1 USamuyeli 17
1 Ngalesosikhathi amaFilistiya aqoqa amabutho awo ukuba alwe impi, asebuthana eSokho koJuda. Enza izihonqo e-Efesi Damimi, phakathi kweSokho le-Azekha.
Now the Philistines, gathering their troops for battle, assembled at Socoh of Judah. And they made camp between Socoh and Azekah, within the borders of Dammim.
2 USawuli labako-Israyeli bamisa izihonqo eSigodini sase-Ela, bahlela ukuba balwe impi lamaFilistiya.
But Saul and the sons of Israel, having gathered together, went to the Valley of Terebinth. And they positioned the army so as to fight against the Philistines.
3 AmaFilistiya ayemi kolunye uqaqa abako-Israyeli labo bekolunye, kulesigodi phakathi kwabo.
And the Philistines were standing on a mountain on the one side, and Israel was standing on a mountain on the other side. And there was a valley between them.
4 Iqhawe elalithiwa nguGoliyathi, owayevela eGathi, waphuma ezihonqweni zamaFilistiya. Ubude bakhe babuzingalo eziyisithupha lesandla.
And there went out from the camp of the Philistines, a man of illegitimate birth, named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a palm.
5 Wayelengowane yethusi ekhanda lakhe, egqoke ibhatshi lokuvikela elethusi elaliyizinkulungwane ezinhlanu zamashekeli ubunzima balo,
And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clothed with a breastplate of scales. Moreover, the weight of his breastplate was five thousand shekels of brass.
6 emibaleni yakhe wayegqoke imigwamazi yethusi, emhlane egaxe umkhonto wethusi.
And he had plates of brass on his lower legs, and a small shield of brass was covering his shoulders.
7 Uluthi lomkhonto wakhe lwalunjengogodo lomaluki, ubunzima besihloko sawo sensimbi bungamashekeli angamakhulu ayisithupha. Umthwali wehawu lakhe wayehamba phambidlana kwakhe.
Now the shaft of his spear was like the beam used by a weaver. And the iron of his spear held six hundred shekels of iron. And his armor bearer went before him.
8 UGoliyathi wema wamemezela emaviyweni ako-Israyeli esithi, “Kungani liphumele ukuzakulwa impi na? KangisumFilistiya yini, njalo lina kalisizo zinceku zikaSawuli na? Khethani umuntu azeqondana lami.
And standing still, he cried out to the battle lines of Israel, and he said to them: “Why have you arrived, prepared for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose one man from among you, and let him descend to do battle alone.
9 Nxa ezakulwa angibulale, sizakuba yizigqili zenu; kodwa ngingamehlula ngimbulale, lizakuba yizigqili zethu lisikhonze.”
If he is able to fight with me and to strike me down, we will be your servants. But if I will prevail over him, and strike him down, you will be the servants, and you will serve us.”
10 UmFilistiya wabuya wathi, “Lamhlanje ngiyaweyisa amaviyo ako-Israyeli! Ngiphani umuntu siqondane silwe.”
And the Philistine was saying: “I have reproached the troops of Israel today. Present a man to me, and let him undertake a fight against me alone.”
11 Ekuzweni amazwi omFilistiya, uSawuli labo bonke abako-Israyeli besaba bathuthumela.
And Saul and all the Israelites, hearing these words of the Philistine in this manner, were stupefied and exceedingly afraid.
12 UDavida wayeyindoda yomʼEfrathi owayethiwa nguJese, owayengowase Bhethilehema koJuda. UJese wayelamadodana ayisificaminwembili, njalo ngezinsuku zikaSawuli wayesemdala eseluphele kakhulu.
Now David was the son of an Ephrathite man, the one mentioned above, from Bethlehem of Judah, whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons, and during the days of Saul, he was an elderly man, and of great age among men.
13 Amadodana amathathu amadala kaJese ayelandele uSawuli empini: Izibulo kwakungu-Eliyabi; owesibili kungu-Abhinadabi; owesithathu kunguShama.
Now his three eldest sons followed Saul into battle. And the names of his three sons, who went to the battle, were Eliab, the firstborn, and the second, Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 UDavida wayengomncane wabo. Abathathu abadala balandela uSawuli,
But David was the youngest. Therefore, when the three eldest had followed Saul,
15 kodwa uDavida wasuka kuSawuli wabuyela ukuba ayekwelusa izimvu zikayise eBhethilehema.
David went away from Saul, and he returned, so that he might pasture the flock of his father at Bethlehem.
