< 1 Samweli 22 >
1 Daudi akaondoka Gathi na kukimbilia kwenye pango la Adulamu. Ndugu zake na watu wa nyumba ya baba yake waliposikia habari hiyo, wakamwendea huko.
Then David went away from there, and he fled to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all of his father’s house had heard of it, they descended to him there.
2 Wale wote waliokuwa katika dhiki au waliokuwa na madeni au wale ambao hawakuridhika wakamkusanyikia Daudi, naye akawa kiongozi wao. Watu wapatao 400 walikuwa pamoja naye.
And all those left in distress, or oppressed by debt to strangers, or bitter in soul, gathered themselves to him. And he became their leader, and about four hundred men were with him.
3 Kutoka huko Daudi akaenda Mispa huko Moabu na kumwambia mfalme wa Moabu, “Naomba uwaruhusu baba yangu na mama yangu waje kukaa nawe mpaka nijue nini Mungu atakachonifanyia.”
And David set out from there to Mizpah, which is of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “I beg you, let my father and my mother remain with you, until I know what God will do for me.”
4 Hivyo akawaacha wazazi wake wakae na mfalme wa Moabu, nao wakakaa naye muda wote ambao Daudi alikuwa ngomeni.
And he left them before the face of the king of Moab. And they stayed with him for all the days that David was in the stronghold.
5 Ndipo nabii Gadi akamwambia Daudi, “Usikae ngomeni. Nenda katika nchi ya Yuda.” Hivyo Daudi akaondoka na kwenda katika msitu wa Herethi.
And the prophet Gad said to David: “Do not choose to stay in the stronghold. Set out and go into the land of Judah.” And so, David set out, and he went into the forest of Hereth.
6 Basi Sauli akasikia kwamba Daudi na watu wake wameonekana. Sauli akiwa na mkuki mkononi, alikuwa ameketi chini ya mti wa mkwaju kwenye kilima huko Gibea, maafisa wake wote wakiwa wamesimama kumzunguka.
And Saul heard that David, and the men who were with him, had been seen. Now while Saul was staying in Gibeah, and while he was in the forest that is in Ramah, holding a spear in his hand, with all his servants standing around him,
7 Sauli akawaambia, “Sikilizeni enyi watu wa Benyamini! Je, mwana wa Yese atawapa ninyi nyote mashamba na mashamba ya mizabibu? Je, atawafanya ninyi nyote majemadari wa maelfu na majemadari wa mamia?
he said to his servants who were assisting him: “Listen now, you sons of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give to all of you fields and vineyards, and will he make all of you tribunes or centurions,
8 Je, ndiyo sababu ninyi mkapanga hila mbaya dhidi yangu? Hakuna hata mmoja wenu ambaye ameniambia ni lini mwanangu alifanya agano na mwana wa Yese. Hapana hata mmoja wenu anayejishughulisha nami wala anayeniambia kwamba mwanangu amechochea mtumishi wangu kunivizia, kama afanyavyo leo.”
so that you would all conspire against me, and so that there is no one to inform me, especially when even my son has formed a pact with the son of Jesse? There is no one among you who grieves for my situation, or who would report to me. For my son has raised up my servant against me, seeking to betray me, even to this day.”
9 Lakini Doegi Mwedomu, ambaye alikuwa akisimama na maafisa wa Sauli, akasema, “Nilimwona mwana wa Yese akija kwa Ahimeleki mwana wa Ahitubu huko Nobu.
Then Doeg, the Edomite, who was standing near, and who was first among the servants of Saul, responding, said: “I saw the son of Jesse, in Nob, with Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, the priest.
10 Ahimeleki akamuuliza Bwana kwa ajili yake; pia akampa vyakula na ule upanga wa Goliathi Mfilisti.”
And he consulted the Lord for him, and he gave him food. Moreover, he gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.”
11 Kisha mfalme akatuma watu wamwite kuhani Ahimeleki mwana wa Ahitubu, na jamaa yote ya baba yake, waliokuwa makuhani huko Nobu, nao wote wakaja kwa mfalme.
Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech, the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all of his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob, and they all came before the king.
