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.
There was a wealthy and influential man from the tribe of Benjamin, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bekorath, son of Aphiah, a descendant of Benjamin.
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.
Kish had a son called Saul, the most handsome young man in all of Israel. He was head and shoulders taller than anyone else.
3 Na punda wa Kishi, baba yake na Sauli walipotea. hivyo Kishi akamwambia Sauli mwanawe, “Mchukue mmoja wa watumishi; uamke uende kuwatafuta punda,”
One time the donkeys of Saul's father Kish went astray. Kish told to his son Saul, “Please go and look for the donkeys. You can take one of the servants with you.”
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.
Saul searched the hill country of Ephraim and then the land of Shalishah, but didn't find the donkeys. He and the servant searched the region of Shaalim, but they weren't there. Then they searched the land of Benjamin, and they still couldn't find them.
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.”
When they got to the land of Zuph, Saul told his servant, “Come on, let's go back, otherwise my father won't be worrying about the donkeys, but 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.”
But the servant replied, “Hold on! There's a man of God here in this town. He's very well thought of, and everything he says comes true. Let's go and see him. Maybe he can tell us which way we should take.”
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?
“But if we do go, what can we give him?” Saul replied. “All the bread in our bags is gone. We don't have anything to take to the man of God. What do we have with us?”
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.”
“Look, I've got a quarter shekel of silver with me. I'll give it to the man of God so he can tell us the way we should take,” the servant told Saul.
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 the old days in Israel, someone who went to inquire of God would say, “Come on, let's go to the seer,” because prophets used to be known as seers.)
10 Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Umesema vyema. Haya, njoo twende.” Basi wakaenda katika mji ambao mtu wa Mungu alikuwamo.
“That's good,” Saul told his servant. “So let's go.” They went to the town 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 were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked 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.
“He is,” they replied, “up ahead of you. But you'll have to hurry. He's come to town today because the people are having a sacrifice at 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.”
When you enter the town you can find him before he goes up to eat at the high place. The people won't eat before he comes, because he has to bless the sacrifice. After that, those who've been invited will eat. If you leave now you'll catch him.”
14 Kwa hiyo walikwea kwenda mjini. Walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, walimuona Samweli akija mbele yao, akipanda kwenda mahali pa juu.
So they carried on their way up to the town. As they arrived there was Samuel going in the opposite direction. They met him on his way up to the high place.
15 Siku moja kabla Sauli hajafika, BWANA alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli:
The day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told Samuel,
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.”
“Around this time tomorrow I'm going to send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him as ruler over my people Israel, and he will rescue them from the Philistines. I have seen what's happening to my people and I have heard their cry for help.”
17 Samweli alipomuona Sauli, BWANA akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekwambia habari zake! Yeye ndiye atakayewatawala watu wangu.”
When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I told you about. He is the one who is going to rule my people.”
18 Ndipo Sauli akaja karibu na Samweli katika lango na kusema, “Niambie nyumba ya Mwonaji iko wapi?
Saul went up to Samuel in the gateway and asked him, “Could you please tell me where the house of the seer is?”
19 Samweli akamjibu Sauli akisema, “Mimi ndiye mwonaji. Tangulia mbele hadi mahali pa juu, nami nitakueleza kila kitu kilichomoyoni mwako.
“I am the seer,” Samuel told Saul. “Go up ahead of me and we will eat together. Then in the morning I will answer all your questions and then send you on your way.
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?”
About the donkeys you lost three days ago—don't worry about them because they've been found. But now—doesn't the hope of all of Israel rest on you and your family line?”
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?”
“But I'm from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least significant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin!” Saul replied. “Why are you telling me this?”
22 Hivyo Samweli akamchukua Sauli na mtumishi wake, akawaingiza ukumbini, akawakalisha mahali pa heshima pa wale walioalikwa, idadi yao takribani watu thelathini.
Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall, and sat them at the head of the thirty people who'd been invited.
23 Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Lete sehemu niliyokupatia, sehemu ambayo nilikwambia hivi, “Itenge.”'
Samuel told the cook, “Bring the special piece of meat I gave you and told you to keep to one side.”
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.
So the cook took the upper thigh of meat and what was with it and placed it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “See, this is what was kept to one side. It was reserved for you. Eat it, for it was kept for you for this particular time, right from when I said, ‘I have invited 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.
Once they had returned from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.
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.
At dawn the next day Samuel called out to Saul on the roof, “Get up! I need to send you on your way!” So Saul got up, and he went outside with Samuel.
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 approached the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell your servant to go on ahead of us. Once he's gone stay here for a while, because I have a message from God to give you.” So the servant went on ahead.
