1 USamuyeli 8
1 Kwasekusithi uSamuweli esemdala wabeka amadodana akhe ukuze abe ngabahluleli koIsrayeli.
When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 Lebizo lendodana yakhe elizibulo lalinguJoweli, lebizo leyesibili yakhe linguAbhiya; ayengabahluleli eBherishebha.
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 Kodwa amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngendlela zakhe, kodwa aphambukela enzuzweni embi, emukela isivalamlomo, aphambula isahlulelo.
His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 Kwasekubuthana abadala bonke bakoIsrayeli, beza kuSamuweli eRama,
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.
5 bathi kuye: Khangela, wena usumdala, lamadodana akho kawahambi ngendlela zakho; ngakho sibekele inkosi ukuze isahlulele njengazo zonke izizwe.
They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6 Kodwa leyonto yayimbi emehlweni kaSamuweli lapho besithi: Sinike inkosi ukusahlulela. USamuweli wasekhuleka eNkosini.
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labantu kukho konke abakutshoyo kuwe, ngoba kakusuwe abakwalayo, kodwa bala mina ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwabo.
The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.
8 Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo kusukela ngosuku engabenyusa ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamuhla, bangitshiyile bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; benza njalo lakuwe.
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you.
9 Ngakho khathesi, lalela ilizwi labo; kodwa nxa ubafakazele kakhulu, ubazise indlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwabo.
Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.”
10 USamuweli wasetshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi wonke amazwi eNkosi.
Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for 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.
He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots.
12 Izazibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu, lokulima amasimu ayo, lokuvuna isivuno sayo, lokwenza izikhali zayo zempi, lezikhali zezinqola zayo.
He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.
13 Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abe ngabenzi bamakha, labapheki, labaphekizinkwa.
He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14 Izathatha amasimu enu, lezivini zenu lezivande zenu zemihlwathi, ezinhle, ikunike inceku zayo.
He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.
15 Izathatha okwetshumi yenhlanyelo yenu leyezivini zenu, iyinike induna zayo lenceku zayo.
He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16 Izathatha inceku zenu lencekukazi zenu lamajaha enu angcono labobabhemi benu, ikusebenzise emsebenzini wayo.
He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.
17 Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu; lina-ke libe yizinceku zayo.
He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.
18 Njalo lizakhala ngalolosuku ngenxa yenkosi yenu elizikhethele yona; kodwa iNkosi kayiyikuliphendula mhlalokho.
You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”
19 Kodwa abantu bala ukulilalela ilizwi likaSamuweli, bathi: Hatshi, kodwa kuzakuba lenkosi phezu kwethu,
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
20 ukuze lathi sibe njengezizwe zonke, lenkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume 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 USamuweli esewazwile wonke amazwi abantu, wawalandisa endlebeni zeNkosi.
Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labo, ubabekele inkosi. USamuweli wasesithi emadodeni akoIsrayeli: Hambani liye ngulowo lalowo emzini wakhe.
The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”
