1 USamuyeli 25
1 USamuweli wasesifa; loIsrayeli wonke wahlangana, bamlilela, bamngcwabela endlini yakhe eRama. UDavida wasesukuma wehlela enkangala yeParani.
When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
2 Kwakukhona-ke indoda eMahoni, lomsebenzi wayo wawuseKharmeli; lindoda-ke yayiyisikhulu esikhulu, yayilezimvu eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu lembuzi eziyinkulungwane, yayigunda izimvu zayo eKharmeli.
Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
3 Njalo ibizo laleyondoda lalinguNabali, lebizo lomkayo lalinguAbigayili. Njalo owesifazana wayelokuqedisisa okuhle, elesimo esihle, kodwa indoda yayilukhuni ilezenzo ezimbi; yayingeyakoKalebi.
His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.
4 UDavida wasesizwa esenkangala ukuthi uNabali ugunda izimvu zakhe.
While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
5 UDavida wasethuma amajaha alitshumi, uDavida wathi emajaheni: Yenyukelani eKharmeli, liye kuNabali, limbuze impilo ebizweni lami,
So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name
6 lizakutsho njalo: Impilakahle kayibe kuwe, ukuthula kakube kuwe, lokuthula kakube sendlini yakho, lokuthula kakube kukho konke olakho!
and say to him, ‘Long life to you, and peace to you and your house and to all that belongs to you.
7 Sengizwile-ke ukuthi ulabagundi; abelusi olabo-ke babelathi, kasibalimazanga, futhi kabaswelanga lutho zonke izinsuku beseKharmeli.
Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.
8 Buza amajaha akho, azakutshela. Ngakho amajaha kawathole umusa emehlweni akho, ngoba sifike ngosuku oluhle. Akunike inceku zakho lendodana yakho uDavida lokho isandla sakho esizakuthola.
Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on the day of a feast. Please give whatever you can afford to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 Kwathi amajaha kaDavida esefikile, akhuluma kuNabali ngokwalawomazwi wonke ebizweni likaDavida, aselinda.
When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.
10 UNabali waseziphendula izinceku zikaDavida, wathi: Ngubani uDavida? Njalo ngubani indodana kaJese? Lamuhla zinengi inceku ezibalekayo, ileyo laleyo enkosini yayo.
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
11 Pho, ngithathe isinkwa sami, lamanzi ami, lenyama yami engiyihlabele abagundi bami, ngikuphe abantu engingazi ukuthi bavela ngaphi?
Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”
12 Amajaha kaDavida asephendukela endleleni yawo, abuyela, eza, ambikela njengawo wonke lamazwi.
So David’s men turned around and went back, and they relayed to him all these words.
13 UDavida wasesithi ebantwini bakhe: Bhincani, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe! Babhinca, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe, loDavida laye wabhinca inkemba yakhe; kwasekusenyuka emva kukaDavida phose amadoda angamakhulu amane, kodwa angamakhulu amabili ahlala empahleni.
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men put on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14 Kodwa elinye ijaha lamajaha lamtshela uAbigayili umkaNabali lathi: Khangela, uDavida uthume izithunywa zivela enkangala ukubingelela inkosi yethu, kodwa yazithethisa.
Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he scolded them.
15 Kanti labobantu basiphatha kuhle kakhulu, kasilimalanga, kasiswelanga lutho zonke izinsuku sihambisana labo, sisemmangweni.
Yet these men were very good to us. When we were in the field, we were not harassed, and nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived among them.
16 Babengumduli kithi ebusuku kanye lemini, zonke izinsuku silabo seluse izimvu.
They were a wall around us, both day and night, the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.
17 Khathesi-ke, yazi ubone ukuthi uzakwenzani; ngoba ububi buqunyelwe inkosi yethu lendlu yayo yonke; ngoba uyindodana kaBheliyali okungangokuthi kakho ongakhuluma laye.
Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
18 UAbigayili wasephangisa wathatha izinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili, lembodlela ezimbili zewayini, lezimvu ezinhlanu ezilungisiweyo, lamaseya amane amabele akhanzingiweyo, lamahlukuzo alikhulu ezithelo zevini ezonyisiweyo, lezinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili zomkhiwa, wakuthwalisa obabhemi.
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys
19 Wasesithi emajaheni akhe: Dlulani phambi kwami; khangelani, ngiyalilandela. Kodwa kamtshelanga umkakhe uNabali.
and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 Kwasekusithi esagade ubabhemi esehlela endaweni esithekileyo yentaba, khangela-ke, uDavida labantu bakhe behla behlangabezana laye; wasehlangana labo.
As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.
21 Njalo uDavida wayethe: Isibili ngigcine ngeze konke lo ayelakho enkangala, kakwaze kwasweleka lutho kukho konke ayelakho. Usengibuyisele okubi ngokuhle.
Now David had just finished saying, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good.
22 UNkulunkulu akenze njalo ezitheni zikaDavida, engezelele ngokunjalo, uba ngitshiya loyedwa kubo bonke alabo kuze kube sekuseni abachamela emdulini.
May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.”
