1 Samweli 12

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

Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made 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.

Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and grey-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to 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. Witness against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

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

They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

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

He said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.”

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

Samuel said to the people, “It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that 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 therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did 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.

“When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell 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, captain 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.'

They cried to the LORD, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of 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.

The LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety.

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.

“When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the LORD your God was your king.

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

Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen and whom you have asked for. Behold, the LORD has set 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 will fear the LORD, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of 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 LORD’s voice, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the LORD’s hand 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 still and see this great thing, which 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.”

Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the LORD’s sight, in 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 the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. Then 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.”

All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.”

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

Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away 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.

Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.

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

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.

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

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

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

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

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

But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.”