1 Samũeli 14
1 Mũthenya ũmwe Jonathani mũrũ wa Saũlũ akĩĩra mwanake ũrĩa wamũkuuagĩra indo cia mbaara atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũthiĩ kambĩ-inĩ ya Afilisti mũrĩmo ũrĩa ũngĩ.” No ndaigana kwĩra ithe.
One day Jonathan, son of Saul, said to the young armor-bearer, “Come on, let's cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he didn't let his father know his plans.
2 Saũlũ aikarĩte ndeere-inĩ cia Gibea rungu rwa mũtĩ wa mũkomamanga kũu Migironi. Nao andũ arĩa aarĩ nao maarĩ ta andũ magana matandatũ,
Saul was staying near Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about six hundred men with him,
3 ũmwe wao aarĩ Ahija, ũrĩa wehumbĩte ebodi. Aarĩ mũrũ wa Ahitubu mũrũ wa nyina na Ikabodu, mũrũ wa Finehasi, ũrĩa mũrũ wa Eli, mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai wa Jehova kũu Shilo. Gũtiarĩ mũndũ wamenyete atĩ Jonathani nĩathiĩte.
including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, priest of the Lord in Shiloh. No one realized Jonathan had left.
4 Mĩena yeerĩ ya kĩhunguro kĩrĩa Jonathani endaga gũũkĩrĩra nĩguo akinye irangĩro-inĩ rĩa Afilisti nĩ haarĩ na hurũrũka cia ihiga; ĩmwe yetagwo Bozezi, na ĩrĩa ĩngĩ Senehe.
Cliffs stood on both sides of the pass that Jonathan planned to cross to reach the Philistine garrison, one called Bozez and the other Seneh.
5 Hurũrũka ĩmwe yarĩ mwena wa gathigathini kũngʼethera Mikimashi, na ĩyo ĩngĩ yarĩ gũthini kũngʼethera Geba.
The cliff to the north was on the Michmash side, the one to the south on the Geba side.
6 Jonathani akĩĩra mwanake ũcio wamũkuuagĩra indo cia mbaara atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũthiĩ irangĩro-inĩ rĩa andũ acio mataruaga. Hihi no gũkorwo Jehova nĩegwĩka ũndũ nĩ ũndũ witũ. Gũtirĩ kĩndũ kĩngĩgiria Jehova ahonokanie, andũ marĩ aingĩ, kana marĩ anini.”
Jonathan said to the young armor-bearer, “Come on, let's cross over to the garrison of these heathen men. Maybe the Lord will help us out. It's not a problem for the Lord to win, whether by many or by few.”
7 Mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ĩka maũndũ mothe marĩa wĩciirĩtie gwĩka, ũgĩthiĩ na mbere tondũ niĩ ndĩ hamwe nawe maũndũ-inĩ mothe.”
“You choose what you want to do,” the armor-bearer replied. “I'm with you whatever you decide!”
8 Jonathani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũringe mũrĩmo ũrĩa ũngĩ twerekeire harĩ andũ acio tũmeonithie.
“Let's go then!” Jonathan said. “We'll cross over in their direction so they can see us.
9 Mangĩtwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Etererai hau nginya tũũke kũrĩ inyuĩ,’ tũgũikara o hau tũrĩ na tũtikwambata tũthiĩ kũrĩ o.
If they tell us, ‘Wait there until we come down to you,’ we will wait where we are and we won't go up to them.
10 No mangĩtwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Ambatai mũũke kũrĩ ithuĩ,’ tũkĩambate, nĩ ũndũ kĩu nĩkĩo gĩgũtuĩka kĩmenyithia giitũ atĩ Jehova nĩamaneanĩte moko-inĩ maitũ.”
But if they say, ‘Come on up to us,’ we'll climb up, for that will be the sign that the Lord has handed them over to us.”