16 Okwensuku ezingamatshumi amane umFilistiya wayesiya phambili nsuku zonke ekuseni lakusihlwa ajame.
Truly, the Philistine advanced morning and evening, and he stood forth, for forty days.
17 UJese wasesithi kuDavida indodana yakhe, “Thathela abanewenu ihefa lomumbu okhanzingiweyo kanye lezinkwa lezi ezilitshumi uzise masinyane ezihonqweni zabo.
Now Jesse said to his son David: “Take, for your brothers, an ephah of cooked grain, and these ten loaves, and hurry to the camp, to your brothers.
18 Hamba lalezizinkwa zetshizi ezilitshumi kumlawuli weviyo labo. Bona ukuthi abanewenu banjani, ubuye lesiqiniselo esivela kubo.
And you shall carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune. And visit your brothers, to see if they are doing well. And learn with whom they have been stationed.”
19 BaloSawuli kanye labantu bonke bako-Israyeli eSigodini sase-Ela, besilwa lamaFilistiya.”
But they were in the valley of Terebinth, with Saul and all the sons of Israel, fighting against the Philistines.
20 Ekuseni kakhulu uDavida watshiya umhlambi wezimvu ulomelusi, wathwala umthwalo wasuka wahamba, njengokulaya kukaJese. Wafika ezihonqweni ibutho liphuma ukuba liye ezindaweni zalo zempi, limemeza isaga sempi.
And so, David rose up in the morning, and he commended the flock to the caretaker. And he went away burdened, just as Jesse had instructed him. And he went to the place of the battle line, and to the army, which, in going out to fight, was shouting in the conflict.
21 U-Israyeli lamaFilistiya babedweba imikhandlu yabo bekhangelene.
For Israel had positioned their troops, but the Philistines also had prepared themselves against them.
22 UDavida watshiya izinto zakhe kumgcini wezimpahla, wagijimela emaviyweni empi wayabingelela abanewabo.
Then, leaving the items that he had brought under the hand of the keeper of baggage, David ran to the place of the conflict. And he was asking if all was going well with his brothers.
23 Esabakhulumisa, uGoliyathi, iqhawe lamaFilistiya elaseGathi, waphuma kuviyo lakhe, wamemezela ukweyisa kwakhe kwenjayelo, loDavida wakuzwa.
And while he was still speaking with them, there appeared the man of spurious descent, whose name was Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, ascending from the camp of the Philistines. And he was speaking in these same words, which David heard.
24 Kwathi abako-Israyeli bebona umuntu lowo, bonke bambalekela ngokwesaba okukhulu.
Then all the Israelites, when they had seen the man, fled from his face, fearing him greatly.
25 Abako-Israyeli babekade besithi, “Liyambona yini umuntu lo ukuthi uqhubeka njani elokhu ephuma? Uyaphuma ukuba eyise u-Israyeli. Inkosi izamnika inotho enengi umuntu ozambulala. Izamnika lendodakazi yayo ukuba ayithathe, ikhulule labendlu kayise emithelweni ko-Israyeli.”
And someone of Israel said: “Have you seen this man, who has risen up. For he ascended in order to reproach Israel. Therefore, the man who will strike him down, the king will enrich with great wealth, and will give to him his daughter, and will cause his father’s house to be free of tribute in Israel.”
26 UDavida wabuza indoda eyayimi phansi kwakhe wathi, “Kuyini okuzakwenzelwa umuntu obulala umFilistiya lo asuse lehlazo leli ku-Israyeli na? Ungubani umFilistiya lo ongasokanga oweyisa amabutho kaNkulunkulu ophilayo na?”
And David spoke to the men who were standing with him, saying: “What will be given to the man who will have struck down this Philistine, and who will have taken away the disgrace from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should reproach the soldiers of the living God?”
27 Bakutsho futhi kuye ababekade bemtshela khona bathi, “Nanku okuzakwenzelwa umuntu ombulalayo.”
Then the people repeated to him the same words, saying, “These things shall be given to the man who will have struck him down.”
28 Kwathi lapho u-Eliyabi, umnewabo omdala kaDavida, emuzwa ekhuluma lalawomadoda, wamthukuthelela kakhulu wambuza wathi, “Uzefunani lapha na? Njalo izimvu leziyana ezilutshwane uzitshiye lobani enkangala na? Ngiyakwazi ukuthi uzikhukhumeza njani kanye lokuthi inhliziyo yakho imbi kanjani, ulande ukuzabona impi nje kuphela.”
Now when Eliab, his eldest brother, had heard this, as he was speaking with the others, he became angry against David, and he said: “Why did you come here? And why did you leave behind those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the wickedness of your heart, that you have come down so that you might see the battle.”
