1 Samuel 15
1 Samuel sịrị Sọl, “Mụ ka Onyenwe anyị zitere ite gị mmanụ ka ị bụrụ eze ndị ya, bụ Izrel. Ya mere, gee ntị nʼozi sitere nʼaka Onyenwe anyị bịa.
[One day] Samuel said to Saul, “Yahweh sent me to appoint you to be the king of the Israeli people. So now listen to this message from Yahweh:
2 Ihe a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru. ‘Aga m ata ndị Amalek ahụhụ nʼihi ihe ọjọọ niile ha mere Izrel, mgbe ha nọchiri ha nʼụzọ oge ha si Ijipt pụta.
Yahweh, [the commander] of the armies [of angels] has declared this: ‘I am going to punish [the descendants of] Amalek for [attacking] the Israeli people after the Israelis left Egypt.
3 Ugbu a, gaa buso ndị Amalek agha. Gbuchapụ ihe niile ha nwere. Enwekwala ọmịiko nʼahụ ha. Gbuo ndị ikom niile, ndị inyom niile, ụmụntakịrị niile na ụmụ na-aṅụ ara, igwe ehi na atụrụ, ịnyịnya kamel na ịnyịnya ibu ha niile.’”
So now go [with your army] and attack the Amalek people-group. Destroy them completely—destroy them and everything that belongs to them—the men and women, their children and infants, their cattle and sheep and camels and donkeys. Do not (spare any of them/allow any of them to remain alive)!’”
4 Ya mere, Sọl chịkọtara ndị agha ya mee ka ha zukọtaa nʼobodo Telaim. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị narị puku abụọ, ndị agha ji ụkwụ, tinyere puku ndị ikom iri si na Juda.
So Saul summoned the army, and they gathered at Telaim [town]. There were 200,000 soldiers. 10,000 of them were from Judah, [and the others were from the other Israeli tribes].
5 Sọl duuru ndị agha ya gaa zoo nʼakụkụ iyi tara ata dị nso nʼobodo ndị Amalek.
Then Saul went [with his army] to a town where some of the Amalek people-group lived. [His army prepared to attack them suddenly by] hiding in the valley.
6 Sọl zigaara ndị Ken ozi sị ha, “Sitenụ nʼetiti ndị Amalek wezuga onwe unu ka m ghara ibibikọta unu na ha. Nʼihi na unu gosiri ndị Izrel obiọma mgbe ha si nʼIjipt pụta.” Ya mere, ndị Ken sitere nʼetiti ndị Amalek wezuga onwe ha.
Then Saul sent this message to the Ken people-group [who lived in that area]: “You acted kindly toward all our Israeli [ancestors] when they left Egypt. But we are going to kill all of the Amalek people-group, [because they opposed/attacked our ancestors]. So move away from where the Amalek people-group live. [If you do not move away], you will be killed when they are killed.” So [when] the Ken people-group [heard that, they immediately] left that area.
7 Sọl busoro ndị Amalek agha site na Havila ruo Shua, nke dị nʼọwụwa anyanwụ Ijipt.
Then Saul’s [army] slaughtered the Amalek people-group, from Havilah [town in the east] to Shur [town in the west]. Shur was at the border [between Israel and] Egypt.
8 O jidere Agag, eze ndị Amalek na ndụ, ma jiri mma agha gbuchapụ ndị ya niile.
Saul’s army captured Agag, the king of the Amalek people-group, but they killed everyone else.
9 Ma Sọl na ndị agha ya debere Agag ndụ, debekwa atụrụ na ehi kachasị mma, na ụmụ ebule na atụrụ gbara abụba, na ihe ndị ọzọ niile mara mma. Nʼezie, ihe ọbụla dị mma nʼanya ka ha jụrụ ibibi. Ma ihe ndị ọzọ niile nke na-amasịghị ha, na nke na-abaghị uru, ka ha bibiri.
They not only (spared/did not kill) Agag, but they also took the best sheep and goats and cattle. They took everything that was good. They destroyed only the animals that they considered to be worthless.
10 Mgbe ahụ, okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere Samuel ntị,
Then Yahweh said to Samuel,
11 “Ọ na-ewute m na m mere Sọl ka ọ bụrụ eze, nʼihi na o nupuru isi site nʼokwu m, jụ ime ihe m nyere ya nʼiwu.” O wutere Samuel nke ukwuu mgbe ọ nụrụ ihe Onyenwe anyị kwuru. Ya mere, o tikuru Onyenwe anyị mkpu akwa abalị ahụ niile.
“I am sorry that I appointed Saul to be your king, because he has turned away from me and has not obeyed what I commanded him to do.” Samuel was very disturbed/upset [when he heard that], and he cried out to Yahweh all that night.
12 Nʼisi ụtụtụ echi ya, Samuel pụrụ gawa ịchọ Sọl. Otu onye gwara ya sị, “Sọl agaala nʼugwu Kamel iwuru onwe ya ihe ncheta. Ọ ga-esitekwa ebe ahụ gaa Gilgal.”