11 Nao eerĩ makĩĩonithania irangĩro-inĩ rĩa Afilisti. Nao Afilisti makiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ, ta rorai! Ahibirania makiuma marima-inĩ makurumĩte kũrĩa marehithĩte.”
So both of them let themselves be seen by Philistine garrison. “Hey, look!” shouted the Philistines. “The Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in.”
12 Nao andũ a irangĩro-inĩ makĩgũthũkĩra Jonathani na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara makĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ambatai mũũke kũrĩ ithuĩ na mũtirĩ ũndũ mũtekuona.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jonathani akĩĩra mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara atĩrĩ, “Ambata, ũnyume thuutha; Jehova nĩamaneanĩte guoko-inĩ gwa Isiraeli.”
The men from the garrison called down to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up here, and we'll teach you a thing or two!” “Follow me up,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”
13 Jonathani akĩambata, agĩthiĩ akurumĩte, na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara amuumĩte thuutha. Nao Afilisti makĩgũa mbere ya Jonathani, nake mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara akĩmooraga arĩ thuutha wake.
So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. Jonathan attacked and killed them, and his armor-bearer followed doing the same.
14 Itharĩkĩra rĩu rĩa mbere rĩa Jonathani marĩ na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara rĩoragire andũ mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ gacigo-inĩ ka nuthu ya ĩka.
In this first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men over an area of half an acre.
15 Hĩndĩ ĩyo kĩmako gĩkĩnyiita andũ othe a ita, arĩa maarĩ kambĩ-inĩ na mĩgũnda-inĩ, o na arĩa maarĩ irangĩro-inĩ, na ikundi cia atharĩkĩri, nayo thĩ ĩgĩthingitha. Kĩmako kĩu kĩarehetwo nĩ Ngai.
Then Philistines went into a panic, in the camp, in the field, and throughout their army. Even those in the outposts and the groups of raiders became terrified. The earth shook—this was a panic from God.
16 Arangĩri a Saũlũ arĩa maarĩ Gibea ya Benjamini makĩona andũ a ita rĩu maharaganĩte mĩena yothe.
Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine army melting away, scattering in all directions.
17 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ akĩĩra andũ arĩa maarĩ nake atĩrĩ, “Tarai andũ a ita mũmenye nũũ ũtarĩ ho.” Rĩrĩa meekire ũguo, magĩkora nĩ Jonathani na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara mataarĩ ho.
Saul told the soldiers with him, “Do a roll-call and find out who isn't here with us.” When they did the roll-call, they discovered that Jonathan and his armor-bearer weren't there.
18 Saũlũ akĩĩra Ahija atĩrĩ, “Rehe ithandũkũ rĩa Ngai.” (Mahinda macio ithandũkũ rĩu rĩarĩ na andũ a Isiraeli).
Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here.” (At the time the Ark of God traveled with the Israelites.)
19 O hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ aaragĩria mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai-rĩ, ironja rĩrĩa rĩarĩ kambĩ-inĩ ya Afilisti rĩgĩkĩrĩrĩria kũingĩha. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ akĩĩra mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai ũcio atĩrĩ, “Eheria guoko gwaku.”
But as Saul was speaking to the priest, the commotion coming from the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul told the priest, “Forget it!”
20 Ningĩ Saũlũ na andũ ake othe makĩũngana, magĩthiĩ mbaara-inĩ. Magĩkorerera Afilisti marĩ na kĩhĩngĩĩcano kĩnene, magĩtemangana o ene na hiũ cia njora.
Then Saul and all his army assembled and went into battle. They discovered the Philistines were in total disarray, attacking each other with swords.
21 Ahibirania arĩa maarĩ na Afilisti mbere ĩyo na arĩa maambĩte magathiĩ hamwe nao kambĩ-inĩ ciao, makĩgarũrũka magĩcooka mwena wa andũ a Isiraeli arĩa maarĩ hamwe na Saũlũ na Jonathani.
The Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines, and who were with them in their camp, switched sides and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Rĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli arĩa meehithĩte bũrũri ũrĩa ũrĩ irĩma wa Efiraimu maiguire atĩ Afilisti nĩ kũũra mooraga-rĩ, nao makĩingĩra mbaara-inĩ, makĩmatengʼeria.
When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were running away, they also joined in chasing after the Philistines to attack them.
23 Ũguo nĩguo Jehova aahonokirie Isiraeli mũthenya ũcio, nayo mbaara ĩgĩthiĩ na mbere nginya ĩkĩhĩtũka Bethi-Aveni.
On that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle extended past Beth-aven.
24 Na rĩrĩ, andũ a Isiraeli maarĩ thĩĩna-inĩ mũnene mũthenya ũcio, nĩ ũndũ Saũlũ nĩamehĩtithĩtie na mwĩhĩtwa, akameera atĩrĩ, “Kũgwatwo nĩ kĩrumi nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũkũrĩa irio gũtanatuka, iterĩhĩirie harĩ thũ ciakwa!” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe wa ita rĩu wacamire irio.
It was difficult for the men of Israel that day because Saul had ordered the army to take an oath, saying, “Cursed is anyone who eats anything before evening, before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So no one in the army had eaten anything.
25 Ita rĩothe rĩgĩtoonya mũtitũ, na kũu nĩ kwarĩ na ũũkĩ handũ thĩ.
When they all entered the forest they found honeycomb on the ground.
26 Rĩrĩa maatoonyire mũtitũ nĩmoonire ũũkĩ ũgĩtaata, no gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe waũcamire na kanua nĩ ũndũ nĩmetigagĩra mwĩhĩtwa ũcio.
While they were in the forest they saw the honey running out, but no one picked it up to eat it because they were all afraid of the oath they had taken.
27 No Jonathani ndaiguĩte atĩ ithe nĩehĩtithĩtie andũ na mwĩhĩtwa; nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩtambũrũkia rũthanju rũrĩa aanyiitĩte akĩrũtobokia igua-inĩ rĩa ũũkĩ. Akĩũcama na kanua, namo maitho make magĩthera.
But Jonathan hadn't heard that his father had ordered the army to take this oath. So he stuck the end of his stick into the honeycomb, picked up a piece to eat, and he felt much better.
28 Nake ũmwe wa thigari icio akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Thoguo nĩehĩtithĩtie andũ aya a ita na mwĩhĩtwa mũrũmu, akoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Kũgwatwo nĩ kĩrumi nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũkũrĩa irio ũmũthĩ!’ Nĩkĩo andũ aya moorĩtwo nĩ hinya.”
But one of the soldiers told him, “Your father made the army take a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is anyone who eats anything today!’ That is why the men are exhausted.”
29 Jonathani akiuga atĩrĩ, “Baba nĩatũmĩte bũrũri ũgĩe na thĩĩna. Ta kĩonei ũrĩa maitho makwa matherire rĩrĩa njamire kaũũkĩ gaka kanini.
“My father has caused a whole lot of trouble for everyone,” Jonathan replied. “See how well I am because I've eaten a little of this honey.
30 Githĩ gũtingiuma wega makĩria korwo ũmũthĩ andũ nĩmekũrĩĩte indo imwe cia iria matahĩte kuuma kũrĩ thũ ciao? Githĩ rĩũraga rĩu rĩa Afilisti rĩtingiuma inene makĩria?”
It would have been so much better if only the army had eaten plenty today from the plunder taken from their enemies! How many more Philistines would have been killed?”
31 Mũthenya ũcio, thuutha wa andũ a Isiraeli kũhũũra Afilisti kuuma Mikimashi nginya Aijaloni, magĩkorwo manogeete mũno.
After defeating the Philistines that day, killing them from Michmash to Aijalon, the Israelites were totally exhausted.
