1 Samuel 8
1 Mgbe Samuel ghọrọ agadi, o mere ụmụ ya ndị ikom ka ha bụrụ ndị ikpe ndị Izrel.
When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.
2 Juel, ọkpara ya, na Abija, nke na-eso ya ka ọ họpụtara. Ha nọkwa na Bịasheba na-ekpe ndị Izrel ikpe.
His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.
3 Ma ụmụ ya esoghị ụzọ ya. Ha na-agbaso naanị ihe ga-abara ha. Ha na-erikwa ngarị, na-ekpe ikpe na-ezighị ezi.
However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 Nʼihi ya, ndị okenye ụmụ Izrel niile zukọtara, bịakwute Samuel na Rema sị ya,
So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet Samuel at Ramah.
5 “I meela agadi, ụmụ gị ndị ikom adịghịkwa eso ụzọ gị. Ugbu a họpụtara anyị onye ga-abụ eze anyị, onye ga na-edu anyị, dịka mba ndị ọzọ.”
“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 Ma obi adịghị Samuel ụtọ mgbe ha rịọrọ sị, “Nye anyị eze ga-edu anyị.” Nʼihi ya, Samuel kpọkuru Onyenwe anyị nʼekpere.
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 Onyenwe anyị gwara ya, “Gee ntị nʼihe niile ndị a na-agwa gị; ọ bụghị gị ka ha jụrụ, kama ọ bụ mụ onwe m ka ha jụrụ ibu eze ha.
“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 Site nʼụbọchị m mere ka ha si nʼIjipt pụta ruo taa, ha na-agbakụta m azụ, na-efe chi ndị ọzọ. Ọ bụkwa otu a ka ha na-eme gị ugbu a.
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 Mee dịka ha rịọrọ, ma echefula ịgwa ha ụdị omume eze ahụ ga-achị ha ga-emeso ha.”
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 Samuel gwara ndị Izrel na-arịọ ka e nye ha eze ihe Onyenwe anyị kwuru.
Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.
11 Ọ zara sị ha, “Ihe ndị a bụ ụdị mmeso eze ahụ ga-achị unu ga-emeso unu: Ọ ga-eduru ụmụ unu ndị ikom mee ha ndị na-agba ọsọ nʼihu ụgbọ agha ya na ịnyịnya ya.
“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 Ụfọdụ ka ọ ga-eme ọchịagha, ndị ga-elekọta ọtụtụ puku ndị agha, maọbụ iri ndị agha ise; ndị ụfọdụ ga-abụ ndị ga-akọ ubi ya, ndị ọzọ ga-ewebatakwa ihe owuwe ubi ya, ma ndị ọzọ ga-akpụrụ ya ngwa agha na ihe niile e ji anya ụgbọ agha ya.
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 Ọ ga-eduru ụmụ unu ndị inyom mee ka ha bụrụ ndị na-esiri ya mmanụ otite na-esi isi ụtọ, na ndị na-esiri ya nri, na ndị na-eghere ya ihe oghịghe.
He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.
14 Ọ ga-anarakwa unu ubi unu, na ubi vaịnị unu, na ubi oliv unu ndị kachasị mma, were ha nye ndị na-ejere ya ozi.
He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.
15 Ọ ga-ewere otu ụzọ nʼime ụzọ iri nke mkpụrụ ubi unu na ubi vaịnị unu nye ndịisi ọrụ ya na ndị na-ejere ya ozi.
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 Ọ ga-akwagidekwa unu ka unu nye ya ndị ohu unu, ndị ikom nʼime ha, na ndị inyom nʼime ha, ya na anụ ụlọ unu ahụ dị ezi mma, na ịnyịnya ibu unu.
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 Ọ ga-ewerekwa otu ụzọ nʼụzọ iri nke igwe anụ ụlọ unu, meekwa ka unu onwe unu bụrụkwa ndị ohu ya.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.
18 Mgbe ụbọchị ndị ahụ bịara, mgbe ihe ndị a bidoro imezu, unu ga-akwa akwa, rịọọ ka e wezugara unu eze ahụ unu họpụtaara onwe unu, ma Onyenwe anyị agaghị aṅa unu ntị nʼụbọchị ahụ.”
On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”
19 Ma ndị Izrel jụrụ ige Samuel ntị. Ha sịrị, “Anyị chọrọ eze ga-achị anyị.
But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!
20 Mgbe ahụ, anyị onwe anyị ga-adị ka ndị mba niile ọzọ, anyị ga-enwe eze ga na-edu anyị, na-aga nʼihu anyị na-ebukwa agha anyị.”
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 Samuel gwara Onyenwe anyị ihe niile ha kwuru.
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.
22 Ma Onyenwe anyị zara ya ọzọ sị, “Mee ihe ha kwuru, nye ha eze.” Mgbe ahụ, Samuel gwara ndị ikom Izrel okwu sị ha, “Laanụ, nwoke ọbụla nʼobodo ya.”
The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”
