1 USamuyeli 28
1 Ngalezonsuku amaFilistiya aqoqa amabutho awo ukuba alwe lo-Israyeli. U-Akhishi wathi kuDavida, “Kumele uzwisise ukuthi wena labantu bakho lizahamba lami empini.”
It came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for battle to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with me in the host, you and your men.”
2 UDavida wathi, “Lapho-ke uzazibonela okungenziwa yinceku yakho.” U-Akhishi wathi, “Kulungile, ngizakwenza ube ngumlindi wami impilo yakho yonke.”
David said to Achish, “So you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “So I will make you my bodyguard all your days.”
3 Ngalesosikhathi uSamuyeli wayesewafa, njalo u-Israyeli wonke wayemlilele wamgcwaba emzini wakibo eRama. USawuli wayesewaxotsha zonke izanuse labemimoya elizweni.
Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. Also, Saul had banned from the land those who talked with the dead or with spirits.
4 AmaFilistiya abuthana eza amisa izihonqo zawo eShunemi, lapho uSawuli wabutha ama-Israyeli wonke wamisa izihonqo eGilibhowa.
Then the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped at Gilboa.
5 USawuli ebona ibutho lamaFilistiya wesaba, inhliziyo yakhe yaba lokuthuthumela.
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled very much.
6 Wabuza uThixo, kodwa uThixo kamphendulanga ngamaphupho loba nge-Urimi kumbe ngabaphrofethi.
Saul prayed to Yahweh for help, but Yahweh did not answer him—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 USawuli wasesithi encekwini zakhe, “Ngidingelani owesifazane oyisanuse ukuze ngiyebuza kuye.” Bona bathi, “Kulomunye e-Endo.”
Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who talks with the dead, so that I may go to her and seek her advice.” His servants said to him, “See, there is a woman in Endor who claims to talk with the dead.”
8 Ngakho uSawuli waziguqula, wafaka ezinye izigqoko, kwathi ebusuku yena labantu ababili baya kulowomfazi. Wathi kuye, “Ngibuzela umoya, njalo ungilethele lowo engizamutsho.”
Saul disguised himself, put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him; they went to the woman by night. He said, “Divine for me, I beg you, with a spirit, and bring me up whomever I name to you.”
9 Kodwa owesifazane wathi kuye, “Impela uyakwazi ukuthi uSawuli wenzeni. Useziqedile izanuse labemimoya elizweni. Kungani uthiya impilo yami ngomjibila ukuba ngibulawe na?”
The woman said to him, “See, you know what Saul has done, how he has banned from the land those who talk with the dead or with spirits. So why are you setting a trap for my life, to make me die?”
10 USawuli wafunga kuye ngoThixo wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ekhona, kawuyikujeziselwa lokhu.”
Saul swore to her by Yahweh and said, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”
11 Owesifazane lowo wasesithi, “Ngikuvusele bani na?” Yena wathi, “Ngilethela uSamuyeli.”
Then the woman said, “Whom should I bring up to you?” Saul said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 Kwathi owesifazane lowo ebona uSamuyeli, wakhala ngelizwi eliphezulu wasesithi kuSawuli, “Kungani ungikhohlisile na? Wena unguSawuli.”
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”
13 Inkosi yasisithi, “Ungesabi. Kuyini okubonayo?” Owesifazane wathi, “Ngibona umoya ophuma phansi.”
The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
14 USawuli wathi, “Ukhangeleka njani?” Owesifazane wathi, “Kuphuma ixhegu eligqoke ingubo.” Lapho-ke uSawuli wakwazi ukuthi kwakunguSamuyeli, wakhothama wasesithi mbo phansi ngobuso.
He said to her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man is coming up; he is clothed with a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and showed respect.
15 USamuyeli wasesithi kuSawuli, “Ungikhathazelani ngokungivusa na?” USawuli wathi, “Mina ngiphakathi kohlupho olukhulu. AmaFilistiya alwa lami, njalo uNkulunkulu usengifulathele. Kasangiphenduli, ngabaphrofethi loba ngamaphupho. Ngakho ngibize wena ukuba ungitshele ukuthi ngenzeni.”
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?” Saul answered, “I am very distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has left me and does not answer me any more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I will do.”
16 USamuyeli wathi, “Ungibizelani, njengoba uThixo esekufulathele njalo esebe yisitha sakho na?
Samuel said, “What then do you ask me, since Yahweh has left you, and he has become your enemy?
17 Uthixo usekwenzile lokhu akutsho ngaphambili ngami. Uthixo usewuhluthunile umbuso ezandleni zakho wawunika omunye wabomakhelwane bakho, uDavida.
Yahweh has done to you what he said he would. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and he has given it to someone else—to David.
18 Ngenxa yokuthi uThixo kawumlalelanga kumbe wafeza ulaka lwakhe olwesabekayo kuma-Amaleki, uThixo wenze lokhu kuwe lamhla.
Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh and did not carry out his fierce wrath on Amalek, he has therefore done this today to you.
19 Uthixo uzanikela u-Israyeli kanye lawe kumaFilistiya, njalo kusasa wena lamadodana akho lizakuba lami. Uthixo uzanikela lebutho lako-Israyeli kumaFilistiya.”
Yahweh will give Israel along with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
20 Khonokho nje uSawuli wawela phansi wathi daca emhlabathini, esegcwele ukwesaba ngenxa yamazwi kaSamuyeli. Wayengaselamandla, ngoba wayengadlanga lutho ilanga lonke mhlalokho lobusuku bonke.
Then Saul immediately fell his full length on the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all that day, neither that whole night.
21 Kwathi owesifazane esesondele kuSawuli wabona ukuthi wayethuthumele kakhulu, wathi kuye, “Khangela, incekukazi yakho ikulalele. Ngibeke ukuphila kwami engozini ngenza lokho othe ngikwenze.
The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled, She said to him, “See, your woman servant has listened to your voice; I have put my life in my hand and have listened to the words that you said to me.
22 Khathesi-ke ake ulalele incekukazi yakho uvume ukuba ngikuphe ukudla ukuze udle ube lamandla uzihambele.”
Now therefore, I beg you, listen also to the voice of your woman servant, and let me set a little food in front of you. Eat so that you may gain strength for when you go on your way.”
23 Yena wala wathi, “Kangiyikudla.” Kodwa abantu bakhe baphathisana lowesifazane ukumncenga, waze wabalalela. Wavuka phansi wahlala esihlalweni.
But Saul refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice. So he rose from the ground and sat on the bed.
24 Owesifazane wayelethole elinonisiweyo endlini, alihlaba khonokho nje. Wathatha impuphu yengqoloyi, wayivuba wenza isinkwa esingelamvubelo.
The woman had a fatted calf in the house; she hurried and killed it; she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread with it.
25 Wasibeka phambi kukaSawuli labantu bakhe, badla. Ngalobobusuku bavuka bahamba.
She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.