32 Nao makĩguthũkĩra indo iria maatahĩte, makĩoya ngʼondu, na ngʼombe, na tũcaũ, magĩcithĩnjĩra hau thĩ, na magĩcirĩanĩria na thakame.
They grabbed the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves, and slaughtered them right there on the ground. But they ate them with the blood.
33 Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũndũ ũmwe akĩĩra Saũlũ atĩrĩ, “Atĩrĩrĩ, ta kĩone andũ aya nĩmehĩirie Jehova nĩ kũrĩa nyama irĩ na thakame.” Nake akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩmwagarara watho. Garagariai ihiga inene mũrĩrehe haha o rĩu.”
Saul was told, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.” “Law-breakers!” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here right now!”
34 Agĩcooka akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Thiĩi kũrĩ andũ, mũmeere atĩrĩ, ‘O mũndũ wanyu nĩandehere ngʼombe yake na ngʼondu, mũcithĩnjĩre haha na mũcirĩe. Tigai kwĩhĩria Jehova nĩ kũrĩa nyama irĩ na thakame.’” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio o mũndũ akĩrehe ndegwa yake ũtukũ ũcio na akĩmĩthĩnjĩra hau.
Then he said, “Go around the soldiers and tell them, ‘Every man must bring me his cattle or his sheep and slaughter them here, and then eat. Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.’” Everyone in the army brought what he had and slaughtered it there that night.
35 Ningĩ Saũlũ agĩakĩra Jehova kĩgongona; rĩu nĩrĩo rĩarĩ ihinda rĩake rĩa mbere gwĩka ũguo.
So Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar he had built to the Lord.
36 Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩtũikũrũkei tũrũmĩrĩre Afilisti ũtukũ, tũmatahe nginya rũciinĩ, na tũtigatigie mũndũ o na ũmwe wao arĩ muoyo.” Nao magĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ĩka o ũrĩa ũkuona wagĩrĩire mũno harĩwe.” No mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai akiuga atĩrĩ, “Rekei tũtuĩrie ũhoro kuuma kũrĩ Ngai o haha.”
Saul said, “Let's go and chase down the Philistines during night and plunder them till dawn, leaving no survivors.” “Do what you think best,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let's ask God first.”
37 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ akĩũria Ngai atĩrĩ, “Nĩ wega njikũrũke, nũmĩrĩre Afilisti? Nĩũkũmaneana moko-inĩ ma andũ a Isiraeli?” No Ngai ndaigana kũmũcookeria ũhoro mũthenya ũcio.
Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and chase down the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But that day God didn't answer him.
38 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũkai haha, inyuothe atongoria a ita, tũmenye wĩhia ũrĩa wĩkĩtwo ũmũthĩ.
So Saul gave the order, “All you army commanders, come here so we can investigate what sin has happened today.
39 Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa Jehova ũrĩa ũhonokagia Isiraeli atũũraga muoyo-rĩ, o na kũngĩtuĩka nĩ Jonathani mũrũ wakwa wĩkĩte ũguo-rĩ, no nginya akue.” No gũtirĩ mũndũ o na thĩinĩ wao woigire ũndũ.
I swear on the life of the Lord who saves Israel, that even if it's my son Jonathan, he will have to die!” But no one of the whole army said anything.
40 Saũlũ agĩcooka akĩĩra andũ othe a Isiraeli atĩrĩ, “Inyuĩ rũgamai haarĩa; na niĩ na Jonathani mũrũ wakwa tũrũgame haha.” Nao andũ magĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ĩka ũrĩa ũkuona kwagĩrĩire.”
Saul told them all, “You stand over to one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the opposite side.” “Do what you think best,” the army replied.
41 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ akĩhooya Jehova Ngai wa Isiraeli, akiuga atĩrĩ, “He icookio rĩrĩa rĩagĩrĩire.” Mĩtĩ yacuukwo yagwĩrĩire Jonathani na Saũlũ, nao andũ acio makĩoneka matiarĩ na ũcuuke.
Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Let the Thummin show.” Jonathan and Saul were identified, while everyone else was cleared.
42 Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Tũcuukĩrei mĩtĩ niĩ na Jonathani, mũrũ wakwa.” Nake Jonathani akĩgwĩrwo nĩ mũtĩ.
Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” Jonathan was selected.
43 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ akĩĩra Jonathani atĩrĩ, “Ta njĩĩra nĩ atĩa wĩkĩte.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jonathani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “No gũcama njamire kaũũkĩ kanini na mũthia wa rũthanju rwakwa. Na rĩrĩ, no nginya niĩ ngue?”
“Tell me what you have done,” Saul asked Jonathan. “I just tasted a little honey with the end of my stick,” Jonathan told him. “Here I am, and I have to die.”
44 Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ngai arothũũra na anjĩke ũndũ mũũru makĩria, kũngĩkorwo wee Jonathani ndũgũkua.”
Saul said, “May God punish me very severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”
45 No andũ acio makĩũria Saũlũ atĩrĩ, “Jonathani nĩagĩrĩirwo nĩ gũkua, arĩ we ũreheire Isiraeli ũhootani mũnene ũũ? Aca, kũroaga gũtuĩka ũguo! Ti-itherũ, o ta ũrĩa Jehova atũũraga muoyo, gũtirĩ rũcuĩrĩ o na rũmwe rwa mũtwe wake rũkũgũa thĩ, nĩgũkorwo eekire ũguo ũmũthĩ na ũteithio wa Ngai.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio makĩhonokia Jonathani, na ndaigana kũũragwo.
But the people told Saul, “Does Jonathan have to die, the one who achieved this great victory in Israel? Absolutely not! We swear on the life of the Lord, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground, for it was with God's help that he achieved this today.” The people saved Jonathan, and he didn't die.
46 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ agĩtiga kũingatana na Afilisti, nao magĩcooka bũrũri-inĩ wao.
Saul stopped chasing down the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own country.
47 Saũlũ aambĩrĩria gũthamakĩra Isiraeli, nĩarũire na thũ ciao ndwere-inĩ ciothe: akĩrũa na Moabi, na Amoni, na Edomu, na athamaki a Zoba na a Afilisti. Kũrĩa guothe eerekagĩra, nĩamanyariiraga akamaherithia.
After Saul had made his hold over Israel secure, he fought against all his enemies all around: Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Whatever direction he went he defeated them all.
48 Akĩrũa na ũcamba, akĩhoota Aamaleki, na akĩhonokia Isiraeli kuuma moko-inĩ ma arĩa maamatahĩte indo.
He fought bravely, conquering the Amalekites, saving Israel from those who plundered them.
49 Ariũ a Saũlũ maarĩ Jonathani, na Ishivi, na Maliki-Shua. Mwarĩ wake ũrĩa mũkũrũ eetagwo Merabu, na ũrĩa mũnini eetagwo Mikali.
Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, (the firstborn), and Michal, (the younger one).
50 Mũtumia wake eetagwo Ahinoamu mwarĩ wa Ahimaazu. Mũnene wa ita rĩa Saũlũ eetagwo Abineri mũrũ wa Neri, nake Neri aarĩ ithe mũnini wa Saũlũ.
The name of his wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of Saul's army commander was Abner, son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle.
51 Kishu ithe wa Saũlũ, na Neri ithe wa Abineri maarĩ ariũ a Abieli.
Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 Matukũ-inĩ mothe ma Saũlũ nĩ kwarĩ na mbaara ndũrũ cia kũrũa na Afilisti, na rĩrĩa rĩothe Saũlũ angĩonire mũndũ ũrĩ hinya kana njamba, aamuoyaga, akamũtoonyia ita-inĩ rĩake.
Throughout Saul's lifetime there was constant war with the Philistines. Saul recruited into his army every strong warrior and every brave fighter that he met.
