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 and remained 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.
On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came to David he lay facedown on the ground and prostrated himself.
3 UDavida wambuza wathi, “Uvela ngaphi?” Yena waphendula wathi, “Ngibalekile ezihonqweni zabako-Israyeli.”
David said to him, “Where did you come from?” He answered, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 UDavida wabuza wathi, “Kutheni? Ngitshela.” Yena wathi, “Abantu babalekile empini. Inengi labo lifile. USawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani labo bafile?”
David said to him, “Please tell me how things went.” He answered, “The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”
5 UDavida wasesithi kulelojaha elamlethela umbiko, “Wazi njani ukuthi uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani bafile?”
David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6 Ijaha lelo lathi, “Kwenzakele ukuthi mina kade ngiphezu kweNtaba iGilibhowa ngabona uSawuli eyame umkhonto wakhe, izinqola zempi labagadi bamabhiza sebebanga kuye.
The young man replied, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with him.
7 Uthe etshibilika wangibona, wasengibiza, mina ngathi, ‘Kuyini engingakwenza?’
Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'
8 Ungibuzile wathi, ‘Ungubani wena na?’ Ngiphendule ngathi, ‘NgingumʼAmaleki.’
He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'
9 Wasesithi kimi, ‘Sondela eduze ungibulale! Sengiseduze lokufa, kodwa ngisaphila.’
He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still 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 over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master.”
11 Lapho-ke uDavida labantu bonke ababelaye babamba izigqoko zabo bazidabula.
Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same.
12 Babakhalela, babalilela, babazilela kwaze kwahlwa uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani kanye lebutho likaThixo lendlu ka-Israyeli, ngoba babebulewe ngenkemba.
They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword.
13 UDavida wasesithi ejaheni elalimlethele umbiko, “Wena ungowangaphi na?” Lona laphendula lathi, “Ngiyindodana yezizweni, umʼAmaleki.”
David said to the young man, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner in the land, an Amalekite.”
14 UDavida waselibuza esithi, “Kungani ungesabanga ukuphakamisa isandla sakho ukuba ubulale ogcotshiweyo kaThixo na?”
David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to kill Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?”
15 UDavida wabiza omunye wabantu bakhe wathi, “Sondela umgongode!” Ngakho wamgongoda wafa.
David called one of the young men and said, “Go and kill him.” So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite died.
16 Ngoba uDavida wayethe kuye, “Igazi lakho kalibe phezu kwekhanda lakho. Umlomo wakho ufakaze okubi ngawe lapho wena uthe, ‘Ngimbulele ogcotshiweyo kaThixo.’”
Then David said to the dead Amalekite, “Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'”
17 UDavida walila isililo lesi ngoSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani,
Then David sung this funeral song about Saul and Jonathan his son.
18 walaya ukuthi abantu bakoJuda basifundiswe isililo sedandili lesi (silotshiwe eNcwadini kaJashari):
He commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been written in the Book of Jashar.
19 “Udumo lwakho, We Israyeli, lubulewe ezingqongweni zakho. Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe!
“Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20 Lingabokutsho eGathi, lingakumemezeli ezindleleni zase-Ashikheloni, hlezi amadodakazi amaFilistiya athabe, hlezi amadodakazi abangasokanga athokoze.
Do not tell it in Gath, do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice, so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not 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, let there not be dew or rain on you, nor fields giving grain for offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled. The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.
22 Egazini lababuleweyo, enyameni yamaqhawe umtshoko kaJonathani kawuphendukanga, umtshoko kaSawuli kawuphendukanga ungasuthanga.
From the blood of those who have been killed, from the bodies of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23 USawuli loJonathani, ekuphileni babethandeka bengababukekayo, lekufeni kabehlukaniswanga. Babelesiqubu kulengqungqulu, belamandla kulezilwane.
Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious in life, and in their death they were not separated. 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.
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewels, and who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25 Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe empini! UJonathani ulele efile ezingqongweni zakho.
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is killed on your high places.
26 Ngilusizi ngawe Jonathani, mfowethu; ubuthandeka kakhulu kimi. Ukungithanda kwakho kade kumangalisa, kumangalisa okudlula okwabesifazane.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You were very dear to me. Your love to me was wonderful, exceeding the love of women.
27 Yeka ukufa kwamaqhawe! Izikhali zempi zitshabalele!”
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
