1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

1 Samweli alipokuwa mzee, akaweka wanawe kuwa waamuzi wa Israeli.

2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

2 Mzaliwa wa kwanza alikuwa Yoeli, na la wa pili lilikuwa Abiya, nao wakatumika huko Beer-Sheba.

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

3 Lakini wanawe hawakuenenda katika njia zake. Waliziacha wakageukia faida za udanganyifu nao wakapokea rushwa na kupotosha haki.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

4 Basi wazee wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika pamoja na kumjia Samweli huko Rama.

5 “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.”

5 Wakamwambia, “Wewe umekuwa mzee, nao wanao hawaenendi katika njia zako, sasa tuteulie mfalme wa kutuongoza, kama ilivyo kwa mataifa mengine yote.”

6 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.

6 Lakini wao waliposema, “Tupe mfalme wa kutuongoza,” hili lilimchukiza Samweli, hivyo akamwomba Bwana.

7 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.

7 Naye Bwana akamwambia: “Sikiliza yale yote watu wanakuambia. Si wewe ambaye wamekukataa, bali wamenikataa mimi kuwa mfalme wao.

8 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.

8 Kama vile walivyofanya tangu siku nilipowapandisha kutoka Misri mpaka siku hii ya leo; wakiniacha mimi na kutumikia miungu mingine, ndivyo wanavyokufanyia wewe.

9 Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

9 Sasa wasikilize, lakini waonye kwa makini na uwafahamishe yale watakayotendewa na mfalme atakayewatawala.”

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

10 Samweli akawaambia wale watu waliokuwa wakiomba wapewe mfalme maneno yote ya Bwana.

11 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.

11 Akasema, “Hivi ndivyo atakavyowatendea mfalme atakayewatawala. Atawachukua wana wenu na kuwafanya watumike kwa magari yake ya vita na farasi, nao watakimbia mbele ya magari yake.

12 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.

12 Baadhi yao atawaweka kuwa majemadari wa jeshi wa maelfu na majemadari wa jeshi wa hamsini, wengine kulima mashamba yake na kuvuna mavuno yake, pia na wengine kutengeneza silaha za vita na vifaa kwa ajili ya magari yake.

13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

13 Atawachukua binti zenu kuwa watengeneza manukato, wapishi na waokaji.

14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

14 Atayachukua mashamba yenu yaliyo mazuri, mashamba ya mizabibu na mashamba yenu ya mizeituni na kuwapa watumishi wake.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

15 Ataichukua sehemu ya kumi ya nafaka yenu na ya zabibu zenu na kuwapa maafisa wake na watumishi wake.

16 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

16 Atawachukua watumishi wenu wa kiume na wa kike, na ngʼombe wenu walio wazuri sana na punda kwa matumizi yake mwenyewe.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

17 Atachukua sehemu ya kumi ya makundi yenu ya kondoo na mbuzi, na ninyi wenyewe mtakuwa watumwa wake.

18 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.”

18 Siku ile itakapowadia, mtalia kwa kutaka msaada kutokana na mfalme mliyemchagua, naye Bwana hatawajibu.”

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

19 Lakini watu wakakataa kumsikiliza Samweli wakasema, “Hapana! Tunataka mfalme wa kututawala.

20 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.”

20 Kisha tutakuwa kama mataifa mengine yote, tukiwa na mfalme wa kutuongoza na kwenda mbele yetu na kutupigania vita vyetu.”

21 Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

21 Samweli aliposikia yote watu waliyosema, akarudia kuyasema mbele za Bwana.

22 “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.”

22 Bwana akamjibu, “Wasikilize na uwape mfalme.” Kisha Samweli akawaambia watu wa Israeli, “Kila mmoja arudi mjini kwake.”