1 Samweli 25

1 Basi Samweli akafa, nao Israeli wote wakakusanyika na kumwombolezea; wakamzika nyumbani kwake huko Rama. Kisha Daudi akateremka kwenye Jangwa la Maoni.

And Samuel died, and all Israel were gathered together, and made lamentation for him, and buried him within his own house, in Ramah, —and David arose and went down into the wilderness of Maon.

2 Mtu mmoja huko Maoni, aliyekuwa na makao huko Karmeli, alikuwa tajiri sana. Alikuwa na mbuzi elfu moja na kondoo elfu tatu, aliokuwa akiwakata manyoya huko Karmeli.

Now there was, a man, in Maon, whose cattle were in Carmel, and, the man, was exceeding great, and, he, had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats, —and so it was, that he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

3 Jina la mtu huyo lilikuwa Nabali, naye mkewe aliitwa Abigaili. Alikuwa mwanamke mwenye busara na mzuri wa sura, lakini mumewe, ambaye alikuwa wa ukoo wa Kalebu, alikuwa mwenye hasira na mchoyo katika utendaji wake.

Now, the name of the man, was Nabal, and, the name of his wife, Abigail, —and, the woman, was of good understanding, and of beautiful figure, —but, the man, was unfeeling and of evil practices, and he was a Calebite.

4 Daudi alipokuwa huko jangwani, akasikia kuwa Nabali alikuwa anakata kondoo manyoya.

So then David heard in the wilderness, —that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

5 Basi akatuma vijana kumi na kuwaambia, “Pandeni kwa Nabali huko Karmeli, mkamsalimie kwa jina langu.

David, therefore, sent ten young men, —and David said unto the young men, —Go up to Carmel, and enter in unto Nabal, and ye shall ask him, in my name, of his welfare;

6 Mwambieni: ‘Amani iwe kwako! Amani iwe kwako pamoja na wa nyumbani mwako! Pia amani iwe pamoja na vyote ulivyo navyo!

and say thus—Long life to thee! Mayest, thou, prosper, And, thy household, prosper, And, all that thou hast, prosper!

7 “‘Nasikia kuwa huu ni wakati wa kukata kondoo manyoya. Wachunga mifugo wako walipokuwa pamoja nasi, hatukuwatendea mabaya na wakati wote waliokuwa huko Karmeli hakuna chochote chao kilipotea.

Now, therefore, have I heard that thou hast shearers, —Well, the shepherds that thou hast, have been with us, we reproached them not, neither missed they, anything, all the days they were in Carmel.

8 Waulize watumishi wako nao watakuambia. Kwa hiyo uwatendee wema vijana wangu, kwani tumekuja wakati wa furaha. Tafadhali wape watumishi wako na mwanao Daudi chochote kitakachokuja mkononi mwako kwa ajili yao.’”

Ask thy young men, that they may tell thee, that so my young men may find favour in thine eyes, for, on a good day, have we come! Give, I pray thee, what thy hand findeth, to thy servants, and to thy son, to David!

9 Watu wa Daudi walipofika wakampa Nabali ujumbe huu kwa jina la Daudi. Kisha wakangojea.

So David’s young men came, and spake unto Nabal, according to all these words, in the name of David, —and waited.

10 Nabali akawajibu watumishi wa Daudi, “Huyu Daudi ni nani? Huyu mwana wa Yese ni nani? Watumishi wengi wanakimbia kutoka kwa bwana zao siku hizi.

Then Nabal answered the servants of David, and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? Nowadays, many are the servants that have broken away, every one from the presence of his lord:

11 Kwa nini nichukue mkate wangu, maji yangu na nyama niliyochinja kwa ajili ya wakata manyoya wangu, na kuwapa watu ambao hakuna anayejua wanakotoka?”

Shall I, then, take my bread, and my wine, and my slain beasts, that I have slaughtered for my shearers, —and give unto men of whom I know not whence they are?

