1 Samweli 23
1 Daudi alipoambiwa kuwa, “Tazama, Wafilisti wanapigana dhidi ya Keila nao wanapokonya nafaka katika sakafu za kupuria,”
One day David heard the news, “The Philistines are attacking Keilah and stealing the grain from the threshing floors.”
2 akauliza kwa Bwana, akisema, “Je, niende na kuwashambulia hawa Wafilisti?” Bwana akamjibu, “Nenda, washambulie Wafilisti na uuokoe Keila.”
So he asked advice from the Lord, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord told 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 told him, “Even here in Judah we feel afraid. If we went to Keilah to fight the Philistine armies we'd be absolutely terrified!”
4 Daudi akauliza kwa Bwana tena, naye Bwana akamjibu akamwambia, “Shuka uende Keila, kwa kuwa nitawatia Wafilisti mkononi mwako.”
So David asked advice from the Lord again, and the Lord told him, “Go immediately to Keilah, for I will give you victory over the Philistines.”
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 and fought the Philistines. They slaughtered them and drove off their livestock. By doing this David saved the people of Keilah.
6 (Basi Abiathari mwana wa Ahimeleki alikuwa ameleta kisibau alipokimbilia kwa Daudi huko Keila.)
(When Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, ran away to David at Keilah he brought the 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.”
When Saul found out that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, because he has locked himself inside a town with gates that can be barred shut.”
8 Naye Sauli akayaita majeshi yake yote yaende vitani, kuishukia Keila ili kumzingira Daudi na watu wake kwa jeshi.
So Saul called up his whole army to go and attack Keilah and to 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 to attack him, he asked Abiathar the priest, “Please 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.
David prayed, “Lord, God of Israel, I your servant have been clearly told that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
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.”
Are the town leaders of Keilah going to hand me over to him? Is Saul going to come, as I have heard? Lord, God of Israel, please tell me.” “Yes, he'll come,” the Lord replied.
12 Daudi akauliza tena, “Je watu wa Keila watanisalimisha mimi pamoja na watu wangu kwa Sauli?” Naye Bwana akasema, “Ndiyo, watafanya hivyo.”
“And will the town leaders of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” David asked. “Yes, they will,” the Lord replied.
13 Basi Daudi na watu wake, wapatao 600, wakaondoka Keila wakawa wanakwenda sehemu moja hadi nyingine. Sauli alipoambiwa Daudi ametoroka kutoka Keila, hakwenda huko.
So David and his men, who numbered around six hundred, left Keilah and moved around from place to place. When Saul discovered that David had escaped from Keilah, he didn't bother going there.
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.
David set up camp in the wilderness strongholds, staying in the mountains of the Desert of Ziph. Saul searched for him continually, but God did not let David be captured.
15 Daudi alipokuwa huko Horeshi katika Jangwa la Zifu, akajua kuwa Sauli alikuwa amekuja ili amuue.
While David was staying at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he found out that Saul was on his way to murder him.
16 Naye Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwendea Daudi huko Horeshi na kumtia moyo kusimama imara katika imani yake kwa Mungu.
Saul's son Jonathan went to see David in Horesh and encouraged him to go on trusting in God, telling 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.”
“Don't worry, because my father Saul is never going to find you. You're going to be king of Israel, and I'll be your deputy. Even my father Saul knows this.”
18 Wote wawili wakaweka agano mbele za Bwana. Kisha Yonathani akaenda zake nyumbani, lakini Daudi akabaki Horeshi.
The two of them made an agreement before the Lord. David stayed in Horesh and 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 people of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and told him, “David is hiding in our area, in the strongholds in Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, in the southern wastelands.
20 Sasa, ee mfalme, uteremke wakati wowote unapoona vyema kufanya hivyo, sisi tutawajibika kumkabidhi kwa mfalme.”
So, Your Majesty, please come whenever you want, and we'll make sure to hand him over to you.”
21 Sauli akajibu, “Bwana awabariki kwa kunifikiria.
“The Lord bless you for thinking about me,” Saul replied.
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 make absolutely sure you know exactly where he is—where he stays and who has seen him there—because people tell me that he's very devious.
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.”
Look for and mark down all his hiding places. Then come back to me when you're sure, and I'll go back with you. If he's here in the country, I will hunt him down among all the people 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 the people of Ziph set off, returning to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Desert of Maon in the Arabah Valley in the southern wastelands.
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.
Saul and his men started hunting for him. When David found out, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he chased after David in the Desert 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,
Saul was traveling along one side of the mountain, while David and his men were on the other side, rushing to get away. But just as Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men, about to capture them,
27 mjumbe alikuja kwa Sauli, akisema, “Njoo haraka! Wafilisti wanaishambulia nchi.”
a messenger arrived to tell Saul, “Come at once! The Philistines have invaded the country!”
28 Ndipo Sauli akarudi akaacha kumfuata Daudi na kwenda kukabiliana na Wafilisti. Ndiyo sababu wanaiita sehemu hii Sela-Hamalekothi.
So Saul had to stop chasing David and went to confront the Philistines. That's why the place is called the “Rock of Escape.”
29 Naye Daudi akakwea kutoka huko na kuishi katika ngome za En-Gedi.
Then David left and went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi.