12 Sauli akasema, “Sikiliza sasa, mwana wa Ahitubu.” Akajibu, “Naam, bwana wangu.”
And Saul said to Ahimelech, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He responded, “Here I am, lord.”
13 Sauli akamwambia, “Kwa nini umepanga shauri baya dhidi yangu, wewe na mwana wa Yese, ukampa vyakula na upanga, tena hukumuuliza Mungu kwa ajili yake, na kwa sababu hiyo ameasi dhidi yangu na kunivizia, kama afanyavyo leo?”
And Saul said to him: “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse? For you gave him bread and a sword, and you consulted the Lord for him, so that he might rise up against me, continuing as a traitor even to this day.”
14 Ahimeleki akamjibu mfalme, “Ni nani miongoni mwa watumishi wako wote aliye mwaminifu kama Daudi, mkwewe mfalme, kiongozi wa walinzi wako na anayeheshimika sana katika watu wa nyumbani mwako?
And responding to the king, Ahimelech said: “But who among all your servants is as faithful as David? And he is the son-in-law of the king, and he goes forth at your order, and he is a glory within your house.
15 Je, siku hiyo ilikuwa ndiyo ya kwanza kumwomba Mungu kwa ajili yake? La hasha! Mfalme na usiwashutumu watumishi wako wala yeyote wa jamaa ya baba yake, kwa kuwa mtumishi wako hafahamu lolote kabisa kuhusu jambo hili lote.”
Did I begin to consult the Lord for him today? May this be far from me! Let not the king suspect this kind of thing against his servant, nor against anyone in all my father’s house. For your servant did not know anything about this matter, either small or great.”
16 Lakini mfalme akasema, “Ahimeleki, hakika utakufa, wewe na jamaa yote ya baba yako.”
And the king said, “You shall die a death, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”
17 Ndipo mfalme akawaamuru walinzi wake waliokuwa kando yake: “Geukeni na kuwaua makuhani wa Bwana, kwa sababu nao pia wamejiunga na Daudi. Walijua kuwa alikuwa anakimbia, wala hawakuniambia.” Lakini maafisa wa mfalme hawakuwa radhi kuinua mkono kuwaua makuhani wa Bwana.
And the king said to the emissaries who were standing around him: “You shall turn, and put to death the priests of the Lord. For their hand is with David. They knew that he had fled, and they did not reveal it to me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to extend their hands against the priests of the Lord.
18 Kisha mfalme akamwagiza Doegi, “Wewe geuka ukawaue makuhani.” Hivyo basi Doegi Mwedomu, akageuka na kuwaua. Siku ile aliwaua watu themanini na watano wavaao visibau vya kitani.
And the king said to Doeg, “You shall turn and rush against the priests.” And Doeg, the Edomite, turned and rushed against the priests. And he massacred, on that day, eighty-five men, vested with the linen ephod.
19 Pia akaupiga Nobu kwa upanga, mji wa makuhani, wakiwemo wanaume na wanawake, watoto wadogo na wale wanyonyao, ngʼombe wake, punda na kondoo.
Then he struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword; he struck down men and women, little ones and infants, as well as ox and donkey and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20 Lakini Abiathari, mwana wa Ahimeleki, mwana wa Ahitubu, akatoroka, akakimbia na kujiunga na Daudi.
But one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, whose name was Abiathar, escaping, fled to David.
21 Akamwambia Daudi kuwa Sauli amewaua makuhani wa Bwana.
And he reported to him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord.
22 Kisha Daudi akamwambia Abiathari: “Siku ile, wakati Doegi Mwedomu alipokuwa pale, nilijua atahakikisha amemwambia Sauli. Mimi ninawajibika kwa vifo vya jamaa ya baba yako yote.
And David said to Abiathar: “I knew, on that day when Doeg, the Edomite was there, that without doubt he would report it to Saul. I am guilty of all the souls of your father’s house.
23 Kaa pamoja nami; usiogope. Mtu anayeutafuta uhai wako anautafuta uhai wangu pia. Ukiwa pamoja nami utakuwa salama.”
You should remain with me. Do not be afraid. For he who seeks my life, seeks your life also, but with me you shall be saved.”