖe kuku, nukpɔla ƒe aƒe me ɖe?”
Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19 Enumake Samuel ɖo eŋu be, “Nyee nye nukpɔla la! Dze ŋgɔ nàyi toa dzi eye míaɖu nu ɖekae le afi ma. Etsɔ ŋdi la, magblɔ nu si nèdi be yeanya la na wò eye mado mɔ wò.
Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
20 Mègatsi dzi le tedzi siwo bu ŋkeke etɔ̃e nye esi la ŋu kura o elabena wokpɔ wo xoxo. Ke Israel ƒe kesinɔnuwo katã zu tɔwò azɔ!”
As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?”
21 Saul ɖo eŋu be, “Amegã, nya ka gblɔm nèle? Benyamin ƒe to si nye to suetɔ kekeake le Israel la mee metso eye nye ƒome hãe nye ƒome gblɔetɔ kekeake le to la me! Ame bubue nàgblɔ nya siawo na hafi!”
Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
22 Samuel kple Saul kple subɔla la yi xɔ gã la me eye wòna nɔƒe wo ɖe kplɔ̃ ta. Wode bubu wo ŋu wu ame blaetɔ̃ bubu siwo wokpe.
Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
23 Samuel gblɔ na nuɖuɖudzikpɔla la be, “Tsɔ lãkɔ damitɔ si mede asi na wò be nadzra ɖo nam la vɛ nam.”
Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
24 Ale nuɖuɖudzikpɔla la tsɔe va da ɖe Saul ƒe akɔme. Samuel gblɔ na Saul be, “Ɖu nu nam elabena wò tututue medzra nuɖuɖu sia ɖo na hafi mekpe ame bubuawo gɔ̃ hã!” Ale Saul ɖu nu kple Samuel.
The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 Esi wotrɔ va dua me le nuɖuɖua megbe la, Samuel kplɔ Saul yi eƒe xɔta ƒe gbadzaƒe eye woɖo dze le afi ma.
When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
26 Le ŋufɔke ƒe ŋdi kanya la, Samuel yɔ Saul le xɔta eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Dzra ɖo na mɔzɔzɔ.” Esi Saul dzra ɖo vɔ la, eya kple Samuel dze mɔ.
They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together.
27 Esi woɖo dua ƒe gbɔto la, Samuel gblɔ na Saul be, “Gblɔ na subɔla la be wòado ŋgɔ” eye subɔla la wɔ nenema. “Gake wò la, lala ne magblɔ gbedeasi si tso Mawu gbɔ la na wò.”
As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” He went ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message.”
