1 Samweli 8
1 Samweli alipokuwa mzee, akaweka wanawe kuwa waamuzi wa Israeli.
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 Mzaliwa wa kwanza alikuwa Yoeli, na la wa pili lilikuwa Abiya, nao wakatumika huko Beer-Sheba.
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3 Lakini wanawe hawakuenenda katika njia zake. Waliziacha wakageukia faida za udanganyifu nao wakapokea rushwa na kupotosha haki.
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4 Basi wazee wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika pamoja na kumjia Samweli huko Rama.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered 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 they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make 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 displeased 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 say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king 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.
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken 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.”
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 Samweli akawaambia wale watu waliokuwa wakiomba wapewe mfalme maneno yote ya Bwana.
And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that 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 shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots:
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 he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and [he will set some] to plow 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 he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14 Atayachukua mashamba yenu yaliyo mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu na mashamba yenu ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, 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 he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give 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 he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 Atachukua sehemu ya kumi ya makundi yenu ya kondoo na mbuzi, na ninyi wenyewe mtakuwa watumwa wake.
He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.
18 Siku ile itakapowadia, mtalia kwa kutaka msaada kutokana na mfalme mliyemchagua, naye Bwana hatawajibu.”
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.
19 Lakini watu wakakataa kumsikiliza Samweli wakasema, “Hapana! Tunataka mfalme wa kututawala.
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king 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 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 rehearsed them in 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 make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
