< 1 Wafalme 3 >
1 Sulemani akawa na ushirikiano wa kindoa na Farao mfalme wa Misri. Alimwoa binti wa Farao na kumleta katika mji wa Daudi mpaka alipomaliza kujenga nyumba yake, nyumba ya BWANA, na ukuta wa Yerusalemu.
And so the kingdom was confirmed in the hand of Solomon, and he was joined with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, by affinity. For he took his daughter, and he led her into the city of David, until he completed building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem all around.
2 Watu walikuw wakitoa sadaka kwenye maeneo ya juu, kwa sababu hapakuwa bado na nyumba iliyokuwa imejengwa kwa jina la BWANA.
But still the people immolated in the high places. For no temple had been built to the name of the Lord, even to that day.
3 Sulemani alionyesha upendo wake kwa BWANA kwa kutembea katika maagizo ya Daudi baba yake, isipokuwa tu alitoa dhabihu na kuchoma uvumba mahali pa juu.
Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David, his father, except that he immolated in the high places, and he burned incense.
4 Mfalme akaenda Gibioni kutoa sadaka kule, kwa kuwa hilo ndilo lilikuwa eneo kuu la juu. Sulemani katoa sadaka maelfu katika madhabu hiyo.
And so, he went away to Gibeon, so that he might immolate there; for that was the greatest high place. Solomon offered upon that altar, at Gibeon, one thousand victims as holocausts.
5 BWANA akaonekana kwa Sulemani huko Gibioni katika ndoto ya usiku; akasema, “Omba! uanataka nikupe nini?”
Then the Lord appeared to Solomon, through a dream in the night, saying, “Request whatever you wish, so that I may give it to you.”
6 Kwa hiyo Sulemani akasema, “umeonyesha uaminifu wa agano mkuu kwa mtumishi wako, Daudi baba yangu, kwa sababu alitembea mbele yako kwa ukweli na uaminifu, katika haki ya moyo na katika unyofu wa moyo. Umetunza kwa ajili yake hili agano kuu kwa uaminifu na umempa mwana wake kuketi kwenye kiti chake cha enzi leo.
And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to your servant David, my father, because he walked in your sight in truth and justice, and with an upright heart before you. And you have kept your great mercy for him, and you have given him a son sitting upon his throne, just as it is this day.
7 Na sasa, BWANA, Mungu wangu, umemfanya mtumishi wako kuwa mfalme katika nafasi ya Daudi baba yangu, japo mimi ni mtoto mdogo. Sijui namna ya kuiingia na kutoka.
And now, O Lord God, you have caused your servant to reign in place of David, my father. But I am a small child, and I am ignorant of my entrance and departure.
8 Mtumishi wako yuko katikati ya watu wako uliowachagua, kundi kubwa, watu wangi wasiohesabika.
And your servant is in the midst of the people that you have chosen, an immense people, who are not able to be numbered or counted because of their multitude.
9 Kwa hiyo umpe mtumishi wako moyo wa uelewa wa kuwahukumu watu wako. Kwani ni nani awezaye kuwahukumu watu wako hawa walio wengi?”
Therefore, give to your servant a teachable heart, so that he may be able to judge your people, and to discern between good and evil. For who will be able to judge this people, your people, who are so many?”
10 Ombi hili la Sulemani likampendeza Bwana.
And the word was pleasing before the Lord, that Solomon had requested this kind of thing.
11 Kwa hiyo Mungu akamwambia. “Kwa sababu umeomba jambo hili na haujajiombea maisha marefu au utajiri au uhai wa maadui wako, lakini umeomba ufahamu wa kutambua hukumu ya haki,
And the Lord said to Solomon: “Since you have requested this word, and you have not asked for many days or for wealth for yourself, nor for the lives of your enemies, but instead you have requested for yourself wisdom in order to discern judgment:
12 Tazama sasa nitafanya yote uliyoniomba wakati uliponipa ombi lako. Ninakupa moyo wa hekima na ufahamu, kwa kuwa hapajawahi kuwa na mtu wa kuwa kama wewe kabla yako, na hakuna wa kuwa kama wewe atakayeinuka baada yako.
behold, I have done for you according to your words, and I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so much so that there has been no one like you before you, nor anyone who will rise up after you.
13 Pia ninakupa hata ambayo hujaomba, vyote heshima na utajiri, ili kwamba pasije pakawa na mfalme wa kuwa kama wewe katika siku zako zote.
But also the things for which you did not ask, I have given to you, namely wealth and glory, so that no one has been like you among the kings in the all days before.
14 Kama utatembea katika njia zangu na kuyatunza maagizo yangu na maagizo yangu, kama alivyofanya baba yako Daudi, ndipo nitakapoziongeza siku zako.”
And if you will walk in my ways, and keep my precepts and my commandments, just as your father walked, I will lengthen your days.”
