< 1 Samweli 2 >
1 Hana aliomba akasema, “moyo wangu wamtukuza BWANA. Pembe yangu imejulikana katika BWANA. Kinywa changu kinatamba dhidi ya maadui zangu, kwa kuwa naufurahia wokovu wako.
My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, and my horn is exalted in my God: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies: because I have joyed in thy salvation.
2 Hakuna aliye mtakatifu kama BWANA, kwa kuwa hakuna mwingine zaidi yako; hakuna mwamba kama Mungu wetu.
There is none holy as the Lord is: for there is no other beside thee, and there is none strong like our God.
3 Msijivune sana hivyo kwa kiburi; vinywa vyenu visitoke majivuno. Kwa kuwa BWANA ni Mungu wa maarifa; yeye huyapima matendo kwa mizani.
Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting: let old matters depart from your mouth: for the Lord is a God of all knowledge, and to him are thoughts prepared.
4 Pinde za mashujaa zimevunjika, bali wale wanaojikwaa hujivika nguvu kama mshipi.
The bow of the mighty is overcome, and the weak are girt with strength.
5 Wale walio na shibe ya kutosha wamejikodisha ili wapate chakula; wale waliokuwa na njaa hawana njaa tena. Hata yule aliye kuwa tasa amezaa watoto saba, bali mwanamke mwenye watoto wengi amenyong'onyea.
They that were full before have hired out themselves for bread: and the hungry are filled, so that the barren hath borne many: and she that had many children is weakened.
6 BWANA huua na huuisha. Hushusha kuzimu na huleta tena juu. (Sheol )
The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to hell and bringeth back again. (Sheol )
7 BWANA humfanya maskini, na yeye ndiye humtajirisha mtu. Yeye hudhili, lakini pia hukweza
The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he humbleth and he exalteth.
8 Yeye humwinua juu maskini toka mavumbini: Huwainua wahitaji toka jalalani na kuwaketisha pamoja na wakuu na kuwarithisha kiti cha enzi cha utukufu. Kwa kuwa nguzo za dunia ni za BWANA na ameukalisha ulimwengu juu yake.
He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill: that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of glory. For the poles of the earth are the Lord’s, and upon them he hath set the world.
9 Yeye atazilinda nyayo za watu wake waaminifu, bali waovu watanyamazishwa gizani, kwa maana hakuna atayeshinda kwa nguvu zake.
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, because no man shall prevail by his own strength.
10 Wale wampingao BWANA watavunjwa vipande vipande; atawapiga radi kutokea mbinguni. BWANA atahukumu miisho ya dunia; atampa nguvu mfalme wake na kuinua pembe ya mtiwa mafuta wake.”
The adversaries of the Lord shall fear him: and upon them shall he thunder in the heavens. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give empire to his king, and shall exalt the horn of his Christ.
11 Nndipo Elikana akenda Rama, nyumbani kwake. Na yule mtoto akamtumikia BWANA machoni pa Eli, kuhani.
And Elcana went to Ramatha, to his house: but the child ministered in the sight of the Lord before the face of Heli the priest.
12 Basi, watoto wa Eli walikuwa wakorofi. Wao hawakumheshimu BWANA.
Now the sons of Heli were children of Belial, not knowing the Lord,
13 Desturi ya makuhani na watu ilikuwa kwamba endapo mtu yeyote ametoa dhabihu, mtumishi wa kuhani angekuja akiwa na uma wa meno matatu mkononi mwake, nyama ilipokuwa inatokoswa.
Nor the office of the priests to the people: but whosoever had offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest came, while the flesh was in boiling, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand,
14 Naye angeutia uma huo sufuriani, au birikani au chomboni au chunguni; nyama yote ambayo ingeinuliwa na uma huo ingetwaliwa na kuhani mwenyewe. Ndivyo walivyofanya huko Shilo kwa Waisraeli wote waliokwenda huko.
