1 Samweli 12

1 Samweli aksema na Israeli wote, “Nimesikia kila kitu mlichoniambia, na nimemweka mfalme juu yenu.

Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king.

2 Basi, yupo hapa mfalme aliyeko mbele yenu, mimi nimezeeka nakujaa mvi; na watoto wangu wako pamoja nanyi. Nimekuwa kiongozi wenu tangu ujana wangu hadi leo.

Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.

3 Mimi niko hapa, Nishuhudieni mbele za BWANA na mbele za mtiwa mafuta wake. Nimechukua ng'ombe wa nani? Nimechukua punda wa nani? Ni nani nimemdhulumu? Nimemwonea nani? Nimepokea rushwa kutoka mikono ya nani inipofushe macho yangu? Nishuhudieni, nami nitawarudishia

Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”

4 Nao wakasema, Haujatudanganya, kutuonea, au kuiba chochote kutoka mkono wa mtu yeyote.”

“You have not wronged us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”

5 Akawaambia, “BWANA ni shahidi juu yenu, na masihi wake leo ni shahidi, kwamba hamkuona kitu mkononi mwangu.” Na wao wakajibu, “BWANAni shahidi.”

Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

6 Samweli akawaambia watu, “BWANA ndiye aliyemteua Musa na Haruni, na ndiye aliyewatoa baba zenu kutoka nchi ya Misri.

Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7 Basi sasa, jihudhurisheni, ili niweze kutoa utetezi juu yenu kwa BWANA kuhusu matendo yote ya haki ya BWANA, ambayo aliwafanyia ninyi na baba zenu.

Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.

8 Yakobo alipokuwa amefika Misri, na babu zenu walimlilia BWANA. BWANA alimtuma Musa na Haruni, waliowaongoza babu zenu kutoka Misri na wakaja kukaa sehemu hii.

When Jacob went to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

9 Lakini walimsahau BWANA Mungu wao; akawauza katika mkono wa Sisera, jemedari wa majeshi ya Hazori, katika mkono wa Wafilisti, na katika mkono wa mfalme wa Moabu; hawa wote walipigana na babu zenu.

But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

10 Wakamlilia BWANA mkasema, 'Tumefanya dhambi, kwa sababu tumemwacha BWANA na tumewatumikia Mabaali na Mashtorethi. Lakini sasa tuokoe kutoka mikono ya maadui zetu, na tutakutumikia.'

Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

11 Hivyo BWANA akawatuma Yerubu Baali, Bedani, Yefta na Samweli, na akawapa ushindi dhidi ya maadui zenu wote waliowazunguka, na kwamba mliishi kwa amani.

So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.

12 Mlipoona kwamba Nahashi mfalme wa watu wa Amoni amekuja dhidi yenu, mkaniambia, 'Hapana! Badala yake, mfalme awepo atawale juu yetu'- ingawa BWANA, Mungu wenu, alikuwa mfalme wenu.

But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

13 Sasa yupo hapa mfalme ambaye mmemchagua, mliyemuomba na ambaye BWANA amemteua awe mfalme juu yenu.

Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.

14 Ikiwa mnamhofu BWANA, mtumikieni, muitii sauti yake, msikaidi amri ya BWANA, basi wote wawili ninyi na mfalme anayewatawala mtakuwa wafuasi wa BWANA Mungu wenu.

If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

15 Kama hamtaitii sauti ya BWANA, mkaasi amri za BWANA, ndipo mkono wa BWANA utakuwa juu yenu, kama ulivyokuwa juu ya babu zenu.

But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

16 Hata sasa muwepo kabisa na muone jambo kubwa ambalo BWANA atalifanya mbele ya macho yenu.

Now, therefore, stand and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes.

17 Je, leo si mavuno ya ngano? Nitamwomba BWANA, naye ataleta ngurumo na mvua. Ndipo mtajua na kuona kwamba uovu wenu ni mwingi, mlioufanya machoni pa BWANA, kujiombea mfalme wenu ninyi wenyewe.”

Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”

18 Hivyo Samweli akamwomba BWANA; na siku iyo hiyo BWANA akatuma ngurumo na mvua. Ndipo watu wote wakamwogopa sana BWANA pamoja na Samweli.

So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 Kisha watu wote wakamwambia Samweli, “Waombee watumishi wako kwa BWANA Mungu wako, ili tusife. Kwa maana tumeongeza uovu huu juu ya dhambi zetu tulipojiombea mfalme sisi wenyewe.”

They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

20 Samweli akawajibu, “Msiogope. Mmefanya uovu wote huu, lakini msigeukie mbali na BWANA, bali mtumikieni BWANA kwa moyo wenu wote.

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

21 Wala msigeuke na kufuata mambo matupu yasiyo na faida au kuwaokoa, kwa sababu ni ubatili.

Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

22 Kwa ajili ya jina lake kuu, BWANA hatawakataa watu wake, kwa sababu imempendeza BWANA kuwafanya ninyi kuwa watu kwa ajili yake.

Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

23 Kwangu mimi, iwe mbali nami kumtenda BWANA dhambi kwa kuacha kuwaombea ninyi. Badala yake, nitawafundisha njia iliyo njema na sahihi.

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.

24 Mcheni BWANA tu na mtumikieni yeye katika kweli kwa moyo wenu wote. Tafakarini mambo makuu aliyowatendeeni.

Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

25 Lakini kama mtadumu kufanya uovu, ninyi wote na mfalme wenu mtaangamizwa.”

But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”