2 USamuyeli 1
1 Emva kokufa kukaSawuli, uDavida wabuya evela ekunqobeni ama-Amaleki wahlala eZikhilagi insuku ezimbili.
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2 Ngosuku lwesithathu kwafika umuntu evela ezihonqweni zikaSawuli, izigqoko zakhe zidabukile njalo egcwele uthuli ekhanda lakhe. Kwathi esefikile kuDavida waziwisela phansi emhlonipha.
It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 UDavida wambuza wathi, “Uvela ngaphi?” Yena waphendula wathi, “Ngibalekile ezihonqweni zabako-Israyeli.”
And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 UDavida wabuza wathi, “Kutheni? Ngitshela.” Yena wathi, “Abantu babalekile empini. Inengi labo lifile. USawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani labo bafile?”
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5 UDavida wasesithi kulelojaha elamlethela umbiko, “Wazi njani ukuthi uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani bafile?”
And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6 Ijaha lelo lathi, “Kwenzakele ukuthi mina kade ngiphezu kweNtaba iGilibhowa ngabona uSawuli eyame umkhonto wakhe, izinqola zempi labagadi bamabhiza sebebanga kuye.
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 Uthe etshibilika wangibona, wasengibiza, mina ngathi, ‘Kuyini engingakwenza?’
And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here [am] I.
8 Ungibuzile wathi, ‘Ungubani wena na?’ Ngiphendule ngathi, ‘NgingumʼAmaleki.’
And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him, I [am] an Amalekite.
9 Wasesithi kimi, ‘Sondela eduze ungibulale! Sengiseduze lokufa, kodwa ngisaphila.’
He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life [is] yet whole in me.
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 stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet that [was] on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11 Lapho-ke uDavida labantu bonke ababelaye babamba izigqoko zabo bazidabula.
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that [were] with him:
12 Babakhalela, babalilela, babazilela kwaze kwahlwa uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani kanye lebutho likaThixo lendlu ka-Israyeli, ngoba babebulewe ngenkemba.
And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
13 UDavida wasesithi ejaheni elalimlethele umbiko, “Wena ungowangaphi na?” Lona laphendula lathi, “Ngiyindodana yezizweni, umʼAmaleki.”
And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 UDavida waselibuza esithi, “Kungani ungesabanga ukuphakamisa isandla sakho ukuba ubulale ogcotshiweyo kaThixo na?”
And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?
15 UDavida wabiza omunye wabantu bakhe wathi, “Sondela umgongode!” Ngakho wamgongoda wafa.
And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, [and] fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 Ngoba uDavida wayethe kuye, “Igazi lakho kalibe phezu kwekhanda lakho. Umlomo wakho ufakaze okubi ngawe lapho wena uthe, ‘Ngimbulele ogcotshiweyo kaThixo.’”
And David said unto him, Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.
17 UDavida walila isililo lesi ngoSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani,
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18 walaya ukuthi abantu bakoJuda basifundiswe isililo sedandili lesi (silotshiwe eNcwadini kaJashari):
(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah [the use of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)
19 “Udumo lwakho, We Israyeli, lubulewe ezingqongweni zakho. Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe!
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20 Lingabokutsho eGathi, lingakumemezeli ezindleleni zase-Ashikheloni, hlezi amadodakazi amaFilistiya athabe, hlezi amadodakazi abangasokanga athokoze.
Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 We zintaba zaseGilibhowa, kalingabi lamazolo loba izulu, kumbe amasimu athela amabele eminikelo. Ngoba khonapho ihawu leqhawe langcoliswa, ihawu likaSawuli, lingasagcotshwa ngamafutha.
Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.
22 Egazini lababuleweyo, enyameni yamaqhawe umtshoko kaJonathani kawuphendukanga, umtshoko kaSawuli kawuphendukanga ungasuthanga.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 USawuli loJonathani, ekuphileni babethandeka bengababukekayo, lekufeni kabehlukaniswanga. Babelesiqubu kulengqungqulu, belamandla kulezilwane.
Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24 Awu madodakazi ako-Israyeli, mlileleni uSawuli, owaligqokisa okubomvu lokuhle kakhulu, owacecisa izembatho zenu ngemiceciso yegolide.
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe empini! UJonathani ulele efile ezingqongweni zakho.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places.
26 Ngilusizi ngawe Jonathani, mfowethu; ubuthandeka kakhulu kimi. Ukungithanda kwakho kade kumangalisa, kumangalisa okudlula okwabesifazane.
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe! Izikhali zempi zitshabalele!”
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
