< 1 Samweli 23 >

1 Daudi alipoambiwa kuwa, “Tazama, Wafilisti wanapigana dhidi ya Keila nao wanapokonya nafaka katika sakafu za kupuria,”
David was told, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.”
2 akauliza kwa Bwana, akisema, “Je, niende na kuwashambulia hawa Wafilisti?” Bwana akamjibu, “Nenda, washambulie Wafilisti na uuokoe Keila.”
Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” The LORD said to David, “Go strike 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!”
David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then 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.”
Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. The LORD answered him, and said, “Arise, go down 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.
David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 (Basi Abiathari mwana wa Ahimeleki alikuwa ameleta kisibau alipokimbilia kwa Daudi huko Keila.)
When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
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.”
Saul was told that David had come to Keilah. Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
8 Naye Sauli akayaita majeshi yake yote yaende vitani, kuishukia Keila ili kumzingira Daudi na watu wake kwa jeshi.
Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 Daudi alipojua kuwa Sauli alikuwa ana hila dhidi yake, akamwambia Abiathari kuhani, “Leta kile kisibau.”
David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
10 Daudi akasema, “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mtumishi wako amesikia kwa hakika kwamba Sauli anapanga kuja Keila na kuangamiza mji kwa ajili yangu.
Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah 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 Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.” 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.”
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD said, “They will deliver you 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 departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up 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 stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.
15 Daudi alipokuwa huko Horeshi katika Jangwa la Zifu, akajua kuwa Sauli alikuwa amekuja ili amuue.
David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods.
16 Naye Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwendea Daudi huko Horeshi na kumtia moyo kusimama imara katika imani yake kwa Mungu.
Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, 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.”
He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”
18 Wote wawili wakaweka agano mbele za Bwana. Kisha Yonathani akaenda zake nyumbani, lakini Daudi akabaki Horeshi.
They both made a covenant before the LORD. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went 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?
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
20 Sasa, ee mfalme, uteremke wakati wowote unapoona vyema kufanya hivyo, sisi tutawajibika kumkabidhi kwa mfalme.”
Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
21 Sauli akajibu, “Bwana awabariki kwa kunifikiria.
Saul said, “You are blessed by the LORD, 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 make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is very 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.”
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself; and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out amongst all the thousands 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.
They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
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 went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued 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,
Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
27 mjumbe alikuja kwa Sauli, akisema, “Njoo haraka! Wafilisti wanaishambulia nchi.”
But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
28 Ndipo Sauli akarudi akaacha kumfuata Daudi na kwenda kukabiliana na Wafilisti. Ndiyo sababu wanaiita sehemu hii Sela-Hamalekothi.
So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
29 Naye Daudi akakwea kutoka huko na kuishi katika ngome za En-Gedi.
David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

< 1 Samweli 23 >