12 Watu wa Daudi wakageuka na kurudi. Walipofika, wakaarifu kila neno.

So the young men of David turned away for their journey, —and came back, and drew near, and told him, according to all these words.

13 Daudi akawaambia watu wake, “Jifungeni panga zenu!” Basi wakajifunga panga zao, naye Daudi akajifunga upanga wake. Watu kama mia nne hivi wakapanda pamoja na Daudi, na watu mia mbili wakabaki na vifaa.

Then said David unto his men—Gird on you every man his sword. And they girded on them, every man his sword, and, David also, girded on his sword, —and there went up after David—about four hundred men, and, two hundred, abode by the stores.

14 Mmoja wa watumishi akamwambia Abigaili, mkewe Nabali: “Daudi alituma wajumbe kutoka jangwani kumpa bwana wetu salamu zake, lakini akawavurumishia matukano.

But a certain one of her young men told, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, —Lo! David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our lord, and he treated them with contempt.

15 Hata hivyo watu hawa walikuwa wema sana kwetu. Hawakututendea mabaya, na wakati wote tulipokuwa nje huko mashambani karibu nao, hatukupotewa na kitu chochote.

But, the men, were exceeding good to us, —and we were not harmed, neither missed we, anything, all the days we went to and fro with them, while we were in the fields:

16 Usiku na mchana walikuwa ukuta wakituzunguka wakati wote tulipokuwa tukichunga kondoo zetu karibu nao.

A wall, became they unto us, both by night and by day, all the days we were with them, tending the flock.

17 Sasa fikiri juu ya jambo hili na uone unaweza kufanya nini, kwa sababu maafa yanakaribia juu ya bwana wetu na nyumba yake yote. Yeye ni mtu mwovu kiasi kwamba hakuna mtu awezaye kuzungumza naye.”

Now, therefore, know thou, and see, what thou canst do, for mischief is determined against our lord, and against all his household, —but, he, is such an abandoned man, that one cannot speak unto him.

18 Abigaili akafanya haraka, akachukua mikate mia mbili, viriba viwili vya divai, kondoo watano waliochinjwa vipimo vitano vya bisi, vishada mia moja vya zabibu kavu, mikate mia mbili ya tini, akavipakia juu ya punda.

Then Abigail hastened—and took two hundred loaves, and two skins of wine, and five sheep made ready, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, —and put them on the asses.

19 Kisha akawaambia watumishi wake, “Tangulieni; mimi nitakuja nyuma yenu.” Lakini hakumwambia Nabali mumewe.

And she said to her young men—Pass on before me, behold me coming after you; but, to her husband, Nabal, told she nothing.

20 Ikawa alipokuwa amepanda punda wake kwenye bonde la mlima, tazama, Daudi na watu wake wakawa wanateremka kumwelekea, naye akakutana nao.

And so it was, as she was riding on her ass, and descending within the covert of the hill, lo! David and his men, descending over against her, —so she met them.

21 Daudi alikuwa amesema, “Ilikuwa ni kazi bure kuchunga kwangu kote mali za huyu mtu huko jangwani hivi kwamba hakuna chochote chake kilichopotea. Yeye amenilipa baya kwa ajili ya wema.

Now, David, had said—Surely, in vain, did I guard all that pertained to this man in the wilderness, so that there was, nothing, missed of all that he had, —seeing he hath returned to me evil for good.

22 Bwana na amshughulikie Daudi, tena kwa ukali, ikiwa kesho asubuhi nitambakizia mwanaume hata mmoja aliye hai miongoni mwa watu wake wote!”

So may God do to David and so may he add, if I leave remaining, of all that he hath, until the morning, —so much as a little boy.

23 Abigaili alipomwona Daudi, akashuka haraka kwenye punda wake, akainama kifudifudi uso wake mpaka nchi mbele ya Daudi.

And, when Abigail saw David, she hastened, and alighted from off her ass, —and fell down before David upon her face, and prostrated herself on the ground;

24 Akamwangukia miguuni pake na kusema: “Bwana wangu, kosa hili na liwe juu yangu mwenyewe. Tafadhali mruhusu mtumishi wako aseme nawe. Sikia kile mtumishi wako atakachosema.

yea she fell at his feet, and said—On me, even me, my lord, be the transgression, —But, I pray thee, let thy handmaid speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid.

