2 USamuyeli 1
1 Emva kokufa kukaSawuli, uDavida wabuya evela ekunqobeni ama-Amaleki wahlala eZikhilagi insuku ezimbili.
After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days.
2 Ngosuku lwesithathu kwafika umuntu evela ezihonqweni zikaSawuli, izigqoko zakhe zidabukile njalo egcwele uthuli ekhanda lakhe. Kwathi esefikile kuDavida waziwisela phansi emhlonipha.
Then on the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he approached David, he bowed before him, and fell to the ground in respect.
3 UDavida wambuza wathi, “Uvela ngaphi?” Yena waphendula wathi, “Ngibalekile ezihonqweni zabako-Israyeli.”
“Where have you come from?” David asked him. “I got away from the Israelite camp,” he replied.
4 UDavida wabuza wathi, “Kutheni? Ngitshela.” Yena wathi, “Abantu babalekile empini. Inengi labo lifile. USawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani labo bafile?”
“Tell me what happened,” David asked. “The army ran away from the battle,” the man replied. “Many of them died, and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.”
5 UDavida wasesithi kulelojaha elamlethela umbiko, “Wazi njani ukuthi uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani bafile?”
“How do you know Saul and Jonathan died?” David asked the man giving the report.
6 Ijaha lelo lathi, “Kwenzakele ukuthi mina kade ngiphezu kweNtaba iGilibhowa ngabona uSawuli eyame umkhonto wakhe, izinqola zempi labagadi bamabhiza sebebanga kuye.
“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” he replied. “I saw Saul, leaning on his spear, with the enemy chariots and the charioteers advancing on him.
7 Uthe etshibilika wangibona, wasengibiza, mina ngathi, ‘Kuyini engingakwenza?’
He turned around and saw me. He called out and I replied, ‘I'm here to help!’
8 Ungibuzile wathi, ‘Ungubani wena na?’ Ngiphendule ngathi, ‘NgingumʼAmaleki.’
He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I'm an Amalekite.’
9 Wasesithi kimi, ‘Sondela eduze ungibulale! Sengiseduze lokufa, kodwa ngisaphila.’
Then he told me, ‘Please come over here and kill me! I'm in terrible agony but life is still hanging on.’
10 Ngakho ngisondele kuye ngambulala, ngoba ngazile ukuthi emva kwalokho ubengeke aphile. Njalo ngithethe umqhele obusekhanda lakhe lesongo ebelisengalweni yakhe okuyikho engikulethe lapha enkosini yami.”
So I went over him and killed him, because I knew that wounded as he was he couldn't last long. I took the crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm, and I've brought them here to you, my lord.”
11 Lapho-ke uDavida labantu bonke ababelaye babamba izigqoko zabo bazidabula.
David grabbed hold of his clothes and ripped them, as did his men.
12 Babakhalela, babalilela, babazilela kwaze kwahlwa uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani kanye lebutho likaThixo lendlu ka-Israyeli, ngoba babebulewe ngenkemba.
They mourned and cried and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord, the Israelites, that had been killed by the sword.
13 UDavida wasesithi ejaheni elalimlethele umbiko, “Wena ungowangaphi na?” Lona laphendula lathi, “Ngiyindodana yezizweni, umʼAmaleki.”
David asked man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I'm the son of a foreigner,” he replied “I'm an Amalekite.”
14 UDavida waselibuza esithi, “Kungani ungesabanga ukuphakamisa isandla sakho ukuba ubulale ogcotshiweyo kaThixo na?”
“Why weren't you worried about killing the Lord's anointed one?” David asked.
15 UDavida wabiza omunye wabantu bakhe wathi, “Sondela umgongode!” Ngakho wamgongoda wafa.
David called over one of his men and said, “Go ahead, kill him!” So the man cut the Amalekite down and killed him.
16 Ngoba uDavida wayethe kuye, “Igazi lakho kalibe phezu kwekhanda lakho. Umlomo wakho ufakaze okubi ngawe lapho wena uthe, ‘Ngimbulele ogcotshiweyo kaThixo.’”
David had told the Amalekite, “Your death is your own fault because you testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord's anointed one.’”
17 UDavida walila isililo lesi ngoSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani,
Then David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.
18 walaya ukuthi abantu bakoJuda basifundiswe isililo sedandili lesi (silotshiwe eNcwadini kaJashari):
He ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. It is called “the Bow” and is recorded in the Book of the Just:
19 “Udumo lwakho, We Israyeli, lubulewe ezingqongweni zakho. Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe!
“Israel, the glorious one lies dead on your mountains. How the mighty have fallen!
20 Lingabokutsho eGathi, lingakumemezeli ezindleleni zase-Ashikheloni, hlezi amadodakazi amaFilistiya athabe, hlezi amadodakazi abangasokanga athokoze.
Don't announce it in the town of Gath, don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the Philistine women won't rejoice, so that the heathen women won't celebrate.
21 We zintaba zaseGilibhowa, kalingabi lamazolo loba izulu, kumbe amasimu athela amabele eminikelo. Ngoba khonapho ihawu leqhawe langcoliswa, ihawu likaSawuli, lingasagcotshwa ngamafutha.
Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you! May you have no fields that produce offerings of grain. For it was there that the shield of the mighty was defiled; Saul's shield, no longer cared for with olive oil.
22 Egazini lababuleweyo, enyameni yamaqhawe umtshoko kaJonathani kawuphendukanga, umtshoko kaSawuli kawuphendukanga ungasuthanga.
Jonathan with his bow did not retreat from attacking the enemy; Saul with his sword did not return empty-handed from shedding blood.
23 USawuli loJonathani, ekuphileni babethandeka bengababukekayo, lekufeni kabehlukaniswanga. Babelesiqubu kulengqungqulu, belamandla kulezilwane.
During their lives, Saul and Jonathan were much loved and very pleasant, and death did not divide them. They were faster than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 Awu madodakazi ako-Israyeli, mlileleni uSawuli, owaligqokisa okubomvu lokuhle kakhulu, owacecisa izembatho zenu ngemiceciso yegolide.
Women of Israel, mourn for Saul, who gave you fine scarlet clothes decorated with gold ornaments.
25 Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe empini! UJonathani ulele efile ezingqongweni zakho.
How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on your mountains.
26 Ngilusizi ngawe Jonathani, mfowethu; ubuthandeka kakhulu kimi. Ukungithanda kwakho kade kumangalisa, kumangalisa okudlula okwabesifazane.
I weep so much for you, my brother Jonathan! You were so very dear to me! Your love for me was so wonderful, greater than the love women have!
27 Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe! Izikhali zempi zitshabalele!”
How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone!”