23 Lapho uAbigayili ebona uDavida, waphangisa wehla kubabhemi, wathi mbo ngobuso bakhe phansi phambi kukaDavida, wakhothamela emhlabathini.
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
24 Wawela enyaweni zakhe wathi: Lobububi kabube phezu kwami mina, nkosi yami; incekukazi yakho ake ikhulume endlebeni zakho, uzwe amazwi encekukazi yakho.
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.
25 Inkosi yami ake inganaki lowomuntu kaBheliyali, uNabali; ngoba njengebizo lakhe unjalo; uNabali libizo lakhe, lobuthutha bukuye. Kodwa mina, incekukazi yakho, kangiwabonanga amajaha enkosi yami owawathumayo.
My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
26 Ngakho-ke, nkosi yami, kuphila kukaJehova, lokuphila komphefumulo wakho, njengoba iNkosi ikunqandile ukungena ngokuchitha igazi, lokuziphindisela ngesandla sakho, ngalokho-ke kazibe njengoNabali izitha zakho lalabo abadinga ububi enkosini yami.
Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.
27 Manje-ke, lesisibusiso incekukazi yakho esilethe enkosini yami kasinikwe amajaha ahamba esiya le lale emanyathelweni enkosi yami.
Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.
28 Akuthethelele isiphambeko sencekukazi yakho; ngoba iNkosi izakwenzela lokwenzela inkosi yami indlu eqinileyo, ngoba inkosi yami ilwa izimpi zeNkosi, lobubi kabutholwanga kuwe kusukela ensukwini zakho.
Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.
29 Loba kusukuma umuntu ukukuxotsha lokudinga impilo yakho, kodwa umphefumulo wenkosi yami uzabotshelwa emqulwini wabaphilayo leNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho; kodwa umphefumulo wezitha zakho izawujikijela kungathi uphume phakathi kwesavutha.
And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.
30 Kwasekusithi, lapho iNkosi isikwenzile enkosini yami njengakho konke okuhle ekukhulume ngawe, isikumisile waba ngumbusi phezu kukaIsrayeli,
When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,
31 kakungabi yisikhubekiso kuwe lokukhubekiswa kwenhliziyo enkosini yami, ngokuthi uchithe igazi ngeze, lokuthi inkosi yami iziphindisele. Lapho iNkosi isiyenzele okuhle inkosi yami, khumbula incekukazi yakho.
then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your maidservant.”
32 UDavida wasesithi kuAbigayili: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ekuthumileyo lamuhla ukungihlangabeza.
Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!
33 Futhi kakubusiswe ukuqedisisa kwakho, ubusiswe lawe onginqandileyo lamuhla ukuze ngingangeni ekuchitheni igazi lokuziphindisela ngesandla sami.
Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.
34 Ngoba ngeqiniso, kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, onginqandileyo ukuze ngingenzi ububi kuwe, ngoba uba ubungaphangisanga weza ukungihlangabeza, sibili, bekungayikusala loyedwa kuNabali kuze kube sekukhanyeni kwekuseni ochamela emdulini.
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”
35 UDavida wasesemukela esandleni sakhe lokho amlethele khona. Wasesithi kuye: Yenyukela ngokuthula endlini yakho; bona, ngililalele ilizwi lakho, ngibemukele ubuso bakho.
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”
36 UAbigayili wasefika kuNabali, khangela-ke, wayeledili endlini yakhe, njengedili lenkosi. Lenhliziyo kaNabali yathokoza phakathi kwakhe, njalo wayedakwe kwedlulisa; ngakho kamtshelanga lutho, oluncinyane loba olukhulu, kwaze kwaba sekukhanyeni kwekuseni.
When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
37 Kwasekusithi ekuseni lapho iwayini seliphumile kuNabali, lomkakhe esemtshele lezizinto, inhliziyo yakhe yafa phakathi kwakhe, wasesiba njengelitshe.
In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone.
38 Kwasekusithi phose emva kwensuku ezilitshumi iNkosi yamtshaya uNabali, wasesifa.
About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.
39 UDavida esezwile ukuthi uNabali usefile wathi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi emele udaba lwehlazo lami esandleni sikaNabali, yavimbela inceku yayo ebubini; iNkosi yabuyisela-ke ububi bukaNabali ekhanda lakhe. UDavida wasethuma, wakhuluma loAbigayili ukuthi amthathe abe ngumkakhe.
On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking for her in marriage.
40 Lapho izinceku zikaDavida zifika kuAbigayili eKharmeli, zakhuluma laye zisithi: UDavida usithumile kuwe ukukuthatha ube ngumkakhe.
When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”
41 Wasesukuma, wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wathi: Khangela, incekukazi yakho kayibe yisigqili sokugezisa inyawo zenceku zenkosi yami.
She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
42 UAbigayili wasephangisa esukuma, wagada ubabhemi, lentombi zakhe ezinhlanu ezazimphelekezela, walandela izithunywa zikaDavida, waba ngumkakhe.
So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.
43 UDavida wathatha loAhinowama weJizereyeli, labo bobabili baba ngomkakhe.
David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.
44 Ngoba uSawuli wayenike uMikhali indodakazi yakhe, umkaDavida, kuPaliti indodana kaLayishi owayengoweGalimi.
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
