1 Samweli 12
1 Samweli aksema na Israeli wote, “Nimesikia kila kitu mlichoniambia, na nimemweka mfalme juu yenu.
Then Samuel said this to all the Israeli people: “I have done everything that you told me to do, and I have given/appointed a king to rule 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.
My own sons [are grown up and] with you now, but I have appointed Saul [instead of one of them], and he is now your leader. I am now old, and my hair is gray. I have been your leader ever since I was a boy.
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
Now tell me, while Yahweh is listening, and while the king whom he has chosen is listening: whose ox or donkey have I stolen [during all those years]? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed/treated badly? From whom have I accepted a bribe, in order that I would ignore [the evil things he had done]? If I have done any of those things, tell me, and I will pay back what I owe.”
4 Nao wakasema, Haujatudanganya, kutuonea, au kuiba chochote kutoka mkono wa mtu yeyote.”
They replied, “[No, ] you have never cheated anyone or oppressed anyone or accepted a bribe from anyone.”
5 Akawaambia, “BWANA ni shahidi juu yenu, na masihi wake leo ni shahidi, kwamba hamkuona kitu mkononi mwangu.” Na wao wakajibu, “BWANAni shahidi.”
Then Samuel said, “Today Yahweh can testify, and the king whom you chose can testify, that I have not taken a bribe from anyone.” They replied, “Yes, Yahweh can say that he knows that is true.”
6 Samweli akawaambia watu, “BWANA ndiye aliyemteua Musa na Haruni, na ndiye aliyewatoa baba zenu kutoka nchi ya Misri.
Samuel continued by saying, “Yahweh is the one who appointed Moses and Aaron [to lead] our ancestors. He is the one who brought them out of Egypt. [And he is the one who will testify that what I am saying is true].
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 while Yahweh is listening, stand here quietly while I accuse you [and tell you that your requesting a king instead of trusting Yahweh to lead you was wrong]. I will do that by reminding you of all the great miracles that Yahweh performed for you and your ancestors.
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.
[“Many years] after Jacob went to Egypt, our ancestors pleaded to Yahweh to help them. So Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron to them, and they led our ancestors out of Egypt, and eventually they settled in this land.
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 our ancestors soon forgot about Yahweh, their God. So he allowed Sisera, the commander of the army from Hazor, to defeat them. He also allowed the Philistines and the army of the king of Moab to fight our ancestors and defeat 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 our ancestors pleaded with Yahweh again to help them. They admitted, ‘Yahweh, we have sinned, and we have forsaken you. We have worshiped [idols that represent the god] Baal and [the goddess] Astarte. But if you rescue us from our enemies, we will worship you only.’
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 Yahweh sent men such as Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and me to save you. And as a result, you did not have to worry about any enemies attacking you.
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 now, when king Nahash of Ammon came [with his army] to attack you, [you were afraid. So], you [came to me, and] said, ‘We want a king to rule us,’ even though Yahweh was already your king!
13 Sasa yupo hapa mfalme ambaye mmemchagua, mliyemuomba na ambaye BWANA amemteua awe mfalme juu yenu.
So now, look, here is the king whom you have chosen. You asked for a king, and Yahweh has now appointed a king for 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 will revere Yahweh and if you serve him, and if you listen to what he says and obey what he commands, and if you and the king who rules over you do what Yahweh your God wants you to do, [(things will go well for you all/Yahweh will bless you)].
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 do not listen to what Yahweh says, if you disobey what he commands, then he will punish [MTY] you all, just as he punished our ancestors.
16 Hata sasa muwepo kabisa na muone jambo kubwa ambalo BWANA atalifanya mbele ya macho yenu.
“Now stand here quietly and see the great thing that Yahweh is about to do.
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.”
You know that [RHQ] [it does not rain at this time of the year], during the time when you harvest wheat. But I will ask Yahweh to send thunder [and lightning] and rain today. When he does that, you will realize that Yahweh considers that you have done a very wicked thing by requesting 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.
Then Samuel prayed to Yahweh, and Yahweh caused it to thunder [and lightning] and rain. So all the people became very afraid of Yahweh and of 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 cried out to Samuel, “Pray for us! We have added to our previous sins by requesting a king! Pray to Yahweh, your God, in order that we will not die [because of having done that]!”
20 Samweli akawajibu, “Msiogope. Mmefanya uovu wote huu, lakini msigeukie mbali na BWANA, bali mtumikieni BWANA kwa moyo wenu wote.
Samuel replied, “Do not be afraid! You have done this evil thing, but do not turn away from doing the things that Yahweh wants you to do. Instead, serve Yahweh wholeheartedly.
21 Wala msigeuke na kufuata mambo matupu yasiyo na faida au kuwaokoa, kwa sababu ni ubatili.
Do not abandon [Yahweh] and worship useless idols. They cannot help you or save you [from your enemies], because they are truly useless.
22 Kwa ajili ya jina lake kuu, BWANA hatawakataa watu wake, kwa sababu imempendeza BWANA kuwafanya ninyi kuwa watu kwa ajili yake.
Yahweh decided to make us his people. So he will not abandon us people whom he has chosen, because he would injure his own reputation [of being completely faithful] if he did that.
23 Kwangu mimi, iwe mbali nami kumtenda BWANA dhambi kwa kuacha kuwaombea ninyi. Badala yake, nitawafundisha njia iliyo njema na sahihi.
But as for me, I have solemnly promised that I will not sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you what things are good and right [for you to do].
24 Mcheni BWANA tu na mtumikieni yeye katika kweli kwa moyo wenu wote. Tafakarini mambo makuu aliyowatendeeni.
But you must revere Yahweh and serve him wholeheartedly. Never forget all the great things that he has done for you.
25 Lakini kama mtadumu kufanya uovu, ninyi wote na mfalme wenu mtaangamizwa.”
But if you keep doing wicked things, he will get rid of you and your king!”
