1 Samweli 9
1 Basi kulikuwa na mtu mmoja kutoka Benyamini, mtu mashuhuri. Jina lake aliitwa Kishi mwana wa Abieli, mwana wa Zerori, mwana wa Bekorathi, mwana wa Afia, mwana wa Mbenyamini.
And there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjaminite, a mighty man of wealth.
2 Huyu alikuwa na mtoto wa kiume aliyeitwa Sauli, kijana mzuri wa uso. Hapakuwapo mwanaume mzuri wa uso kuliko huyu miongoni mwa watu wote wa Israeli. Kutoka mabegani kwenda juu alikuwa mrefu kuliko watu wengine.
And he had a son whose name was Saul, choice and comely; and there was not among the children of Israel a comelier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 Na punda wa Kishi, baba yake na Sauli walipotea. hivyo Kishi akamwambia Sauli mwanawe, “Mchukue mmoja wa watumishi; uamke uende kuwatafuta punda,”
And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, Take, I pray, one of the young men with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 Sauli akapita katika nchi ya vilima vilima ya Efraimu na akaenda akapita katika nchi ya Shalisha, lakini hawakuwaona. Kisha walipita katika nchi ya Shaalimu, lakini hawakuwa huko. Baadaye alipita katika nchi ya Wabenyamini, lakini hawakuwaona wale punda.
And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found [them] not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found [them] not.
5 Na walipofika nchi ya Sufu, Sauli alimwambia mtumishi wake aliyekuwa naye, “Njoo na turudi, pengine baba aweza kuacha kuchunga punda na kuanza kutuhofia sisi.”
They had come to the land of Zuph when Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return; lest my father give up the asses, and be anxious about us.
6 Lakini mtumishi akamwmbia, “Sikiliza, Yupo mtu wa Mungu katika mji huu. Naye ni mtu wa kuheshimiwa sana; kila asemalo huwa kweli. Hebu twende huko; labda anaweza kutuambia tupitie wapi katika safari yetu.”
And he said to him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is held in honour; all that he says comes surely to pass. Let us now go thither: perhaps he will shew us the way that we should go.
7 Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumish iwake, “Lakini kama tukienda kwake, twaweza kumpelekea nini? Maana hata mkate katika mfuko wetu umekwisha, na hakuna zawadi ya kumpelekea mtumishi wa Mungu. Tuna kitu gani?
And Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and we have no present to give to the man of God: what have we?
8 Huyo mtumishi akamjibu Sauli na kusema, “Hapa, ninayo robo ya shekeli ya fedha ambayo nitampa mtumishi wa Mungu, atuambie ni njia ipi yatupasa tuiendee.”
And the servant answered Saul again and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Zamani katika Israeli, mtu alipotaka kujua neno kuhusu mapenzi ya Mungu, alisema, “Njoo, haya twende kwa mwonaji.” Kwa maana nabii wa leo, zamani aliitwa Mwonaji).
(In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)
10 Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Umesema vyema. Haya, njoo twende.” Basi wakaenda katika mji ambao mtu wa Mungu alikuwamo.
And Saul said to his servant, Well said: come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 Walipopanda mlima kuelekea mjini, walikutana na wasichana wakienda kuteka maji; Sauli na mtumishi wake wakawauliza, “Mwonaji hupo hapa?”
As they went up the ascent to the city, they met maidens going forth to draw water; and they said to them, Is the seer here?
12 Nao wakawajibu, na kusema, “Yupo; tazameni, yuko mbele yenu. Harakisheni, kwa maana anakuja mjini leo, sababu leo watu wanatoa dhabihu zao mahali pa juu.
And they answered them and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.
13 Mara tu mtakapoingia mjini mtamuona, kabla hajapanda mahali pa juu kla chakula. Watu hawatakula hata atakapokuja, kwa sababu ndiye ataibariki dhabihu; na baadaye wale ambao wamealikwa hula. Basi pandeni, mtamuona sasa hivi.”
As soon as ye come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people eat not until he has come, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that are invited. And now go up; for this very day shall ye find him.
