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 to Israel;
2 Ibizo lezibulo lakhe lalinguJoweli, ibizo leyesibili lingu-Abhija, njalo ayesebenza eBherishebha.
and the name of his firstborn son was, Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, —they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3 Kodwa amadodana akhe kawahambanga ezindleleni zakhe. Aphambukela eceleni emva kokuthola inzuzo yenkohliso amukela lemfumbathiso, onakalisa lokwahlulela ngemfanelo.
Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4 Ngakho bonke abadala bako-Israyeli babuthana ndawonye basebesiya kuSamuyeli eRama.
So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to Ramah;
5 Bathi kuye, “Usuluphele, njalo amadodana akho kawahambi ezindleleni zakho, ngakho sibekele inkosi ezasikhokhela, njengezinye izizwe zonke ezilayo.”
and said unto him—Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not 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 unto us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed unto Yahweh.
7 Njalo uThixo wathi kuye: “Lalela konke lokho abantu abakutshoyo kuwe; akusuwe abamalayo, kodwa bale mina njengeNkosi yabo.
And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, —for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being king over them.
8 Njengalokhu abakwenzayo kusukela ngosuku engabakhupha ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamhlanje, bangala bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu, lokhu yikho abakwenzayo kuwe.
According to all the doings which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so, are they doing even unto thee.
9 Ngakho balalele; kodwa ubaxwayise kakhulu njalo ubazise okuzakwenziwa kubo yinkosi ezababusa.”
Now, therefore, hearken to their voice, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them.
10 USamuyeli wabatshela wonke amazwi kaThixo abantu ababecela inkosi kuye.
So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking 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 who will reign over you, —Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;
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 he will appoint for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, —and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons 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, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;
14 Izathatha amasimu enu avundileyo lezivini kanye lezivande zama-oliva ikunike izinceku zayo.
And, your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give to his servants;
15 Izathatha okwetshumi emabeleni enu lokwesivuno samavini ikunike izikhulu zayo.
And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants;
16 Izisebenzi zenu ezesilisa lezesifazane lenkomo zenu ezinhle kanye labobabhemi izakuthatha ikusebenzise.
And, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —and put them to his work;
17 Izathatha okwetshumi emihlambini yenu njalo lina ngokwenu lizakuba yizigqili zayo.
Your flocks, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.
18 Nxa lolosuku selufikile lizakhalela ukukhululwa enkosini eliyikhethileyo, kodwa uThixo kayikuliphendula ngalolosuku.”
Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, —and Yahweh will not answer you, in that day.
19 Kodwa abantu bala ukumlalela uSamuyeli. Bathi, “Hatshi! Sifuna inkosi ezasibusa.
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, —and they said—Nay! but, a king, shall be over us:
20 Lapho-ke sizakuba njengezinye izizwe zonke, silenkosi esikhokhelayo njalo ihambe phambi kwethu ilwe izimpi zethu.”
so shall, even we, become like all the nations, —and our king shall judge us, and go forth 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 spake them in the ears of Yahweh.
22 Uthixo waphendula wathi, “Lalela ilizwi labo ubaphe inkosi.” USamuyeli wasesithi ebantwini bako-Israyeli, “Umuntu wonke kabuyele emzini wakibo.”
And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: Go ye, every man to his own city.
