1 Samweli 20
1 Kisha Daudi akakimbia kutoka Nayothi huko Rama akamwendea Yonathani na kumuuliza, “Kwani nimefanya nini? Kosa langu ni nini? Nimemkosea baba yako kwa jinsi gani, hata kwamba anajaribu kuuondoa uhai wangu?”
David ran away from [the] Naioth [section] of Ramah [city]. He went to Jonathan and asked him, “What have I done [to displease your father]? What did I do that was wrong? Why is he trying to kill me?”
2 Yonathani akajibu, “La hasha! Hutakufa! Tazama, baba yangu hafanyi kitu chochote, kikubwa au kidogo, bila kuniambia mimi. Kwa nini anifiche hili? Sivyo ilivyo!”
Jonathan replied, “My father is surely not trying to kill you! He always tells me before he does anything that he is planning. He tells me about important things and unimportant things that he plans to do. (Why would he refuse to tell me [if he were planning to kill me]?/I am sure that he would not refuse to tell me [if he were planning to kill you].) [RHQ] So what you are saying cannot be true.”
3 Lakini Daudi akaapa na kusema, “Baba yako anajua kabisa kwamba nimepata kibali mbele yako, naye amesema moyoni mwake, ‘Yonathani sharti asilijue hili, la sivyo atahuzunika.’ Lakini kweli kama Bwana aishivyo na kama uishivyo, kuna hatua moja tu kati yangu na mauti.”
Then David solemnly declared this to Jonathan: “Your father knows very well that you and I are very good friends, so he says to himself, ‘I will not tell Jonathan [what I am going to do]. If I tell Jonathan, he will be upset/distressed, [and then he will tell David].’ But just as certain as Yahweh lives and you live, I am only one step away from being killed.”
4 Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Chochote unachotaka nifanye, nitakufanyia.”
Jonathan said to David, “I will do whatever you tell me to do.”
5 Basi Daudi akamwambia, “Angalia, kesho ni sikukuu ya Mwezi Mwandamo, nami inanipasa kula chakula pamoja na mfalme; lakini niache niende kujificha shambani mpaka kesho kutwa.
David replied, “Tomorrow we will celebrate the Festival of the New Moon. I always eat with the king at that festival. But tomorrow I will hide in the field, and I will stay there for one night. I will stay there until the evening of the day after tomorrow.
6 Kama baba yako akiona ya kuwa sipo, mwambie, ‘Daudi aliniomba sana ruhusa kuwahi Bethlehemu, mji wake wa nyumbani, kwa sababu dhabihu ya mwaka inafanywa huko kwa ajili ya ukoo wake wote.’
If your father asks why I am not there at the festival, say to him, ‘David requested me to allow him to go to his home in Bethlehem, where his family will offer the sacrifice that they offer [during this festival] every year.’
7 Kama akisema, ‘Ni vyema sana,’ basi mtumishi wako yu salama. Lakini kama akikasirika, unaweza kuwa na hakika kwamba anakusudia kunidhuru.
If your father says ‘That is okay’, then I know I will be safe. But if he becomes extremely angry, you will know that he is determined to harm me.
8 Lakini kwa habari yako wewe, mtende wema mtumishi wako, kwa sababu mmeingia kwenye agano pamoja naye mbele za Bwana. Kama nina hatia, basi niue wewe mwenyewe! Kwa nini unikabidhi kwa baba yako?”
Please be kind to me. Yahweh heard you when you made a solemn agreement with me [that you and I will always be loyal friends]. If I deserve to be punished [MTY], kill me yourself. I do not want [RHQ] you to allow your father to punish [IDM] me.”
9 Yonathani akasema, “La hasha! Kama ningekuwa na kidokezo kidogo kwamba baba yangu amekusudia kukudhuru wewe, je, nisingekuambia?”
Jonathan replied, “I will never do that! But if I find out that my father is determined to harm/kill you, I will certainly warn you.” [RHQ]
10 Daudi akamuuliza, “Je, nani atakayeniambia kama baba yako atakujibu kwa ukali?”
David asked him, “How will I find out if your father answers you harshly?”
11 Yonathani akamwambia, “Njoo, twende shambani.” Basi wakaenda huko pamoja.
Jonathan replied, “Come with me. We will go out into the field.” So they went together out into the field.
12 Kisha Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Ninakuahidi kwa jina la Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, hakika nitamchunguza baba yangu wakati kama huu kesho kutwa! Kama ameweka utaratibu wa kufaa kukuhusu wewe, je, sitakutumia ujumbe na kukufahamisha?
There Jonathan said to David, “I promise this while Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], is listening: At this time the day after tomorrow, I will find out what my father [is thinking about you]. If he is saying good things about you, I will certainly send a message to you to tell that to you [RHQ].
