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 Nob to Achimelech the priest; and Achimelech hastened trembling to meet David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man is 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 unto Achimelech the priest, The king commanded me a business, and said unto me, Let not any man know the least of the business concerning which I send thee, and which I have commanded thee. And the young men have I appointed to such and such a place.
3 Sasa basi, una nini mkononi? Nipatie mikate mitano au chochote unachoweza kupata.”
And now what hast thou on hand: put five loaves of bread into my hand, or what else can be found.
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, and said, I have no common bread on hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have only withheld themselves 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, To a certainty women have been denied us yesterday and the day before, when I went forth, and the vessels of the young men were holy: and if this was the custom with unholy things, how much more will it remain this day holy 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.
So the priest gave him hallowed bread; for there was no bread there except the showbread, that was removed from before the Lord, so as to put down hot bread on the day when it was taken away.
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 on that day, detained before the Lord; and his name was Doeg, the Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul.
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 unto Achimelech, Hast thou not also here at hand a spear or sword: for both my sword as also my other weapons have I not brought with me, because the king's business was urgent.
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, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou didst slay in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped up in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that for thyself, take it; for there is no other save it here. And David said, There is none like that: give it to me.
10 Siku ile Daudi akamkimbia Sauli na kwenda kwa Akishi mfalme wa Gathi.
And David arose, and fled on that day from before Saul, and came to Achish the king of Gath.
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 Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not of this man sing one to another in the 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.
And David took these words to his heart, and was greatly afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
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 disguised his reason before their eyes, and played the madman in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down upon his beard.
14 Akishi akawaambia watumishi wake, “Tazameni mtu huyu! Ana wazimu! Kwa nini mnamleta kwangu?
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see, the man is mad: wherefore then will ye bring 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 I lack of madmen, that ye have brought this man to play his pranks about me? shall this one come into my house?
