1 Samweli 8

1 Samweli alipozeeka, aliwaweka watoto wake wawe waamuzi juu ya Israeli.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that 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.

Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

3 Watoto wake hawakuenenda katika njia za baba yao, bali walipiga mbio kutafuta mapato ya udhalimu. Walipokea rushwa na na kupotosha hukumu.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and 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 themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah.

5 Wakamwambia, “Angalia, wewe umekuwa mzee, na watoto wako hawaenendi katika njia zako. Tuchagulie mfalme wakutuamua kama yalivyo mataifa yote.”

And they said unto him: 'Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.'

6 Lakini haikumpendeza Sameli waliposema, “Utupatie mfalme wa kutuamua.” Hivyo akamwomba BWANA.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed unto 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 unto Samuel: 'Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be 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.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 Basi sasa uwasikilize; lakini uwaonye sawasawa na uwafahamishe tabia ya mfalme atakaye waongoza.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.'

10 Kwa hiyo Samweli akawaambia watu waliokuwa wakiomba mfalme maneno yote ya BWANA.

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo jinsi mfalme atakavyowatawala.

And he said: 'This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall 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.

And he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

13 Naye atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi, na waoka mikate.

And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 Atachukua mashamba yenu mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu, na yale ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 Atachukua moja ya kumi ya nafaka zenu na mizabibu na na kuwapa maofisa na watumishi wake.

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his 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 men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 Atawatoza moja ya kumi ya mifugo yenu, na mtakuwa watumwa wake.

He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

18 Ndipo mtalia siku ile kwa sababu ya mfalme wenu mliyemchagua kwa ajili yenu; lakini siku ile BWANA hatawajibu

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.'

19 Lakini watu walikataa kumsikiliza Samweli; wakasema, “Hapana!” Lazima awepo mfalme juu yetu.

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: 'Nay; but there shall 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.

that we also may be like all the nations; and 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.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears 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.”

And the LORD said to Samuel: 'Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.' And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: 'Go ye every man unto his city.'