1 Samweli 1

1 Palikuwa na mtu mmoja wa Rama Msufi, wa nchi ya milima milima ya Efraimu; jina lake aliitwa Elikana mwana Yerohamu mwana Elihu mwana wa Tohu mwana wa Sufu, Mwefraimu.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 Mtu huyo alioa wanawake wawili, jina la mke wa kwanza aliitwa Hana, na yule wa pili aliitwa Penina, Penina alizaa watoto, lakini Hana hakuzaa.

He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Kila mwaka, mtu huyu aliondoka mjini kwake kwenda kuabudu na kutoa dhabihu kwa BWANA wa majeshi huko Shilo. Wana wawili wa Eli, Hofni na Finehasi, makuhani wa BWANA, walikuwepo huko Shilo.

This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to the LORD, were there.

4 Kila mwaka zamu ya Elikana ya kutoa dhabihu ilipofika, alikuwa daima akimpa sehemu ya nyama Penina mkewe, watoto wake wote wa kiume na wakike

When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;

5 Lakini kwa mgawo wa Hana daima alimpa mara mbili zaidi, kwa sababu alimpenda Hana, ingawa BWANA alikuwa amelifunga tumbo lake.

but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.

6 Hasimu wake alimchokoza sana ili kumkasilisha, kwa sababu BWANA alikuwa amelifunga tumbo lake. 8

Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7 Hivyo kila mwaka, alipokuwa akienda katika nyumba ya BWANA pamoja na familia yake, hasimu wake alizidi kumchokoza, Hatimaye alikuwa mtu wa kulia kila wakati na hakula kitu chochote.

So year by year, when she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore she wept, and didn’t eat.

8 Elikana mmewe kila wakati alimuuliza, “Hana, kwa nini unalia? Kwa nini huli chakula? Kwa nini una huzuni moyoni mwako? Mimi sibora kwako kuliko wana kumi?

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 Wakati fulani, walipokuwa wamemaliza kula na kunywa huko Shilo, Hana alinyanyuka. Wakati huo Eli, kuhani alikuwa amekaa juu ya kiti chake mlangoni kuelekea nyumba ya BWANA.

So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.

10 Hana alijawa na uchungu sana; akamwomba BWANA na akalia mno.

She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.

11 Aliweka nadhili na kusema, “BWANA wa majeshi, kama utalitazama teso la mjakazi wako na kunikumbuka, na usipomsahau mjakazi wako, na kumpatia mjakazi wako mtoto wa kiume, ndipo nitamtoa huyo mtoto kwa BWANA siku zote za maisha yake, na wembe hautapita juu ya kichwa chake kamwe”.

She vowed a vow, and said, “LORD of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”

12 Hana kiendelea kuomba mbele za BWANA, Eli alikitazama kinywa chake.

As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli saw her mouth.

13 Hana aliongea moyoni mwake. Midomo yake ilitikisika, lakini sauti yake haikusikika. Hivyo Eli alimdhania kuwa amelewa.

Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

14 Eli akamwambia, “Utakuwa mlevi mpaka lini? Weka mbali divai yako.”

Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

15 Hana akajibu, “Sivyo bwana wangu, mimi ni mwanamke mwenye roho ya huzuni. Sijanywa divai wala kinywaji chochote cha kulevya, bali nimekuwa nikiimimina nafsi yangu mbele za BWANA.”

Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 Usimchukulie mjakazi wako kama mwanamke duni; nimekuwa nikiongea kutokana na maumivu na masikitiko yangu.” 18

Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”

17 Kisha Eli alimjibu na kusema, “Nenda kwa amani; na Mungu wa Israeli akupatie kile ulichomuomba.”

Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”

18 Hana akasema, “Na mjakazi wako apate kibali machoni pako.” Ndipo huyo mwanamke alienda zake na kula chakula na hakuhuzunika tena.

She said, “Let your servant find favour in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.

19 Waliamka asubuhi na mapema wakaenda wakamtukuza BWANA, na baadaye walirudi nyumbani kwao Rama. Elikana alilala na mke wake Hana, na BWANA akamkumbuka.

They rose up in the morning early and worshipped the LORD, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20 Baada ya muda fulani, Hana alibeba mimba na akazaa mtoto wa kiume. Akamwita jina lake Samweli, akasema, “Kwa sababu huyu nilimuomba kutoka kwa BWANA.”

When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”

21 Mara nyingine, Elikana na nyumba yake, walipanda kwenda kumtolea BWANA dhabihu ya Mwaka na kuondoa nadhiri yake.

The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

22 Lakini Hana hakwenda huko; alikuwa amekwisha mwambia mmewe, “Sitaenda huko hadi mtoto aache kunyonya; ndipo nitamleta, ili ahudhurie mbele za BWANA na akae huko daima.”

But Hannah didn’t go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and stay there forever.”

23 Mme wake Hana, Elikana, akamwambia, “Fanya yale yakupendezayo. Ngojea hadi utakapokuwa umemwachisha kunyonya; BWANA aweze peke yake kuthibitisha neno lake.” Hivyo yule mwanamke alibaki akimnyonyesha mtoto wake mpaka pale alipomwachisha ziwa.

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 Alipokuwa amemwachisha kunyonya, alimbeba, akimchukua pamoja ng'ombe dume wa miaka mitatu, unga kama kilo thelathini na chupa ya mvinyo, akampeleka katika nyumba ya BWANA huko Shilo. Na mtoto huyo alikuwa bado mdogo.

When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to the LORD’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.

25 Walimchinja yule ng'ombe, na wakamkabidhi mtoto kwa Eli.

They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

26 Akasema, “Ee bwana wangu! Kama uishivyo, bwana wangu, Mimi ndiye yule mwanamke niliyesimama hapa karibu nawe nikimwomba BWANA.

She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.

27 Niliomba kwa ajili ya mtoto huyu na BWANA akawa amenijibu ombi la dua yangu nililomwomba.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him.

28 Nami nimemtoa kwa BWANA; kwa maisha yake yote, nimempa BWANA.” Ndipo Elikana na familia yake wakamtukuza BWANA huko Shilo.

Therefore I have also given him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is given to the LORD.” He worshipped the LORD there.