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 certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

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.

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 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.

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

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 when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

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 gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah; but the LORD had rendered her barren.

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

And her adversary also provoked her greatly, to make her fret, because the LORD had made her barren.

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 [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did 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?

Then said Elkanah her husband to 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 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 Hannah rose after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drank. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

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

And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.

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 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 to thy handmaid a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

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

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli observed her mouth.

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

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

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

And Eli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

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.”

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

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

Count not thy handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

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

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

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

And she said, Let thy handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more [sad].

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

And they rose in the morning early, and worshiped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; 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.”

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time had arrived, after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.

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

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and 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 went not up; for she said to her husband, [I will not go up] until the child is weaned, and [then] I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

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.

And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seemeth to thee good; tarry until thou hast weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and nursed her son until she 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.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child [was] young.

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

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

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

And she said, O my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying to the LORD.

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

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

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

Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshiped the LORD there.