1 Wafalme 3
1 Solomoni akafanya urafiki na Mfalme Farao wa Misri na kumwoa binti yake. Akamleta huyo binti katika Mji wa Daudi mpaka alipomaliza kujenga jumba lake la kifalme na Hekalu la Bwana, pamoja na ukuta kuzunguka Yerusalemu.
And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, and he made affinity with Pharao the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
2 Hata hivyo, watu bado walikuwa wakitoa dhabihu huko kwenye vilima, kwa sababu Hekalu lilikuwa bado halijajengwa kwa ajili ya Jina la Bwana.
But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: far there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until that day.
3 Solomoni akaonyesha upendo wake kwa Bwana kwa kuenenda sawasawa na amri za Daudi baba yake, ila yeye alitoa dhabihu na kufukiza uvumba huko mahali pa juu.
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David his father, only he sacrificed in the high places: and burnt incense.
4 Mfalme akaenda Gibeoni kutoa dhabihu, kwa maana ndipo palipokuwa mahali pa juu pa kuabudia, naye Solomoni akatoa sadaka elfu moja za kuteketezwa juu ya hayo madhabahu.
He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice there: for that was the great high place: a thousand victims for holocausts did Solomon offer upon that altar in Gabaon.
5 Bwana akamtokea Solomoni huko Gibeoni wakati wa usiku katika ndoto, naye Mungu akasema, “Omba lolote utakalo nikupe.”
And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.
6 Solomoni akajibu, “Umemfanyia mtumishi wako, baba yangu Daudi, fadhili nyingi, kwa kuwa alikuwa mwaminifu kwako na mwenye haki, tena mnyofu wa moyo. Nawe umemzidishia fadhili hii kuu kwani umempa mwana wa kuketi kwenye kiti chake cha ufalme, kama ilivyo leo.
And Solomon said: Thou hast shewn great mercy to thy servant David my father, even at, he walked before thee in truth, and justice, and an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for him, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 “Sasa, Ee Bwana Mungu wangu, umemfanya mtumishi wako mfalme badala ya baba yangu Daudi. Lakini mimi ni mtoto mdogo tu, wala sijui jinsi ya kutekeleza wajibu wangu.
And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in.
8 Mtumishi wako yuko hapa miongoni mwa watu uliowachagua: taifa kubwa, watu wengi wasioweza kuhesabika wala kutoa idadi yao.
And thy servant is in the midst of the people which thou hast chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Hivyo mpe mtumishi wako moyo wa ufahamu ili kutawala watu wako na kupambanua kati ya mema na mabaya. Kwa maana, ni nani awezaye kutawala watu wako hawa walio wengi hivi?”
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people which is so numerous?
10 Bwana akapendezwa kwamba Solomoni ameliomba jambo hili.
And the word was pleasing to the Lord that Solomon had asked such a thing.
11 Basi Mungu akamwambia, “Kwa kuwa umeomba neno hili na hukuomba maisha marefu au upate utajiri kwa nafsi yako, wala adui zako wafe, bali umeomba ufahamu katika kutoa haki,
And the Lord said to Solomon: Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life or riches, nor the lives of thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern judgment,
12 nitafanya lile uliloomba. Nitakupa moyo wa hekima na wa ufahamu, kiasi kwamba hajakuwepo mtu mwingine kama wewe, wala kamwe hatakuwepo baada yako.
Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, insomuch that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee.
13 Zaidi ya hayo, nitakupa yale ambayo hukuomba, yaani utajiri na heshima, ili kwamba maisha yako yote hapatakuwa na mtu kama wewe miongoni mwa wafalme.
Yea and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given thee: to wit riches and glory, as that no one hath been like thee among the kings in all days heretofore.
14 Nawe kama ukienenda katika njia zangu na kutii sheria na amri zangu kama baba yako Daudi alivyofanya, nitakupa maisha marefu.”
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, and Beep my precepts, and my commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days.
15 Ndipo Solomoni akaamka, akatambua kuwa ilikuwa ndoto. Akarudi Yerusalemu, akasimama mbele ya Sanduku la Agano la Bwana, naye akatoa dhabihu za kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani. Kisha akawafanyia watumishi wake wote karamu.
And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream: and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace offerings, and made a great feast for all his servants.
16 Basi wanawake wawili makahaba walikuja kwa mfalme na kusimama mbele yake.
Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him:
17 Mmojawapo akasema, “Bwana wangu, mimi na mwanamke huyu tunaishi kwenye nyumba moja. Nilikuwa nimezaa alipokuwa pamoja nami.
And one of them said: I beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber.
18 Siku ya tatu baada ya mtoto wangu kuzaliwa, mwanamke huyu pia naye akazaa mtoto. Tulikuwa peke yetu, hapakuwa na mtu mwingine yeyote katika nyumba isipokuwa sisi wawili.
And the third day, after that I was delivered, she also was delivered, and we were together, and no other person with us in the house, only we two.
19 “Wakati wa usiku mwana wa huyu mwanamke akafa kwa sababu alimlalia.
And this woman’s child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him.
20 Hivyo akaondoka katikati ya usiku na kumchukua mwanangu kutoka ubavuni pangu wakati mimi mtumishi wako nilipokuwa nimelala. Akamweka kifuani mwake na kumweka mwanawe aliyekufa kifuani mwangu.
And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my child from my side, while I thy handmaid was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 Asubuhi yake, nikaamka ili kumnyonyesha mwanangu, naye alikuwa amekufa! Lakini nilipomwangalia sana katika nuru ya asubuhi, niliona kuwa hakuwa yule mwana niliyekuwa nimemzaa.”
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore.
22 Huyo mwanamke mwingine akasema, “Hapana! Mwana aliye hai ndiye wangu, aliyekufa ni wako.” Lakini yule wa kwanza akasisitiza, “Hapana! Mwana aliyekufa ni wako, aliye hai ni wangu.” Hivi ndivyo walivyobishana mbele ya mfalme.
And the other woman answered: It is not so as thou sayest, but thy child is dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary she said: Thou liest: for my child liveth, and thy child is dead. And in this manner they strove before the king.
23 Mfalme akasema, “Huyu anasema, ‘Mwanangu ndiye aliye hai, na aliyekufa ndiye mwanao,’ maadamu yule anasema, ‘Hapana! Aliyekufa ni wako, na aliye hai ni wangu.’”
Then said the king: The one saith, My child is alive, and thy child is dead. And the other answereth: Nay, but thy child is dead, and mine liveth.
24 Kisha mfalme akasema, “Nileteeni upanga.” Basi wakamletea mfalme upanga.
The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword before the king,
25 Ndipo mfalme akatoa amri: “Mkate mtoto aliye hai vipande viwili; mpe huyu nusu na mwingine nusu.”
Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 Mwanamke ambaye mwanawe alikuwa hai akajawa na huruma kwa ajili ya mwanawe na kumwambia mfalme, “Tafadhali, bwana wangu, mpe yeye mtoto aliye hai! Usimuue!” Lakini yule mwanamke mwingine akasema, “Mkate vipande viwili. Asiwe wangu au wake!”
But the woman whose child was alive, said to the king, (for her bowels were moved upon her child, ) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27 Kisha mfalme akatoa uamuzi wake: “Mpeni mama wa kwanza mtoto aliye hai. Msimuue; ndiye mama yake.”
The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother thereof.
28 Wakati Israeli yote iliposikia hukumu aliyotoa mfalme, wakamwogopa mfalme, kwa sababu waliona kuwa alikuwa na hekima kutoka kwa Mungu kwa kutoa haki.
And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
