1 Samuel 17
1 The Philistines gathered their army [to fight the Israeli army]. They gathered together near Socoh, in the area where the descendants of Judah lived. They set up their tents at Ephes-Dammim, which is between Socoh and Azekah.
Ngalesosikhathi amaFilistiya aqoqa amabutho awo ukuba alwe impi, asebuthana eSokho koJuda. Enza izihonqo e-Efesi Damimi, phakathi kweSokho le-Azekha.
2 Saul gathered the Israeli army near Elah Valley, and they set up their tents. Then they all took their places, ready to fight the Philistines.
USawuli labako-Israyeli bamisa izihonqo eSigodini sase-Ela, bahlela ukuba balwe impi lamaFilistiya.
3 So the Philistine and Israeli armies faced each other. They were on two hills, with a valley between them.
AmaFilistiya ayemi kolunye uqaqa abako-Israyeli labo bekolunye, kulesigodi phakathi kwabo.
4 Then Goliath, from Gath [city], came out from the Philistine camp. He was a champion warrior/soldier. He was (over 9 feet/3 meters) tall.
Iqhawe elalithiwa nguGoliyathi, owayevela eGathi, waphuma ezihonqweni zamaFilistiya. Ubude bakhe babuzingalo eziyisithupha lesandla.
5 He wore a helmet made of bronze [to protect his head], and he wore a coat made of metal plates [to protect his body]. The coat weighed (125 pounds/56 kg.).
Wayelengowane yethusi ekhanda lakhe, egqoke ibhatshi lokuvikela elethusi elaliyizinkulungwane ezinhlanu zamashekeli ubunzima balo,
6 He wore bronze guards/protectors on his legs. He had a long bronze dagger fastened on his back.
emibaleni yakhe wayegqoke imigwamazi yethusi, emhlane egaxe umkhonto wethusi.
7 He also had a big spear. It had a cord on it to enable him to throw it better (OR, which was as thick as a weaver’s beam). The tip of the spear was made of iron and weighed (15 pounds/almost 7 kg.). A soldier carrying a huge shield walked in front of him.
Uluthi lomkhonto wakhe lwalunjengogodo lomaluki, ubunzima besihloko sawo sensimbi bungamashekeli angamakhulu ayisithupha. Umthwali wehawu lakhe wayehamba phambidlana kwakhe.
8 Goliath stood there and shouted to the Israeli army, “Why are you all lined up for battle? I am the great Philistine [soldier], and I think [RHQ] you are [merely] Saul’s slaves. Choose one man to fight for all of you, and send him down here to me!
UGoliyathi wema wamemezela emaviyweni ako-Israyeli esithi, “Kungani liphumele ukuzakulwa impi na? KangisumFilistiya yini, njalo lina kalisizo zinceku zikaSawuli na? Khethani umuntu azeqondana lami.
9 If he fights with me and kills me, then my fellow Philistines will all be your slaves. But if I defeat him and kill him, then you Israelis will all be our slaves.
Nxa ezakulwa angibulale, sizakuba yizigqili zenu; kodwa ngingamehlula ngimbulale, lizakuba yizigqili zethu lisikhonze.”
10 I defy/challenge you men of the Israeli army. Send me a man who will fight with me!”
UmFilistiya wabuya wathi, “Lamhlanje ngiyaweyisa amaviyo ako-Israyeli! Ngiphani umuntu siqondane silwe.”
11 When Saul and all the Israeli soldiers heard that, they were extremely terrified [DOU].
Ekuzweni amazwi omFilistiya, uSawuli labo bonke abako-Israyeli besaba bathuthumela.
12 David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the clan of Ephrath. He lived in Bethlehem, in the area where the descendants of Judah lived. Jesse had eight sons. When Saul [was king], Jesse had already become a very old man [DOU].
