1 Samweli 1

1 Kulikuwepo na mtu mmoja kutoka Rama, Msufi kutoka nchi ya vilima vya Efraimu, ambaye jina lake aliitwa Elikana mwana wa Yerohamu, mwana wa Elihu mwana wa Tohu, mwana wa Sufu, Mwefraimu.

NOW THERE was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 Alikuwa na wake wawili, mmoja aliitwa Hana na mwingine Penina. Penina alikuwa na watoto, lakini Hana hakuwa na mtoto.

And he had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Kila mwaka mtu huyu alikwea kutoka mji wake ili kuabudu na kutoa dhabihu kwa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote huko Shilo, ambapo Hofni na Finehasi, wana wawili wa Eli, walikuwa makuhani wa Bwana.

And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there priests unto the LORD.

4 Kila mara ilipofika siku ya Elikana kutoa dhabihu, aliwapa mafungu Penina mkewe na wanawe wote pamoja na binti zake.

And it came to pass upon a day, when Elkanah sacrificed, that he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;

5 Lakini alimpa Hana fungu maradufu kwa sababu alimpenda, ingawa Bwana alikuwa amemfunga tumbo.

but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.

6 Kwa sababu Bwana alikuwa amemfunga tumbo, mke mwenzake alikuwa anamchokoza ili kumuudhi.

And her rival vexed her sore, to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7 Hili liliendelea mwaka baada ya mwaka. Kila mara Hana alipokwenda katika nyumba ya Bwana, mke mwenzake alikuwa akimkasirisha mpaka analia na kushindwa kula.

And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she vexed her; therefore she wept, and would not eat.

8 Elikana mumewe akawa anamwambia, “Hana, kwa nini unalia? Kwa nini huli? Kwa nini kuvunjika moyo? Je, mimi si bora zaidi kwako kuliko watoto kumi?”

And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?'

9 Siku moja walipokuwa wamemaliza kula na kunywa huko Shilo, Hana alisimama. Wakati huo kuhani Eli alikuwa ameketi kwenye kiti pembeni mwa mwimo wa mlango wa Hekalu la Bwana.

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk — now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of the LORD;

10 Kwa uchungu wa rohoni Hana alilia sana na akamwomba Bwana.

and she was in bitterness of soul — and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

11 Naye akaweka nadhiri, akisema, “Ee Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, laiti ungeangalia huzuni kuu ya mtumishi wako na kunikumbuka mimi, wala usimsahau mtumishi wako nawe ukampa mwana, basi huyo mwana nitamtoa kwa Bwana kwa siku zote za maisha yake, wala wembe hautapita kichwani mwake.”

And she vowed a vow, and said: 'O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thy handmaid, but wilt give unto Thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.'

12 Alipokuwa anaendelea kumwomba Bwana, Eli alichunguza kinywa chake.

And it came to pass, as she prayed long before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.

13 Hana alikuwa akiomba moyoni mwake, midomo yake ikiwa inachezacheza lakini sauti haikusikika. Eli akafikiri alikuwa amelewa

Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard; therefore, Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 naye akamwambia, “Utaendelea kulewa mpaka lini? Achilia mbali mvinyo wako.”

And Eli said unto her: 'How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.'

15 Hana akajibu, “Si hivyo bwana wangu, mimi ni mwanamke mwenye huzuni kubwa. Mimi sijanywa mvinyo wala kileo, nilikuwa ninaumimina moyo wangu kwa Bwana.

And Hannah answered and said: 'No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 Usimdhanie mtumishi wako kuwa mwanamke mwovu; nimekuwa nikiomba hapa katika wingi wa uchungu mkuu na huzuni.”

Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman: for out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation have I spoken hitherto.'

17 Eli akamjibu, “Nenda kwa amani, naye Mungu wa Israeli na akujalie kile ulichomwomba.”

Then Eli answered and said: 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.'

18 Hana akasema, “Mtumishi wako na apate kibali machoni pako.” Kisha akaondoka zake na kula chakula, wala uso wake haukuwa na huzuni tena.

And she said: 'Let thy servant find favour in thy sight.' So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

19 Kesho yake asubuhi na mapema waliamka wakaabudu mbele za Bwana na kisha wakarudi nyumbani kwao huko Rama. Elikana akakutana kimwili na mkewe Hana, naye Bwana akamkumbuka.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah; and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20 Hivyo wakati ulipotimia, Hana akapata mimba na akamzaa mwana. Hana akamwita jina lake Samweli, akasema, “Kwa kuwa nilimwomba kwa Bwana.”

And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she called his name Samuel: 'because I have asked him of the LORD.'

21 Wakati huyo mtu Elikana alipanda pamoja na jamaa yake yote kutoa dhabihu ya mwaka kwa Bwana na kutimiza nadhiri yake,

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 Hana hakwenda. Alimwambia mume wake, “Baada ya mtoto kuachishwa kunyonya, nitamchukua na kumpeleka mbele za Bwana, naye ataishi huko wakati wote.”

But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband: 'Until the child be weaned, when I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.'

23 Elikana mumewe akamwambia, “Fanya lile unaloona ni bora zaidi kwako. Ukae hapa mpaka utakapomwachisha kunyonya, Bwana na akujalie kutimiza nadhiri yako.” Hivyo huyo mwanamke akakaa nyumbani na kumnyonyesha mwanawe mpaka alipomwachisha kunyonya.

And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish His word.' So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.

24 Baada ya mtoto kuachishwa kunyonya, Hana akamchukua huyo mtoto, akiwa mdogo hivyo hivyo, pamoja na fahali wa miaka mitatu, efa ya unga na kiriba cha divai, naye akamleta mtoto kwenye nyumba ya Bwana huko Shilo.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh; and the child was young.

25 Walipokwisha kumchinja yule fahali, wakamleta mtoto kwa Eli,

And when the bullock was slain, the child was brought to Eli.

26 naye Hana akamwambia Eli, “Hakika kama uishivyo, bwana wangu, mimi ndiye yule mama ambaye alisimama hapa karibu nawe akiomba kwa Bwana.

And she said: 'Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

27 Niliomba mtoto huyu, naye Bwana amenijalia kile nilichomwomba.

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath granted me my petition which I asked of Him;

28 Hivyo sasa ninamtoa kwa Bwana. Kwa maana maisha yake yote atakuwa ametolewa kwa Bwana.” Naye akamwabudu Bwana huko.

therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he is lent to the LORD.' And he worshipped the LORD there.