1 Samwiri 26
1 Awo ab’e Zifu ne bagenda eri Sawulo e Gibea ne bamugamba nti, “Olowooza nga Dawudi teyeekwese ku lusozi Kakira, ku luuyi olw’ebuvanjuba olwolekera eddungu Yesimoni?”
One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”
2 Awo Sawulo n’abasajja abolondemu enkumi ssatu aba Isirayiri, ne bagolokoka ne baserengeta mu ddungu ery’e Zifu, okunoonya Dawudi.
So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.
3 Sawulo n’asiisira ku mabbali g’ekkubo ku lusozi Kakira okwolekera eddungu, naye Dawudi n’asigala mu ddungu. Awo bwe yalaba Sawulo ng’amugoberedde mu ddungu,
Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,
4 n’atuma abakessi okukakasiza ddala obanga Sawulo yali atuuse.
he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
5 Dawudi n’agolokoka n’agenda mu kifo Sawulo we yali asiisidde. N’alaba Sawulo ne Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri omuduumizi w’eggye, we baali beebase. Sawulo yali yeebase wakati mu lusiisira, ng’eggye limwetoolodde.
Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.
6 Awo Dawudi n’abuuza Akimereki Omukiiti ne Abisaayi muganda wa Yowaabu, mutabani wa Zeruyiya nti, “Ani anaaserengeta nange, tugende mu lusiisira lwa Sawulo?” Abisaayi n’addamu nti, “Nze n’aserengeta naawe.”
David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go with you.”
7 Awo Dawudi ne Abisaayi ne bagenda mu lusiisira ekiro, ne basanga Sawulo nga yeebase wakati mu lusiisira, effumu lye nga lisimbiddwa mu ttaka emitwetwe we. Abuneeri n’abaserikale baali beebase okumwetooloola.
So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.
8 Abisaayi n’agamba Dawudi nti, “Leero, Katonda awaddeyo omulabe wo mu mukono gwo. Kale nno mpa olukusa mmufumitire wansi awo n’effumu. Siimufumite gwakubiri.”
Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”
9 Naye Dawudi n’addamu Abisaayi nti, “Tomuzikiriza, kubanga ani ayinza okugolola omukono gwe okutta oyo Mukama gwe yafukako amafuta, n’ataba na musango?
But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.
10 Mukama nga bw’ali omulamu, Mukama yennyini yali mukuba. Luliba lumu, olunaku lwe lulituuka n’afa, oba aligenda mu lutalo n’azikiririra eyo.
Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.
11 Kikafuuwe nze okugolola omukono gwange okutta oyo Mukama gwe yafukako amafuta. Naye ddira effumu n’eccupa ey’amazzi ebiri emitwetwe we obisitule tugende.”
But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”
12 Awo Dawudi n’aggyawo effumu n’eccupa ey’amazzi ebyali emitwetwe wa Sawulo ne bagenda. Tewali yabalaba newaakubadde okukitegeera, wadde okusisimuka, kubanga bonna Mukama yali abeebasiza otulo tungi nnyo.
So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.
13 N’oluvannyuma Dawudi n’asomoka n’agenda emitala, n’ayimirira walako ku ntikko ey’olusozi, nga wakati waabwe waliwo ekibangirizi kinene.
David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.
14 N’akoowoola eggye ne Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri ng’ayogera nti, “Tonziremu gwe Abuneeri?” Abuneeri n’addamu nti, “Ggwe ani alangiriza kabaka?”
Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”
15 Awo Dawudi n’agamba Abuneeri nti, “Oli musajja muzira, si bwe kiri? Ani akwenkana mu Isirayiri? Kiki ekyakulobedde okukuuma obulungi mukama wo kabaka? Kubanga waabaddewo omuntu eyazze okuzikiriza mukama wo kabaka.
David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.
16 Ekyo kye wakoze si kirungi. Nga Mukama bw’ali omulamu, ggwe n’abasajja bo musaana kufa, olw’obulagajjavu bwammwe, kubanga temwakuumye mukama wammwe, Mukama gwe yafukako amafuta. Mutunule mwetegereze; effumu lya kabaka n’eccupa ey’amazzi ebyabadde emitwetwe wa kabaka biri ludda wa?”
You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”
17 Sawulo n’ategeera nga ddoboozi lya Dawudi, n’abuuza nti, “Ye ggwe mutabani wange Dawudi?” Dawudi n’addamu nti, “Ye nze mukama wange kabaka.”
[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”
18 Dawudi n’amubuuza nti, “Lwaki oyigganya omuweereza wo? Nakola ki, era musango ki gwe nazza?
Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?
19 Kaakano nno, mukama wange kabaka wuliriza ebigambo by’omuweereza wo. Obanga Mukama ye yakusindise okunjigganya, akkirize ekiweebwayo. Naye bwe baba nga baana ba bantu, bakolimirwe mu maaso ga Mukama, kubanga leero bangobye nneme okugabana mu busika bwa Mukama nga bagamba nti, ‘Genda oweereze bakatonda abalala.’
Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’
20 Kale nno omusaayi gwange guleme okuyiyibwa wansi ewala Mukama gy’atabeera. Kabaka wa Isirayiri avuddeyo okunoonya enkukunyi, ng’omuntu bwe yandiyizze enkwale mu nsozi.”
Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”
21 Awo Sawulo n’ayogera nti, “Nnyonoonye. Komawo mutabani wange Dawudi. Sigenda kuddamu kugezaako kukukolako kabi n’akamu, kubanga leero ondaze, obulamu bwange bwe buli obw’omuwendo mu maaso go. Laba neeyisizza ng’omusirusiru, era nnyonoonye ekiyitiridde.”
Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”
22 Dawudi n’addamu nti, “Effumu lya kabaka liirino. Tuma omu ku bavubuka bo ajje aliddukire.
David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get it.
23 Mukama asasula buli muntu ng’obutuukirivu bwe n’obwesigwa bwe, bwe biri. Mukama yakuwaddeyo mu mukono gwange leero, naye ne sigolola mukono gwange ku oyo Mukama gwe yafukako amafuta.
Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.
24 Nga bwe mbaliridde obulamu bwo okuba obw’omuwendo leero, kale obulamu bwange bubeere bwa muwendo mu maaso ga Mukama, era andokole mu bizibu byonna.”
Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”
25 Awo Sawulo n’addamu nti, “Oweebwe omukisa mutabani wange Dawudi. Olikola ebintu ebikulu bingi era oliraba omukisa mu byo.” Awo Dawudi n’agenda amakubo ge, ne Sawulo ne yeddirayo ewuwe.
Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.