And thrust it into the kettle, or into the caldron, or into the pot, or into the pan: and all that the fleshhook brought up, the priest took to himself. Thus did they to all Israel that came to Silo.
15 Tena, kabla ya kuteketeza mafuta, mtumishi wa kuhani alikuja, na kumwambia aliyekuwa akitoa dhabihu, “Tenga nyama ya kuchoma kwa ajili ya kuhani; kwa sababu hataikubali ile ya kutokosa kutoka kwako, bali tu ile mbichi.”
Also before they burnt the fat, the servant of the priest came, and said to the man that sacrificed: Give me flesh to boil for the priest: for I will not take of thee sodden flesh, but raw.
16 Ikiwa mtu atamwambia, “Wachome mafuta kwanza, na kisha uchukue kiasi utakacho.” Ndipo angesema, “Hapana, utanipatia sasa hivi; la sivyo; Nitaichukua kwa lazima.”
And he that sacrificed said to him: Let the fat first be burnt today according to the custom, and then take as much as thy soul desireth. But he answered and said to him: Not so: but thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it by force.
17 Dhambi ya vijana hawa ilikuwa mbaya sana mbele za BWANA, kwa sababu waliidharau dhabihu ya BWANA.
Wherefore the sin of the young men was exceeding great before the Lord: because they withdrew men from the sacrifice of the Lord.
18 Lakini Samweli alimtumikia BWANA akiwa mdogo akivaa nguo ya naivera ya kitani.
But Samuel ministered before the face of the Lord: being a child girded with a linen ephod.
19 Kila mwaka mama yake alimtengenezea kanzu dogo na kumletea, wakati wakija na mmewe kutoa dhabihu ya kila mwaka.
And his mother made him a little coat, which she brought to him on the appointed days, when she went up with her husband, to offer the solemn sacrifice.
20 Eli aliwabariki Elikana na mke wake na kusema, “BWANA akupatie watoto zaidi kwa mwanamke huyu kwa sababu ya ahadi yake aliyoitoa kwa BWANA.” Baadaye walirudi nyumbani kwao.
And Heli blessed Elcana and his wife: and he said to him: The Lord give thee seed of this woman, for the loan thou hast lent to the Lord. And they went to their own home.
21 BWANA alimsaidia tena Hana, akawa amebeba mimba nyingine. Akazaa watoto watatu wa kiume na wa kike wawili. Wakati huo huo mtoto Samweli akakua akiwa mbele za BWANA.
And the Lord visited Anna, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters: and the child Samuel became great before the Lord.
22 Basi Eli alikuwa mzee sana, akayasikia yote ambayo watoto wake walikuwa wakiwafanyia Waisraeli wote, na jinsi walivyotembea na mwanamke aliyekuwa akitumika katika lango la hema ya kukutania.
Now Heli was very old, and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel: and how they lay with the women that waited at the door of the tabernacle:
23 Akawaambia, “Kwa nini mnafanya mambo hayo? Kwa maana nasikia matendo yenu maovu kutoka kwa watu hawa wote.”
And he said to them: Why do ye these kinds of things, which I hear, very wicked things, from all the people?
24 Sivyo hivyo, watoto wangu, maana hii ninayoisikia siyo taarifa njema. Mnawakosesha watu wa BWANA.
Do not so, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear, that you make the people of the Lord to transgress.
25 “Kama mtu mmoja akimkosea mwenzake, Mungu atamhukumu; Lakini mtu akimkosea BWANA, ni nani atakayemtetea mtu huyo?” Lakini hawakuitii sauti ya baba yao, sababu BWANA alinuia kuwaua.
If one man shall sin against another, God may be appeased in his behalf: but if a man shall sin against the Lord, who shall pray for him? And they hearkened not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.
26 Yule mtoto Samweli aliongezeka umri, na kupata kibali kwa BWANA na kwa watu pia.
But the child Samuel advanced, and grew on, and pleased both the Lord and men.
