1 USamuyeli 8
1 USamuyeli eseluphele wabeka amadodana akhe ukuba ngabahluleli baka-Israyeli.
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2 Ibizo lezibulo lakhe lalinguJoweli, ibizo leyesibili lingu-Abhija, njalo ayesebenza eBherishebha.
And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.
3 Kodwa amadodana akhe kawahambanga ezindleleni zakhe. Aphambukela eceleni emva kokuthola inzuzo yenkohliso amukela lemfumbathiso, onakalisa lokwahlulela ngemfanelo.
But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 Ngakho bonke abadala bako-Israyeli babuthana ndawonye basebesiya kuSamuyeli eRama.
Then did all the elders of Israel assemble themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 Bathi kuye, “Usuluphele, njalo amadodana akho kawahambi ezindleleni zakho, ngakho sibekele inkosi ezasikhokhela, njengezinye izizwe zonke ezilayo.”
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6 Kodwa kwathi besithi, “Sinike inkosi ezasikhokhela,” lokhu kwamcunula uSamuyeli; ngakho wakhuleka kuThixo.
But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
7 Njalo uThixo wathi kuye: “Lalela konke lokho abantu abakutshoyo kuwe; akusuwe abamalayo, kodwa bale mina njengeNkosi yabo.
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not reign over them.
8 Njengalokhu abakwenzayo kusukela ngosuku engabakhupha ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamhlanje, bangala bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu, lokhu yikho abakwenzayo kuwe.
In accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.
9 Ngakho balalele; kodwa ubaxwayise kakhulu njalo ubazise okuzakwenziwa kubo yinkosi ezababusa.”
And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will reign over them.
10 USamuyeli wabatshela wonke amazwi kaThixo abantu ababecela inkosi kuye.
And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him a king.
11 Wathi, “Nanku okuzakwenziwa yinkosi ezalibusa: Izathatha amadodana enu iwasebenzise lezinqola zayo zempi lamabhiza, njalo azagijima phambi kwezinqola zayo zempi.
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;
12 Amanye uzawenza abe ngabalawuli bezinkulungwane labalawuli bamatshumi amahlanu; njalo amanye azalima amasimu ayo avune kanye lamabele ayo, amanye njalo azakwenza izikhali zayo zempi kanye lempahla zezinqola zayo zempi.
And to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
13 Izathatha amadodakazi enu ukuba abe ngabenzi bamakha labapheki kanye labapheki bezinkwa.
And your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.
14 Izathatha amasimu enu avundileyo lezivini kanye lezivande zama-oliva ikunike izinceku zayo.
And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, and give them to his servants.
15 Izathatha okwetshumi emabeleni enu lokwesivuno samavini ikunike izikhulu zayo.
And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his servants.
16 Izisebenzi zenu ezesilisa lezesifazane lenkomo zenu ezinhle kanye labobabhemi izakuthatha ikusebenzise.
And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.
17 Izathatha okwetshumi emihlambini yenu njalo lina ngokwenu lizakuba yizigqili zayo.
Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.
18 Nxa lolosuku selufikile lizakhalela ukukhululwa enkosini eliyikhethileyo, kodwa uThixo kayikuliphendula ngalolosuku.”
And ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.
19 Kodwa abantu bala ukumlalela uSamuyeli. Bathi, “Hatshi! Sifuna inkosi ezasibusa.
Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be over us;
20 Lapho-ke sizakuba njengezinye izizwe zonke, silenkosi esikhokhelayo njalo ihambe phambi kwethu ilwe izimpi zethu.”
That we also may ourselves be like all the nations: and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
21 Kwathi uSamuyeli esekuzwile konke okwakutshiwo ngabantu, wakubika kuThixo.
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them before the ears of the Lord.
22 Uthixo waphendula wathi, “Lalela ilizwi labo ubaphe inkosi.” USamuyeli wasesithi ebantwini bako-Israyeli, “Umuntu wonke kabuyele emzini wakibo.”
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
