1 Samweli 1

1 Palikuwa na mtu mmoja wa Rama Msufi, wa nchi ya milima milima ya Efraimu; jina lake aliitwa Elikana mwana Yerohamu mwana Elihu mwana wa Tohu mwana wa Sufu, Mwefraimu.

Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 Mtu huyo alioa wanawake wawili, jina la mke wa kwanza aliitwa Hana, na yule wa pili aliitwa Penina, Penina alizaa watoto, lakini Hana hakuzaa.

He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 Kila mwaka, mtu huyu aliondoka mjini kwake kwenda kuabudu na kutoa dhabihu kwa BWANA wa majeshi huko Shilo. Wana wawili wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi, makuhani wa BWANA, walikuwepo huko Shilo.

Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD.

4 Kila mwaka zamu ya Elikana ya kutoa dhabihu ilipofika, alikuwa daima akimpa sehemu ya nyama Penina mkewe, watoto wake wote wa kiume na wakike

And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5 Lakini kwa mgawo wa Hana daima alimpa mara mbili zaidi, kwa sababu alimpenda Hana, ingawa BWANA alikuwa amelifunga tumbo lake.

But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

6 Hasimu wake alimchokoza sana ili kumkasilisha, kwa sababu BWANA alikuwa amelifunga tumbo lake. 8

Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.

7 Hivyo kila mwaka, alipokuwa akienda katika nyumba ya BWANA pamoja na familia yake, hasimu wake alizidi kumchokoza, Hatimaye alikuwa mtu wa kulia kila wakati na hakula kitu chochote.

And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.

8 Elikana mmewe kila wakati alimuuliza, “Hana, kwa nini unalia? Kwa nini huli chakula? Kwa nini una huzuni moyoni mwako? Mimi sibora kwako kuliko wana kumi?

“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 Wakati fulani, walipokuwa wamemaliza kula na kunywa huko Shilo, Hana alinyanyuka. Wakati huo Eli, kuhani alikuwa amekaa juu ya kiti chake mlangoni kuelekea nyumba ya BWANA.

So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

10 Hana alijawa na uchungu sana; akamwomba BWANA na akalia mno.

In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.

11 Aliweka nadhili na kusema, “BWANA wa majeshi, kama utalitazama teso la mjakazi wako na kunikumbuka, na usipomsahau mjakazi wako, na kumpatia mjakazi wako mtoto wa kiume, ndipo nitamtoa huyo mtoto kwa BWANA siku zote za maisha yake, na wembe hautapita juu ya kichwa chake kamwe”.

And she made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.”

12 Hana kiendelea kuomba mbele za BWANA, Eli alikitazama kinywa chake.

As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

13 Hana aliongea moyoni mwake. Midomo yake ilitikisika, lakini sauti yake haikusikika. Hivyo Eli alimdhania kuwa amelewa.

Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk

14 Eli akamwambia, “Utakuwa mlevi mpaka lini? Weka mbali divai yako.”

and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”

15 Hana akajibu, “Sivyo bwana wangu, mimi ni mwanamke mwenye roho ya huzuni. Sijanywa divai wala kinywaji chochote cha kulevya, bali nimekuwa nikiimimina nafsi yangu mbele za BWANA.”

“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 Usimchukulie mjakazi wako kama mwanamke duni; nimekuwa nikiongea kutokana na maumivu na masikitiko yangu.” 18

Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”

17 Kisha Eli alimjibu na kusema, “Nenda kwa amani; na Mungu wa Israeli akupatie kile ulichomuomba.”

“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

18 Hana akasema, “Na mjakazi wako apate kibali machoni pako.” Ndipo huyo mwanamke alienda zake na kula chakula na hakuhuzunika tena.

“May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began eating again, and her face was no longer downcast.

19 Waliamka asubuhi na mapema wakaenda wakamtukuza BWANA, na baadaye walirudi nyumbani kwao Rama. Elikana alilala na mke wake Hana, na BWANA akamkumbuka.

The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.

20 Baada ya muda fulani, Hana alibeba mimba na akazaa mtoto wa kiume. Akamwita jina lake Samweli, akasema, “Kwa sababu huyu nilimuomba kutoka kwa BWANA.”

So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

21 Mara nyingine, Elikana na nyumba yake, walipanda kwenda kumtolea BWANA dhabihu ya Mwaka na kuondoa nadhiri yake.

Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,

22 Lakini Hana hakwenda huko; alikuwa amekwisha mwambia mmewe, “Sitaenda huko hadi mtoto aache kunyonya; ndipo nitamleta, ili ahudhurie mbele za BWANA na akae huko daima.”

but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”

23 Mme wake Hana, Elikana, akamwambia, “Fanya yale yakupendezayo. Ngojea hadi utakapokuwa umemwachisha kunyonya; BWANA aweze peke yake kuthibitisha neno lake.” Hivyo yule mwanamke alibaki akimnyonyesha mtoto wake mpaka pale alipomwachisha ziwa.

“Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24 Alipokuwa amemwachisha kunyonya, alimbeba, akimchukua pamoja ng'ombe dume wa miaka mitatu, unga kama kilo thelathini na chupa ya mvinyo, akampeleka katika nyumba ya BWANA huko Shilo. Na mtoto huyo alikuwa bado mdogo.

Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.

25 Walimchinja yule ng'ombe, na wakamkabidhi mtoto kwa Eli.

And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

26 Akasema, “Ee bwana wangu! Kama uishivyo, bwana wangu, Mimi ndiye yule mwanamke niliyesimama hapa karibu nawe nikimwomba BWANA.

“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.

27 Niliomba kwa ajili ya mtoto huyu na BWANA akawa amenijibu ombi la dua yangu nililomwomba.

I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him,

28 Nami nimemtoa kwa BWANA; kwa maisha yake yote, nimempa BWANA.” Ndipo Elikana na familia yake wakamtukuza BWANA huko Shilo.

I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.