1 Samweli 8
1 Samweli alipokuwa mzee, akaweka wanawe kuwa waamuzi wa Israeli.
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2 Mzaliwa wa kwanza alikuwa Yoeli, na la wa pili lilikuwa Abiya, nao wakatumika huko Beer-Sheba.
And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.
3 Lakini wanawe hawakuenenda katika njia zake. Waliziacha wakageukia faida za udanganyifu nao wakapokea rushwa na kupotosha haki.
But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 Basi wazee wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika pamoja na kumjia Samweli huko Rama.
Then did all the elders of Israel assemble themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 Wakamwambia, “Wewe umekuwa mzee, nao wanao hawaenendi katika njia zako, sasa tuteulie mfalme wa kutuongoza, kama ilivyo kwa mataifa mengine yote.”
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6 Lakini wao waliposema, “Tupe mfalme wa kutuongoza,” hili lilimchukiza Samweli, hivyo akamwomba Bwana.
But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
7 Naye Bwana akamwambia: “Sikiliza yale yote watu wanakuambia. Si wewe ambaye wamekukataa, bali wamenikataa mimi kuwa mfalme wao.
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not reign over them.
8 Kama vile walivyofanya tangu siku nilipowapandisha kutoka Misri mpaka siku hii ya leo; wakiniacha mimi na kutumikia miungu mingine, ndivyo wanavyokufanyia wewe.
In accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.
9 Sasa wasikilize, lakini waonye kwa makini na uwafahamishe yale watakayotendewa na mfalme atakayewatawala.”
And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will reign over them.
10 Samweli akawaambia wale watu waliokuwa wakiomba wapewe mfalme maneno yote ya Bwana.
And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him a king.
11 Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo atakavyowatendea mfalme atakayewatawala. Atawachukua wana wenu na kuwafanya watumike kwa magari yake ya vita na farasi, nao watakimbia mbele ya magari yake.
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;
12 Baadhi yao atawaweka kuwa majemadari wa jeshi wa maelfu na majemadari wa jeshi wa hamsini, wengine kulima mashamba yake na kuvuna mavuno yake, pia na wengine kutengeneza silaha za vita na vifaa kwa ajili ya magari yake.
And to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
13 Atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi na waokaji.
And your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.
14 Atayachukua mashamba yenu yaliyo mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu na mashamba yenu ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.
And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, and give them to his servants.
15 Ataichukua sehemu ya kumi ya nafaka yenu na ya zabibu zenu na kuwapa maafisa wake na watumishi wake.
And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his servants.
16 Atawachukua watumishi wenu wa kiume na wa kike, na ngʼombe wenu walio wazuri sana na punda kwa matumizi yake mwenyewe.
And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.
17 Atachukua sehemu ya kumi ya makundi yenu ya kondoo na mbuzi, na ninyi wenyewe mtakuwa watumwa wake.
Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.
18 Siku ile itakapowadia, mtalia kwa kutaka msaada kutokana na mfalme mliyemchagua, naye Bwana hatawajibu.”
And ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.
19 Lakini watu wakakataa kumsikiliza Samweli wakasema, “Hapana! Tunataka mfalme wa kututawala.
Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be over us;
20 Kisha tutakuwa kama mataifa mengine yote, tukiwa na mfalme wa kutuongoza na kwenda mbele yetu na kutupigania vita vyetu.”
That we also may ourselves be like all the nations: and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
21 Samweli aliposikia yote watu waliyosema, akarudia kuyasema mbele za Bwana.
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them before the ears of the Lord.
22 Bwana akamjibu, “Wasikilize na uwape mfalme.” Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mmoja arudi mjini kwake.”
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
