The People of Israel Want a King
1-2 Samuel had two sons. The older one was Joel, and the younger one was Abijah. When Samuel was getting old, he let them be leaders at Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father. They were dishonest and accepted bribes to give unfair decisions.
4 One day the nation's leaders came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said, “You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons, but they haven't followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!”
6 Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it. 7 The Lord answered:
Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king. 8 Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you. 9 Do everything they ask, but warn them and tell them how a king will treat them.
10 Samuel told the people who were asking for a king what the Lord had said:
11 If you have a king, this is how he will treat you. He will force your sons to join his army. Some of them will ride in his chariots, some will serve in the cavalry, and others will run ahead of his own chariot. 12 Some of them will be officers in charge of 1,000 soldiers, and others will be in charge of 50. Still others will have to farm the king's land and harvest his crops, or make weapons and parts for his chariots. 13 Your daughters will have to make perfume or do his cooking and baking.
14 The king will take your best fields, as well as your vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his own officials. 15 He will also take a tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and officials.
16 The king will take your slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and make them do his work. 17 He will also take a tenth of your sheep and goats. You will become the king's slaves, 18 and you will finally cry out for the Lord to save you from the king you wanted. But the Lord won't answer your prayers.
19-20 The people would not listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want to be like other nations. We want a king to rule us and lead us in battle.”
21 Samuel listened to them and then told the Lord exactly what they had said. 22 “Do what they want,” the Lord answered. “Give them a king.”
Samuel told the people to go back to their homes.
Ovaisrael mave vanga ombara
1 Samuel tja kurupire, wa zika ovazandu ve okurira ovapangure mOisrael. 2 Ena romuzandu we everi ra ri Joel, noutjavari wa ri Abija; owo va ri ovapangure mOberseba. 3 Nungwari owo kava ri nongaro ya ihe; va ri nonḓero yokumuna ovimariva ovingi mouhasemba, nu ave popwa novimariva kutja ve rundurure ousemba mombanguriro.
4 Novanane avehe vOvaisrael otji va wongara, ave i ku Samuel mOrama 5 nave katja nai ku ye: “Tara, ove wa kurupa, novazandu voye kave nongaro yoye; tu zikira ombara, ndji mai tu honaparere otja tji pe ri moviwaṋa avihe.” 6 Nungwari Samuel ka ri nohange, indu tji va tja: “Tu zikira ombara, ndji mai tu honaparere.” Neye otja kumba ku Muhona. 7 Nu Muhona wa tja nai ku Samuel: “Tjita otja kombango yotjiwaṋa mu avihe mbi mave ku raere; orondu kave imbirahire ove, nungwari va imbirahi ami kutja e ha rire ombara yawo. 8 Owo mave tjiti nai nambano kove punga ave tjiti aruhe ku ami okuza koruveze ndwina ndu mbe ve pitisire mOengipte, nga ku ndinondi; owo ve ndji esa nave karere oomukuru vovisenginina. 9 Puratena ku wo; nungwari ve ronga tjinene, nu ve raera nawa omausemba ombara ngu mai kara wo, tji mai ve honaparere.”
10 Samuel wa tjivisa kotjiwaṋa tji tja ningira ombara ku ye, imbi avihe Muhona mbye mu raera. 11 Neye wa tja: “Ombara, ndji mai mu honaparere, mai kara nomausemba nga: Oyo mai kambura ovazandu veṋu, nu mai ve ungurisa pomatemba wayo wovita, nai ve isa po ovakavire vayo; nu wina mai ve utukisa komurungu wetemba rayo. 12 Oyo mai ziki tjiva ve rire ovanane vovarwe vyovita eyovi, na tjiva vomirongo vitano; nu rukwao mave taura ehi rayo romakunino, nave wongo omakondero wayo, nave ungura ovirwise vyayo vyovita, noviungurise vyomatemba wayo wovita. 13 Oyo mai rungisa ovakazona veṋu ovyomoro omuwa, nai ve terekisa ovikurya nozomboroto aruhe. 14 Ombara ndji mai kambura omahi weṋu inga omawamawa womakunino, nomivite nomiṋinga nai vi yandja kovahongore vayo. 15 Oyo mai kambura otjitjamurongo tjovikunwa vyovikunino vyomivite vyeṋu nai tji yandja kovatjevere vondjuwo yayo na kovahongore vayo varwe. 16 Oyo mai kambura ovakarere veṋu ovarumendu novakazendu, nozongombe zeṋu ozombwa nousino weṋu, nai ve ungurisa koviungura vyayo. 17 Wina mai kambura otjitjamurongo tjozonyanda zeṋu, neṋe oveni mamu rire ovakarere vayo. 18 Oruveze ndwi tji rweya mamu unauna tjinene mena rombara, ndji mwe ritoororera oveni. Nungwari Muhona kamaa puratene ko komaunaunino weṋu.”
19 Notjiwaṋa tja panḓa okupuratena komambo wa Samuel. Otjo tja tja: “Ayee, eṱe matu vanga ombara. 20 Komuhingo mbwi otji matu kara otja oviwaṋa vyarwe, atu nombara yetu oveni, ndji mai tu honaparere nu ndji mai tu hongorere tji matu karwa ovita.” 21 Samuel wa puratena omambo aehe wotjiwaṋa ngu tja hungira, ne keyeserekarera ku Muhona. 22 Nu Muhona wa tja nai ku Samuel: “Tjita punga amave vanga, vepa ombara.” Samuel otja raera kOvaisrael kutja ve yaruke kozoyawo.