14 Kwa hiyo walikwea kwenda mjini. Walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, walimuona Samweli akija mbele yao, akipanda kwenda mahali pa juu.
And they went up into the city. As they were coming into the midst of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out towards them, to go up to the high place.
15 Siku moja kabla Sauli hajafika, BWANA alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli:
Now Jehovah had apprised Samuel one day before Saul came, saying,
16 “Kesho wakati kama huu nitakutumia mtu kutoka nchi ya Benyamini, nawe utamtia mafuta awe mfalme juu ya watu wangu Israeli. Atawaokoa watu wangu kutoka mkono wa Wafilisti. Kwa kuwa nimewaonea huruma watu wangu na kilio cha kutaka msaada kimenifikia.”
To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him prince over my people Israel; and he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 Samweli alipomuona Sauli, BWANA akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekwambia habari zake! Yeye ndiye atakayewatawala watu wangu.”
And as Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah answered him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee! this man shall rule over my people.
18 Ndipo Sauli akaja karibu na Samweli katika lango na kusema, “Niambie nyumba ya Mwonaji iko wapi?
And Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
19 Samweli akamjibu Sauli akisema, “Mimi ndiye mwonaji. Tangulia mbele hadi mahali pa juu, nami nitakueleza kila kitu kilichomoyoni mwako.
And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer: go up before me to the high place, and ye shall eat with me to-day; and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.
20 Kama punda wenu waliopotea siku tatu zilizopita, msihofu kuhusu hao punda, kwa kuwa wamekwishapatikana. Na yote yaliyotamanika kwa ajili ya Israeli yanamwangukia nani? Siyo kwako na nyumba ya baba yako yote?”
And as for the asses that thou didst lose three days ago, set not thy heart on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel [set]? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21 Sauli akamjibu na kusema, Siyo mimi Mbenyamini, kutoka kabila lililo dogo sana kwa makabila ya Israeli? Siyo ukoo wangu ulio mdogo sana kwa kabila la Benyamini? Kwa nini basi unaniambia kwa namna hii?”
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? and why dost thou speak such words to me?
22 Hivyo Samweli akamchukua Sauli na mtumishi wake, akawaingiza ukumbini, akawakalisha mahali pa heshima pa wale walioalikwa, idadi yao takribani watu thelathini.
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited; and they were about thirty persons.
23 Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Lete sehemu niliyokupatia, sehemu ambayo nilikwambia hivi, “Itenge.”'
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion that I gave thee, of which I said to thee, Set it by thee.
24 Basi mpishi alichukua paja lililokuwa limeinuliwa katika dhabihu na kile kilichokuwa pamoja nalo, akaitenga mbele ya Sauli. Kisha Samweli akasema, “Angalia kile kilichokuwa kimetunzwa kwa ajili yako! Kula, kwa sababu kilitunzwa hadi wakati maalum ufike kwa ajili yako. Na kwa sasa waweza kusema, 'Nimewaalika watu.”' Kwa hiyo Sauli alikula pamoja na Samweli siku hiyo.
And the cook took up the shoulder, and what was on it, and set [it] before Saul. And he said, Behold that which has been reserved! set it before thee, eat; for against the set time has it been kept for thee, since I said, I will invite the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 Walipokuwa wamekwisha shuka chini kutoka sehemu ya juu na kuingia mjini, Samweli akazungumza na Sauli darini.
And they came down from the high place into the city, and he spoke with Saul upon the roof.
26 Na kulipopambazuka, Samweli alimwita Sauli darini na kusema, “Amka, kusudi nikusindikize uende zako,” Hivyo Sauli aliamka, na wote wawili, yeye na Samweli walitoka kwenda mtaani.
And they arose early; and when it was about the dawning of the day, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.
27 Walipokuwa wakienda nje ya viunga vya mji, Samweli akamwambia Sauli, “Mwambie mtumishi wako atanguliye mbele yetu(na alitangulia mbele), Lakini wewe sharti usubiri kidogo, nipate kukuambia ujumbe wa Mungu.”
As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still now, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.
