1 USamuyeli 8
1 Kwasekusithi uSamuweli esemdala wabeka amadodana akhe ukuze abe ngabahluleli koIsrayeli.
When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.
2 Lebizo lendodana yakhe elizibulo lalinguJoweli, lebizo leyesibili yakhe linguAbhiya; ayengabahluleli eBherishebha.
His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.
3 Kodwa amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngendlela zakhe, kodwa aphambukela enzuzweni embi, emukela isivalamlomo, aphambula isahlulelo.
However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 Kwasekubuthana abadala bonke bakoIsrayeli, beza kuSamuweli eRama,
So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet Samuel at Ramah.
5 bathi kuye: Khangela, wena usumdala, lamadodana akho kawahambi ngendlela zakho; ngakho sibekele inkosi ukuze isahlulele njengazo zonke izizwe.
“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 Kodwa leyonto yayimbi emehlweni kaSamuweli lapho besithi: Sinike inkosi ukusahlulela. USamuweli wasekhuleka eNkosini.
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 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labantu kukho konke abakutshoyo kuwe, ngoba kakusuwe abakwalayo, kodwa bala mina ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwabo.
“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 Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo kusukela ngosuku engabenyusa ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamuhla, bangitshiyile bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; benza njalo lakuwe.
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 Ngakho khathesi, lalela ilizwi labo; kodwa nxa ubafakazele kakhulu, ubazise indlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwabo.
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 USamuweli wasetshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi wonke amazwi eNkosi.
Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.
11 Wasesithi: Le izakuba yindlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenu; izathatha amadodana enu izibekele wona enqoleni zayo lakubagadi bamabhiza ayo, agijime phambi kwezinqola zayo.
“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 Izazibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu, lokulima amasimu ayo, lokuvuna isivuno sayo, lokwenza izikhali zayo zempi, lezikhali zezinqola zayo.
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 Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abe ngabenzi bamakha, labapheki, labaphekizinkwa.
He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.
14 Izathatha amasimu enu, lezivini zenu lezivande zenu zemihlwathi, ezinhle, ikunike inceku zayo.
He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.
15 Izathatha okwetshumi yenhlanyelo yenu leyezivini zenu, iyinike induna zayo lenceku zayo.
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 Izathatha inceku zenu lencekukazi zenu lamajaha enu angcono labobabhemi benu, ikusebenzise emsebenzini wayo.
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 Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu; lina-ke libe yizinceku zayo.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.
18 Njalo lizakhala ngalolosuku ngenxa yenkosi yenu elizikhethele yona; kodwa iNkosi kayiyikuliphendula mhlalokho.
On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”
19 Kodwa abantu bala ukulilalela ilizwi likaSamuweli, bathi: Hatshi, kodwa kuzakuba lenkosi phezu kwethu,
But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!
20 ukuze lathi sibe njengezizwe zonke, lenkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.
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 USamuweli esewazwile wonke amazwi abantu, wawalandisa endlebeni zeNkosi.
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.
22 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labo, ubabekele inkosi. USamuweli wasesithi emadodeni akoIsrayeli: Hambani liye ngulowo lalowo emzini wakhe.
The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”
