1 Samweli 16
1 Bwana akamwambia Samweli, “Utamlilia Sauli mpaka lini, maadamu nimemkataa asiendelee kuwa mfalme juu ya Israeli? Jaza pembe yako mafuta, ushike njia uende; ninakutuma kwa Yese huko Bethlehemu. Nimemchagua mmoja wa wanawe kuwa mfalme.”
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
2 Lakini Samweli akasema, “Nitakwendaje? Sauli atasikia juu ya jambo hili na ataniua.” Bwana akamwambia, “Chukua mtamba wa ngʼombe na useme, ‘Nimekuja kumtolea Bwana dhabihu.’
“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
3 Mwalike Yese aje kwenye dhabihu, nami nitakuonyesha utakalofanya. Utamtia mafuta kwa ajili yangu yule nitakayekuonyesha.”
Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”
4 Samweli akafanya kile Bwana alichosema. Alipofika Bethlehemu, wazee wa mji wakatetemeka walipomlaki. Wakauliza, “Je, umekuja kwa amani?”
So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samweli akajibu, “Ndiyo, kwa amani; nimekuja kumtolea Bwana dhabihu. Jiwekeni wakfu na mje kwenye dhabihu pamoja nami.” Ndipo akamweka Yese wakfu pamoja na wanawe na kuwaalika kwenye dhabihu.
“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 Walipofika, Samweli akamwona Eliabu, naye akafikiri, “Hakika mpakwa mafuta wa Bwana anasimama hapa mbele za Bwana.”
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”
7 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Samweli, “Usitazame sura yake wala kimo chake, kwa kuwa nimemkataa. Bwana hatazami katika vile vitu mwanadamu avitazamavyo. Mwanadamu hutazama katika sura ya nje, lakini Bwana hutazama moyoni.”
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
8 Kisha Yese akamwita Abinadabu na kumpitisha mbele ya Samweli. Lakini Samweli akasema, “Hata huyu Bwana hakumchagua.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
9 Kisha Yese akampitisha Shama, lakini Samweli akasema, “Wala huyu Bwana hakumchagua.”
Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
10 Yese alikuwa na wana saba aliowapitisha mbele ya Samweli, lakini Samweli akamwambia, “Bwana hajawachagua hawa.”
Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”
11 Hivyo akamuuliza Yese, “Je, hawa ndio wana pekee ulio nao?” Yese akajibu, “Bado yuko mdogo kuliko wote, lakini anachunga kondoo.” Samweli akasema, “Tuma aitwe; hatutaketi mpaka afike.”
And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
12 Basi akatuma aitwe naye akaletwa. Alikuwa mwekundu, mwenye sura nzuri na umbo la kupendeza. Ndipo Bwana akasema, “Inuka na umtie mafuta, huyu ndiye.”
So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”
13 Basi Samweli akachukua ile pembe ya mafuta na kumtia mafuta mbele ya ndugu zake, kuanzia siku ile na kuendelea Roho wa Bwana akaja juu ya Daudi kwa nguvu. Kisha Samweli akaenda zake Rama.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
14 Basi Roho wa Bwana alikuwa ameondoka kwa Sauli, nayo roho mbaya ikaachiwa nafasi na Bwana ili imtese.
After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.
15 Watumishi wa Sauli wakamwambia, “Angalia, roho mbaya imeachiwa nafasi na Bwana nayo inakutesa.
Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.
16 Basi bwana wetu na aamuru watumishi wake walioko hapa kutafuta mtu ambaye anaweza kupiga kinubi. Atakipiga kinubi wakati roho mbaya iliyoachiwa nafasi na Mungu ikujiapo, nawe utajisikia vizuri.”
Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”
17 Basi Sauli akawaambia watumishi wake, “Mtafuteni mtu apigaye kinubi vizuri mkamlete kwangu.”
And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”
18 Mmoja wa watumishi wake akajibu, “Nimemwona mwana wa Yese Mbethlehemu ambaye anajua kupiga kinubi. Yeye ni mtu hodari na shujaa wa vita. Ni mwenye busara katika kunena, mtu mzuri wa umbo. Bwana yu pamoja naye.”
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
19 Ndipo Sauli akatuma wajumbe kwa Yese na kumwambia, “Nitumie mwanao Daudi, ambaye anachunga kondoo.”
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20 Kwa hiyo Yese akamchukua punda aliyepakizwa mikate, kiriba cha divai na mwana-mbuzi, na kuvipeleka vitu hivyo kwa Sauli pamoja na Daudi mwanawe.
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.
21 Daudi akafika kwa Sauli na kuingia kwenye kazi yake. Sauli akampenda sana, naye Daudi akawa mmoja wa wabeba silaha wake.
When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.
22 Basi Sauli akatuma ujumbe kwa Yese, akisema, “Mruhusu Daudi abaki katika utumishi wangu, kwa kuwa ninapendezwa naye.”
Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
23 Kila mara roho mbaya iliyoachiwa nafasi na Mungu ilipomjia Sauli, Daudi alichukua kinubi chake na kupiga. Ndipo Sauli angetulizwa na kujisikia vizuri, nayo ile roho mbaya ingemwacha.
And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.
