1 Samuel 29
1 The Philistia army gathered at Aphek [Valley, which is near Shunem]. The Israelis set up their tents at Jezreel [city, which was in the same valley].
AmaFilisti ayebuthanise-ke wonke amabutho awo eAfeki; lamaIsrayeli ayemise inkamba ngasemthonjeni oseJizereyeli.
2 The kings of Philistia divided their men into groups; some groups had 100 soldiers and some groups had 1,000 soldiers. David and his men were marching behind, with King Achish.
Iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zasezidlula ngamakhulu langezinkulungwane, kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe bedlula emuva loAkishi.
3 But the Philistia commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews [doing here, marching with us to battle]?” Achish replied, “[Their leader is] David. [He] previously worked for King Saul of Israel, but now he has been living near me for more than a year. During all the time since he left Saul, I have not seen/found that he has any faults.”
Induna zamaFilisti zasezisithi: Ayini lamaHebheru? UAkishi wasesithi kuzo induna zamaFilisti: Lo kayisuye uDavida yini, inceku kaSawuli inkosi yakoIsrayeli, obelami lezinsuku kumbe liminyaka? Njalo kangitholanga lutho kuye kusukela kusuku lokuwa kwakhe kuze kube lamuhla.
4 But the Philistia army commanders were angry with Achish [for allowing David’s army to be going with them]. They said to him, “Send David [and his men] back to the city that you gave to him! We do not want him to go with us into the battle. [If he goes with us, ] we will have an enemy in our own midst! He would please King Saul by killing our own soldiers [RHQ]!
Kodwa induna zamaFilisti zamthukuthelela; izinduna zamaFilisti zathi kuye: Mbuyisele lumuntu ukuthi abuyele endaweni yakhe owambeka khona. Njalo kangehleli empini lathi, ukuze angabi yisitha sethu empini. Ngoba lo angazenza athandeke ngani enkosini yakhe? Hatshi ngamakhanda alamadoda yini?
5 [Have you forgotten that] David is the one about whom the Israelis dance and sing, saying, ‘Saul has killed 1000 of our enemies, but David has killed 10,000 of them!’?”
Lo kayisuye uDavida yini ababevumelana ngaye emigidweni besithi: USawuli utshaye izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida inkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumi?
6 So Achish summoned David, and said to him, “Just as surely as Yahweh lives, you have been loyal to me. I would like very much for you to fight along with my army. Since the day that you came to me, I have not found/seen that you have any faults. But the other Philistia rulers do not trust you.
UAkishi wasebiza uDavida wathi kuye: Kuphila kukaJehova, isibili wena uqondile, lokuphuma kwakho lokungena kwakho lami enkambeni kuhle emehlweni ami; ngoba kangitholanga ububi kuwe kusukela osukwini lokufika kwakho kimi kuze kube lamuhla; kodwa emehlweni eziphathamandla kawumuhle.
7 So all of you go back home, and I hope/desire that things will go well for you. I do not want you(sg) to do anything that the other rulers of Philistia will not be pleased with.”
Ngakho-ke buyela uhambe ngokuthula, ukuze ungenzi ububi emehlweni eziphathamandla zamaFilisti.
8 David replied, “What wrong have I done? Since the day that I first came to you until today, have I done anything that you think is evil? Your majesty, why will you not allow me to go and fight against your enemies?”
UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Kodwa ngenzeni? Uficeni encekwini yakho, kusukela osukwini engangiphambi kwakho ngalo kuze kube lamuhla, ukuthi ngingayikulwa lezitha zenkosi yami, inkosi?
9 Achish replied, “I know that you are as just as good as an angel from God. But the commanders of my army have said, ‘We will not allow David [and his men] to go with us into the battle.’
UAkishi wasephendula wathi kuDavida: Ngiyazi ukuthi ulungile emehlweni ami njengengilosi kaNkulunkulu; kodwa izinduna zamaFilisti zithe: Kayikwenyukela empini lathi.
10 So early tomorrow morning you and your men must leave. Get up as soon as it is light and leave.”
Ngakho-ke ubovuka ekuseni kakhulu kanye lenceku zenkosi yakho ezifike lawe; selivuke ekuseni kakhulu sekukhanya kini, lihambe.
11 So David and his men got up early the following morning and returned to the area where the Philistia people lived. And the Philistia army went up to Jezreel.
Ngakho uDavida wavuka ngovivi, yena labantu bakhe, ukuhamba ekuseni, ukuthi babuyele elizweni lamaFilisti. AmaFilisti asesenyukela eJizereyeli.
