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.
Once there was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, from the tribe of Ephraim.
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. The name of the first wife was Hannah, and the name of the second, Peninnah. 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.
Every year Elkanah would leave his town and go to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord's priests.
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
Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he would give portions of it to Peninnah his wife 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.
He would give an extra portion to Hannah, to show his love for her even though the Lord hadn't given her any children.
6 Hasimu wake alimchokoza sana ili kumkasilisha, kwa sababu BWANA alikuwa amelifunga tumbo lake. 8
Her rival—the other wife—would taunt her badly to upset her because the Lord hadn't given her any children.
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.
This went on for years. Whenever Hannah went to the Lord's Temple, Peninnah would taunt her until she cried and couldn't 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, what are you crying for?” her husband Elkanah would ask. “Why don't you eat? Why are you so upset? Aren't I 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.
One time when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to the Temple. Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the entrance to the Lord's Temple.
10 Hana alijawa na uchungu sana; akamwomba BWANA na akalia mno.
She was terribly upset, and prayed to the Lord as she cried and cried.
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”.
She made a vow, asking, “Lord Almighty, if only you would pay attention to the suffering of your servant and remember me, and not forget me but give me a son, then I will dedicate him to the Lord for his whole life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
12 Hana kiendelea kuomba mbele za BWANA, Eli alikitazama kinywa chake.
As Hannah went 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 head, and though her lips were moving, her voice made no sound. Eli thought she must be drunk.
14 Eli akamwambia, “Utakuwa mlevi mpaka lini? Weka mbali divai yako.”
“Do you have to come here drunk?” he asked. “Get rid of 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.”
“It's not that, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I'm a very miserable woman. I haven't been drinking wine or beer; I'm just pouring my heart out to the Lord.
16 Usimchukulie mjakazi wako kama mwanamke duni; nimekuwa nikiongea kutokana na maumivu na masikitiko yangu.” 18
Please don't think I'm a bad woman! I have been praying because of all my troubles and grief.”
17 Kisha Eli alimjibu na kusema, “Nenda kwa amani; na Mungu wa Israeli akupatie kile ulichomuomba.”
“Go in peace, and may the God of Israel give you what you have asked him for,” Eli replied.
18 Hana akasema, “Na mjakazi wako apate kibali machoni pako.” Ndipo huyo mwanamke alienda zake na kula chakula na hakuhuzunika tena.
“Thank you for your kindness to your servant,” she said. Then she went on her way, had something to eat, and she didn't look sad any more.
19 Waliamka asubuhi na mapema wakaenda wakamtukuza BWANA, na baadaye walirudi nyumbani kwao Rama. Elikana alilala na mke wake Hana, na BWANA akamkumbuka.
Elkanah and Hannah got up early the next morning to worship the Lord and then they went home to Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord honored her request.
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.”
In due course she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
21 Mara nyingine, Elikana na nyumba yake, walipanda kwenda kumtolea BWANA dhabihu ya Mwaka na kuondoa nadhiri yake.
Elkanah and all his family went to make the yearly 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. She told her husband, “Once the boy is weaned I will take him to be presented to the Lord and to remain there forever.”
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 as you see fit,” her husband Elkanah replied. “Stay here until you have weaned him. May the Lord fulfill what he has said.” So Hannah stayed behind 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.
When she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a wineskin containing wine. Even though the boy was young, she brought him to the Lord's Temple at Shiloh.
25 Walimchinja yule ng'ombe, na wakamkabidhi mtoto kwa Eli.
After they had slaughtered the bull, they presented 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 with 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 given me what I asked him for,
28 Nami nimemtoa kwa BWANA; kwa maisha yake yote, nimempa BWANA.” Ndipo Elikana na familia yake wakamtukuza BWANA huko Shilo.
now I'm giving him to the Lord. As long as he lives he will be dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
