1 Samweli 9
1 Kulikuwako Mbenyamini mmoja, mtu maarufu, ambaye aliitwa Kishi mwana wa Abieli, mwana wa Serori, mwana wa Bekorathi, mwana wa Afia wa Benyamini.
And [there was] a man of the sons of Benjamin, and his name [was] Kis, the son of Abiel, the son of Jared, the son of Bachir, the son of Aphec, the son of a Benjamite, a man of might.
2 Alikuwa na mwana aliyeitwa Sauli, kijana anayevutia sana, hakuwepo aliyelingana naye miongoni mwa Waisraeli, alikuwa mrefu kuliko wengine wote.
And this man [had] a son, and his name was Saul, of great stature, a goodly man; and there was not amongst the sons of Israel a goodlier than he, high above all the people from his shoulders and upward.
3 Basi punda wa Kishi baba yake Sauli walipotea, naye Kishi akamwambia mwanawe Sauli, “Mchukue mmoja wa watumishi mwende pamoja naye kuwatafuta punda.”
And the asses of Kis the father of Saul were lost; and Kis said to Saul his son, Take with you one of the young men, and arise you, and go seek the asses.
4 Hivyo akapita katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu na katika eneo la Shalisha, lakini hawakuwapata. Wakaendelea katika sehemu ya Shaalimu, lakini punda hawakuwepo huko. Kisha wakapita katika nchi ya Benyamini, lakini hawakuwapata.
And they went through mount Ephraim, and they went through the land of Selcha, and found them not: and they passed through the land of Segalim, and they were not there: and they passed through the land of Jamin, and found them not.
5 Walipofika sehemu ya Sufu, Sauli akamwambia mtumishi aliyekuwa pamoja naye, “Njoo, sisi na turudi, au baba yangu ataacha kufikiria juu ya punda na kuanza kufadhaika kutuhusu sisi.”
And when they came to Siph, then Saul said to his young man that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave the asses, and take care for us.
6 Lakini mtumishi akajibu, “Tazama, katika mji huu yupo mtu wa Mungu, anayeheshimiwa sana na kila kitu asemacho hutokea kweli. Sasa na twende huko. Huenda atatuambia twende njia ipi.”
And the young man said to him, Behold now, [there is] a man of God in this city, and the man [is] of high repute; all that he shall speak will surely come to pass: now then let us go, that he may tell us our way on which we have set out.
7 Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Kama tukienda, tutampa nini huyo mtu? Chakula kimekwisha kwenye mifuko yetu. Hatuna zawadi ya kumpelekea huyo mtu wa Mungu. Je tuna nini?”
And Saul said to his young man that was with him, Behold, then, we will go; but what shall we bring the man of God? for the loaves are spent out of our vessels, and we have nothing more with us that belongs to us to bring to the man of God.
8 Mtumishi akamjibu Sauli tena, akasema, “Tazama, nina fedha robo shekeli. Hiyo nitampa huyo mtu wa Mungu ili aweze kutuambia twende kwa njia ipi.”
And the young man answered Saul again, and said, Behold, there is found in my hand a fourth part of a shekel of silver; and you shall give it to the man of God, and he shall tell us our way.
9 (Zamani katika Israeli, kama mtu alikwenda kuuliza neno kwa Mungu, angalisema, “Njoo na twende kwa mwonaji,” kwa sababu nabii wa sasa alikuwa akiitwa mwonaji.)
Now before time in Israel every one in going to enquire of God said, Come and let us go to the seer; for the people beforetime called the prophet, the seer.
10 Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Vyema, njoo na twende.” Basi wakaenda mjini alipokuwepo huyo mtu wa Mungu.
And Saul said to his servant, Well said, come and let us go: and they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 Walipokuwa wakipanda mlima kwenda mjini, wakakutana na baadhi ya wasichana wanakuja kuchota maji, nao wakawauliza, “Je, mwonaji yuko?”
As they went up the ascent to the city, they find damsels come out to draw water, and they say to them, Is the seer here?
12 Wakajibu, “Yuko, yu mbele yenu amewatangulia, sasa fanyeni haraka, ndiyo tu amekuja mjini kwetu leo, kwa kuwa watu wana dhabihu huko mahali pa juu.
And the virgins answered them, and they say to them, He is: behold, [he is] before you: now he is coming to the city, because of the day, for today [there is] a sacrifice for the people in Bama.
13 Mara tu mwingiapo mjini, mtamkuta kabla hajapanda kwenda mahali pa juu kula. Watu hawataanza kula mpaka atakapofika kwa sababu ni lazima kwanza yeye abariki dhabihu, ndipo wale walioalikwa watakapokula. Pandeni sasa, mtamkuta kwa wakati huu.”
As soon as you shall enter into the city, so shall you find him in the city, before he goes up to Bama to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes in, for he blesses the sacrifice, and afterwards the guests eat; now then go up, for you shall find him because of the holiday.
