1 USamuyeli 8

1 USamuyeli eseluphele wabeka amadodana akhe ukuba ngabahluleli baka-Israyeli.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 Ibizo lezibulo lakhe lalinguJoweli, ibizo leyesibili lingu-Abhija, njalo ayesebenza eBherishebha.

Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba.

3 Kodwa amadodana akhe kawahambanga ezindleleni zakhe. Aphambukela eceleni emva kokuthola inzuzo yenkohliso amukela lemfumbathiso, onakalisa lokwahlulela ngemfanelo.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4 Ngakho bonke abadala bako-Israyeli babuthana ndawonye basebesiya kuSamuyeli eRama.

Then all the elders of Israel assembled, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

5 Bathi kuye, “Usuluphele, njalo amadodana akho kawahambi ezindleleni zakho, ngakho sibekele inkosi ezasikhokhela, njengezinye izizwe zonke ezilayo.”

And said to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make 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 displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 Njalo uThixo wathi kuye: “Lalela konke lokho abantu abakutshoyo kuwe; akusuwe abamalayo, kodwa bale mina njengeNkosi yabo.

And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, 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.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt even to this day, by which they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to thee.

9 Ngakho balalele; kodwa ubaxwayise kakhulu njalo ubazise okuzakwenziwa kubo yinkosi ezababusa.”

Now therefore hearken to their voice: yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that will reign over them.

10 USamuyeli wabatshela wonke amazwi kaThixo abantu ababecela inkosi kuye.

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people that 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 shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] will 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 him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to till his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13 Izathatha amadodakazi enu ukuba abe ngabenzi bamakha labapheki kanye labapheki bezinkwa.

And he will take your daughters [to be] confectioneries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

14 Izathatha amasimu enu avundileyo lezivini kanye lezivande zama-oliva ikunike izinceku zayo.

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.

15 Izathatha okwetshumi emabeleni enu lokwesivuno samavini ikunike izikhulu zayo.

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 Izisebenzi zenu ezesilisa lezesifazane lenkomo zenu ezinhle kanye labobabhemi izakuthatha ikusebenzise.

And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your most choice young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.

17 Izathatha okwetshumi emihlambini yenu njalo lina ngokwenu lizakuba yizigqili zayo.

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye will be his servants.

18 Nxa lolosuku selufikile lizakhalela ukukhululwa enkosini eliyikhethileyo, kodwa uThixo kayikuliphendula ngalolosuku.”

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

19 Kodwa abantu bala ukumlalela uSamuyeli. Bathi, “Hatshi! Sifuna inkosi ezasibusa.

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

20 Lapho-ke sizakuba njengezinye izizwe zonke, silenkosi esikhokhelayo njalo ihambe phambi kwethu ilwe izimpi zethu.”

That we also may 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 rehearsed them in 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 to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.