1 Samuel 28
1 Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
Ngalezonsuku amaFilistiya aqoqa amabutho awo ukuba alwe lo-Israyeli. U-Akhishi wathi kuDavida, “Kumele uzwisise ukuthi wena labantu bakho lizahamba lami empini.”
2 David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
UDavida wathi, “Lapho-ke uzazibonela okungenziwa yinceku yakho.” U-Akhishi wathi, “Kulungile, ngizakwenza ube ngumlindi wami impilo yakho yonke.”
3 Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
Ngalesosikhathi uSamuyeli wayesewafa, njalo u-Israyeli wonke wayemlilele wamgcwaba emzini wakibo eRama. USawuli wayesewaxotsha zonke izanuse labemimoya elizweni.
4 The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
AmaFilistiya abuthana eza amisa izihonqo zawo eShunemi, lapho uSawuli wabutha ama-Israyeli wonke wamisa izihonqo eGilibhowa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently.
USawuli ebona ibutho lamaFilistiya wesaba, inhliziyo yakhe yaba lokuthuthumela.
6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Wabuza uThixo, kodwa uThixo kamphendulanga ngamaphupho loba nge-Urimi kumbe ngabaphrofethi.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.
USawuli wasesithi encekwini zakhe, “Ngidingelani owesifazane oyisanuse ukuze ngiyebuza kuye.” Bona bathi, “Kulomunye e-Endo.”
8 So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
Ngakho uSawuli waziguqula, wafaka ezinye izigqoko, kwathi ebusuku yena labantu ababili baya kulowomfazi. Wathi kuye, “Ngibuzela umoya, njalo ungilethele lowo engizamutsho.”
9 But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”
Kodwa owesifazane wathi kuye, “Impela uyakwazi ukuthi uSawuli wenzeni. Useziqedile izanuse labemimoya elizweni. Kungani uthiya impilo yami ngomjibila ukuba ngibulawe na?”
10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
USawuli wafunga kuye ngoThixo wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ekhona, kawuyikujeziselwa lokhu.”
11 “Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.
Owesifazane lowo wasesithi, “Ngikuvusele bani na?” Yena wathi, “Ngilethela uSamuyeli.”
12 But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
Kwathi owesifazane lowo ebona uSamuyeli, wakhala ngelizwi eliphezulu wasesithi kuSawuli, “Kungani ungikhohlisile na? Wena unguSawuli.”
13 “Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.
Inkosi yasisithi, “Ungesabi. Kuyini okubonayo?” Owesifazane wathi, “Ngibona umoya ophuma phansi.”
14 “What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.
USawuli wathi, “Ukhangeleka njani?” Owesifazane wathi, “Kuphuma ixhegu eligqoke ingubo.” Lapho-ke uSawuli wakwazi ukuthi kwakunguSamuyeli, wakhothama wasesithi mbo phansi ngobuso.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
USamuyeli wasesithi kuSawuli, “Ungikhathazelani ngokungivusa na?” USawuli wathi, “Mina ngiphakathi kohlupho olukhulu. AmaFilistiya alwa lami, njalo uNkulunkulu usengifulathele. Kasangiphenduli, ngabaphrofethi loba ngamaphupho. Ngakho ngibize wena ukuba ungitshele ukuthi ngenzeni.”
16 “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?
USamuyeli wathi, “Ungibizelani, njengoba uThixo esekufulathele njalo esebe yisitha sakho na?
17 He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
Uthixo usekwenzile lokhu akutsho ngaphambili ngami. Uthixo usewuhluthunile umbuso ezandleni zakho wawunika omunye wabomakhelwane bakho, uDavida.
18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.
Ngenxa yokuthi uThixo kawumlalelanga kumbe wafeza ulaka lwakhe olwesabekayo kuma-Amaleki, uThixo wenze lokhu kuwe lamhla.
19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
Uthixo uzanikela u-Israyeli kanye lawe kumaFilistiya, njalo kusasa wena lamadodana akho lizakuba lami. Uthixo uzanikela lebutho lako-Israyeli kumaFilistiya.”
20 Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
Khonokho nje uSawuli wawela phansi wathi daca emhlabathini, esegcwele ukwesaba ngenxa yamazwi kaSamuyeli. Wayengaselamandla, ngoba wayengadlanga lutho ilanga lonke mhlalokho lobusuku bonke.
21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.
Kwathi owesifazane esesondele kuSawuli wabona ukuthi wayethuthumele kakhulu, wathi kuye, “Khangela, incekukazi yakho ikulalele. Ngibeke ukuphila kwami engozini ngenza lokho othe ngikwenze.
22 Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”
Khathesi-ke ake ulalele incekukazi yakho uvume ukuba ngikuphe ukudla ukuze udle ube lamandla uzihambele.”
23 Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
Yena wala wathi, “Kangiyikudla.” Kodwa abantu bakhe baphathisana lowesifazane ukumncenga, waze wabalalela. Wavuka phansi wahlala esihlalweni.
24 The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.
Owesifazane wayelethole elinonisiweyo endlini, alihlaba khonokho nje. Wathatha impuphu yengqoloyi, wayivuba wenza isinkwa esingelamvubelo.
25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.
Wasibeka phambi kukaSawuli labantu bakhe, badla. Ngalobobusuku bavuka bahamba.