25 Bwana wangu na asimjali huyo mtu mwovu Nabali. Yeye anafanana na jina lake; jina lake ni Mpumbavu, nao upumbavu huenda pamoja naye. Lakini kwangu mimi, mtumishi wako, sikuwaona hao watu waliotumwa na bwana wangu.

Let it not be, I pray thee, that my lord regard this abandoned man—Nabal ["Base"]; For, as his name is, so, is he. Nabal, is his name, and, baseness, is with him, —But, I, thy handmaid, saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26 “Basi sasa, kwa kuwa Bwana amekuzuia, wewe bwana wangu, kutokumwaga damu na kutolipiza kisasi kwa mikono yako mwenyewe, hakika kama Bwana aishivyo na kama uishivyo, maadui zako na wote wanaokusudia kumdhuru bwana wangu wawe kama Nabali.

Now, therefore, my lord—By the life of Yahweh, and by the life of thine own soul, —seeing Yahweh hath withholden thee from coming in with bloodshed, and from saving thyself, with thine own hand, now, therefore, like Nabal, be thine enemies, and they who are making search for my lord, wrongfully.

27 Nayo zawadi hii ambayo mtumishi wako amemletea bwana wangu, wapewe watu wanaofuatana nawe.

Now, therefore, this blessing which thy maid-servant hath brought to my lord, let it even be given unto the young men who are going to and fro at the feet of my lord.

28 Tafadhali samehe kosa la mtumishi wako, kwa kuwa Bwana kwa hakika ataifanya imara nyumba ya ufalme kwa bwana wangu, kwa sababu anapigana vita vya Bwana.

Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of thy handmaid, —for Yahweh, will certainly make, for my lord an assured house, for, the battles of Yahweh, is my lord fighting, and, wrong, shall not be found in thee, all thy days;

29 Hata ingawa yuko mtu anayekufuatia kuuondoa uhai wako, usiruhusu baya lolote kuonekana kwako siku zote za maisha yako, uhai wa bwana wangu utafungwa salama kwenye furushi la walio hai na Bwana Mungu wako. Lakini uhai wa adui zako atavurumishwa kama vile jiwe kutoka kwenye kombeo.

yea, though there hath arisen a sun of earth to pursue thee, and to seek thy life, yet shall the life of my lord be bound up in the bundle of the living, with Yahweh thy God, but, as for the life of thine enemies, he shall sling it out with the middle of the hollow of the sling.

30 Bwana atakapokuwa ameshamtendea bwana wangu kila kitu chema alichoahidi kumhusu yeye na kumweka kuwa kiongozi wa Israeli,

And it shall be, when Yahweh shall do for my lord, according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, —and shall put thee in charge as leader over Israel,

31 bwana wangu hatakuwa na dhamiri inayolemewa na mzigo kwa kumwaga damu kusiko na sababu, au kujilipizia kisasi yeye mwenyewe. Bwana atakapomletea bwana wangu mafanikio, umkumbuke mtumishi wako.”

then shall this not become to thee a staggering and stumbling of heart, unto my lord—that thou didst either shed blood without need, or that the hand of my lord saved himself. And, when Yahweh hath dealt well with my lord, then remember thou thy handmaid.

32 Daudi akamwambia Abigaili, “Ahimidiwe Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli aliyekutuma kunilaki leo.

Then said David unto Abigail, —Blessed, be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who hath sent thee this day, to meet me;

33 Ubarikiwe kwa uamuzi wako mzuri na kwa kunizuia nisimwage damu leo na kulipiza kisasi kwa mikono yangu.

and, blessed, be thy discreet judgment, and, blessed, be thou thyself, —who hast kept me, this day, from coming in with bloodshed, and from saving myself, with mine own hand.

