1 USamuyeli 11
1 UNahashi umʼAmoni wasuka wayivimbezela iJabheshi Giliyadi. Bonke abantu baseJabheshi bathi kuye, “Yenza isivumelwano lathi, thina sizakuba ngaphansi kwakho.”
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, 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 Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this [condition] will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach upon all Israel.
3 Abadala baseJabheshi bathi kuye, “Sinike insuku eziyisikhombisa ukuze sithume izithunywa kulolonke elako-Israyeli; nxa engekho ozasihlenga sizazinikela kuwe.”
And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days respit, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel: and then, if [there is] no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
4 Kwathi izithunywa sezifike eGibhiya kaSawuli njalo zabika izimiso lezi ebantwini bonke bakhala kakhulu.
Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears 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 after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6 Kwathi uSawuli esezwe amazwi abo, uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe ngamandla, wathukuthela kakhulu.
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
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 he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
8 Kwathi uSawuli esebaqoqile eBhezekhi, abantu bako-Israyeli babezinkulungwane ezintathu, abakoJuda bezinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu.
And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah 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 ye say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow by [the time] the sun is hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and showed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10 Basebesithi kuma-Amoni, “Kusasa sizazinikela kini, njalo lingenza kithi loba kuyini okukhanya kukuhle kini.”
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come out to you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good to you.
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 was [so] on the morrow, that Saul disposed the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning-watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they who remained 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, that we may put them to death.
13 Kodwa uSawuli wathi, “Kakho ozabulawa lamhla, ngoba ngalolusuku uThixo umhlengile u-Israyeli.”
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to-day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
14 USamuyeli wasesithi ebantwini, “Wozani, kasiyeni eGiligali siyeqinisa ubukhosi khona.”
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and 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 Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