27 Kisha mtu wa Mungu akamwendea Eli na kumwambia, “BWANA asema, 'Je, sikujifunua mwenyewe kwa nyumba ya baba zako, walipokuwa Misri utumwani nyumbani mwa Farao?
And there came a man of God to Heli, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Did I not plainly appear to thy father’s house, when they were in Egypt in the house of Pharao?
28 Mimi nilimchagua yeye kutoka makabila yote ya Israeli awe kuhani wangu, apande madhabahuni kwangu, na kufukiza uvumba, na kuvaa kanzu ya naivera mbele yangu. Niliwapa nyumba ya baba zako dhabihu zote za wana wa Israeli zilizotolewa kwa moto.
And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my sitar, and burn incense to me, and to wear the ephod before me: and I gave to thy father’s house of all the sacrifices of the children of Israel.
29 Kwanini basi, unaidharau dhabihu yangu na sadaka ambazo ninazitaka mahali ninapoishi? Kwanini unawaheshimu watoto wako kuliko mimi, kwa kujinenepesha ninyi wenyewe kwa uzuri wa kila sadaka ya watu wangu Israeli?'
Why have you kicked away my victims, and my gifts which I commanded to be offered in the temple: and thou hast rather honoured thy sons than me, to eat the firstfruits of every sacrifice of my people Israel?
30 Maana, BWANA, Mungu wa Isareli, asema, niliahidi kwamba nyumba yako, na nyumba ya baba yako, yawapasa kwenda mbele zangu milele,' Lakini sasa BWANA asema. 'Mambo haya yapishe mbali. nami nisifanye hivi, maana nitawaheshimu wanaoniheshimu, bali wanaonidharau mimi hawatakuwa na thamani.
Wherefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father should minister in my sight, for ever. But now saith the Lord: Far be this from me: but whosoever shall glorify me, him will I glorify: but they that despise me, shall be despised.
31 Tazama, siku zinakuja nitakapoondoa nguvu zako na nguvu za nyumba za baba yako, ili kwamba pasije kuwepo mtu mzee katika nyumba yako.
Behold the days come: and I will cut off thy arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.
32 Nawe utalitazama hangaiko katika makao yangu. Ingawa Israeli watapewa jambo jema, hapatakuwapo tena mtu yeyote mzee katika nyumba yako.
And thou shalt see thy rival in the temple, in all the prosperity of Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.
33 Yeyote miongoni mwenu nisiye mwondoa kutoka madhabahuni pangu, Nitasababisha macho yenu yaanguke, na ita nitasababisha huzuni maishani mwenu. Wanaume wote waliozaliwa katika familia yako watakufa.
However I will not altogether take away a man of thee from my altar: but that thy eyes may faint and thy soul be spent: and a great part of thy house shall die when they come to man’s estate.
34 Hii ndiyo itakuwa ishara kwako ambayo itawaijia watoto wako wakiume wawili, juu ya Hofni na Finehasi: Wote wawili watakufa siku moja.
And this shall be a sign to thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, Ophni and Phinees: In one day they shall both of them die.
35 Nami nitamwinua juu kuhani wangu mwaminifu atakaye fanya kile kilichomo moyoni mwangu na nafisini mwangu. Nami nitamjengea nyumba madhubuti; naye atakwenda mbele ya mfalme wangu mbarikiwa milele.
And I will raise me up a faithful priest, who shall do according to my heart, and my soul, and I will build him a faithful house, and he shall walk all days before my anointed.
36 Kila mmoja aliyebakia nyumbani mwako atakuja na kusujudu mbele ya mtu huyo, akiomba kipande cha fedha na mkate mmoja, naye atasema, “Tafadhali uniajiri katika moja ya nafasi za kuhani ili niweze kula kipande cha mkate'”'
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall remain in thy house, shall come that he may be prayed for, and shall offer a piece of silver, and a roll of bread, and shall say: Put me, I beseech thee, to somewhat of the priestly office, that I may eat a morsel of bread.