1 USamuyeli 14

1 Ngelinye ilanga uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, kasiye enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya ngakwelinye icele.” Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.

Now it happened one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

2 USawuli wayehlala emaphethelweni eGibhiya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sephomegranathi eMigironi. Amadoda ayelaye ayengaba ngamakhulu ayisithupha,

Now Saul stayed in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree by the threshing floor, and the people who were with him were about six hundred men.

3 phakathi kwawo kulo-Ahija, owayegqoke isigqoko samahlombe. Wayeyindodana yomfowabo ka-Ikhabhodi u-Ahithubi indodana kaFinehasi, indodana ka-Eli umphristi kaThixo eShilo. Kakho owayesazi ukuthi uJonathani wayehambile.

Now Ahijah was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

4 Eceleni ngalinye lomkhandlu ayehlose ukuwuchapha ukuze ayefika enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya kwakuleliwa; elinye lalithiwa yiBhozezi elinye liyiSene.

Now on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to cross to the Philistine garrison there was a steep cliff on one side and a steep cliff on the other side. And the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 Elinye iliwa lalingasenyakatho ngokuya eMikhimashi, elinye lingasezansi ngokuya eGebha.

The one cliff was to north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 UJonathani wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, siwelele enkambeni yalabayana abantu abangasokanga. Engxenye uThixo uzasimela, ngoba akulalutho olungavimbela uThixo ekukhululeni, loba kungabanengi kumbe abalutshwana.”

Then Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can prevent the LORD from saving by many or by a few."

7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Yenza konke olakho engqondweni yakho. Qhubeka, mina ngilawe ngenhliziyo langomphefumulo.”

His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that your heart inclines toward. Look, I am with you, my heart is as your heart."

8 UJonathani wasesithi, “Ngakho-ke, woza sikhuphuke siqonde kulabaya abantu senze ukuba basibone.

Then Jonathan said, "Look, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.

9 Bangathi kithi, ‘Manini khonapho size sifike kini,’ sizahlala lapho esikhona singayi kubo.

If they say thus to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stop where we are, and will not go up to them.

10 Kodwa bangathi, ‘Wozani kithi,’ sizakhwela siye phezulu ngoba lokho kuzakuba yisibonakaliso sethu sokuthi uThixo usebanikele ezandleni zethu.”

But if they say this, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the LORD has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us."

11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa enkambeni yamabutho amaFilistiya. AmaFilistiya athi, “Khangelani, amaHebheru asehohoba ephuma emilindini abecatshe kuyo.”

Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves."

12 Amadoda ayesenkambeni yamabutho amemeza uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe athi, “Wozani kithi sizalifundisa isifundo.” Ngakho uJonathani wathi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe, “Khwela ungilandele; uThixo usebanikele esandleni sika-Israyeli.”

The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me; for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

13 UJonathani wakhwela, esebenzisa izandla lezinyawo zakhe, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe ekhonapho ngemva kwakhe. AmaFilistiya awa phambi kukaJonathani, njalo umthwali wezikhali zakhe walandela ebulala abantu ngemva kwakhe.

Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.

14 Ngalokho kuhlasela kokuqala uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babulala abantu abangamatshumi amabili endaweni eyayingaba yingxenye yendima.

That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men, with arrows and with weapons from flints of the field.

15 Emva kwalokho ibutho lonke lathuthumela, ababesezihonqweni lababesegangeni, lalabo ababesezinkambeni zamabutho lamaqembu abahlaseli, iphansi lanyikinyeka. Kwakuyikuthuthumela okwakulethwe nguNkulunkulu.

And there was a terror in the camp, and in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders were terrified. And the earth quaked, and it became a terror of God.

16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibhiya koBhenjamini babona ibutho lisabalele ezinhlangothini zonke.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw, and look, the multitude was scattering here and there.

17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye, “Qoqani amabutho libone ukuthi ngubani ongekho.” Sebekwenzile, ababengekho kwakunguJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe.

Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count now, and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, look, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

18 USawuli wasesithi ku-Ahija, “Letha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.” (Ngalesisikhathi lalikwabako-Israyeli.)

And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring near the ephod," for he wore the ephod at that time before Israel.

19 Kwathi uSawuli esakhuluma lomphristi, ukuxokozela ezihonqweni zamaFilistiya kwakhula kakhulu kakhulukazi. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kumphristi, “Susa isandla sakho.”