14 Wakapanda mjini, nao walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, tazama, Samweli alikuwa akija kuelekea walikokwenda mahali pa juu.
And they go up to the city; and as they were entering into the midst of the city, behold, Samuel came out to meet them, to go up to Bama.
15 Basi siku moja kabla Sauli hajaja, Bwana alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli jambo hili:
And the Lord uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before Saul came to him, saying,
16 “Kesho wakati kama huu nitakupelekea mtu kutoka nchi ya Benyamini. Umtie mafuta awe kiongozi juu ya watu wangu Israeli, ndiye atakayewakomboa watu wangu na mkono wa Wafilisti. Nimewaangalia watu wangu, kwa kuwa kilio chao kimenifikia.”
At this time to-morrow I will send to you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel, and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon the humiliation of my people, for their cry is come to me.
17 Samweli alipomwona Sauli, Bwana akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekuambia habari zake, kwamba yeye atawatawala watu wangu.”
And Samuel looked upon Saul, and the Lord answered him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to you, this one shall rule over my people.
18 Sauli akamkaribia Samweli langoni na kumuuliza, “Tafadhali, je, waweza kuniambia mahali nyumba ya mwonaji ilipo?”
And Saul drew near to Samuel into the midst of the city, and said, Tell me now which [is] the house of the seer?
19 Samweli akamjibu Sauli, “Mimi ndiye mwonaji, panda utangulie mbele yangu mpaka mahali pa juu, kwa kuwa leo itakupasa kula pamoja nami na asubuhi nitakuruhusu uende na nitakuambia yale yote yaliyo moyoni mwako.
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am he: go up before me to Bama, and eat with me today, and I will send you away in the morning, and I will tell you all that is in your heart.
20 Kuhusu wale punda uliowapoteza siku tatu zilizopita, usifadhaike kwa habari yao; wamepatikana. Ni kwa nani ambaye shauku yote ya Israeli imeelekea, kama si kwako na jamaa yote ya baba yako?”
And concerning your asses that have been lost now these three days, care not for them, for they are found. And to whom does the excellency of Israel belong? does it not to you and to your father's house?
21 Sauli akajibu, “Je, mimi si Mbenyamini, kutoka kabila dogo kuliko yote ya Israeli, nao ukoo wangu si ndio mdogo kuliko koo zote za kabila la Benyamini? Kwa nini uniambie jambo la namna hiyo?”
And Saul answered and said, Am not I the son of a Benjamite, the least tribe of the people of Israel? and of the least family of the whole tribe of Benjamin? and why have you spoken to me according to this word?
22 Kisha Samweli akamleta Sauli na mtumishi wake ndani ukumbini na kuwaketisha mahali pa heshima zaidi miongoni mwa wale waliokuwa wamealikwa; jumla yao walikuwa kama watu thelathini.
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them to the inn, and set them there a place amongst the chief of those that were called, about seventy men.
23 Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Leta ile sehemu ya nyama niliyokupa, ile niliyokuambia iweke kando.”
And Samuel said to the cook, Give me the portion which I gave you, which I told you to set by you.
24 Hivyo mpishi akachukua mguu pamoja na kile kilichokuwa juu yake akaiweka mbele ya Sauli. Samweli akasema, “Hiki ndicho ambacho kimewekwa kwa ajili yako. Ule, kwa sababu kilitengwa kwa ajili yako kwa tukio hili, tangu niliposema, ‘Nimewaalika wageni.’” Naye Sauli akala pamoja na Samweli siku ile.
Now the cook [had] boiled the shoulder, and he set it before Saul; and Samuel said to Saul, Behold that which is left: set before you, an eat; for it is set you for a testimony in preference to the others; take [of it]: and Saul ate with Samuel on that day.
25 Baada ya kushuka kutoka mahali pa juu na kufika mjini, Samweli alizungumza na Sauli juu ya dari ya nyumba yake.
And he went down from Bama into the city; and they prepared a lodging for Saul on the roof, and he lay down.
26 Walipoamka mapema alfajiri, Samweli akamwita Sauli darini, akamwambia, “Jiandae, nami nitakuaga uende zako.” Sauli alipokuwa tayari yeye na Samweli wakatoka nje pamoja.
An it came to pass when the morning dawned, that Samuel called Saul on the roof, saying, Rise up, and I will dismiss you. And Saul arose, and he and Samuel went out.
27 Hata walipokuwa wakiteremka kuelekea mwisho wa mji, Samweli akamwambia Sauli, “Mwambie mtumishi atangulie mbele yetu.” Naye mtumishi akafanya hivyo. “Lakini subiri hapa kwa kitambo kidogo, ili nipate kukupa ujumbe kutoka kwa Mungu.”
As they went down to a part of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Speak to the young man, and let him pass on before us; and do you stand as today, and listen to the word of God.
