1 Samueli 26
1 Anthu a ku Zifi anapita kwa Sauli ku Gibeya nati, “Davide akubisala ku phiri la Hakila, limene limayangʼanana ndi Yesimoni.”
One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”
2 Choncho Sauli ananyamuka pamodzi ndi ankhondo ake 3,000 napita ku chipululu cha Zifi kukafunafuna Davide ku chipululuko.
So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.
3 Sauli anamanga msasa wake mʼmbali mwa njira yopita ku phiri la Hakila moyangʼanana ndi Yesimoni. Koma Davide anali mʼchipululumo. Davide ataona kuti Sauli amamulondola mpaka kumeneko,
Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,
4 iye anatumiza anthu okazonda ndipo anapeza kuti Sauli wafikadi ndithu.
he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
5 Tsono Davide ananyamuka napita kumalo kumene Sauli anamanga misasa. Iye anaona pamene Sauli ndi Abineri mwana wa Neri mkulu wa ankhondo anagona. Sauli anagona mʼkati mwa tenti ndipo asilikali anagona momuzungulira.
Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.
6 Ndipo Davide anafunsa Ahimeleki Mhiti ndi Abisai mwana wa Zeruya, mʼbale wa Yowabu kuti, “Ndani adzapita nane ku msasa kwa Sauli?” Abisai anayankha kuti, “Ine ndidzapita nanu.”
David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go with you.”
7 Choncho Davide ndi Abisai anapita ku misasa ya ankhondowo usiku. Atafika anangopeza Sauli ali gone mu msasa wake mkondo wake atawuzika pansi pafupi ndi mutu wake, Abineri ndi ankhondo onse anali atagona momuzungulira.
So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.
8 Abisai anawuza Davide kuti, “Lero Mulungu wapereka mdani wanu mʼmanja mwanu. Tsopano ndiloleni ndimukhomere pansi ndi mkondo wangawu kamodzinʼkamodzi. Sindimulasa kawiri.”
Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”
9 Koma Davide anamuyankha Abisai kuti, “Usamuphe! Ndani adzapha wodzozedwa wa Yehova ndi kupezeka wosalakwa?
But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.
10 Davide anati, Pali Yehova wamoyo, Yehova mwini ndiye adzamukanthe, mwina tsiku lake lomwalira lidzafika, kapena adzapita ku nkhondo nakaphedwa komweko.
Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.
11 Koma Yehova andiletse kuti ndisapweteke wodzozedwa wa Yehova. Tsopano tingotenga mkondo umene uli ku mutu kwakewo ndi botolo la madzilo ndipo tizipita.”
But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”
12 Motero Davide anatenga mkondo ndi botolo lamadzi zimene zinali ku mutu kwa Sauli ndipo anachoka. Palibe amene anaona zimenezi kapena kudziwa, ndipo palibenso amene anadzuka. Onse anali mʼtulo, chifukwa Yehova anawagonetsa tulo tofa nato.
So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.
13 Pambuyo pake Davide anadutsa nakakwerera mbali ina ya phiri, ndi kuyimirira pamwamba pa phiri patali. Pakati pawo panali mpata waukulu.
David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.
14 Davide anayitana gulu lankhondo ndi Abineri mwana wa Neri nawafunsa kuti, “Kodi sundiyankha ine Abineri?” Abineri anayankha kuti, “Ndiwe yani amene ukuyitana mfumu?”
Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”
15 Davide anamufunsa Abineri kuti, “Kodi sindiwe mwamuna? Ndipo wofanana nawe ndani mu Israeli? Nʼchifukwa chiyani sunateteze mbuye wako mfumu? Munthu wina anabwera kumeneko.
David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.
16 Chimene wachita iwe si chabwino. Pali Yehova wamoyo iwe ndi asilikali ako muyenera kufa chifukwa simunateteze mbuye wanu, wodzozedwa wa Yehova. Tayangʼanayangʼana. Uli kuti mkondo wa mfumu ndi botolo lamadzi zimene zinali kumutu kwa mfumu?”
You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”
17 Sauli anazindikira mawu a Davide ndipo anafunsa kuti, “Kodi amenewa ndi mawu ako Davide mwana wanga?” Davide anayankha, “Inde ndi anga, mbuye wanga mfumu.
[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”
18 Nʼchifukwa chiyani mbuye wanga mukundilonda ine mtumiki wanu? Kodi ine ndachita chiyani ndipo ndapezeka ndi cholakwa chotani?
Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?
19 Tsopano mbuye wanga mfumu tamverani mawu a mtumiki wanu. Ngati ndi Yehova wautsa mtima wanu kuti mundiwukire, ndiye alandire chipepeso. Koma ngati ndi anthu amene achita zimene, ndiye Yehova awatemberere popeza andipirikitsa lero kundichotsa mʼdziko la Yehova, namati, ‘Pita kapembedze milungu ina.’
Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’
20 Tsopano musalole kuti magazi anga akhetsedwe kutali ndi Yehova pakuti mfumu ya Israeli yatuluka kudzafunafuna ine nsabwe, monga mmene munthu asakira nkhwali ku mapiri.”
Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”
21 Ndipo Sauli anati, “Ine ndachimwa. Bwerera mwana wanga Davide. Sindidzakuchitanso choyipa popeza lero wauwona moyo wanga ngati wamtengowapatali. Taona, ndachita zauchitsiru ndipo ndachimwa kwambiri.”
Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”
22 Davide anayankha kuti, “Nawu mkondo wanu, mfumu. Tumani mmodzi wa anyamata anu abwere adzatenge.
David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get it.
23 Yehova amadalitsa munthu aliyense wolungama ndi wokhulupirika. Yehova anakuperekani lero mʼmanja mwanga, koma ine sindinakhudze wodzozedwa wa Yehova.
Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.
24 Monga momwe ine lero ndachitira kuwuyesa moyo wanu ngati wamtengowapatali, momwemonso Yehova awuyese moyo wanga wamtengowapatali ndipo andipulumutse mʼmavuto anga onse.”
Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”
25 Ndipo Sauli anawuza Davide kuti, “Yehova akudalitse iwe Davide mwana wanga. Udzachita zinthu zazikulu ndipo udzapambana.” Choncho Davide anayenda njira yake ndipo Sauli anabwerera kwawo.
Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.
