< 1 Samweli 8 >
1 Samweli alipozeeka, aliwaweka watoto wake wawe waamuzi juu ya Israeli.
When Samuel was old, he made his sons 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 was Joel, and the name of his second son 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.
His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Ndipo wazee wote wa Israeli walikutana pamoja na kumwendea Samweli huko Rama.
Then 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.”
They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6 Lakini haikumpendeza Sameli waliposema, “Utupatie mfalme wa kutuamua.” Hivyo akamwomba BWANA.
But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
7 Na BWANA akamwambia Samweli, “Sikiliza sauti ya watu kwa kila jambo wanalokwambia; kwa sababu hwajakukataa wewe, bali wamenikataa mimi nisiwe mfalme wao.
Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
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.
They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing to you.
9 Basi sasa uwasikilize; lakini uwaonye sawasawa na uwafahamishe tabia ya mfalme atakaye waongoza.
Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”
10 Kwa hiyo Samweli akawaambia watu waliokuwa wakiomba mfalme maneno yote ya BWANA.
So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king.
11 Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo jinsi mfalme atakavyowatawala.
He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before 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 for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.
13 Naye atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi, na waoka mikate.
He will also 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 very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, 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 of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.
16 Atawachukua watumwa wenu na wajakazi wenu na vijana wenu waliowazuri na punda wenu; atawatumikisha wote kwa ajili yake.
He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.
17 Atawatoza moja ya kumi ya mifugo yenu, na mtakuwa watumwa wake.
He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
18 Ndipo mtalia siku ile kwa sababu ya mfalme wenu mliyemchagua kwa ajili yenu; lakini siku ile BWANA hatawajibu
Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”
19 Lakini watu walikataa kumsikiliza Samweli; wakasema, “Hapana!” Lazima awepo mfalme juu yetu.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must be 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.
so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 Naye Samweli aliposikia maneno yote ya watu, akayarudia katika masiko ya BWANA.
When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
22 BWANA akamwambia Samweli, “Sikiliza sauti yao na uwafanyie mfalme.” Hivyo Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mtu na arudi mjini kwake.”
Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own city.”