1 USamuyeli 8
1 Kwasekusithi uSamuweli esemdala wabeka amadodana akhe ukuze abe ngabahluleli koIsrayeli.
When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
2 Lebizo lendodana yakhe elizibulo lalinguJoweli, lebizo leyesibili yakhe linguAbhiya; ayengabahluleli eBherishebha.
They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
3 Kodwa amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngendlela zakhe, kodwa aphambukela enzuzweni embi, emukela isivalamlomo, aphambula isahlulelo.
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 Kwasekubuthana abadala bonke bakoIsrayeli, beza kuSamuweli eRama,
Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
5 bathi kuye: Khangela, wena usumdala, lamadodana akho kawahambi ngendlela zakho; ngakho sibekele inkosi ukuze isahlulele njengazo zonke izizwe.
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 Kodwa leyonto yayimbi emehlweni kaSamuweli lapho besithi: Sinike inkosi ukusahlulela. USamuweli wasekhuleka eNkosini.
Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
7 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labantu kukho konke abakutshoyo kuwe, ngoba kakusuwe abakwalayo, kodwa bala mina ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwabo.
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 Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo kusukela ngosuku engabenyusa ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamuhla, bangitshiyile bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; benza njalo lakuwe.
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 Ngakho khathesi, lalela ilizwi labo; kodwa nxa ubafakazele kakhulu, ubazise indlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwabo.
Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
10 USamuweli wasetshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi wonke amazwi eNkosi.
So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
11 Wasesithi: Le izakuba yindlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenu; izathatha amadodana enu izibekele wona enqoleni zayo lakubagadi bamabhiza ayo, agijime phambi kwezinqola zayo.
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 Izazibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu, lokulima amasimu ayo, lokuvuna isivuno sayo, lokwenza izikhali zayo zempi, lezikhali zezinqola zayo.
[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 Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abe ngabenzi bamakha, labapheki, labaphekizinkwa.
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 Izathatha amasimu enu, lezivini zenu lezivande zenu zemihlwathi, ezinhle, ikunike inceku zayo.
He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
15 Izathatha okwetshumi yenhlanyelo yenu leyezivini zenu, iyinike induna zayo lenceku zayo.
He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
16 Izathatha inceku zenu lencekukazi zenu lamajaha enu angcono labobabhemi benu, ikusebenzise emsebenzini wayo.
He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
17 Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu; lina-ke libe yizinceku zayo.
He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
18 Njalo lizakhala ngalolosuku ngenxa yenkosi yenu elizikhethele yona; kodwa iNkosi kayiyikuliphendula mhlalokho.
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 Kodwa abantu bala ukulilalela ilizwi likaSamuweli, bathi: Hatshi, kodwa kuzakuba lenkosi phezu kwethu,
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 ukuze lathi sibe njengezizwe zonke, lenkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.
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 USamuweli esewazwile wonke amazwi abantu, wawalandisa endlebeni zeNkosi.
When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
22 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labo, ubabekele inkosi. USamuweli wasesithi emadodeni akoIsrayeli: Hambani liye ngulowo lalowo emzini wakhe.
Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
