1
Basi, kulikuwa na mtu mmoja wa Benyamini, jina lake akiitwa Kishi, mwana wa Abieli, mwana wa Serori, mwana wa Bekorathi, mwana wa Afia, mwana wa Mbenyamini, mtu shujaa, mwenye nguvu.
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
2
Naye alikuwa na mwana, aliyeitwa jina lake Sauli, kijana, tena mzuri; wala katika wana wa Israeli hakuwako mtu mzuri kuliko yeye; tangu mabega yake kwenda juu alikuwa mrefu kuliko watu wote.
And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
3
Na punda za Kishi, baba yake Sauli, walikuwa wamepotea. Kishi akamwambia Sauli mwanawe, Haya basi, twaa mtumishi mmoja pamoja nawe, uondoke, uende ukawatafute punda hao.
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
4
Naye akapita kati ya nchi ya milima milima ya Efraimu, akapita na kati ya nchi ya Shalisha, lakini hawakuwaona; kisha wakapita kati ya nchi ya Shaalimu, wala huko hawakuwako; wakapita kati ya nchi ya Wabenyamini, lakini hawakuwapata.
So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
5
Hata walipofika nchi ya Sufu, Sauli akamwambia yule mtumishi aliyefuatana naye, Haya, na turudi, baba yangu asije akaacha kufikiri habari za punda akatufikiri sisi.
When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
6
Naye akamwambia, Tazama, katika mji huu mna mtu wa Mungu, naye ni mtu mwenye kuheshimiwa; yote asemayo hutukia kweli kweli; basi, twende huko; labda yeye aweza kutuambia habari ya safari yetu tunayoiendea.
“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
7
Ndipo Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, Lakini angalia, kama tukienda, tumpelekee mtu huyo kitu gani? Maana chakula kimekwisha vyomboni mwetu, wala hapana zawadi ya kumpelekea mtu wa Mungu; tuna nini sisi?
“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
8
Yule mtumishi akamjibu Sauli, akasema, Tazama, mkononi mwangu nina robo ya shekeli ya fedha; nitampa huyo mtu wa Mungu fedha hiyo, atuambie njia yetu.
The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
9
(Hapo zamani katika Israeli, mtu alipokwenda kuuliza neno kwa Mungu, husema hivi, Haya! Twende kwa mwonaji; maana mtu aitwaye sasa Nabii hapo zamani aliitwa Mwonaji.)
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
10
Basi Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, Umesema vema; haya! Twende. Wakaenda mpaka mji ule aliokuwamo mtu wa Mungu.
“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.
11
Hata walipokwea kwenda mjini, wakakutana na wasichana, wanatoka kwenda kuteka maji; wakawaambia, Je! Mwonaji yuko?
And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”
12
Nao wakawajibu, wakasema, Yuko; tazama, yuko huko mbele yako; fanyeni haraka sasa, maana hivi leo amekuja mjini; kwa sababu watu wana dhabihu leo katika mahali pa juu;
“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.
13
mkiingia mjini tu, mara mtamwona, kabla hajakwea kwenda mahali pa juu ale chakula; maana, watu hawatakula hata yeye atakapokuja; kwa sababu yeye ndiye anayeibarikia dhabihu; kisha hao watu walioalikwa hula. Basi, kweeni sasa; maana wakati huu ndio mtakapomwona.
As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”
14
Nao wakakwea kwenda mjini; nao walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, tazama, Samweli akawatokea, kwenda mahali pa juu.
So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
15
Basi Bwana alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli, siku moja kabla Sauli hajamwendea, akisema,
Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,
16
Kesho, wakati kama huu, nitakuletea mtu kutoka nchi ya Benyamini, nawe mtie mafuta ili awe mkuu juu ya watu wangu Israeli, naye atawaokoa watu wangu na mikono ya Wafilisti; maana nimewaangalia watu wangu, kwa sababu kilio chao kimenifikilia.
“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
17
Hata Samweli alipomwona Sauli, Bwana akamwambia, Huyu ndiye niliyekuambia habari zake; huyu ndiye atakayewamiliki watu wangu.
When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”
18
Ndipo Sauli akamkaribia Samweli langoni, akasema, Tafadhali, uniambie, nyumba ya mwonaji iko wapi?
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19
Samweli akamjibu Sauli, akasema, Mimi ndimi mwonaji; tangulia mbele yangu ukwee mpaka mahali pa juu, kwa maana mtakula pamoja nami leo; kisha, asubuhi nitakuacha uende zako, nami nitakuambia yote uliyo nayo moyoni mwako.
“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart.
20
Na wale punda zako waliopotea siku hizi tatu, usijiudhi kwa ajili yao; maana wameonekana. Na yote yaliyotamanika katika Israeli amewekewa nani? Si wewe, na nyumba yote ya baba yako?
As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”
21
Basi Sauli akajibu, akasema, Je! Mimi si Mbenyamini, mtu wa kabila iliyo ndogo kuliko kabila zote za Israeli? Na jamaa yangu nayo si ndogo kuliko jamaa zote za kabila ya Benyamini? Kwa nini basi, kuniambia hivyo?
Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”
22
Naye Samweli akamtwaa Sauli na mtumishi wake, akawaleta ndani sebuleni, akawaketisha mahali pa heshima kati ya watu walioalikwa, nao jumla yao walikuwa kama watu thelathini.
Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all.
23
Samweli akamwambia mpishi, Lete ile sehemu niliyokupa, hiyo niliyokuambia, Iweke akiba.
And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”
24
Basi mpishi akatwaa paja, na nyama iliyokuwa juu yake, akaiweka mbele ya Sauli. Samweli akasema, Iliyowekwa akiba ndiyo hiyo! Iweke mbele yako ule, kwa sababu umewekewa hiyo wewe hata wakati uliokusudiwa, maana nalisema, Nimewaalika watu. Basi Sauli akala pamoja na Samweli siku hiyo.
So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.
25
Hata waliposhuka kutoka mahali pa juu na kufika mjini, akaongea na Sauli darini.
And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.
26
Nao wakaamka alfajiri; kisha ikawa, kulipopambazuka, Samweli akamwita Sauli darini, akisema, Inuka, nikupeleke kwenu. Basi Sauli akainuka, nao wakatoka wote wawili, yeye na Samweli.
They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul got ready, and both he and Samuel went outside together.
27
Hata walipokuwa wakishuka mwisho wa mji, Samweli akamwambia Sauli, Mwambie mtumishi atangulie, (naye akatangulia), bali wewe simama hapa sasa, ili nikuambie neno la Mungu. </p>
As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.