1 Samweli 3

1 Yule mtoto Samweli alimtumikia BWANA chini ya uangalizi wa Eli. Neno la BWANA halikupatikana kwa wingi siku hizo; hapakuwa na maono ya mara kwa mara ya kinabii.

And the lad Samuel was ministering unto the Lord before 'Eli. And the word of the Lord was scarce in those days: prophecy was not extended.

2 Wakati huo, nguvu ya macho ya Eli ilikuwa imefifia kiasi cha kutoweza kuona vizuri, na alikuwa amelala kitandani mwake.

And it came to pass one day, when 'Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow dim, he could not see;

3 Ile taa ya BWANA bado ilikuwa bado inawaka, na Samweli alikuwa amelala katika nyumba ya BWANA, palipokuwa na sanduku la Mungu.

And the lamp of God had not yet gone out, while Samuel was lying down in [the hall of] the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was;

4 BWANA akamwita Samweli, naye akaitika, “Niko hapa”

That the Lord called Samuel: and he said, Here am I.

5 Samweli alimwedea Eli na kusema, “Niko hapa, sababu uliniita.” Eli akasema, “Sikukuita; kalale tena.” Hivyo Samweli akarudi na kulala.

And he ran unto 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he said, I did not call: lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6 BWANA akamwita tena, “Samweli.” Saamweli aliamka tena na kwenda kwa Eli na kusema, Niko hapa, sababu umeniita.” Eli akajibu, “Sijakuita, mwanangu; kalale tu tena.” 8

And the Lord continued to call again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I did not call, my son: lie down again.

7 Basi Samweli bado hakuwa na uzoefu kuhusu Bwana, wala hakuwahi kupata ujumbe wowote kutoka kwa BWANA ukifunuliwa kwake.

And Samuel knew not yet the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord been as yet revealed unto him.

8 BWANA akamwita tena Samweli kwa mara ya tatu. Samweli alinyanyuka tena na kwenda kwa Eli na kusema, “Niko hapa, sababu uliniita,” Ndipo Eli alitambua kwamba BWANA alimwita kijana.

And the Lord continued to call, Samuel, the third time; and he arose and went to 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And 'Eli then perceived that the Lord was calling the lad.

9 Kisha Eli aka, mwambia Samweli, “Nenda ukalale tena; ikiwa atakuita tena, sharti useme, 'Sema, BWANA, maana mtumwa wako anasikiliza.”' Hivyo Samweli akaenda na kulala mahali pake tena.

And 'Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. And Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 BWANA alikuja na kusimama; akaita vilevile kama vile mwanzoni, “Samweli, Samweli.” Ndipo Samweli akasema, “Nena, kwa sababu mtumwa wako anasikiliza.”

And the Lord came, and placed himself, and called as at previous times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11 BWANA akasema na Samweli, “Tazama, Niko tayari kufanya jambo katika Israeli ambalo masikio ya kila mmoja akisikia atashtuka. -14

And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 Siku hiyo nitatimiza kila kitu nilichokisema dhidi ya Eli kuhusu nyumba yake, kutoka mwanzo hadi mwisho.

On that day will I fulfill on 'Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin and finish.

13 Nimemwambia kwamba niko tayari kuhukumu nyumba yake mara moja kwa ile dhambi aliyoifahamu, kwa sababu watoto wake walijiletea laana juu yao wenyewe na hakuwazuia.

And I tell him that I will judge his house for ever; for the iniquity that he knew that his sons were drawing a curse on themselves, and he restrained them not.

14 Hii ndiyo sababu nimeapa kwa nyumba ya Eli, kwamba dhambi za nyumba yake hazitasahehewa kwa dhabihu au kwa sadaka kamwe.” 16

And therefore have I sworn unto the house of 'Eli, that the iniquity of 'Eli's house shall not be atoned for with sacrifice or meat-offering for ever.

15 Samweli akalala hadi asubuhi; baadaye alifungua milango ya nyumba ya BWANA. Lakini Samweli aliogopa kumwambia Eli kuhusu maono hayo.

And Samuel lay until the morning, when he opened the doors of the house of the Lord; and Samuel feared to tell the vision unto 'Eli.

16 Kisha Eli akamwita Samweli na kusema, “Samweli, mwanangu.” Samweli akasema, “Niko hapa.” 18

But 'Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.

17 Akamuuliza, “Ni neno gani alilokusemesha? Tafadhali usinifiche jambo hilo. Mungu akutendee hivyo na kukuzidishia, endapo utanificha kitu chochote kati ya yote ambayo amesema nawe.”

And he said, What is the word which he hath spoken unto thee? do not, I pray thee, conceal it from me: may God do to thee thus, and continue to do so, if thou conceal any thing from me of all the word that he hath spoken unto thee.

18 Samweli akamweleza kila kitu; hakumficha jambo lolote. Eli akasema, “Ni BWANA. Na afanye linaloonekana jema kwake.”

And Samuel told him all the words, and concealed nothing from him. And he said, He is the Lord: let him do what seemeth good in his eyes.

19 Samweli akakua, na BWANA alikuwa pamoja naye na hakuacha kutimiza maneno yake ya unabii.

And Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, and he did not let fall any one of all his words to the ground.

20 Israeli yote tokea Dani hadi Beersheba walijua kwamba Samweli aliteuliwa kuwa nabii wa BWANA.

And thus knew all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba' that Samuel was accredited as a prophet of the Lord.

21 Naye BWANA alionekana tena huko Shilo, maana alijifunua mwenyewe kwa Samweli huko Shilo kwa neno lake.

And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh; for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.