15 Kisha Sulemani alipoamka, na tazama, ilikuwa ndoto. Akaja Yerusalemu na akasimama mbele ya sanduku na agano la Bwana. Akatoa sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani, na akawafanyia sherehe watumishi wake wote.
Then Solomon awakened, and he understood that it was a dream. And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and he offered holocausts and made victims of peace offerings, and he held a great feast for all his servants.
16 Kisha wanawake wawili waliokuwa makahaba wakaja mbele ya mfalme wakasimama mbele yake.
Then two women harlots went to the king, and they stood before him.
17 Mwanamke mmoja akasema, “Aa, bwana wangu, mwanamke huyu na mimi tunaishi katika nyumba moja, Nilizaa mtoto tukiwa pamoj na yeye katika nyumba yetu.
And one of them said: “I beg you, my lord, I and this woman were living in one house, and I gave birth, with her in the room.
18 Ikatokea siku ya tatu baada ya kujifungua na yeye akajifungua. Tulikuwa sisi tu. Hapakuwepo na mtu mwingine yeyote katika nyumba yetu, ila sisi tu wawili katika hiyo nyumba.
Then, on the third day after I gave birth, she also gave birth. And we were together, with no other person with us in the house, only the two of us.
19 Kisha mtoto wa mwanamke huyu akafa wakati wa usiku, kwa sababu alimlalia.
Then this woman’s son died in the night. For while sleeping, she smothered him.
20 kwa hiyo akamka wakati huo wa usiku wa manane akamchukua mwanangu toka pembeni yangu, wakati mimi mtumishi wako nilipokuwa usingizini, na akamlaza kwenye kifua chake, na akamlaza mtoto wake aliyekufa juu ya kifua changu.
And rising up in the silent depths of the night, she took my son from my side, while I, your handmaid, was sleeping, and she set him in her bosom. Then she placed her dead son in my bosom.
21 Asubuhi nilipoamka ili kumhudumia mwanangu, nikaona kuwa alikuwa amekufa. Lakini nilipomwangalia kwa makini wakati huo wa asubuhi, nikagundua kuwa hakuwa yule mwanangu niliyezaa,”
And when I had arisen in the morning, so that I might give milk to my son, he appeared to be dead. But gazing upon him more diligently in the light of day, I realized that he was not mine, whom I had born.”
22 Yule mwanamke mwingine akasema, “Hapana, Huyu aliye hai ndiye wangu. Na yule aliyekufa ndiye wako.” Yule mwanamke wa kwanza akasema, “Hapana, Yule mtoto aliyekufa ndiye mwanao, na huyu aliye hai ndiye wangu.” Hivi ndivyo walivyoongea mbele ya mfalme.
And the other woman responded: “It is not such as you say. Instead, your son is dead, but mine is alive.” To the contrary, she said: “You are lying. For my son lives, and your son is dead.” And in this manner, they were contending before the king.
23 Kisha mfalme akasema, “Mmoja wenu anasema, 'huyu aliye hai ni wangu, na kumbe mwanao ndiye aliye kufa,'na mwingine naye anasema, 'Hapana, mwanao ni yule aliyekufa, na mwanangu ni huyu aliye hai.'”
Then said the king: “This one says, ‘My son is alive, and your son is dead.’ And the other responds, ‘No, instead your son is dead, but mine lives.’”
24 Mfalme akasema, ''Nileteeni upanga.” Kwa hiyo wakaleta upanga kwa mfalme.
Therefore the king said, “Bring a sword to me.” And when they had brought a sword before the king,
25 Kisha mfalme akasema, “Mgawe mtoto aliye hai katika vipande viwili, na huyu mwanamke apewe nusu na yule mwingine naye apewe nusu.”
he said, “Divide the living infant in two parts, and give a half part to the one and a half part to the other.”
26 Yule mwanamke mwenye mtoto aliyekuwa hai akamwambia mfalme, kwa kuwa moyo wake ulikuwa na huruma sana kwa mwanae, akasema, “Aa, bwana wangu, mpatie huyu mtoto aliye hai, na usimwue kamwe.” Lakini yule mwanamke mwingine akasema, “Hatakuwa wangu wala wako. Mgawe.”
But the woman, whose son was alive, said to the king, for her heart was moved concerning her son, “I beg you, my lord, give the living infant to her, and do not kill him.” To the contrary, the other said, “Let it be neither for me, nor for you, instead divide it.”
27 Ndipo mfalme aliposema, “Mpe yule mwanamke wa kwanza mtoto aliye hai, na kamwe usimwue. Yeye ndiye mama wa mtoto huyu.”
The king responded and said: “Give the living infant to this woman, and do not kill it. For she is his mother.”
28 Israeli wote waliposikia hukumu ambayo mafalme ametoa, walimwogopa mfalme, kwa sababu waliona kuwa hekima ya Mungu ilikuwa ndani yake kwa ajili ya kutoa kuhukumu.
Then all of Israel heard about the judgment that the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to accomplish judgment.