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.
Now 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, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
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, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier 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 now one of the servants with you, 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 Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but 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.”
And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for 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, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says comes surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our 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?
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring 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).
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Umesema vyema. Haya, njoo twende.” Basi wakaenda katika mji ambao mtu wa Mungu alikuwamo.
Then said Saul 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?”
And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and 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 you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people 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 you be come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he does bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time you shall 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: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15 Siku moja kabla Sauli hajafika, BWANA alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli:
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a 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 you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry is come to me.
17 Samweli alipomuona Sauli, BWANA akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekwambia habari zake! Yeye ndiye atakayewatawala watu wangu.”
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man whom I spoke to you of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Ndipo Sauli akaja karibu na Samweli katika lango na kusema, “Niambie nyumba ya Mwonaji iko wapi?
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, 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; for you shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your 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 your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your 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 Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? why then speak you so 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 parlor, and made them sit in the most chief place among them that were bidden, which 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 which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it by you.
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 that which was on it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before you, and eat: for to this time has it been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25 Walipokuwa wamekwisha shuka chini kutoka sehemu ya juu na kuingia mjini, Samweli akazungumza na Sauli darini.
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul on the top of the 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.
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send you away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
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.”
And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand you still a while, that I may show you the word of God.