13 Lakini ikiwa baba yangu amenuia kukudhuru, Bwana na anishughulikie kwa ukali, iwapo sitakufahamisha na kukuaga uende salama. Bwana na awe pamoja nawe kama alivyokuwa pamoja na baba yangu.
But if he is planning to hurt/kill you, I will enable you to know [IDM] that, and enable you to go away safely. I desire that Yahweh will punish me severely if I do not do that [for you]. I desire/hope that Yahweh will be with you [and help you] like he has helped my father.
14 Lakini nitendee wema usiokoma kama ule wa Bwana siku zote za maisha yangu, ili nisije nikauawa,
But while I am still alive, please be kind to me in the same way that Yahweh is kind to me, and do not kill me [when you become king].
15 wala usiuondoe wema wako kwa jamaa yangu, hata kama ni wakati ule Bwana atakapokuwa amekatilia mbali kila adui wa Daudi kutoka kwenye uso wa dunia.”
But [if I die, ] never stop being kind to my family, [even] after Yahweh has gotten rid of all your enemies all over the earth.”
16 Basi Yonathani akafanya agano na nyumba ya Daudi, akisema: “Bwana na awaangamize adui za Daudi.”
[David agreed]. So Jonathan made a solemn agreement with David. And he said, “I hope/desire that Yahweh will get rid of all your enemies.”
17 Naye Yonathani akamtaka Daudi athibitishe tena kiapo chake cha kumpenda, kwa sababu Yonathani alimpenda Daudi kama nafsi yake mwenyewe.
And Jonathan requested David to repeat his solemn promise to be his close friend, because Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.
18 Kisha Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Kesho ni sikukuu ya Mwezi Mwandamo. Itajulikana kwamba haupo kwa kuwa kiti chako kitakuwa hakina mtu.
Then Jonathan said, “Tomorrow we will celebrate the Festival of the New Moon. When you are not sitting at your place when we eat, my father will (miss you/see that you are not there).
19 Kesho kutwa, inapokaribia jioni, nenda mahali pale ulipojificha wakati tatizo hili lilipoanza na usubiri karibu na jiwe la Ezeli.
The day after tomorrow, in the evening, go to the place where you hid before. Wait by the pile of stones.
20 Nitapiga mishale mitatu kando yake, kama kwamba nilikwenda kulenga shabaha.
I will come out and shoot three arrows as though I were trying to shoot at a target. [The arrows will hit the ground] close to the pile of stones.
21 Kisha nitamtuma mvulana na kumwambia, ‘Nenda ukaitafute mishale.’ Kama nikimwambia, ‘Tazama mishale iko upande huu wako! Uilete hapa,’ basi uje, kwa sababu hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, wewe ni salama, hakuna hatari.
Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back to me. If you hear me say to him, ‘They are closer to me’, then as surely as Yahweh lives, you will know that everything is fine, [and that Saul will not kill you].
22 Lakini kama nikimwambia huyo mvulana, ‘Angalia, mishale iko mbele yako,’ basi inakupasa uondoke, kwa sababu Bwana amekuruhusu uende zako.
But if I tell him, ‘The arrows are farther away’, you will know that you must leave immediately, because Yahweh wants you to run away.
23 Kuhusu yale tuliyozungumza wewe na mimi: kumbuka, Bwana ndiye shahidi kati yako wewe na mimi milele.”
I hope/desire that Yahweh will watch you and me and enable us to never forget what we have promised each other.”
24 Basi Daudi akajificha shambani, na sikukuu ya Mwezi Mwandamo ilipowadia, mfalme akaketi ili ale.
So David went and hid in the field. When the Festival of the New Moon started, the king sat down to eat.
25 Akaketi mahali pake pa kawaida karibu na ukuta, kuelekeana na Yonathani, naye Abneri akaketi karibu na Mfalme Sauli, lakini kiti cha Daudi kilikuwa wazi.
He sat where he usually sat, close to the wall. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner [the army commander] sat next to Saul. But no one was sitting in the place where David [usually sat].
26 Sauli hakusema chochote siku ile kwa kuwa alifikiri, “Kuna kitu cha lazima kimetokea kwa Daudi ambacho kimemfanya najisi asihudhurie karamuni, hakika yeye yu najisi.”
On that day, Saul did not say anything about David, because he was thinking, “Something must have happened that caused David to become unacceptable [to worship God].”
27 Lakini siku iliyofuata, siku ya pili ya mwezi, kiti cha Daudi kilikuwa wazi tena. Kisha Sauli akamwambia mwanawe Yonathani, “Kwa nini mwana wa Yese hajaja chakulani jana wala leo?”
But the next day, when David was not sitting at the place where he usually sat, Saul asked Jonathan, “Why has that son of Jesse not been here to eat with us yesterday and today?”
28 Yonathani akamjibu, “Daudi alinisihi sana nimpe ruhusa aende Bethlehemu.
Jonathan replied, “David earnestly requested me that I permit him to go to Bethlehem.
