1 Samweli 8
1 Samweli alipokuwa mzee, akaweka wanawe kuwa waamuzi wa Israeli.
When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
2 Mzaliwa wa kwanza alikuwa Yoeli, na la wa pili lilikuwa Abiya, nao wakatumika huko Beer-Sheba.
They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
3 Lakini wanawe hawakuenenda katika njia zake. Waliziacha wakageukia faida za udanganyifu nao wakapokea rushwa na kupotosha haki.
But they were not like their father. They wanted only to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’s disputes/cases.
4 Basi wazee wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika pamoja na kumjia Samweli huko Rama.
Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
5 Wakamwambia, “Wewe umekuwa mzee, nao wanao hawaenendi katika njia zako, sasa tuteulie mfalme wa kutuongoza, kama ilivyo kwa mataifa mengine yote.”
They said to him, “Listen! You are now old, and your sons are not like you. Appoint a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!”
6 Lakini wao waliposema, “Tupe mfalme wa kutuongoza,” hili lilimchukiza Samweli, hivyo akamwomba Bwana.
Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
7 Naye Bwana akamwambia: “Sikiliza yale yote watu wanakuambia. Si wewe ambaye wamekukataa, bali wamenikataa mimi kuwa mfalme wao.
Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ([do not think/the truth is not]) that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.
8 Kama vile walivyofanya tangu siku nilipowapandisha kutoka Misri mpaka siku hii ya leo; wakiniacha mimi na kutumikia miungu mingine, ndivyo wanavyokufanyia wewe.
Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me, and they have worshiped other gods. And now they are also rejecting you in the same way.
9 Sasa wasikilize, lakini waonye kwa makini na uwafahamishe yale watakayotendewa na mfalme atakayewatawala.”
Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
10 Samweli akawaambia wale watu waliokuwa wakiomba wapewe mfalme maneno yote ya Bwana.
So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
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.
He said, “If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you: He will force many of your sons to join the army. He will make [some of] them run in front of his chariots [to clear people out of his way].
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.
[Some of] them will be commanders of his soldiers, but others will work for him like slaves. He will force some of them to plow his fields and [then later] harvest his crops. He will force others to make his weapons and equipment for his chariots.
13 Atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi na waokaji.
The king will take [some of] your daughters [from you and force them] to make perfumes for him and cook food for him and bake [bread for him].
14 Atayachukua mashamba yenu yaliyo mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu na mashamba yenu ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.
He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
15 Ataichukua sehemu ya kumi ya nafaka yenu na ya zabibu zenu na kuwapa maafisa wake na watumishi wake.
He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
16 Atawachukua watumishi wenu wa kiume na wa kike, na ngʼombe wenu walio wazuri sana na punda kwa matumizi yake mwenyewe.
He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
17 Atachukua sehemu ya kumi ya makundi yenu ya kondoo na mbuzi, na ninyi wenyewe mtakuwa watumwa wake.
He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
18 Siku ile itakapowadia, mtalia kwa kutaka msaada kutokana na mfalme mliyemchagua, naye Bwana hatawajibu.”
When that time comes, you will complain loudly to the king, the king that you yourselves have chosen, but Yahweh will not (pay attention to/help) you.”
19 Lakini watu wakakataa kumsikiliza Samweli wakasema, “Hapana! Tunataka mfalme wa kututawala.
But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!
20 Kisha tutakuwa kama mataifa mengine yote, tukiwa na mfalme wa kutuongoza na kwenda mbele yetu na kutupigania vita vyetu.”
We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers when they go to fight.”
21 Samweli aliposikia yote watu waliyosema, akarudia kuyasema mbele za Bwana.
When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
22 Bwana akamjibu, “Wasikilize na uwape mfalme.” Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mmoja arudi mjini kwake.”
Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
