< 1 Samweli 23 >
1 Daudi alipoambiwa kuwa, “Tazama, Wafilisti wanapigana dhidi ya Keila nao wanapokonya nafaka katika sakafu za kupuria,”
And they told David, saying: Behold the Philistines fight against Ceila, and they rob the barns.
2 akauliza kwa Bwana, akisema, “Je, niende na kuwashambulia hawa Wafilisti?” Bwana akamjibu, “Nenda, washambulie Wafilisti na uuokoe Keila.”
Therefore David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shalt smite the Philistines, and shalt save Ceila.
3 Lakini watu wa Daudi wakamwambia, “Hapa Yuda kwenyewe tunaogopa. Si zaidi sana, kama tukienda Keila dhidi ya majeshi ya Wafilisti!”
And the men that were with David, said to him: Behold we are in fear here in Judea, how much more if we go to Ceila against the hands of the Philistines?
4 Daudi akauliza kwa Bwana tena, naye Bwana akamjibu akamwambia, “Shuka uende Keila, kwa kuwa nitawatia Wafilisti mkononi mwako.”
Therefore David consulted the Lord again. And he answered and said to him: Arise, and go to Ceila: for I will deliver the Philistines into thy 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.
David therefore, and his men, went to Ceila, and fought against the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter of them: and David saved the inhabitants of Ceila.
6 (Basi Abiathari mwana wa Ahimeleki alikuwa ameleta kisibau alipokimbilia kwa Daudi huko Keila.)
Now at that time, when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David to Ceila, he came down having an ephod with him.
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.”
And it was told Saul that David was come to Ceila: and Saul said: The Lord hath delivered him into my hands, and he is shut up, being come into a city, that hath gates and bars.
8 Naye Sauli akayaita majeshi yake yote yaende vitani, kuishukia Keila ili kumzingira Daudi na watu wake kwa jeshi.
And Saul commanded all the people to go down to fight against Ceila, and to besiege David, and his men.
9 Daudi alipojua kuwa Sauli alikuwa ana hila dhidi yake, akamwambia Abiathari kuhani, “Leta kile kisibau.”
Now when David understood, that Saul secretly prepared evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest: Bring hither 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, thy servant hath heard a report, that Saul designeth to come to Ceila, to destroy the city for my sake:
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 men of Ceila deliver me into his hands? and will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, tell thy servant. And the Lord said: He will come down.
12 Daudi akauliza tena, “Je watu wa Keila watanisalimisha mimi pamoja na watu wangu kwa Sauli?” Naye Bwana akasema, “Ndiyo, watafanya hivyo.”
And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me, and my men, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver thee up.
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, who were about six hundred, arose, and departing from Ceila, wandered up and down uncertain where they should stay: and it was told Saul that David was fled from Ceila, and had escaped: wherefore he forbore to go out.
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.
But David abode in the desert in strong holds, and he remained in a mountain of the desert of Ziph, in a woody hill. And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands.
15 Daudi alipokuwa huko Horeshi katika Jangwa la Zifu, akajua kuwa Sauli alikuwa amekuja ili amuue.
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life. And David was in the desert of Ziph, in a wood.
16 Naye Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwendea Daudi huko Horeshi na kumtia moyo kusimama imara katika imani yake kwa Mungu.
And Jonathan the son of Saul arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hands in God: and he said to him:
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.”
Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this.
18 Wote wawili wakaweka agano mbele za Bwana. Kisha Yonathani akaenda zake nyumbani, lakini Daudi akabaki Horeshi.
And the two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood: but Jonathan returned to his house.
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?
And the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gabaa, saying: Lo, doth not David lie hid with us in the strong holds of the wood, in mount Hachila, which is on the right hand of the desert.
20 Sasa, ee mfalme, uteremke wakati wowote unapoona vyema kufanya hivyo, sisi tutawajibika kumkabidhi kwa mfalme.”
Now therefore come down, as thy soul hath desired to come down: and it shall be our business to deliver him into the king’s hands.
21 Sauli akajibu, “Bwana awabariki kwa kunifikiria.
And Saul said: Blessed be ye of the Lord, for you have pitied my case.
22 Nendeni mkafanye maandalizi zaidi. Mkajue mahali ambapo Daudi huenda mara kwa mara na nani amepata kumwona huko. Wananiambia yeye ni mwerevu sana.
Go therefore, I pray you, and use all diligence, and curiously inquire, and consider the place where his foot is, and who hath seen him there: for he thinketh of me, that I lie craftily in wait for him.
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.”
Consider and see all his lurking holes, wherein he is bid, and return to me with the certainty of the thing, that I may go with you. And if be should even go down into the earth to hide himself, I will search him out in all the thousands of Juda.
24 Basi wakaondoka na kwenda mpaka Zifu wakimtangulia Sauli. Naye Daudi na watu wake walikuwa katika Jangwa la Maoni, katika Araba kusini mwa Yeshimoni.
And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul: and David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain at the right hand of Jesimon.
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.
Then Saul and his men went to seek him: and it was told David, and forthwith he went down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon: and when Saul had heard of it he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
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,
And Saul went on this side of the mountain: and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain: and David despaired of being able to escape from the face of Saul: and Saul and his men encompassed David and his men round about to take them.
27 mjumbe alikuja kwa Sauli, akisema, “Njoo haraka! Wafilisti wanaishambulia nchi.”
And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make haste to come, for the Philistines have poured in themselves upon the land.
28 Ndipo Sauli akarudi akaacha kumfuata Daudi na kwenda kukabiliana na Wafilisti. Ndiyo sababu wanaiita sehemu hii Sela-Hamalekothi.
Wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. For this cause they called that place, the Rock of division.
29 Naye Daudi akakwea kutoka huko na kuishi katika ngome za En-Gedi.
Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds of Engaddi.