UDavida wayeyindoda yomʼEfrathi owayethiwa nguJese, owayengowase Bhethilehema koJuda. UJese wayelamadodana ayisificaminwembili, njalo ngezinsuku zikaSawuli wayesemdala eseluphele kakhulu.
13 Jesse’s three oldest sons, Eliab and Abinadab and Shammah, had gone with Saul to fight [the Philistines].
Amadodana amathathu amadala kaJese ayelandele uSawuli empini: Izibulo kwakungu-Eliyabi; owesibili kungu-Abhinadabi; owesithathu kunguShama.
14 David was Jesse’s youngest son. While his three oldest brothers were with Saul,
UDavida wayengomncane wabo. Abathathu abadala balandela uSawuli,
15 David went back and forth: Sometimes he went to Saul’s camp, and sometimes he stayed in Bethlehem to take care of his father’s sheep.
kodwa uDavida wasuka kuSawuli wabuyela ukuba ayekwelusa izimvu zikayise eBhethilehema.
16 For 40 days Goliath came out from the Philistine camp and stood there [taunting the Israeli army/telling the Israelis to choose one man to fight with him]. He did it twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Okwensuku ezingamatshumi amane umFilistiya wayesiya phambili nsuku zonke ekuseni lakusihlwa ajame.
17 [One day], Jesse said to David, “Here is a sack of roasted grain and ten loaves of bread. Take these quickly to your [older] brothers.
UJese wasesithi kuDavida indodana yakhe, “Thathela abanewenu ihefa lomumbu okhanzingiweyo kanye lezinkwa lezi ezilitshumi uzise masinyane ezihonqweni zabo.
18 And here are ten large chunks of cheese. Take them to their commander. And see how things are going with your [older] brothers. Then [if they are okay, ] bring back something to show they are all right.”
Hamba lalezizinkwa zetshizi ezilitshumi kumlawuli weviyo labo. Bona ukuthi abanewenu banjani, ubuye lesiqiniselo esivela kubo.
19 His brothers were with Saul and all the other Israeli soldiers, camped alongside Elah Valley, [preparing to] fight the Philistines.
BaloSawuli kanye labantu bonke bako-Israyeli eSigodini sase-Ela, besilwa lamaFilistiya.”
20 So David arranged for another shepherd to take care of the sheep. Early the next morning he took the food and went to the Israeli camp, as Jesse told him to do. He arrived there just as the Israeli soldiers were forming their ranks and going out to the battlefield. As they went, they were shouting a war cry.
Ekuseni kakhulu uDavida watshiya umhlambi wezimvu ulomelusi, wathwala umthwalo wasuka wahamba, njengokulaya kukaJese. Wafika ezihonqweni ibutho liphuma ukuba liye ezindaweni zalo zempi, limemeza isaga sempi.
21 The Philistine army and the Israeli army stood [on the hillsides], facing each other, ready for the battle.
U-Israyeli lamaFilistiya babedweba imikhandlu yabo bekhangelene.
22 David gave the food to the man who was taking care of the war equipment. [He told him to take care of the food that he brought], and then he went and greeted his older brothers.
UDavida watshiya izinto zakhe kumgcini wezimpahla, wagijimela emaviyweni empi wayabingelela abanewabo.
23 While he was talking with them, he saw Goliath coming out from among the Philistine soldiers, shouting [to the Israelis], challenging them [to send a man to fight him]. David heard what Goliath was saying.
Esabakhulumisa, uGoliyathi, iqhawe lamaFilistiya elaseGathi, waphuma kuviyo lakhe, wamemezela ukweyisa kwakhe kwenjayelo, loDavida wakuzwa.
24 When all the Israeli soldiers saw Goliath, they were terrified and started to ran away.
Kwathi abako-Israyeli bebona umuntu lowo, bonke bambalekela ngokwesaba okukhulu.
25 They were saying to each other, “Look at him coming up toward us! And listen to him as he defies us Israelis! The king says that he will give a big reward to whoever kills this man. He also says that he will give his daughter to that man for him to marry her, and that he will no longer require that man’s family to pay taxes.”
