< 1 Samweli 8 >
1 Samweli alipozeeka, aliwaweka watoto wake wawe waamuzi juu ya Israeli.
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 Mtoto wake wa kwanza aliitwa Yoeli, na mtoto wake wa pili aliitwa Abiya. Hawa walikuwa waamuzi katika Bersheba.
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 Watoto wake hawakuenenda katika njia za baba yao, bali walipiga mbio kutafuta mapato ya udhalimu. Walipokea rushwa na na kupotosha hukumu.
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 Ndipo wazee wote wa Israeli walikutana pamoja na kumwendea Samweli huko Rama.
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 Wakamwambia, “Angalia, wewe umekuwa mzee, na watoto wako hawaenendi katika njia zako. Tuchagulie mfalme wakutuamua kama yalivyo mataifa yote.”
“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
6 Lakini haikumpendeza Sameli waliposema, “Utupatie mfalme wa kutuamua.” Hivyo akamwomba BWANA.
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7 Na BWANA akamwambia Samweli, “Sikiliza sauti ya watu kwa kila jambo wanalokwambia; kwa sababu hwajakukataa wewe, bali wamenikataa mimi nisiwe mfalme wao.
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
8 Sasa wanafanya kama vile walivyotenda tangu siku ile nilipowatoa huko Misri, kwa kuniacha, na kuwatumikia miungu mingine, na ndivyo hivyo pia wanakufanyia na wewe.
Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9 Basi sasa uwasikilize; lakini uwaonye sawasawa na uwafahamishe tabia ya mfalme atakaye waongoza.
Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
10 Kwa hiyo Samweli akawaambia watu waliokuwa wakiomba mfalme maneno yote ya BWANA.
So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo jinsi mfalme atakavyowatawala.
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.
12 Atawachukua watoto wenu wa kiume na kuwaweka juu ya magari ya vita na kuwa wapanda farasi wake, na kukimbia mbele ya magari yake. Atawaweka ma- kapteni wake juu ya maelfu ya askari, na ma-kapteni juu ya askari hamsini. Wengine atawafanya wakulima wamashamba yake, wengine wavunaji wa mazao yake, wengine watatengeneza silaha zake na zana za magari yake.
He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.
13 Naye atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi, na waoka mikate.
And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 Atachukua mashamba yenu mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu, na yale ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
15 Atachukua moja ya kumi ya nafaka zenu na mizabibu na na kuwapa maofisa na watumishi wake.
He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16 Atawachukua watumwa wenu na wajakazi wenu na vijana wenu waliowazuri na punda wenu; atawatumikisha wote kwa ajili yake.
And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
17 Atawatoza moja ya kumi ya mifugo yenu, na mtakuwa watumwa wake.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 Ndipo mtalia siku ile kwa sababu ya mfalme wenu mliyemchagua kwa ajili yenu; lakini siku ile BWANA hatawajibu
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
19 Lakini watu walikataa kumsikiliza Samweli; wakasema, “Hapana!” Lazima awepo mfalme juu yetu.
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 Ili tuweze kuwa kama mataifa mengine yote, na hivyo mfalme wetu aweze kutuamua na atoke mbele yetu na atupiganie vita yetu.
Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
21 Naye Samweli aliposikia maneno yote ya watu, akayarudia katika masiko ya BWANA.
Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22 BWANA akamwambia Samweli, “Sikiliza sauti yao na uwafanyie mfalme.” Hivyo Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mtu na arudi mjini kwake.”
“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”