1
Samsoni akatelemkia Timna, akaona mwanamke huko Timna, mmojawapo wa binti za Wafilisti.
One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.
2
Kisha akapanda, akawaambia baba yake na mama yake, akasema, Nimemwona mwanamke huko Timna, mmojawapo wa binti za Wafilisti; basi mnipatie, nimwoe.
So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
3
Ndipo baba yake na mama yake wakamwambia, Je! Hapana mwanamke hata mmoja katika ndugu zako, au katika jamaa zangu zote, hata uende kumwoa mwanamke kwa hawa Wafilisti wasiotahiriwa? Samsoni akamwambia baba yake; Mnipatie huyo, kwa maana ananipendeza sana.
But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”
4
Lakini baba yake na mama yake hawakujua ya kuwa jambo hili ni la Bwana; maana alitaka kisa juu ya Wafilisti. Basi wakati ule Wafilisti walikuwa wakiwatawala Israeli.
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)
5
Ndipo Samsoni na baba yake na mama yake wakatelemkia Timna, wakafika mashamba ya mizabibu huko Timna; na tazama, mwana-simba akamngurumia.
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
6
Roho ya Bwana ikamjilia kwa nguvu, naye akampasua kana kwamba anampasua mwana-mbuzi, wala hakuwa na kitu cho chote mkononi mwake; lakini hakuwaambia baba yake na mama yake aliyoyafanya.
and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7
Basi akatelemka na kuzungumza na huyo mwanamke; naye akampendeza Samsoni sana.
Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.
8
Kisha baadaye akarudi ili kumtwaa, naye akageuka kando kuuangalia mzoga wa huyo simba; na tazama, nyuki wengi walikuwamo ndani ya mzoga wa simba, na asali.
When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.
9
Akatwaa asali mikononi mwake akaenda mbele, huku akila alipokuwa akienenda, akawafikilia babaye na mamaye, akawapa, nao wakala; lakini hakuwaambia ya kuwa ameitwaa hiyo asali katika mzoga wa simba.
So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
10
Basi babaye akamtelemkia huyo mwanamke; Samsoni naye akafanya karamu huko; kwa kuwa vijana ndivyo walivyokuwa wakifanya.
Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.
11
Basi ikawa hapo walipomwona, wakamletea wenziwe thelathini, wawe pamoja naye.
And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.
12
Samsoni akawaambia, Mimi nitawategea ninyi kitendawili; kama mwaweza kunionyesha katika hizo siku saba za karamu, na kukitambua, ndipo hapo nitawapa mavazi thelathini ya kitani na mavao mengine thelathini;
“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
13
lakini msipoweza kunionyesha ndipo hapo ninyi mtanipa mimi mavazi thelathini ya kitani na mavao mengine thelathini. Basi wakamwambia, Haya, tega kitendawili chako, ili tupate kukisikia.
But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
14
Naye akawaambia, Katika huyo mwenye kula kikatoka chakula, Katika huyo mwenye nguvu ukatoka utamu.
So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.
15
Ikawa kwa siku ya saba, wakamwambia mkewe Samsoni, Mbembeleze mumeo, ili atuonyeshe hicho kitendawili, tusije tukakuteketeza moto wewe na nyumba ya baba yako; je! Mmetuita ili mpate kuichukua mali yetu? Je! Sivyo?
So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”
16
Basi mkewe Samsoni akalia mbele yake, akasema, Wewe wanichukia tu, wala hunipendi; wewe umewategea kitendawili hao wana wa watu wangu, nawe hukuniambia mimi. Naye akamwambia, Angalia, sikumwambia baba yangu wala mama yangu, nami nikuambie wewe?
Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”
17
Naye akalia mbele yake hizo siku saba, wakati ulioendelea karamu yao; basi ikawa siku ya saba akamwambia, kwa sababu alikuwa akimsisitiza sana; naye akawaambia wale wana wa watu wake hicho kitendawili.
She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.
18
Nao watu wa mji wakamwambia siku ya saba kabla ya jua kuchwa,Ni kitu gani kilicho tamu kuliko asali? Ni kitu gani kilicho na nguvu kuliko simba? Naye akawaambia, kwamba hamkulima na mtamba wangu,Hamngekitambua kitendawili changu.
Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”
19
Roho ya Bwana ikamjilia juu yake kwa nguvu, naye akatelemkia Ashkeloni, akapiga watu waume thelathini katika watu hao, na kuzitwaa nyara zao, na kuwapa hao waliokitambua kitendawili mavao hayo. Hasira zake zikamwaka, naye akakwea kwenda nyumbani kwa baba yake.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,
20
Lakini huyo mke wa Samsoni aliozwa mwenzake, ambaye alikuwa amemtendea kama rafikiye.
and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.