Abako-Israyeli babekade besithi, “Liyambona yini umuntu lo ukuthi uqhubeka njani elokhu ephuma? Uyaphuma ukuba eyise u-Israyeli. Inkosi izamnika inotho enengi umuntu ozambulala. Izamnika lendodakazi yayo ukuba ayithathe, ikhulule labendlu kayise emithelweni ko-Israyeli.”
26 David talked to some of the men who were standing near him. He said, “What will be given to whoever kills this Philistine and frees us Israelis from this shame/disgrace? And who [does] this heathen Philistine [think he] is, defying/ridiculing the army that serves the all-powerful God?”
UDavida wabuza indoda eyayimi phansi kwakhe wathi, “Kuyini okuzakwenzelwa umuntu obulala umFilistiya lo asuse lehlazo leli ku-Israyeli na? Ungubani umFilistiya lo ongasokanga oweyisa amabutho kaNkulunkulu ophilayo na?”
27 They told him the same thing that the other men had said, about what the king would do for anyone who killed Goliath.
Bakutsho futhi kuye ababekade bemtshela khona bathi, “Nanku okuzakwenzelwa umuntu ombulalayo.”
28 But when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking to the men, he was angry. He said to David, “Why have you come down here? Is someone taking care of those few sheep that you left in the desert? I know you are just a (smart-aleck/brat)! You just want to watch the battle!”
Kwathi lapho u-Eliyabi, umnewabo omdala kaDavida, emuzwa ekhuluma lalawomadoda, wamthukuthelela kakhulu wambuza wathi, “Uzefunani lapha na? Njalo izimvu leziyana ezilutshwane uzitshiye lobani enkangala na? Ngiyakwazi ukuthi uzikhukhumeza njani kanye lokuthi inhliziyo yakho imbi kanjani, ulande ukuzabona impi nje kuphela.”
29 David replied, “Have I done something wrong? I was merely asking a question!”
UDavida wathi, “Manje sengenzeni kanti? Angivunyelwa yini ukukhuluma?”
30 Then he walked over to another man and asked him the same question, but the man gave him the same answer. Each time he asked someone, he received the same answer.
Emva kwalokho waphendukela komunye, watsho lutho lunye, umuntu lowo wamphendula njengakuqala.
31 Finally, someone told king Saul what David had asked, and Saul sent someone to bring David to him.
Okwakutshiwo nguDavida kwazwakala njalo kwabikwa kuSawuli, uSawuli wathi kabizwe.
32 David told king Saul, “No one should (worry/become a coward) because of that Philistine man. I will go and fight with him!”
UDavida wathi kuSawuli, “Akungabi lomuntu ophelelwa lithemba ngenxa yomFilistiya lo; inceku yakho izakuyakulwa laye.”
33 Saul said to David, “You are only a young man, and he has been a very capable soldier all his life. So you are not able to go and fight with him!”
USawuli waphendula wathi, “Kawanelisi ukuyamelana lomFilistiya lo ulwe laye; wena ungumfana nje, yena kade waba ngumuntu wokulwa kusukela ebutsheni bakhe.”
34 David replied, “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep [for many years]. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried away a lamb,
Kodwa uDavida wathi kuSawuli, “Inceku yakho yayiselusa izimvu zikayise. Kwathi kufike isilwane kumbe ibhele lajwamula imvu emhlambini,
35 I went after the lion or the bear and attacked it and rescued the lamb from the wild animal’s mouth. Then I grabbed the animal by its jaw/throat and struck it and killed it.
ngalilandela, ngalitshaya ngahlenga imvu emlonyeni walo. Lathi liyangihlasela ngalidumela ngoboya balo, ngalitshaya ngalibulala.
36 I have killed both lions and bears. And [I will do] the same to this heathen Philistine, because he has defied/ridiculed the army of the all-powerful God!
Inceku yakho seyabulala kokubili isilwane lebhele; umFilistiya lo ongasokanga uzakuba njengokunye kwakho, ngoba weyise amabutho kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.
37 Yahweh has rescued me from paws of lions and bears, and he will rescue me from this Philistine!” Then Saul said to David, “All right, go [and fight him], and [I hope/desire] that Yahweh will help you!”
Uthixo owangikhululayo enzitsheni zesilwane lasenzitsheni zebhele uzangikhulula esandleni somFilistiya lo.” USawuli wathi kuDavida, “Hamba, uThixo kabe lawe.”
38 Then Saul gave to David his own clothes that he always wore in battles, and he gave him a bronze helmet and a coat made of metal plates.
Emva kwalokho uSawuli wagqokisa uDavida ibhatshi lakhe. Wamgqokisa lesivikelo sensimbi kanye lengowane yethusi ekhanda lakhe.
39 David [put these things on. Then he] fastened his sword over them, and tried to walk. But he could not walk, because he was not accustomed to wearing those things. So David said to Saul, “I cannot fight wearing all these things, because I am not accustomed to [wearing] them!” So he took them off.
UDavida wabophela inkemba yakhe phezu kwesembatho setshunika wazama ukuhambahamba, ngoba wayengazejwayelanga. Wathi kuSawuli, “Angingeke ngihambe ngigqoke lokhu, ngoba angikwejwayelanga.” Ngakho wakukhupha.
40 Then he took his walking/shepherd’s stick, and he picked up five smooth stones from the brook/stream. He put them in the pouch of his shoulder-bag. Then he put his sling in his hand and started walking toward Goliath.
Emva kwalokho wathatha umqwayi wakhe, wakhetha amatshe abutshelezi amahlanu esifuleni. Wawabeka esikhwameni somxhaka wakhe wokwelusa, njalo ephethe isavutha wamlanda umFilistiya.
41 Goliath walked toward David, with the soldier who was carrying his shield walking in front of him. When he got near David,
Ngasikhathi sinye, umFilistiya, umthwali wehawu lakhe ephambi kwakhe, wayelokhu esondela eduze kukaDavida.
42 he looked at David closely. He saw that David had a handsome face and healthy body, but that he was only a young man. So he sneered at David.
Wamkhangela uDavida wabona ukuthi wayengumfana nje, ebomvana emuhle, wameyisa.
43 He said to David, “Are you coming to me with a stick because [you think that] I am a dog?” Then he called out to his gods to harm David.
Wasesithi kuDavida, “Kanti ngiyinja yini, usiza kimi uphethe izinti?” UmFilistiya waqalekisa uDavida ngabonkulunkulu bakibo.
44 He said to David, “Come here to me, and I will [kill you and] give your dead body to the birds and wild animals to eat!”
Wathi, “Woza lapha, ngizanika izinyoni zasemoyeni lezinyamazana zeganga inyama yakho!”
45 David replied, “You are coming to me with a sword and a dagger and a spear. But I am coming to you (in the name/with the authority) of almighty Yahweh. He is the God whom the army of Israel [worships], and he is the God whom you have defied/ridiculed.
UDavida wathi kumFilistiya, “Wena uzemelana lami ngenkemba lomkhonto kanye lomdikadika, kodwa mina ngizemelana lawe ngebizo likaThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu wamabutho ka-Israyeli wena omeyisayo.
46 Today Yahweh will enable me to defeat you. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And [we Israelis will kill] many Philistine [soldiers and] give their bodies to the birds and wild animals to eat. And everyone in the world will [hear about it and] know that we Israeli people worship an [all-powerful] God.
Lamhla uThixo uzakunikela kimi, ngizakulahla phansi ngiqume ikhanda lakho. Lamhlanje izinyoni zasemoyeni lezinyamazana zasemhlabeni ngizazinika izidumbu zebutho lamaFilistiya, njalo umhlaba wonke uzakwazi ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli.
47 And everyone here will know that Yahweh can rescue people without a sword or a spear. Yahweh always wins his battles, and he will enable us to defeat all of you [Philistines].”
Bonke labo ababuthene lapha bazakwazi ukuthi uThixo kahlengi ngenkemba loba ngomkhonto, ngoba impi ngekaThixo, njalo lonke uzalinikela ezandleni zethu.”
48 As Goliath came closer to attack David, David ran quickly toward him.
Kwathi umFilistiya esondela eduze ukuba amhlasele, uDavida ngokuphangisa wagijimela phambili endaweni yokulwela ukuba amhlangabeze.
49 He put his hand into his shoulder-bag and took out one stone. He [put it in his sling and] hurled it toward Goliath. The stone hit Goliath on the forehead and penetrated his skull, and he fell face down onto the ground.
UDavida wangenisa isandla sakhe emxhakeni wakhe wathatha ilitshe, waliphosa ngesavutha latshaya umFilistiya ebunzini. Ilitshe latshona ebunzini lakhe, wawela phansi ngobuso.
50 Then David ran and stood over Goliath. He pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath and killed him with it, and then cut off his head. In that way David defeated the Philistine without having his own sword. He used [only] a sling and a stone! When the other Philistines saw that their great warrior was dead, they ran away.
UDavida wamnqoba kanjalo umFilistiya ngesavutha langelitshe; engelankemba esandleni sakhe wamlahla phansi umFilistiya wambulala.
UDavida wagijima wema phezu kwakhe. Wabamba inkemba yomFilistiya wayihwatsha esikhwameni sayo. Esembulele, waquma ikhanda lakhe ngenkemba. Kwathi amaFilistiya ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo laselifile, aphenduka abaleka.
52 The Israeli men shouted and ran after them. They pursued them all the way to Gath and to the gates of Ekron [city]. They struck them as they went, with the result that dead/wounded Philistines were lying on the road all the way from Shaaraim to Gath and Ekron [towns].
Lapho-ke abantu bako-Israyeli labakoJuda balangathela besiya phambili bememeza, baxotshana lamaFilistiya baze bayafika entubeni lasemasangweni ase-Ekroni. Abafileyo bakibo babegcwele emgwaqweni waseShaharayimu kusiya eGathi lase-Ekroni.
53 When the Israelis returned from chasing the Philistines, they (plundered/took everything from) the Philistine camp.
Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebephendukile ekuxotsheni amaFilistiya, baphanga izihonqo zawo.
54 David later took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.
UDavida wathatha ikhanda lomFilistiya, walisa eJerusalema, wabeka izikhali zomFilistiya ethenteni lakhe.
55 As Saul watched David going toward Goliath, he said to Abner, the commanded of his army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?” Abner replied, “(As sure as you are alive/Truly) [IDM], I do not know.”
Kwathi uSawuli ekhangele uDavida esiyahlangana lomFilistiya, wathi ku-Abhineri, umlawuli webutho, “Abhineri, ijaha leliyana liyindodana kabani na?” U-Abhineri waphendula wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uphila, nkosi, angazi.”
56 Then the king said, “Find out whose son he is!”
Inkosi yasisithi, “Buza ukuthi ijaha leli liyindodana kabani.”
57 [Later, ] as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner took him to Saul. David was carrying Goliath’s head.
Kwathi khonokho nje uDavida esevela ekubulaleni umFilistiya, u-Abhineri wamthatha wamusa kuSawuli, uDavida elokhu ephethe ikhanda lomFilistiya.
58 Saul asked him, “Young man, whose son are you?” David replied, “[Sir, perhaps you have forgotten that] I am the son of your servant Jesse, who has served you faithfully, who lives in Bethlehem.”
USawuli wambuza wathi, “Uyindodana kabani, jaha?” UDavida wathi, “Ngiyindodana yenceku yakho uJese waseBhethilehema.”