Early the next morning, Samuel got up and went to talk with Saul. But someone told Samuel, “Saul went to Camel [city], where he has set up a monument to honor himself. Now he has left there and gone down to Gilgal.”
13 Nʼikpeazụ, mgbe Samuel hụrụ ya, Sọl ji oke ọṅụ kelee Samuel sị, “Onye Onyenwe anyị gọziri agọzi ka ị bụ. Lee, emeela m ihe niile Onyenwe anyị kwuru!”
When Samuel arrived [at Gilgal] he approached Saul, and Saul said to him, “I wish/desire that Yahweh will bless you! I have obeyed what Yahweh told me to do.”
14 Ma Samuel jụrụ ya sị, “Gịnị bụ ube atụrụ ndị a m na-anụ? Ebee ka ube igwe ehi ndị a si na-ada?”
But Samuel replied, “If that is true, why is it that I hear cattle mooing and I hear sheep bleating?”
15 Sọl zara sị, “Ndị agha m si nʼetiti ndị Amalek chịta ụfọdụ nʼime atụrụ na ehi ndị mara mma nke ha chọrọ iji chụọrọ Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị aja. Ma anyị bibiri ihe ndị ọzọ fọdụrụnụ.”
Saul replied, “The soldiers took them from the Amalek people-group. They saved the best sheep and cattle, in order to offer them as sacrifices to Yahweh, your God. But we have completely destroyed all the others.”
16 Mgbe ahụ Samuel gwara Sọl sị, “Ekwukwala ọzọ! Gee ntị nụrụ ihe Onyenwe anyị gwara m nʼabalị!” Sọl zara ya sị, “Kwuo, gịnị ka ọ gwara gị?”
Samuel said to Saul, “Stop [talking]! Allow me to tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.” Saul replied, “Tell me [what he said].”
17 Samuel gwara ya sị, “Ọ bụghị ezie nʼagbanyeghị na ị dịrịị ntakịrị nʼanya gị onwe gị, ma ị bụụrụ onyeisi ndị ebo Izrel niile? Onyenwe anyị tere gị mmanụ ibu eze ndị Izrel.
Samuel said, “Previously you did not think that you were important. But now you have become [RHQ] the leader of the tribes of Israel. Yahweh appointed you to be their king.
18 Onyenwe anyị ziri gị ijere ya ozi, gwa gị sị, ‘Gaa, laa ndị ajọ omume ahụ, bụ ndị Amalek nʼiyi; buso ha agha ruo mgbe ị kpochapụrụ ha niile.’
And Yahweh sent you to do something [for him]. He said to you, ‘Go and get rid of all those sinful people, the Amalek people-group. Attack them and kill all of them.’
19 Gịnị mere i geghị ntị nʼokwu Onyenwe anyị ime ihe o kwuru? Gịnị mere i ji chụrụ ihe nkwata gaa, si otu a mee ihe dị njọ nʼanya Onyenwe anyị?”
So why did you not obey Yahweh [RHQ]? Why did your men take the best animals [RHQ]? Why did you do what Yahweh said was evil?” [RHQ]
20 Ma Sọl sịrị ya, “Ma erubeere m Onyenwe anyị isi. Ejere m ozi ahụ Onyenwe anyị zigara m. Anwụtara m Agag eze Amalek na ndụ, ma gbuchapụ ndị Amalek niile.
Saul replied to Samuel, “Hey, I did what Yahweh sent me to do! I brought back King Agag, but we killed everyone else!
21 Ndị agha sitere nʼihe a kwatara nʼagha were ụfọdụ atụrụ na ehi, bụ ndị kachasị mma nʼetiti ihe ndị ahụ e debere iche maka ịla ha nʼiyi, iji ha chụọrọ Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị aja na Gilgal.”
My men brought back only the best sheep and cattle and other things, in order to sacrifice them to Yahweh your God here at Gilgal.”
22 Ma Samuel sịrị, “Ihe na-atọ Onyenwe anyị ụtọ ọ bụ onyinye na aja nsure ọkụ dịka nrube isi nye ihe si nʼọnụ Onyenwe anyị pụta? Nrube isi dị mma karịa ịchụ aja ịṅa ntị dị mma karịa abụba ebule.
But Samuel replied, “Which [do you think] pleases Yahweh more, animals that are completely burned [on the altar] and other sacrifices, or people obeying him [SYN]? It is better to obey [Yahweh] than [to offer] sacrifices [to him]. It is better to pay attention to what he says than [to burn] the fat of rams, [even though God said they should be sacrificed to him].
23 Nʼihi na nnupu isi dịka mmehie ịgba afa, mpako dịkwa njọ dịka ikpere arụsị. Nʼihi na ị jụla okwu Onyenwe anyị ya onwe ya ajụkwala gị dịka eze.”
