1 Samweli 21
1 Daudi akaenda Nobu, kwa Ahimeleki kuhani. Ahimeleki akatetemeka alipokutana naye, akamuuliza, “Kwa nini uko peke yako? Kwa nini hukufuatana na mtu yeyote?”
And David came to Nobe to Achimelech the priest: and Achimelech was astonished at David’s coming. And he said to him: Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
2 Daudi akamjibu Ahimeleki kuhani, akisema, “Mfalme ameniagiza shughuli fulani na kuniambia, ‘Mtu yeyote asijue chochote kuhusu kazi yako wala maagizo yako!’ Kuhusu watu wangu, nimewaambia tukutane mahali fulani.
And David said to Achimelech the priest: The king hath commanded me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art sent by me, and what manner of commands I have given thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
3 Sasa basi, una nini mkononi? Nipatie mikate mitano au chochote unachoweza kupata.”
Now therefore if thou have any thing at hand, though it were but five loaves, give me, or whatsoever thou canst find.
4 Lakini kuhani akamjibu Daudi, “Sina mkate wowote wa kawaida kwa sasa. Hata hivyo, ipo hapa mikate iliyowekwa wakfu, iwapo watu wamejitenga na wanawake.”
And the priest answered David, saying: I have no common bread at hand, but only holy bread, if the young men be clean, especially from women?
5 Daudi akajibu, “Hakika tumejitenga na wanawake kwa siku hizi chache kama kawaida ya ninapotoka kwenda kwenye shughuli. Navyo vyombo vya wale vijana huwa ni vitakatifu hata kwenye safari ya kawaida, si zaidi sana leo vyombo vyao vitakuwa ni vitakatifu?”
And David answered the priest, and said to him: Truly, as to what concerneth women, we have refrained ourselves from yesterday and the day before, when we came out, and the vessels of the young men were holy. Now this way is defiled, but it shall also be sanctified this day in the vessels.
6 Hivyo kuhani akampa ile mikate iliyowekwa wakfu, kwa kuwa hapakuwepo mikate mingine isipokuwa hiyo ya Wonyesho iliyokuwa imeondolewa hapo mbele za Bwana na kubadilishwa na mingine yenye moto siku ile ilipoondolewa.
The priest therefore gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, but only the loaves of proposition, which had been taken away from before the face of the Lord, that hot loaves might be set up.
7 Basi siku hiyo palikuwepo na mmoja wa watumishi wa Sauli, aliyezuiliwa mbele za Bwana; alikuwa Doegi Mwedomu, kiongozi wa wachunga wanyama wa Sauli.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, within the tabernacle of the Lord: and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of Saul’s herdsmen.
8 Daudi akamuuliza Ahimeleki, “Je, unao mkuki au upanga hapa? Sikuleta upanga wala silaha nyingine yoyote, kwa sababu shughuli ya mfalme ilikuwa ya haraka.”
And David said to Achimelech: Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword? for I brought not my own sword, nor my own weapons with me, for the king’s business required haste.
9 Kuhani akajibu, “Upanga wa Goliathi Mfilisti, ambaye ulimuua katika Bonde la Ela, upo hapa, umefungiwa katika kitambaa nyuma ya kisibau. Kama unauhitaji, uchukue, hakuna upanga mwingine hapa ila huo tu.” Daudi akasema, “Hakuna upanga mwingine kama huo. Nipatie huo.”
And the priest said: Lo, here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom thou slewest in the valley of Terebinth, wrapped up in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take this, take it, for here is no other but this. And David said: There is none like that, give it me.
10 Siku ile Daudi akamkimbia Sauli na kwenda kwa Akishi mfalme wa Gathi.
And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Geth:
11 Lakini watumishi wa Akishi wakamwambia, “Je, huyu si ndiye Daudi mfalme wa nchi? Je, huyu si ndiye yule ambaye wanaimba katika ngoma zao wakisema: “‘Sauli amewaua elfu zake, naye Daudi makumi elfu yake’?”
And the servants of Achis, when they saw David, said to him: Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to him in their dances, saying: Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
12 Daudi akayaweka maneno haya moyoni naye akamwogopa sana Akishi mfalme wa Gathi.
But David laid up these words in his heart, and was exceedingly afraid at the face of Achis the king of Geth.
13 Basi akajifanya mwendawazimu mbele yao; naye alipokuwa mikononi mwao, alitenda kama kichaa, akikwaruza kwa kutia alama juu ya milango ya lango na kuachia udelele kutiririka kwenye ndevu zake.
And he changed his countenance before them, and slipt down between their hands: and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard.
14 Akishi akawaambia watumishi wake, “Tazameni mtu huyu! Ana wazimu! Kwa nini mnamleta kwangu?
And Achis said to his servants: You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me?
15 Je, mimi nimepungukiwa na wenda wazimu kiasi kwamba mmeniletea mtu huyo hapa aendelee kufanya hivi mbele yangu? Je, ilikuwa ni lazima mtu huyo aje nyumbani kwangu?”
Have we need of madmen, that you have brought in this fellow, to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