29 UDavida wathi, “Manje sengenzeni kanti? Angivunyelwa yini ukukhuluma?”
And David said: “What have I done? Is there any word against me?”
30 Emva kwalokho waphendukela komunye, watsho lutho lunye, umuntu lowo wamphendula njengakuqala.
And he turned away from him a little, toward another. And he asked the same question. And the people responded to him as before.
31 Okwakutshiwo nguDavida kwazwakala njalo kwabikwa kuSawuli, uSawuli wathi kabizwe.
Now the words that David had spoken were heard and reported in the sight of Saul.
32 UDavida wathi kuSawuli, “Akungabi lomuntu ophelelwa lithemba ngenxa yomFilistiya lo; inceku yakho izakuyakulwa laye.”
When he had been led to Saul, he said to him: “Let no one lose heart over him. I, your servant, shall go and fight against the Philistine.”
33 USawuli waphendula wathi, “Kawanelisi ukuyamelana lomFilistiya lo ulwe laye; wena ungumfana nje, yena kade waba ngumuntu wokulwa kusukela ebutsheni bakhe.”
And Saul said to David: “You are not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him. For you are a boy, but he has been a warrior from his boyhood.”
34 Kodwa uDavida wathi kuSawuli, “Inceku yakho yayiselusa izimvu zikayise. Kwathi kufike isilwane kumbe ibhele lajwamula imvu emhlambini,
And David said to Saul: “Your servant was pasturing the flock of his father. And there approached a lion or a bear, and it took a ram from the midst of the flock.
35 ngalilandela, ngalitshaya ngahlenga imvu emlonyeni walo. Lathi liyangihlasela ngalidumela ngoboya balo, ngalitshaya ngalibulala.
And I pursued after them, and I struck them, and I rescued from their mouth. And they rose up against me. And I caught them by the throat, and I strangled and killed them.
36 Inceku yakho seyabulala kokubili isilwane lebhele; umFilistiya lo ongasokanga uzakuba njengokunye kwakho, ngoba weyise amabutho kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.
For I, your servant, have killed both lion and bear. And so this uncircumcised Philistine, too, will be like one of them. Now I will go and take away the reproach of the people. For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who has dared to curse the army of the living God?”
37 Uthixo owangikhululayo enzitsheni zesilwane lasenzitsheni zebhele uzangikhulula esandleni somFilistiya lo.” USawuli wathi kuDavida, “Hamba, uThixo kabe lawe.”
And David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the hand of the lion, and from the hand of the bear, he himself will free me from the hand of this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
38 Emva kwalokho uSawuli wagqokisa uDavida ibhatshi lakhe. Wamgqokisa lesivikelo sensimbi kanye lengowane yethusi ekhanda lakhe.
And Saul clothed David with his garments. And he placed a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clothed him with a breastplate.
39 UDavida wabophela inkemba yakhe phezu kwesembatho setshunika wazama ukuhambahamba, ngoba wayengazejwayelanga. Wathi kuSawuli, “Angingeke ngihambe ngigqoke lokhu, ngoba angikwejwayelanga.” Ngakho wakukhupha.
Then David, having girded his sword over his armor, began to see if he could walk in the armor. But he was not accustomed to it. And David said to Saul: “I cannot move about in this way. For I am not used to it.” And he put them aside.
40 Emva kwalokho wathatha umqwayi wakhe, wakhetha amatshe abutshelezi amahlanu esifuleni. Wawabeka esikhwameni somxhaka wakhe wokwelusa, njalo ephethe isavutha wamlanda umFilistiya.
And he took up his staff, which he held always in his hands. And he chose for himself five very smooth stones from the torrent. And he put them into the shepherd’s bag that he had with him. And he took up a sling in his hand. And he went out against the Philistine.
41 Ngasikhathi sinye, umFilistiya, umthwali wehawu lakhe ephambi kwakhe, wayelokhu esondela eduze kukaDavida.
And the Philistine, advancing, went and drew near against David. And his armor bearer was before him.
42 Wamkhangela uDavida wabona ukuthi wayengumfana nje, ebomvana emuhle, wameyisa.
And when the Philistine had seen and considered David, he despised him. For he was a youth, ruddy and of handsome appearance.
43 Wasesithi kuDavida, “Kanti ngiyinja yini, usiza kimi uphethe izinti?” UmFilistiya waqalekisa uDavida ngabonkulunkulu bakibo.
And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you approach against me with a staff?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 Wathi, “Woza lapha, ngizanika izinyoni zasemoyeni lezinyamazana zeganga inyama yakho!”
And he said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth.”