To rebel [against God] is as sinful as doing sorcery/black magic, and being stubborn is as sinful as worshiping idols. So, because you disobeyed what Yahweh told you to do, he has declared that you will no longer be king.”
24 Sọl zara Samuel sị ya, “Emehiela m. Nʼezie, enupula m isi na ndụmọdụ gị na nʼiwu Onyenwe anyị. Ọ bụ nʼihi na m tụrụ egwu ndị Izrel ka m ji mee ihe ha chọrọ.
Then Saul said to Samuel, “[Yes], I have sinned. I disobeyed what you told me to do, which is what Yahweh commanded. I did that because I was (afraid of/worried about) what my men would say [if I did not do what they wanted]. So I did what they demanded.
25 Biko, gbaghara m mmehie m ugbu a, bịakwa soro m ka m gaa fee Onyenwe anyị ofufe.”
But now, please forgive me for having sinned. And come back with me [to where the people are] in order that I may worship Yahweh.”
26 Ma Samuel sịrị ya, “Agaghị m eso gị laghachi azụ. Ebe ị jụrụ okwu Onyenwe anyị, Onyenwe anyị ajụkwala gị dịka eze ndị Izrel!”
But Samuel replied, “No, I will not go back with you. You have rejected/disobeyed what Yahweh commanded you to do. So he has rejected you, [and declared that you will no longer] be the king of Israel. [So I do not want to talk any more with you].”
27 Mgbe Samuel tụgharịrị ka o si nʼebe ahụ pụọ, Sọl jidere ya nʼọnụ ọnụ uwe ya ime ka ọ lọghachi azụ, ma uwe ahụ dọwara.
As Samuel turned to leave, Saul tried to stop him by grabbing the edge of Samuel’s robe, and it tore.
28 Mgbe ahụ, Samuel zara sị ya, “Taa Onyenwe anyị adọwapụla alaeze Izrel site nʼaka gị were ya nyefee otu nʼime ndị agbataobi gị, onye ka gị mma.
Samuel said to him, “[You tore my robe! And] today Yahweh has torn away from you the kingdom of Israel! He will appoint someone else to be king, someone who is a better man than you are.
29 Chineke, onye bụ Ebube Izrel, anaghị agha ụgha; ọ nakwaghị agbanwe obi ya, nʼihi na ọ bụghị mmadụ efu!”
And since the one who is the glorious [God] of the Israeli people does not lie, he will not change (his mind/what he has said). Humans sometimes change their minds, but God does not do that, because he is not a human.”
30 Ma Sọl malitekwara ịrịọ arịrịọ ọzọ sị, “Emehiela m. Ma, sọpụrụ m ugbu a nʼihu ndị okenye ndị m, na nʼihu ndị Izrel. Lọghachi soro m ka m gaa fee Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị ofufe.”
Then Saul [pleaded again. He] said, “I know that I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the leaders of the Israeli people and in front of all the other Israeli people by coming back [to them] with me in order that I may worship Yahweh your God.”
31 Ya mere, Samuel kwenyere soro Sọl laghachi, Sọl kpọkwara isiala nye Onyenwe anyị.
So Samuel finally agreed to do that, and they went together back [to where the people were], and Saul worshiped Yahweh there.
32 Mgbe ahụ, Samuel gwara ya okwu sị ya, “Kpọpụtara m Agag, eze ndị Amalek.” Agag ji ihu ọchị bịakwute ya, nʼihi na o chere sị, “Nʼezie oge ọnwụ agaala.”
Then Samuel said, “Bring King Agag to me.” So they brought Agag to him. Agag was confidently expecting that they would spare him/not kill him. He was thinking, “Surely I will not have to endure an agonizing death!”
33 Ma Samuel kwuru sị, “Dịka mma agha gị sị gbawa ndị inyom aka ụmụ otu a ka nne gị ga-esi bụrụ onye na-enweghị nwa nʼetiti ndị inyom.” Samuel gburu Agag nʼihu Onyenwe anyị na Gilgal.
But Samuel said to him, “You have killed the sons of many women with your sword, so now your mother will no longer have a son.” And Samuel cut Agag into pieces [with his sword], there at Gilgal, in the presence of Yahweh.
34 Emesịa, Samuel lara nʼụlọ ya na Rema. Ma Sọl laghachikwara na Gibea, obodo nke aka ya.
Then Samuel left there and returned to his home in Ramah, and Saul went to his home in Gibeah.
35 Site nʼoge ahụ ruo mgbe Samuel nwụrụ, ọ hụkwaghị Sọl anya ọzọ. Ma o rugidere ụjụ nʼihi Sọl oge ndị a niile. O wutekwara Onyenwe anyị na o mere Sọl eze ndị Izrel.
Samuel never saw Saul again, but he was very sad about [what] Saul [had done]. And Yahweh was very sorry that he had appointed Saul to be the king of Israel.
