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.

The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

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

It happened at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that 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 hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the LORD's temple, where the ark of God was;

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

that the LORD called, "Samuel. Samuel." And he said, "Here I am."

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

He ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." He said, "I did not call; lie down again." 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

The LORD called yet again, "Samuel. Samuel." And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." 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.

Now Samuel did not yet know God, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed to 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.

Then the LORD called Samuel again the third time, and he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD had called the child.

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.

So he said, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, reply, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" Then 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 stood, and called as at other times. Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

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

The LORD said to Samuel, "Look, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.

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

In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

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.

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons were cursing God, and he did not restrain them.

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

Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be removed with sacrifice nor offering forever."

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

And Samuel lay there until the morning, and in the morning he got up and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

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

Then Eli said to Samuel, "Samuel, my son." And he replied, "Here I am."

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.”

He said, "What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do thus to you if you hide anything from me of all the words that he spoke to you in your ears."

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

And Samuel told him everything, and did not hide anything from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."

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

So Samuel continued to grow, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail.

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

Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established 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 appeared again in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel.