1 Samuel 25
1 [Soon after that], Samuel died, and all the Israeli people gathered and mourned for him. They buried his body outside his home in Ramah. Then David and his men moved to the Maon Desert.
Ngalesosikhathi uSamuyeli wafa, kwathi u-Israyeli wonke wabuthana wamlilela; njalo bamngcwaba emzini wakhe eRama. Lapho-ke uDavida wehlela eNkangala yasePharani.
2 In Maon [town] there was a man who owned land in Carmel, [a nearby village]. He was very rich; he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats.
Umuntu othile waseMawoni, owayelempahla khonale eKhameli, wayenothe kakhulu. Wayelenkulungwane yembuzi lezinkulungwane ezintathu zezimvu ayezigunda eKhameli.
3 His name was Nabal; he was a descendant of Caleb. His wife Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman, but Nabal was very cruel and treated people very unkindly [IDM].
Ibizo lakhe lalinguNabhali lebizo lomkakhe lingu-Abhigeli. Wayengumfazi okhaliphileyo njalo emuhle, kodwa umkakhe, umʼKhalebi, wayelenhliziyo embi kwabanye abantu.
4 One day while David [and his men] were in the desert, someone told him that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.
UDavida esenkangala wezwa ukuthi uNabhali wayegunda izimvu.
5 So David told ten of his men, “Go to Nabal at Carmel and greet him for me.
Ngakho wathuma amajaha alitshumi wathi kuwo, “Hambani kuNabhali eKhameli limbingelele ngebizo lami.
6 Then tell to him this message from me, ‘I wish/desire that things will go well for you and your family and for everything that you possess.
Lithi kuye, ‘Impilo ende kuwe! Impilo enhle kanye labendlu yakho! Impilo enhle kukho konke okungokwakho!
7 ‘heard people say that you are cutting the wool from your sheep. Previously, when your shepherds were among us, we did not harm them. All the time that your shepherds were among us at Camel, we did not steal any sheep from them.
Khathesi ngizwa kuthiwa yisikhathi sokugunda izimvu. Lapho abelusi bakho babelathi, kasibaphathanga kubi, njalo isikhathi sonke beseKhameli akukho lutho olwacatshayo.
8 You can ask your servants if this is true, and they will tell you [that it is true]. We have come here at a time when you are celebrating, so I ask you to please be kind to us and give these men whatever extra food you have, for me, David, and my men to eat.’”
Buza izinceku zakho zizakutshela. Ngakho ake ube lomusa ezinsizweni zami, njengoba size ngesikhathi somkhosi. Ake unike izinceku zakho lendodana yakho uDavida loba kuyini ongabatholela khona.’”
9 When David’s men arrived where Nabal was, they gave David’s message to him, and they waited [for him to reply]. But Nabal spoke harshly to them.
Kwathi abantu bakaDavida sebefikile, bamnika uNabhali umbiko lo ngebizo likaDavida. Emva kwalokho balinda.
10 He said to them, “Who [does] this man, this son of Jesse, [think that he] is? [DOU, RHQ] There are many slaves who are running away from their masters at the present time, [and it seems to me that he is just one of them].
UNabhali waphendula izinceku zikaDavida wathi, “Ungubani uDavida lowo? Ingubani indodana kaJese leyo na? Ngalezizinsuku izinceku ezinengi ziyawabalekela amakhosi azo.
11 I give bread and water to the men who are cutting the wool from my sheep, and I give them meat from animals that I have slaughtered. Why should I take some of those things and give them to a group of outlaws [RHQ]? (Who knows where they have come from?/I do not even know where they have come from.)” [RHQ]
Kungani kumele ngithathe isinkwa sami lamanzi, lenyama engiyihlabele abagundi bami, nginike abantu abavela lapho engingazi khona na?”
12 Then David’s men returned and told him what Nabal had said.
Abantu bakaDavida baphenduka babuyela emuva. Sebefikile babika amazwi wonke.
13 When David heard that, he told his men, “[We are going to kill Nabal; ] fasten your swords!” So he fastened on his sword and about 400 men fastened on their swords and went with David. There were 200 of his men who stayed with their supplies.
UDavida wasesithi ebantwini bakhe, “Hlomani ngezinkemba zenu!” Ngakho bahloma ngezinkemba zabo, loDavida wahloma ngeyakhe. Abantu ababengaba ngamakhulu amane bahamba loDavida, kwathi abangamakhulu amabili basala lempahla.
14 One of Nabal’s servants [found out what David and his men were planning to do, so he] went to Nabal’s wife Abigail and said to her, “David sent some messengers from the desert to greet our master Nabal, but Nabal only yelled at them.
Omunye wezinceku watshela umkaNabhali u-Abhigeli wathi, “UDavida wathuma izithunywa esenkangala ukuzabingelela inkosi yethu, kodwa yona yazithethisa.
15 All the time that we were in the fields close to them, those men of David were very kind to us. They did not harm us. They did not steal anything from us.
Ikanti abantu laba thina basiphatha kuhle. Kabazange basiphathe kubi, njalo isikhathi sonke sisegangeni phansi kwabo akulalutho olwacatshayo.
16 They protected us during the daytime and during the night. They were like a wall [MET] around us to protect us while we were taking care of our sheep.
Emini lebusuku babengumduli osihonqolozelayo isikhathi sonke siselusela izimvu zethu phansi kwabo.
17 So now you should think about it and decide what you can do. [If you do not do something, ] terrible things will happen to our master and to all his family. Nabal is an extremely wicked man, with the result that [he will not heed anyone when] that person tries to tell him anything [that he should do].”
Kucabange ubone ongakwenza ngoba ingozi iyalenga ngaphezu kwenkosi yethu labendlu yayo bonke. Ingumuntu omubi kangaka okungelamuntu ongakhuluma layo.”
18 [When] Abigail [heard that, she] very quickly gathered 200 loaves [of bread], and also got two leather bags full of wine, the meat from five sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100 packs of raisins, and 200 packs of dried figs. She put all those things on donkeys.
U-Abhigeli kasachithanga sikhathi. Wathatha izinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili, izikhumba ezimbili zewayini, izimvu ezinhlanu ezihlinziweyo, amagokoko amahlanu amabele akhanzingiweyo, amakhekhe alikhulu amagrebisi awonyisiweyo, lamakhulu amabili amakhekhe omkhiwa okhanyiweyo, wakuthwalisa obabhemi.
19 Then she told her servants, “Go ahead of me. I will follow you.” But she did not tell her husband [what she was going to do].
Wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe, “Hambani phambili; ngizalilandela.” Kodwa umkakhe uNabhali kamtshelanga.
20 David and his men [had left the place where they were staying and were on the road to Nabal’s property. They] were coming down a hill when they met Abigail.
Wathi esiza egade ubabhemi wakhe phakathi kodonga lwentaba, wabona uDavida labantu bakhe besehla beqonde kuye, wasebahlangabeza.
21 David had been saying to his men, “It was useless for us to protect that man and all his possessions here in this desert. We did not steal anything that belonged to him, but he has done evil to me in return for our good [things we did for him].
UDavida wayesanda kuthi, “Kakusizanga lutho konke ukugcina kwami impahla yomuntu lo enkangala ukuze kungabi lalutho lwakhe olulahlekayo. Ungibhadale okuhle ngokubi.
22 I hope/desire that God will strike me and kill me [IDM] if he or even one of his men [IDM] is still alive tomorrow morning!”
Sengathi uNkulunkulu angaphatha uDavida kabuhlungu nxa ekuseni ngitshiya indoda eyodwa iphila kubo bonke abangabakhe!”
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from her donkey and bowed before him, with her face touching the ground.
U-Abhigeli esebone uDavida, wehla ngokuphangisa kubabhemi wakhe wakhothamela phansi phambi kukaDavida ubuso bakhe buthe mbo emhlabathini.
24 Then she prostrated herself at David’s feet and said to him, “Sir, I deserve to be punished [for what my husband has done]. Please listen to what I say to you.
Wawela ezinyaweni zakhe wathi, “Nkosi yami, insolo kayibe phezu kwami ngedwa. Ake uyivumele incekukazi yakho ikhulume lawe; zwana lokho incekukazi yakho efuna ukukutsho.
25 Please do not pay attention to [IDM] what this worthless man Nabal has said. His name means ‘fool’, and he surely is a foolish man. But I, who am [willing to be] your servant, did not see the messengers whom you sent to him.
Sengathi inkosi yami ingayekela ukumnaka umuntu omubi lowana uNabhali. Ufuze ibizo lakhe, ibizo lakhe lithi Sithutha, njalo ubuwula buhamba laye. Kodwa-ke mina, incekukazi yakho, angizibonanga insizwa inkosi yami ezithumileyo.
26 Yahweh has prevented you from getting revenge on anyone and killing anyone. I hope/desire that as surely as Yahweh lives and as surely as you live, your enemies will be [cursed] like Nabal will be.
Khathesi njengoba uThixo ekugcinile, nkosi yami, ekuchithekeni kwegazi lasekuphindiseleni ngezandla zakho, ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho ekhona lanjengoba lawe uphila, sengathi izitha zakho labo bonke abafuna ukwenza okubi kuwe nkosi yami bangaba njengoNabhali.
27 I have brought a gift for you and for the men who are with you.
Njalo isipho lesi, incekukazi yakho esilethe enkosini yami, kasiphiwe insizwa ezikulandelayo.
28 Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong to you. Yahweh will surely [reward you by] allowing many of your descendants to become kings of Israel, because you are fighting the battles that Yahweh [wants you to fight]. And [I know that] throughout all your life you have not done anything wrong.
Ake uthethelele ukona kwencekukazi yakho, ngoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu impela uzakwenzela inkosi yami inzalo yamakhosi engapheliyo, ngoba ilwela izimpi zikaThixo. Akungabi lokona okutholwa kuwe kukho konke ukuphila kwakho.
29 Even when those who are trying to kill you pursue you, you are safe, because Yahweh your God takes care of you. You will be [protected as though you were] [MET] a bundle that he has safely tied up. But your enemies will [disappear as fast as stones] that are hurled from a sling.
Lanxa omunye exotshana lawe ukuba akubulale, ukuphila kwenkosi yami, uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho uzakubophela kuqine elixheni labaphilayo. Kodwa ukuphila kwezitha zakho uzakuphosela khatshana kungathi kuphuma esikhwameni sesavutha.
30 Yahweh has promised to do good things for you, and he will do what he has promised. And he will cause you to become the ruler of the Israeli people.
Lapho uThixo eseyenzele inkosi yami zonke izinto ezinhle azithembisayo mayelana layo, njalo eseyibekile ukuba ngumkhokheli wako-Israyeli,
31 When that happens, [you will be glad that you did not kill any] people in Nabal’s household. You will not think that you deserve to be punished for having taken revenge yourself and killed innocent people. And when Yahweh enables you to successfully [become the king], please do not forget [to be kind to] me.”
inkosi yami kayiyikuba lesazela somthwalo ohloniphisayo sokuchithwa kwegazi esingaswelekiyo loba esokuphindisela. Njalo lapho uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu eselethele inkosi yami ukuphumelela, uyikhumbule incekukazi yakho.”
32 David replied to Abigail, “I praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], because he sent you to [talk with] me.
UDavida wasesithi ku-Abhigeli, “Kadunyiswe uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, okuthumileyo lamhla ukuzabonana lami.
33 I hope/desire that Yahweh will bless you for being very wise. You have prevented me from taking revenge myself and killing many people [MTY] today.
Sengathi ungabusiswa ngenxa yokwahlulela kwakho okuhle lokuvimbela kwakho ekuchitheni igazi lamhla kanye lasekuphindiseleni kwami ngezandla zami.
34 Just as surely as Yahweh the God whom we Israelis [worship] is alive, he has prevented me from harming you. If you had not come quickly to talk to me, neither Nabal nor even one of Nabal’s men [IDM] would be still alive tomorrow morning.”
Ngoba, ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ekhona, yena ongivimbele ekwenzeni okubi kuwe, aluba kawufikanga masinyane ukuzabonana lami, akukho lamunye owesilisa ongokaNabhali obezasala ephila ekudabukeni kokusa.”
35 Then David accepted the gifts that Abigail had brought to him. He said to her, “I hope/desire that things will go well for you. I have heard what you said, and I will do what you have requested.”
Emva kwalokho uDavida wamukela esandleni sika-Abhigeli lokho ayemlethele khona wasesithi, “Buyela ekhaya ngokuthula. Ngiwazwile amazwi akho ngasivuma isicelo sakho.”
36 When Abigail returned to Nabal, he was in his house, having a big celebration like kings have. He was very drunk and feeling very happy. So Abigail did not say anything to him that night [about her meeting with David].
U-Abhigeli esebuyele kuNabhali, wayesendlini eledili elinjengelenkosi. Wayejabula njalo edakwe kakhulu. Ngakho u-Abhigeli kamtshelanga lutho kwaze kwasa.
37 The next morning, when he was no longer drunk, she told him everything [that had happened when she talked with David]. [Immediately] (he had a stroke/a blood vessel burst in his brain) and he became paralyzed [MET].
Kwathi ekuseni, uNabhali engasadakwanga, umkakhe wamtshela zonke lezizinto, watshaywa luvalo woma qha.
38 About ten days later Yahweh struck him [again] and he died.
Emva kwensuku ezazingaba litshumi, uThixo wamtshaya uNabhali wafa.
39 After David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise Yahweh! Nabal insulted me, but Yahweh (vindicated me/got revenge for me). He has prevented me from [doing anything] wrong. And he has punished Nabal for the wrong that he did.” Then David sent [messengers] to Abigail, to ask her if she would become his wife.
Kwathi uDavida esizwa ukuthi uNabhali wayefile, wathi, “Kabongwe uThixo, yena osekele injongo yami yokumelana loNabhali ngenxa yokungeyisa. Uvimbele inceku yakhe ekwenzeni okubi njalo wehlisela uNabhali izenzo zakhe ezimbi phezu kwelakhe ikhanda.” Emva kwalokho uDavida wathumela ilizwi ku-Abhigeli emcela ukuba abe ngumkakhe.
40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David sent us to take you to become his wife.”
Izinceku zakhe zaya eKhameli zathi ku-Abhigeli, “UDavida usithume kuwe ukuba sizekuthatha ukuze ube ngumkakhe.”
41 Abigail bowed down with her face touching the ground. Then she told [the messengers to tell David], “[I am happy to become your wife]. I will be your servant. And I am willing to wash the feet of your slaves.”
U-Abhigeli wathi mbo phansi ngobuso, wathi, “Nansi incekukazi yakho, ilungele ukukusebenzela lokugezisa inyawo zezinceku zenkosi yami.”
42 Abigail quickly got on her donkey and went with David’s messengers. Five of her maids went with her. [When she arrived where David was, ] she became his wife.
U-Abhigeli waphanga wagada ubabhemi, ephelekezelwa yizisebenzikazi zakhe ezinhlanu, wahamba lezithunywa zikaDavida wasesiba ngumkakhe.
43 David had previously married Ahinoam, a woman from Jezreel [town near Carmel]. So both Abigail and Ahinoam were now David’s wives.
UDavida wayethethe njalo u-Ahinowama waseJezerili, bobabili-ke baba ngomkakhe.
44 King Saul’s daughter Michal was also David’s wife, but Saul had given her to Laish’s son Paltiel, who was from Gallim [town].
Kodwa uSawuli, indodakazi yakhe uMikhali, umkaDavida, wayeseyinike uPhalithiyeli indodana kaLayishi, owayengowaseGalimi.