And it happened, while Saul was speaking to the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

20 Emva kwalokho uSawuli labantu bakhe bonke babuthana basebesiya empini. Bafica amaFilistiya ephakathi kwesiyaluyalu esipheleleyo, egalelana ngezinkemba zawo.

Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and look, every man's sword was against his fellow: a very great confusion.

21 AmaHebheru ayelamaFilistiya kuqala ehambe lawo ezihonqweni zawo abuyela kwabako-Israyeli ababeloSawuli loJonathani.

Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously when they went up with them to the camp, they too turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Kwathi lapho bonke abako-Israyeli ababecatshe elizweni lezintaba elako-Efrayimi sebezwile ukuthi amaFilistiya ayesebaleka empini bangena, baxotshana lawo.

Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed closely after them in the battle.

23 Uthixo wamhlenga kanjalo u-Israyeli ngalolosuku, njalo ukulwa kwaya ngale kweBhethi-Aveni.

So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over by Beth Aven. And all the people with Saul were about ten thousand men. And the battle extended itself into every city in the hill country of Ephraim.

24 Ngalolosuku abantu bako-Israyeli babedanile ngoba uSawuli wayebophe abantu ngesifungo esithi, “Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla kungakahlwi, ngingakaphindiseli ezitheni zami!” Ngakho akukho butho elanambitha ukudla.

And Saul committed a great blunder that day, for he had placed the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

25 Ibutho lonke langena ehlathini, lapho okwakuloluju phansi khona.

Now all the people came upon a honeycomb, and there was honey on the ground.

26 Ekungeneni kwabo ehlathini, babona uluju lujuluka, kodwa kakho owaludlayo, ngoba babesesaba isifungo.

And when the people came upon the honeycomb, look, its bees had left, but no man would raise his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

27 Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga ukuthi uyise wayebophe abantu ngesifungo, welula isiduku somqwayi ayewuphethe wawuhloma ohlangeni loluju. Waphakamisela isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, amehlo akhazimula.

But Jonathan did not hear when his father commanded the people with the oath, so he put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

28 Lapho-ke omunye wamabutho wamtshela wathi, “Uyihlo ubophe ibutho ngesifungo esinzima, esithi, ‘Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla lamhla!’ Yikho-nje abantu bemdambiyana.”

Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food this day.'" The people were faint.

29 UJonathani wathi, “Ubaba usedalele ilizwe uhlupho. Khangela ukuthi amehlo ami athe dlwe ekunambitheni kwami okuncane koluju lolu.

Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 Kade kuzakuba ngcono kakhulu aluba lamhla abantu bebedlile enye yempango abayithethe ezitheni zabo. Ukubulawa kwamaFilistiya kade kungayikuba kukhulu kulalokhu na?”

How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies when they found it, for the slaughter among the Philistines would have been greater."

31 Ngalolosuku, emva kokuba ama-Israyeli esebulele amaFilistiya kusukela eMikhimashi kusiyafika e-Ayijaloni, ayesediniwe.

They struck of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;

32 Baphuthuma impango, kwathi sebethethe izimvu lenkomo kanye lamathole, bazibulala khonapho bazidla kanye legazi.

and the people pounced upon the spoil, and took sheep, and cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

33 Omunye wasesithi kuSawuli, “Khangela abantu benza isono kuThixo ngokudla inyama elegazi.” Yena wathi, “Selephule ukuthenjwa. Giqelani ilitshe elikhulu ngapha khathesi nje.”

Then they told Saul, saying, "Look, the people are sinning against the LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood." He said, "You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me this day."

34 Wasesithi, “Yanini phakathi kwabantu libatshele lithi, ‘Lowo lalowo wenu kangilethele inkomo lezimvu zakhe azibulalele lapha azidle. Lingenzi isono kuThixo ngokudla inyama eseselegazi.’” Ngakho ngalobobusuku umuntu wonke waletha inkabi yakhe wayihlabela khonapho.

And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, 'Each one of you bring to me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So everyone of the people brought whatever he had at hand with him, and slaughtered it there.

35 USawuli wasesakhela uThixo i-alithari; wayeqala ukwenza lokhu.

Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

36 USawuli wathi, “Kasehleni silandele amaFilistiya ebusuku siwahlasele kuze kuse, singatshiyi lalinye lawo liphila.” Bathi, “Yenza lokho okubona kulungile kuwe.” Kodwa umphristi wathi, “Kasibuzeni uNkulunkulu lapha.”

Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."

37 USawuli wabuza uNkulunkulu wathi, “Ngehle ngilandele amaFilistiya na? Uzawanikela esandleni sika-Israyeli na?” Kodwa uNkulunkulu kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.

Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.

38 Ngakho uSawuli wathi, “Wozani lapha, lonke lina bakhokheli bebutho, sidinge ukuthi yisono bani esenziwe lamhla.

And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people; and investigate and see how this sin has arisen today.

39 Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ohlenga u-Israyeli ephila, lanxa sisendodaneni yami uJonathani, kumele ife.” Kodwa akukho lamunye wabantu owatsho ilizwi.

For, as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.

40 USawuli wasesithi kubo bonke abako-Israyeli, “Manini laphayana; mina lendodana yami uJonathani sizakuma ngapha.” Abantu baphendula bathi, “Yenza lokho okukhanya kulungile kuwe.”

Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

41 Emva kwalokho uSawuli wakhuleka kuThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wathi, “Kungani ungayiphendulanga inceku lamuhla? Nxa isono sikimi kumbe kuJonathani indodana yami, inkatho kayibe yi-Urimi; kodwa nxa isono sisebantwini bako-Israyeli, inkatho kayibe yiThumimi.” UJonathani loSawuli badliwa yinkatho, abantu bagezeka.

Therefore Saul said, "LORD, God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this sin is mine or in Jonathan my son, LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this sin is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people were cleared.

42 USawuli wasesithi, “Phosani inkatho phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami.” UJonathani wabanjwa.

And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. Whomever the LORD shall indicate to be taken by lot, let him die." And the people said to Saul, "This thing is not to be." And Saul prevailed over the people, and they cast lots between him and Jonathan his son. And Jonathan was selected.

43 USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani, “Ngitshela lokho okwenzileyo.” Ngakho uJonathani wamtshela wathi, “Nginambithe uluju nje kuphela ngesihloko somqwayi wami. Khathesi-ke sokumele ngife!”

Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand; and look, I must die."

44 USawuli wathi, “UNkulunkulu kangijezise, kube nzima kakhulu, nxa ungafi, Jonathani.”

And Saul said, "God do the same to me and more also if you are not put to death this day."

45 Kodwa abantu bathi kuSawuli, “UJonathani kumele afe yini, yena olethe lokhukuhlengwa okukhulu ko-Israyeli na? Hatshi bo! Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ekhona, akulanwele lwekhanda lakhe oluzawela phansi, ngoba lokhu ukwenze lamhla ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu.” Ngakho abantu bamhlenga uJonathani, kasabulawanga.

The people said to Saul, "Shall he who has worked this great salvation in Israel die today? As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46 USawuli wayekela ukuxotshana lamaFilistiya, njalo amaFilistiya abuyela elizweni lakibo.

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 Kwathi uSawuli esebusa ko-Israyeli, walwa lezitha zabo inxa zonke: iMowabi, ama-Amoni, i-Edomi, amakhosi aseZobha kanye lamaFilistiya. Loba kungaphi lapho aya khona, wababhuqa.

Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the people of Ammon, and against Edom, and against Beth Rehob, and against the king of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he was victorious.

48 Walwa ngesibindi wehlula ama-Amaleki, wakhulula u-Israyeli ezandleni zalabo ababebaphangile.

And he did valiantly, and struck Amalek, and delivered Israel out of the hand of its plunderers.

49 Amadodana kaSawuli ayenguJonathani, lo-Ishivi kanye loMalikhi-Shuwa. Ibizo lendodakazi yakhe endala lalinguMerabi, elomcinyane linguMikhali.

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Jishvi, and Malkishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merob, and the name of the younger Mikal:

50 Ibizo lomkakhe lalingu-Ahinowama indodakazi ka-Ahimazi. Umlawuli webutho likaSawuli wayengu-Abhineri indodana kaNeri, uNeri wayengumfowabo kayise kaSawuli.

and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abiner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

51 UKhishi uyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise ka-Abhineri babengamadodana ka-Abhiyeli.

Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 Kuzozonke insuku zikaSawuli kwakulempi enzima lamaFilistiya, njalo loba kungaphi uSawuli abona khona indoda elamandla kumbe elesibindi, wayingenisa ebuthweni lakhe.

There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.