1 Samweli 23

1 Daudi alipoambiwa kuwa, “Tazama, Wafilisti wanapigana dhidi ya Keila nao wanapokonya nafaka katika sakafu za kupuria,”

Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”

2 akauliza kwa Bwana, akisema, “Je, niende na kuwashambulia hawa Wafilisti?” Bwana akamjibu, “Nenda, washambulie Wafilisti na uuokoe Keila.”

So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3 Lakini watu wa Daudi wakamwambia, “Hapa Yuda kwenyewe tunaogopa. Si zaidi sana, kama tukienda Keila dhidi ya majeshi ya Wafilisti!”

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”

4 Daudi akauliza kwa Bwana tena, naye Bwana akamjibu akamwambia, “Shuka uende Keila, kwa kuwa nitawatia Wafilisti mkononi mwako.”

Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

5 Basi Daudi na watu wake wakaenda Keila, wakapigana na Wafilisti na kutwaa wanyama wao wa kutosha. Daudi akawatia hasara kubwa Wafilisti na kuwaokoa watu wa Keila.

Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.

6 (Basi Abiathari mwana wa Ahimeleki alikuwa ameleta kisibau alipokimbilia kwa Daudi huko Keila.)

(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

7 Sauli akaambiwa kwamba Daudi alikuwa amekwenda Keila, naye akasema, “Mungu amemtia mkononi mwangu, kwa kuwa Daudi amejifunga mwenyewe kwa kuingia kwenye mji wenye malango na makomeo.”

When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”

8 Naye Sauli akayaita majeshi yake yote yaende vitani, kuishukia Keila ili kumzingira Daudi na watu wake kwa jeshi.

Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

9 Daudi alipojua kuwa Sauli alikuwa ana hila dhidi yake, akamwambia Abiathari kuhani, “Leta kile kisibau.”

When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

10 Daudi akasema, “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mtumishi wako amesikia kwa hakika kwamba Sauli anapanga kuja Keila na kuangamiza mji kwa ajili yangu.

And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.

11 Je, watu wa Keila watanisalimisha kwake? Je, Sauli atateremka, kama mtumishi wako alivyosikia? Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mwambie mtumishi wako.” Naye Bwana akasema, “Ndiyo, atashuka.”

Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.

12 Daudi akauliza tena, “Je watu wa Keila watanisalimisha mimi pamoja na watu wangu kwa Sauli?” Naye Bwana akasema, “Ndiyo, watafanya hivyo.”

So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

13 Basi Daudi na watu wake, wapatao 600, wakaondoka Keila wakawa wanakwenda sehemu moja hadi nyingine. Sauli alipoambiwa Daudi ametoroka kutoka Keila, hakwenda huko.

Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

14 Daudi akakaa katika ngome za jangwani na katika vilima vya Jangwa la Zifu. Siku baada ya siku Sauli aliendelea kumsaka, lakini Mungu hakumtia Daudi mikononi mwake.

And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.

15 Daudi alipokuwa huko Horeshi katika Jangwa la Zifu, akajua kuwa Sauli alikuwa amekuja ili amuue.

While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.

16 Naye Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwendea Daudi huko Horeshi na kumtia moyo kusimama imara katika imani yake kwa Mungu.

And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,

17 Akamwambia, “Usiogope, Daudi; baba yangu Sauli hatakutia mkononi mwake. Utakuwa mfalme juu ya Israeli, nami nitakuwa wa pili wako. Hata baba yangu Sauli anajua hili.”

saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”

18 Wote wawili wakaweka agano mbele za Bwana. Kisha Yonathani akaenda zake nyumbani, lakini Daudi akabaki Horeshi.

So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

19 Basi Wazifu wakakwea kwa Sauli huko Gibea na kusema, “Je, Daudi hajifichi miongoni mwetu katika ngome huko Horeshi, katika kilima cha Hakila, kusini mwa Yeshimoni?

Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?

20 Sasa, ee mfalme, uteremke wakati wowote unapoona vyema kufanya hivyo, sisi tutawajibika kumkabidhi kwa mfalme.”

Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

21 Sauli akajibu, “Bwana awabariki kwa kunifikiria.

“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

22 Nendeni mkafanye maandalizi zaidi. Mkajue mahali ambapo Daudi huenda mara kwa mara na nani amepata kumwona huko. Wananiambia yeye ni mwerevu sana.

Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.

23 Jueni kila mahali anapojificha mrudi na kunipa taarifa kamili. Kisha nitakwenda pamoja nanyi; kama atakuwa katika eneo hilo, nitamsaka miongoni mwa koo zote za Yuda.”

Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”

24 Basi wakaondoka na kwenda mpaka Zifu wakimtangulia Sauli. Naye Daudi na watu wake walikuwa katika Jangwa la Maoni, katika Araba kusini mwa Yeshimoni.

So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

25 Sauli na watu wake wakaanza msako, naye Daudi alipoelezwa hili, akateremka mpaka mwambani na kukaa katika Jangwa la Maoni. Sauli aliposikia hili, akaenda katika Jangwa la Maoni akimfuata Daudi.

and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

26 Sauli alikuwa akienda upande mmoja wa mlima, naye Daudi na watu wake walikuwa upande mwingine wa mlima, wakiharakisha kumkimbia Sauli. Wakati Sauli na majeshi yake walipokaribia kumkamata Daudi na watu wake,

Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

27 mjumbe alikuja kwa Sauli, akisema, “Njoo haraka! Wafilisti wanaishambulia nchi.”

Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”

28 Ndipo Sauli akarudi akaacha kumfuata Daudi na kwenda kukabiliana na Wafilisti. Ndiyo sababu wanaiita sehemu hii Sela-Hamalekothi.

So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

29 Naye Daudi akakwea kutoka huko na kuishi katika ngome za En-Gedi.

And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.