1 Samweli 11
1 Ndipo Nahashi Mwamoni akaenda na kupiga kambi kuzunguka Yabeshi Gileadi. Watu wote wa Yabeshi wakamwambia Nahashi, “Fanya mkataba nasi, na tutakutumikia,”
About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon [led his army across the Jordan River, and they] surrounded Jabesh [city] in [the] Gilead [region]. But all the men of Jabesh [went and] said to Nahash, “Make an agreement/treaty with us [not to kill us], and then we will let you rule us.”
2 Nahashi Mwamoni akawajibu, “Kwa sharti hili nitafanya mkataba na ninyi, kwamba wote niwang'oe macho ya kulia, na kwa kitendo hiki kilete fedheha katika Israeli yote.”
Nahash replied, “I will do that if you do one thing. Allow us to gouge out all the right eyes of your people. By doing that we will cause the people [in other countries] to despise all you Israeli people.”
3 Basi wazee wa Yabeshi wakamjibu, “Tuache kwa siku saba, ili tuwatume wajumbe katika nchi yote ya Israeli. Ndiposa, kama hakuna mtu wa kutuokoa, tutasalimu amri kwako.”
The leaders of Jabesh replied, “Do not attack us for the next seven days. During that time, we will send messengers throughout Israel [to tell them what you are demanding]. If no one will help us, then we will (surrender to you/allow you to do to us whatever you want).”
4 Nao wajumbe wakafika Gibea, alipoishi Sauli, na wakawaeleza watu kile kilichotokea. Watu wote wakalia kwa sauti kuu.
[Being very confident that his army was very superior, Nahash agreed. So the leaders of Jabesh sent messengers throughout Israel]. When the messengers came to Gibeah, which was [the city] where Saul lived, and they told the people there about the situation, everyone started to cry.
5 Na Sauli alikuwa akiwafuata nyuma maksai kutoka shambani. Sauli akauliza, “Watu wamepatwa na nini hadi wanalia?” Ndipo wakamweleza Sauli kile ambacho watu wa Yabeshi walikisema.
At that time, Saul was plowing in the field. When he returned home, he asked, “Why are all the people [crying]?” So they told him what the messengers from Jabesh had reported.
6 Sauli aliposikia kile walichosema, Roho ya Mungu ikamjia kwa nguvu, na akakasirika.
Then God’s Spirit came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry [because of what Nahash wanted to do].
7 Akashika nira ya maksai, akawakata hao ng'ombe vipande vipande, na akavituma hivyo vipande katika nchi yote ya Israeli kwa kuwatumia wajumbe, Akasema, “Yeyote asiyejitokeza akimfuata Sauli na Samweli, hivi ndivyo ng'ombe wake watakavyofanywa.” Na hofu ya BWANA ikawaingia watu, na wakajitokeza wote kwa pamoja.
He took two of his oxen [and killed them] and cut them into pieces. Then he sent messengers [carrying those pieces] throughout Israel to tell people this message: “Saul says that [he cut this ox in pieces, and that he] will do the same thing to the oxen of anyone who refuses to come with him and Samuel to fight [the army from Ammon]!” Then Yahweh caused all the people of Israel to be afraid of what Saul might do to them (OR, of what Yahweh might do to them) [if they did not go and help Saul]. So the men all gathered together.
8 Alipowahesabu hapo Beseki, watu wa Israeli walikuwa elfu mia tatu, na watu wa Yuda elfu thelathini.
When Saul gave them all weapons at Bezek, he saw that there were 300,000 Israeli men there, as well as 30,000 men from the tribe of Judah.
9 Wakawaambia wale wajumbe waliotumwa, “Mtawaambia watu wa Yabeshi Gileadi, 'Kesho, wakati wa jua kali, Mtaokolewa.”' Basi wale wajumbe wakaenda na kuwaambia watu wa Yabeshi, na watu wakafurahi.
So Saul sent messengers back to the people at Jabesh to tell them, “We will rescue/save you by noontime tomorrow.” When the people of Jabesh heard that message, they were very joyful/happy.
10 Ndipo watu wa Yabeshi wakamwambia Nahashi, “Kesho tutasalimu amri kwako, na utaweza kutufanyia chochote unachoona kinakupendeza.”
Then the men of Jabesh told [Nahash], “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and then you can do to us whatever you want to.”
11 Siku iliyofuata Sauli akawapanga watu katika vikosi vitatu. Wakafika katikati ya Kambi wakati wa asubuhi, wakawashambulia na kuwashinda Waamoni ilipofika mchana. Waliosalimika nao walitawanyika, kiasi kwamba hata watu wawili hawakuachwa pamoja.
But before the sun rose the next morning, Saul [and his army arrived. He] divided them into three groups. They rushed into the camp of the soldiers from Ammon, and attacked them. By noontime they had killed most of them, and those who were not killed scattered. Each of them who ran away ran away alone.
12 Ndipo watu wakamwambia Samweli, “Wako wapi waliosema, 'Hivi kweli Sauli atatutawala?' Walete watu hao, ili tuwauwe.”
Then the people [of Jabesh] said to Samuel, “Where are those men who said that they did not want Saul to be our king? Bring them here, and we will kill them!”
13 Lakini Sauli akasema, “Hakuna atakayeuwawa siku ya leo, kwa sababu leo BWANA amemuokoa Isreli.”
But Saul replied, “[No], we are not going to execute anyone today, because this is the day that Yahweh has saved us Israeli people. [It is a day to rejoice, not to kill anyone].”
14 Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu, “Njoni, twendeni Gilgali na tuimarishe ufalme tena huko.”
Then Samuel said to the people, “Let’s all go to Gilgal, and there we will again proclaim [that Saul is] our king.”
15 Hivyo watu wote wakaenda Gilgali na wakamsimika Sauli kuwa mfalme mbele za BWANA huko Gilgali. Na huko walitoa sadaka za amani mbele za BWANA, na watu wote wa Israeli wakafurahi sana.
So they went to Gilgal. There, knowing that Yahweh was watching, they proclaimed that Saul was their king. Then they offered sacrifices to enable them to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. And Saul and all the other Israeli people were very happy.
