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.
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of power.
2 Alikuwa na mwana aliyeitwa Sauli, kijana anayevutia sana, hakuwepo aliyelingana naye miongoni mwa Waisraeli, alikuwa mrefu kuliko wengine wote.
And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.
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 Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, 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 he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they 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 had come to the land of Zuf, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and be anxious 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 he said to him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; it may be he can show us our way that we should go.
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?”
Then said Saul to his servant, But behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring to the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there] is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
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 servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to 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.)
(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was formerly called a Seer.)
10 Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Vyema, njoo na twende.” Basi wakaenda mjini alipokuwepo huyo mtu wa Mungu.
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go: so 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?”
[And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said 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 they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people to-day in the high place:
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 ye shall enter the city, ye will straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he cometh, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that are invited. Now therefore go up: for about this time ye will find him.
14 Wakapanda mjini, nao walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, tazama, Samweli alikuwa akija kuelekea walikokwenda mahali pa juu.
And they went up into the city: [and] when they had come into the city, behold, Samuel came out meeting them, to go up to the high place.
15 Basi siku moja kabla Sauli hajaja, Bwana alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli jambo hili:
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, 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.”
To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him [to be] captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people from the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.
17 Samweli alipomwona Sauli, Bwana akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekuambia habari zake, kwamba yeye atawatawala watu wangu.”
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Sauli akamkaribia Samweli langoni na kumuuliza, “Tafadhali, je, waweza kuniambia mahali nyumba ya mwonaji ilipo?”
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].
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] the seer: go up before me to the high place; for ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that [is] in thy 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 as for thy asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy 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 a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then speakest thou so to me?
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 into the parlor, and made them sit in the chief place among them that were invited, who [were] about thirty persons.
23 Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Leta ile sehemu ya nyama niliyokupa, ile niliyokuambia iweke kando.”
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said to thee, Set it by thee.
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.
And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat; for to this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 Baada ya kushuka kutoka mahali pa juu na kufika mjini, Samweli alizungumza na Sauli juu ya dari ya nyumba yake.
And when they had come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 Walipoamka mapema alfajiri, Samweli akamwita Sauli darini, akamwambia, “Jiandae, nami nitakuaga uende zako.” Sauli alipokuwa tayari yeye na Samweli wakatoka nje pamoja.
And they rose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
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.”
[And] as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on, ) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.
