< 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,”
Then Nahash the Ammonite went and laid seige to Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
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 the Ammonite replied, “On this condition will I make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all of your right eyes, and in this way bring disgrace on all Israel.”
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.”
Then the elders of Jabesh replied to him, “Leave us alone for seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”
4 Nao wajumbe wakafika Gibea, alipoishi Sauli, na wakawaeleza watu kile kilichotokea. Watu wote wakalia kwa sauti kuu.
The messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived, and told the people what had happened. All the people wept loudly.
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.
Now Saul was following the oxen out of the field. Saul said, “What is wrong with the people that they are weeping?” They told Saul what the men of Jabesh had said.
6 Sauli aliposikia kile walichosema, Roho ya Mungu ikamjia kwa nguvu, na akakasirika.
When Saul heard what they said, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he was very angry.
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 a yoke of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel with the messengers. He said, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, this is what will be done to his oxen.” Then the terror of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out together as one man.
8 Alipowahesabu hapo Beseki, watu wa Israeli walikuwa elfu mia tatu, na watu wa Yuda elfu thelathini.
When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
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.
They said to the messengers that came, “You will tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.'” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.
10 Ndipo watu wa Yabeshi wakamwambia Nahashi, “Kesho tutasalimu amri kwako, na utaweza kutufanyia chochote unachoona kinakupendeza.”
Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you.”
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.
The next day Saul put the people in three groups. They came into the middle of the camp during the morning watch, and they attacked and defeated the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 Ndipo watu wakamwambia Samweli, “Wako wapi waliosema, 'Hivi kweli Sauli atatutawala?' Walete watu hao, ili tuwauwe.”
Then the people said to Samuel, “Who was it who said, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, so we can put them to death.”
13 Lakini Sauli akasema, “Hakuna atakayeuwawa siku ya leo, kwa sababu leo BWANA amemuokoa Isreli.”
But Saul said, “No one must be put to death this day, because today Yahweh has rescued Israel.”
14 Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu, “Njoni, twendeni Gilgali na tuimarishe ufalme tena huko.”
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the monarchy there.”
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 all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before Yahweh, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.