34 La sivyo, hakika kama Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, aishivyo, ambaye amenizuia nisiwadhuru, kama usingekuja haraka kunilaki, hakuna hata mwanaume mmoja wa Nabali angeachwa hai kufikia mapambazuko.”

Nevertheless, by the life of Yahweh, God of Israel, who hath restrained me from harming, thee, surely, except thou hadst hastened and come to meet me, there had not been left unto Nabal, by the light of the morning, so much as a little boy.

35 Ndipo Daudi akapokea kutoka mkononi mwake kile alichokuwa amemletea, naye akasema, “Nenda nyumbani kwako kwa amani; nimesikia maneno yako na kukujalia ombi lako.”

So David received at her hand, that which she had brought him, —and, unto herself, he said—Go up, in peace, unto thy house, see! I have hearkened unto thy voice, and accepted thy person.

36 Abigaili alipokwenda kwa Nabali, alikuwa ndani ya nyumba yake akifanya karamu kama ile ya mfalme. Naye alikuwa ana furaha nyingi, akiwa amelewa sana. Kwa hiyo Abigaili hakumwambia mumewe kitu chochote mpaka asubuhi yake.

And, when Abigail came unto Nabal, lo! he, had a banquet in his house, like the banquet of a king, and, the heart of Nabal, was glad accordingly, he having drunk deeply, —so she told him nothing—less or more, until the light of the morning.

37 Basi asubuhi, Nabali alipokuwa amelevuka, mkewe akamwambia mambo yote, nao moyo wake ukazimia, akawa kama jiwe.

And it came to pass, in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, and his wife told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.

38 Baada ya siku kumi, Bwana akampiga Nabali, naye akafa.

And it came to pass, in about ten days, that Yahweh smote Nabal, that he died.

39 Daudi aliposikia kwamba Nabali amekufa, akasema, “Ahimidiwe Bwana, ambaye amenitetea shauri langu dhidi ya Nabali kwa kuwa alinitendea kwa dharau. Amemzuia mtumishi wake asitende mabaya na Bwana ameuleta ubaya wa Nabali juu ya kichwa chake mwenyewe.” Kisha Daudi akatuma ujumbe kwa Abigaili kumwomba awe mke wake.

And, when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said—Blessed, be Yahweh, who hath maintained the plea of my reproach, at the hand of Nabal, and hath restrained, his servant, from wrong, yea, the wrong of Nabal, hath Yahweh turned back on his own head. Then sent David, and spake with Abigail, to take her to himself wife.

40 Watumishi wa Daudi wakaenda mpaka Karmeli na kumwambia Abigaili, wakisema, “Daudi ametutuma kwako kukuchukua uwe mkewe.”

And the servants of David came unto Abigail the Carmelitess, —and spake unto her, saying, David, hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to himself to wife.

41 Akainama chini uso wake mpaka ardhini, akasema, “Mjakazi wako yuko hapa, tayari kuwatumikia na kuwanawisha miguu watumishi wa bwana wangu.”

And she arose, and bowed herself down with her face to the earth, —and said—Lo! thy handmaid, as serving-woman to bathe the feet of the servants of my lord.

42 Abigaili akainuka kwa haraka, akapanda punda wake, akihudumiwa na wajakazi wake watano, akaenda pamoja na wajumbe wa Daudi, naye akawa mkewe.

And Abigail hastened, and mounted, and rode upon her ass, with her five damsels that used to journey at her feet, —and she went her way after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43 Pia Daudi alikuwa amemwoa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli, wote wawili wakawa wake zake.

David took, Ahinoam also, out of Jezreel, —and, they two, became his wives.

44 Lakini Sauli alikuwa amemwoza Mikali binti yake, aliyekuwa mkewe Daudi, kwa Palti mwana wa Laishi, kutoka Galimu.

Saul, indeed, had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, —to Palti, sun of Laish, who was of Gallim.