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?”
Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said unto 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 unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed the young men to such and such a place.
3 Sasa basi, una nini mkononi? Nipatie mikate mitano au chochote unachoweza kupata.”
Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or whatsoever there is present.
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, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept 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 unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?
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 holy [bread]: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in 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 that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen 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 Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because 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, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slowest in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. 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 for fear of Saul, and went 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 sing one to another of him in 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 laid up these words in his heart, and was sore 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 changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall 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 have ye 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?”
Do I lack mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
