1 USamuyeli 11
1 UNahashi umʼAmoni wasuka wayivimbezela iJabheshi Giliyadi. Bonke abantu baseJabheshi bathi kuye, “Yenza isivumelwano lathi, thina sizakuba ngaphansi kwakho.”
And it came to pass about a month after this that Naas, the Ammonite came up, and began to fight against Jabes Galaad. And all the men of Jabes said to Naas: Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
2 Kodwa uNahashi umʼAmoni waphendula wathi, “Ngizakwenza isivumelwano lani kuphela nxa kuyikuthi ngizakhupha ilihlo lesandla sokunene emuntwini wonke wakini ukuze u-Israyeli wonke ngimlethele ihlazo.”
And Naas the Ammonite answered them: On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and make you a reproach in all Israel.
3 Abadala baseJabheshi bathi kuye, “Sinike insuku eziyisikhombisa ukuze sithume izithunywa kulolonke elako-Israyeli; nxa engekho ozasihlenga sizazinikela kuwe.”
And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel: and if there be no one to defend us, we will come out to thee.
4 Kwathi izithunywa sezifike eGibhiya kaSawuli njalo zabika izimiso lezi ebantwini bonke bakhala kakhulu.
The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and they spoke these words in the hearing of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
5 Ngalesosikhathi uSawuli wayevela emasimini, engemuva kwenkabi zakhe, wasebuza esithi, “Kuyini okonakeleyo ebantwini? Kungani bekhala?” Bamlandisela okwakutshiwo ngabantu baseJabheshi.
And behold Saul came, following oxen out of the field, and he said: What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabes.
6 Kwathi uSawuli esezwe amazwi abo, uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe ngamandla, wathukuthela kakhulu.
And the spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard these words, and his anger was exceedingly kindled.
7 Wathatha inkabi ezimbili, waziquma zaba yiziqayiqa, wathumela iziqa lezithunywa kulolonke elako-Israyeli, zimemezela zisithi, “Lokhu yikho okuzakwenziwa enkabini zikabani lobani ongalandeli uSawuli loSamuyeli.” Ukwesabeka kukaThixo kwehlela ebantwini, baphuma sebenjengomuntu munye.
And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and sent them into all the coasts of Israel by messengers, saying: Whosoever shall not come forth, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out as one man.
8 Kwathi uSawuli esebaqoqile eBhezekhi, abantu bako-Israyeli babezinkulungwane ezintathu, abakoJuda bezinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu.
And he numbered them in Bezec: and there were of the children of Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Juda thirty thousand.
9 Batshela izithunywa ezazifikile bathi, “Tshelani abantu baseJabheshi Giliyadi ukuthi, ‘Kuzakuthi ilanga selitshisa kusasa, lina lizakuba selihlengiwe.’” Kwathi izithunywa sezihambe zayabika lokhu ebantwini baseJabheshi, bathokoza.
And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall you say to the men of Jabes Galaad: Tomorrow, when the sun shall be hot, you shall have relief. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of Jabes: and they were glad.
10 Basebesithi kuma-Amoni, “Kusasa sizazinikela kini, njalo lingenza kithi loba kuyini okukhanya kukuhle kini.”
And they said: In the morning we will come out to you: and you shall do what you please with us.
11 Ngelanga elalandelayo uSawuli wehlukanisa abantu bakhe baba ngamaviyo amathathu; kwathi ngomlindo wokucina ebusuku bafohlela ezihonqweni zama-Amoni bawabulala ilanga laze latshisa. Lawo aphephayo ahlakazeka, akwaze kwaba lamabili awo asala endawonye.
And it came to pass, when the morrow was come that Saul put the people in three companies: and he came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and he slew the Ammonites until the day grew hot, and the rest were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
12 Abantu basebesithi kuSamuyeli, “Ngubani owabuza wathi, ‘USawuli uzasibusa na?’ Balethe kithi labobantu sibabulale.”
And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said: Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men and we will kill them.
13 Kodwa uSawuli wathi, “Kakho ozabulawa lamhla, ngoba ngalolusuku uThixo umhlengile u-Israyeli.”
And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day, because the Lord this day hath wrought salvation in Israel:
14 USamuyeli wasesithi ebantwini, “Wozani, kasiyeni eGiligali siyeqinisa ubukhosi khona.”
And Samuel said to the people: Come and let us go to Galgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.
15 Ngakho abantu bonke baya eGiligali bambeka uSawuli ukuba yinkosi phambi kukaThixo. Bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula, njalo uSawuli labantu bonke bako-Israyeli baba lomkhosi omkhulu wokuthokoza.
And all the people went to Galgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Galgal, and they sacrificed there victims of peace before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly.
