1
Ikawa, kama baada ya mwezi mmoja, Nahashi, Mwamoni ,akakwea na kupanga marago juu ya Yabesh-gileadi;na watu wote wa Yabeshi wakamwambia Nahashi, Fanya mapatano nasi,na sisi tutakutumikia.
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
2
Huyo Nahashi, Mwamoni, akawaambia, Kwa sharti hii mimi nitapatana nanyi, kila mtu ang'olewe jicho la kuume; na kwa jambo hilo nitawashutumu Waisraeli wote pia.
But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
3
Basi wazee wa Yabeshi wakamjibu, Tuachie siku saba, ili tutume wajumbe waende mipakani mwote mwa Israeli; kisha, ikiwa hakuna atakayetuokoa, tutakutokea.
“Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”
4
Hivyo wajumbe wakafika Gibea ya Sauli, wakasema maneno hayo masikioni mwa watu; na watu wote wakainua sauti zao wakalia.
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.
5
Na tazama, Sauli akaja akifuata ng'ombe kutoka kondeni; naye Sauli akauliza, Watu hawa wana nini, hata wakalia? Wakamwambia maneno ya watu wale wa Yabeshi.
Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
6
Na roho ya Mungu ikamjilia Sauli kwa nguvu, hapo alipoyasikia maneno yale, na hasira yake ikawaka sana.
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.
7
Naye akatwaa jozi ya ng'ombe, akawakata-kata vipande, kisha akavipeleka vile vipande mipakani mwote mwa Israeli kwa mikono ya wajumbe, kusema, Ye yote asiyetoka nyuma ya Sauli na Samweli, ng'ombe zake watatendwa vivi hivi. Basi utisho wa Bwana ukawaangukia wale watu, wakatoka kama mtu mmoja.
He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.
8
Naye akawahesabu huko Bezeki; Waisraeli walikuwa mia tatu elfu, na Wayuda thelathini elfu.
And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah.
9
Nao wakawaambia hao wajumbe waliokuja, Waambieni watu wa Yabesh-gileadi, Kesho, wakati wa jua kali, mtapata wokovu. Basi wale wajumbe wakaenda, wakawaarifu watu wa Yabeshi; nao walifurahiwa.
So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.
10
Kwa hiyo watu wa Yabeshi walisema, Kesho tutawatokea, nanyi mtatufanyia yote myaonayo kuwa ni mema.
Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”
11
Ikawa, kesho yake, Sauli akawapanga watu katika vikosi vitatu; nao wakaingia katikati ya marago kwenye zamu ya asubuhi, wakawapiga Waamoni hata wakati wa jua kali; kisha ikawa wale waliosalia wakatawanyika, hata wasiachwe wawili wao pamoja.
The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
12
Ndipo watu walipomwambia Samweli, Ni nani yule aliyesema, Je! Huyo Sauli atatutawala? Walete watu hao, ili tuwaue.
Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”
13
Lakini Sauli akasema, Hakuna mtu atakayeuawa leo, maana leo Bwana amefanya wokovu katika Israeli.
But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
14
Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu, Haya! Na twendeni mpaka Gilgali, ili tuuimarishe ufalme huko mara ya pili.
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”
15
Nao watu wote wakaenda Gilgali; wakamtawaza Sauli mbele za Bwana huko Gilgali; wakachinja sadaka za amani mbele za Bwana; na huko Sauli na watu wote wa Israeli wakafurahi sana.
So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.