1 Samwiri 8
1 Samwiri bwe yakaddiwa, n’alonda batabani be okuba abalamuzi ba Isirayiri.
When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
2 Erinnya lya mutabani we omukulu ye yali Yoweeri, n’owokubiri nga ye Abiya, ne balamulanga mu Beeruseba.
They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
3 Naye batabani be ne batagoberera mpisa ze, ne bakyama ne banoonya amagoba, ne balya enguzi, era nga tebalamula mu bwenkanya.
But they were not like their father. They wanted only to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’s disputes/cases.
4 Awo abakadde bonna aba Isirayiri ne bakuŋŋaana ne bajja eri Samwiri e Laama,
Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
5 ne bamugamba nti, “Laba, okaddiye ne batabani bo tebagoberera mpisa zo, kaakano tulondere kabaka anaatukulemberanga, tubeere ng’amawanga amalala gonna.”
They said to him, “Listen! You are now old, and your sons are not like you. Appoint a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!”
6 Naye bwe baayogera nti, “Tuwe kabaka anaatukulemberanga,” ne kitasanyusa Samwiri. Samwiri n’asaba eri Mukama.
Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
7 Awo Mukama n’agamba Samwiri nti, “Wuliriza ebigambo byonna abantu bye bakugamba. Tebajeemedde ggwe, naye bajeemedde nze nneme kuba kabaka waabwe.
Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ([do not think/the truth is not]) that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.
8 Okusinziira ku bikolwa byabwe okuva ku lunaku lwe nabaggya mu Misiri okutuusa ku lunaku lwa leero, bwe banjeemera, ne baweereza bakatonda abalala, nawe bwe batyo bwe bakuyisa.
Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me, and they have worshiped other gods. And now they are also rejecting you in the same way.
9 Kaakano bawulirize, naye obalabulire ddala, era obategeeze ebintu byonna kabaka anaabafuga by’alibakola.”
Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
10 Awo Samwiri n’ategeeza abantu abaali bamusaba kabaka, ebigambo byonna Mukama bye yamugamba.
So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
11 N’abagamba nti, “Bino bye bintu kabaka alibafuga by’alibakola: alitwala batabani bammwe n’abafuula abagoba ab’amagaali ge n’abeebagazi ab’embalaasi ze, n’abamu okuddukiranga mu maaso ag’amagaali ge.
He said, “If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you: He will force many of your sons to join the army. He will make [some of] them run in front of his chariots [to clear people out of his way].
12 Abamu ku bo alibafuula abaduumizi b’enkumi, n’abalala n’abafuula abaduumizi b’ataano, n’abalala okumulimiranga ennimiro ze n’okuzikungulanga, n’abalala okuweesanga ebyokulwanyisa n’ebintu eby’amagaali ge.
[Some of] them will be commanders of his soldiers, but others will work for him like slaves. He will force some of them to plow his fields and [then later] harvest his crops. He will force others to make his weapons and equipment for his chariots.
13 Alitwala bawala bammwe, okumuteekerateekera ebyakaloosa, n’okumufumbiranga, n’okumukoleranga emigaati.
The king will take [some of] your daughters [from you and force them] to make perfumes for him and cook food for him and bake [bread for him].
14 Alitwala ennimiro zammwe ennungi, n’ennimiro zammwe ez’emizabbibu n’ez’emizeeyituuni, n’aziwa abaweereza be.
He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
15 Alitwala ekimu eky’ekkumi eky’emmere yammwe ey’empeke, n’eky’ennimiro zammwe ez’emizabbibu, n’akigabira abakungu be n’abaweereza be.
He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
16 Alitwala abaweereza bammwe abasajja n’abaweereza bammwe abakazi, n’abavubuka bammwe abasinga obulungi n’endogoyi, n’abyeddiza.
He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
17 Alitwala ekimu eky’ekkumi ku bisibo byammwe, mmwe n’abafuula abaweereza be.
He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
18 Luliba lumu, mulyekkokkola kabaka wammwe gwe mwerondera, naye Mukama talibafaako ku lunaku olwo.”
When that time comes, you will complain loudly to the king, the king that you yourselves have chosen, but Yahweh will not (pay attention to/help) you.”
19 Naye abantu ne bagaana okuwuliriza Samwiri, ne boogera nti, “Nedda! Twagala kabaka okutufuga,
But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!
20 naffe tubeere ng’amawanga amalala gonna, nga tulina kabaka atufuga ayinza okutukulembera n’atulwanira entalo zaffe.”
We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers when they go to fight.”
21 Awo Samwiri bwe yawulira ebigambo byonna eby’abantu, n’abiddiramu Mukama.
When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
22 Mukama n’addamu Samwiri nti, “Bawulirize obalondere kabaka.” Awo Samwiri n’agamba abantu ba Isirayiri nti, “Buli omu ku mmwe addeyo ewuwe.”
Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
