1 Samweli 12

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

Then Samuel said to all of Israel: “Behold, I have listened to your voice, according to all that you have said to me, and I have appointed a king over you.

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.

And now the king advances before you. But I am old and have gray hair. Moreover, my sons are with you. And so, having conversed before you from my youth, even until this day, behold, I am here.

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

Speak about me before the Lord, and before his Christ, as to whether I have taken anyone’s ox or donkey, or whether I have falsely accused anyone, or whether I have oppressed anyone, or whether I have accepted a bribe from the hand of anyone, and I will repudiate the same, this day, and I will restore it to you.”

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

And they said, “You have not falsely accused us, nor oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from the hand of anyone.”

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

And he said to them, “The Lord is a witness against you, and his Christ is a witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is the witness.”

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

And Samuel said to the people: “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who led our fathers away from 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 therefore, stand, so that I may contend in judgment against you before the Lord, about all the mercies of the Lord, which he has given to you and to 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.

How Jacob entered into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord. And the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and he led your fathers away from Egypt, and he transferred them to 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 so he delivered them into the hand of Sisera, master of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they 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.'

But afterward, they cried out to the Lord, and they said: ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and we have served the Baals and Ashtaroth. Now therefore, rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we will 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.

And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and he rescued you from the hand of your enemies all around, and you lived in confidence.

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.

Then, seeing that Nahash, the king of the sons of Ammon, had arrived against you, you said to me, ‘By no means! Instead, a king shall reign over us,’ even though the Lord your God was reigning over you.

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

Now therefore, your king is present, whom you chose and requested. Behold, the Lord has given you a king.

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 will fear the Lord, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord, then both you, and the king who rules over you, will be following the Lord your God.

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 will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but instead you provoke his words, then the hand of the Lord will be over you and over your fathers.

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

Therefore, stand now, and see this great thing, which the Lord will accomplish in your sight.

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 harvest of the wheat today? I will call upon the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain. And you will know and see that you have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, by petitioning for a king over you.”

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

And Samuel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain on that day.

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.”

And all the people feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly. And all the people said to Samuel: “Pray, on behalf of your servants, to the Lord your God, so that we may not die. For we have added to all our sins this evil, that we would petition for a king.”

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

Then Samuel said to the people: “Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil. Yet truly, do not choose to withdraw from the back of the Lord. Instead, serve the Lord with all your heart.

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

And do not choose to turn aside after vanities, which will never benefit you, nor rescue you, since 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.

And the Lord will not abandon his people, because of his great name. For the Lord has sworn to make you his people.

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

So then, far be it from me, this sin against the Lord, that I would cease to pray for you. And so, I will teach you the good and upright way.

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

Therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and from your whole heart. For you have seen the great works that he has done among you.

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

But if you persevere in wickedness, both you and your king will perish together.”