29 Alisema, ‘Niruhusu niende, kwa sababu jamaa yetu wana dhabihu mjini, na ndugu yangu ameniagiza niwepo huko. Kama nimepata kibali mbele yako, niruhusu niende kuona ndugu zangu.’ Hii ndiyo sababu hakuja mezani pa mfalme.”
He said, ‘Please allow me to go, because our family is going to offer a sacrifice. My [older] brother insisted that I be there. So please allow me to go to be with my [older] brothers.’ [I allowed David to go], and that is the reason that he is not here eating with you.”
30 Hasira ya Sauli ikawaka dhidi ya Yonathani na kumwambia, “Wewe mwana wa mwanamke mkaidi na mwasi! Je, sijui kuwa umekuwa upande wa mwana wa Yese kwa aibu yako mwenyewe na kwa aibu ya mama yako aliyekuzaa?
Saul was (furious/very angry) with Jonathan. He yelled at him, “You stupid bastard [EUP]! I know that you are being loyal to that son of Jesse. By doing that, you will bring shame to yourself and to your mother.
31 Maadamu mwana wa Yese angali anaishi katika dunia hii wewe wala ufalme wako hautasimama. Sasa tuma aitwe umlete kwangu, kwa kuwa ni lazima afe!”
As long as Jesse’s son is living, you will never become the king, and you will never rule over a kingdom! So now, summon David, and bring him to me. He must be executed!”
32 Yonathani akamuuliza baba yake, “Kwa nini auawe? Kwani amefanya nini?”
Jonathan asked his father, “Why should David be executed? What wrong has he done?”
33 Lakini Sauli akamtupia Yonathani mkuki wake kwa nguvu ili amuue. Hapo ndipo Yonathani alipotambua kwamba baba yake alikusudia kumuua Daudi.
Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan in order to kill him, [but the spear did not hit him]. So Jonathan knew that his father really wanted to kill David.
34 Yonathani akainuka kutoka mezani kwa hasira kali. Siku ile ya pili ya mwezi hakula chakula, kwa kuwa alikuwa amehuzunishwa na vitendo vya aibu ambavyo baba yake alikuwa anamtendea Daudi.
Jonathan was very angry, and he left the room. On that second day of the festival, he refused to eat anything. He was disgusted about what his father had done, and he was worried about David.
35 Kesho yake asubuhi Yonathani alikwenda shambani kukutana na Daudi. Alikuwa amefuatana na mvulana mdogo,
The following morning Jonathan went out to the field to give a message to David, like he had agreed that he would do. He took a young boy with him.
36 naye Yonathani akamwambia yule mvulana, “Kimbia ukatafute mishale nitakayorusha.” Mvulana alipokuwa akikimbia, akarusha mishale mbele yake.
Jonathan said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow ahead of the boy.
37 Yule mvulana alipofika mahali pale ambapo mshale wa Yonathani ulipokuwa umeanguka, Yonathani akamwita, “Je, mshale hauko mbele yako?”
When the boy ran to the place where the arrow hit the ground, Jonathan called out, “The arrow is further away!” [RHQ]
38 Yonathani akampigia kelele, “Harakisha, nenda haraka! Usisimame!” Mvulana akaokota mshale na kurudi kwa bwana wake.
Then he shouted to the boy, “Act quickly; do not wait! Do not stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and brought it back to Jonathan.
39 (Mvulana hakujua chochote juu ya hayo yote; Yonathani na Daudi tu ndio waliojua.)
But the boy did not understand the meaning of what Jonathan had said; only Jonathan and David knew.
40 Basi Yonathani akampa yule mvulana silaha zake na kumwambia, “Nenda, zirudishe mjini.”
Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him, “Go back to the town.”
41 Baada ya mvulana kwenda, Daudi akainuka kutoka upande wa kusini wa lile jiwe, naye akasujudu uso wake mpaka nchi mara tatu mbele ya Yonathani. Kisha kila mmoja akambusu mwenzake, wakalia pamoja. Lakini Daudi akalia zaidi.
When the boy left, David came out from the south side of the pile of stones behind which he had been hiding. He went to Jonathan and bowed [in front of Jonathan] three times, with his face touching the ground. Then David and Jonathan kissed each other [on the cheek/neck], and they cried together. But David cried more than Jonathan.
42 Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Nenda kwa amani, kwa kuwa tumeapiana kiapo cha urafiki kati yetu kwa jina la Bwana, tukisema, ‘Bwana ndiye shahidi kati yako na mimi, na kati ya wazao wako na wazao wangu milele.’” Kisha Daudi akaondoka, naye Yonathani akarudi mjini.
Jonathan said to David, “May things go well for you as you go. Yahweh has heard what we solemnly promised to always do for each other, and what we said that our descendants must do for each other.” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