45 UDavida wathi kumFilistiya, “Wena uzemelana lami ngenkemba lomkhonto kanye lomdikadika, kodwa mina ngizemelana lawe ngebizo likaThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu wamabutho ka-Israyeli wena omeyisayo.
But David said to the Philistine: “You approach me with sword, and spear, and shield. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which you have reproached.
46 Lamhla uThixo uzakunikela kimi, ngizakulahla phansi ngiqume ikhanda lakho. Lamhlanje izinyoni zasemoyeni lezinyamazana zasemhlabeni ngizazinika izidumbu zebutho lamaFilistiya, njalo umhlaba wonke uzakwazi ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli.
Today, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down. And I will take your head from you. And today, I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that God is with Israel.
47 Bonke labo ababuthene lapha bazakwazi ukuthi uThixo kahlengi ngenkemba loba ngomkhonto, ngoba impi ngekaThixo, njalo lonke uzalinikela ezandleni zethu.”
And this entire assembly will know that the Lord does not save by sword, nor by spear. For this is his war, and he will deliver you into our hands.”
48 Kwathi umFilistiya esondela eduze ukuba amhlasele, uDavida ngokuphangisa wagijimela phambili endaweni yokulwela ukuba amhlangabeze.
Then, when the Philistine had risen up, and was approaching, and was drawing near against David, David hurried and ran to the fight against the Philistine.
49 UDavida wangenisa isandla sakhe emxhakeni wakhe wathatha ilitshe, waliphosa ngesavutha latshaya umFilistiya ebunzini. Ilitshe latshona ebunzini lakhe, wawela phansi ngobuso.
And he put his hand into his bag, and took out one stone. And swinging it around, he cast it with the sling and struck the Philistine on the forehead. And the stone became imbedded in his forehead. And he fell on his face, upon the ground.
50 UDavida wamnqoba kanjalo umFilistiya ngesavutha langelitshe; engelankemba esandleni sakhe wamlahla phansi umFilistiya wambulala.
And David prevailed against the Philistine with a sling and a stone. And he struck and killed the Philistine. But since David held no sword in his hand,
51 UDavida wagijima wema phezu kwakhe. Wabamba inkemba yomFilistiya wayihwatsha esikhwameni sayo. Esembulele, waquma ikhanda lakhe ngenkemba. Kwathi amaFilistiya ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo laselifile, aphenduka abaleka.
he ran and stood over the Philistine, and he took his sword, and withdrew it from the sheath. And he killed him and cut off his head. Then the Philistines, seeing that their strongest man was dead, fled away.
52 Lapho-ke abantu bako-Israyeli labakoJuda balangathela besiya phambili bememeza, baxotshana lamaFilistiya baze bayafika entubeni lasemasangweni ase-Ekroni. Abafileyo bakibo babegcwele emgwaqweni waseShaharayimu kusiya eGathi lase-Ekroni.
And the men of Israel and Judah, rising up, shouted and pursued after the Philistines, even until they arrived at the valley and as far as the gates of Ekron. And many wounded among the Philistines fell on the way of Shaaraim, and as far as Gath, and as far as Ekron.
53 Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebephendukile ekuxotsheni amaFilistiya, baphanga izihonqo zawo.
And the sons of Israel, returning after they had pursued the Philistines, invaded their camp.
54 UDavida wathatha ikhanda lomFilistiya, walisa eJerusalema, wabeka izikhali zomFilistiya ethenteni lakhe.
Then David, taking up the head of the Philistine, brought it to Jerusalem. Yet truly, he placed his armor in his own tent.
55 Kwathi uSawuli ekhangele uDavida esiyahlangana lomFilistiya, wathi ku-Abhineri, umlawuli webutho, “Abhineri, ijaha leliyana liyindodana kabani na?” U-Abhineri waphendula wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uphila, nkosi, angazi.”
Now at the time that Saul had seen David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner, the leader of the military, “From what stock is this youth descended, Abner?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”
56 Inkosi yasisithi, “Buza ukuthi ijaha leli liyindodana kabani.”
And the king said, “You shall inquire as to whose son this boy may be.”
57 Kwathi khonokho nje uDavida esevela ekubulaleni umFilistiya, u-Abhineri wamthatha wamusa kuSawuli, uDavida elokhu ephethe ikhanda lomFilistiya.
And when David had returned, after the Philistine had been struck down, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul, having the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 USawuli wambuza wathi, “Uyindodana kabani, jaha?” UDavida wathi, “Ngiyindodana yenceku yakho uJese waseBhethilehema.”
And Saul said to him, “Young man, from what ancestry are you?” And David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”
