1
Hata Samweli alipokuwa mzee, aliwafanya wanawe wawe waamuzi juu ya Israeli.
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2
Na jina la mwanawe mzaliwa wa kwanza aliitwa Yoeli; na jina la wa pili Abiya; walikuwa waamuzi katika Beer-sheba.
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3
Ila wanawe hawakuenda katika njia zake, bali waliziacha, ili wapate faida; wakapokea rushwa, na kupotosha hukumu.
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4
Ndipo wazee wote wa Israeli wakakutana pamoja, wakamwendea Samweli huko Rama;
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5
wakamwambia, Angalia, wewe umekuwa mzee, na wanao hawaendi katika njia zako; basi, tufanyie mfalme atuamue, mfano wa mataifa yote.
“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
6
Lakini neno hilo likawa baya machoni pa Samweli, waliposema, Tupe mfalme atuamue. Naye Samweli akamwomba Bwana.
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7
Bwana akamwambia Samweli, Isikilize sauti ya watu hawa katika kila neno watakalokuambia; kwa maana hawakukukataa wewe, bali wamenikataa mimi, ili nisiwe mfalme juu yao.
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
8
Kwa kadiri ya matendo yote waliyonitenda tokea siku ile nilipowatoa katika Misri hata leo, kwa kuniacha mimi, na kwa kutumikia miungu mingine, ndivyo wanavyokutenda wewe.
Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9
Basi sasa, isikilize sauti yao; walakini, uwaonye sana, na kuwaonyesha desturi ya mfalme atakayewamiliki.
Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
10
Naye Samweli akawaambia wale watu waliotaka mfalme maneno yote ya Bwana.
So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11
Akasema, Mfalme atakayewamiliki ninyi atakuwa na desturi hii; atatwaa wana wenu na kuwaweka kwake, kwa magari yake, na kuwa wapanda farasi wake; nao watapiga mbio mbele ya magari yake.
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.
12
Naye atawaweka kwake kuwa maakida juu ya elfu, na maakida juu ya hamsini; na wengine atawaweka walime shamba lake, na kuvuna mavuno yake, na kufanyiza zana zake za vita, na vyombo vya magari yake.
He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13
Na binti zenu atawatwaa kuwa wafanyaji wa marhamu, na wapishi, na waokaji.
And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14
Atatwaa makonde yenu, na mashamba yenu ya mizabibu, na ya mizeituni, yale yaliyo mazuri sana, ili awape watumishi wake.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
15
Naye atawatoza ushuru wa mbegu zenu na wa mizabibu yenu, awape maakida wake, na watumishi Wake.
He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16
Atawatwaa watumishi wenu na wajakazi wenu, na ng'ombe zenu walio wazuri sana, na punda zenu, naye atawatia katika kazi zake mwenyewe.
And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
17
Atawatoza fungu la kumi la makundi yenu; nanyi mtakuwa watumwa wake.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18
Nanyi mtalia siku ile kwa sababu ya mfalme wenu mliyejichagulia; Bwana asiwajibu siku ile.
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
19
Walakini hao watu wakakataa kuisikiliza sauti ya Samweli; wakasema, Sivyo hivyo; lakini tunataka kuwa na mfalme juu yetu;
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20
ili sisi nasi tufanane na mataifa yote; tena ili mfalme wetu atuamue, tena atoke mbele yetu na kutupigia vita vyetu.
Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
21
Samweli akayasikia maneno yote ya watu, akayanena masikioni mwa Bwana.
Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22
Bwana akamwambia Samweli, Isikilize sauti yao, ukawafanyie mfalme. Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, Enendeni kila mtu mjini kwake.
“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”