< 1 Samweli 21 >
1 Kisha Daudi akafika Nobu kumuona Ahimeleki kuhani. Ahimeleki akaja akutane na Daudi huku akitetemeka na kumwambia, “Kwa nini uko peke yako huna mtu wa kuambatana na wewe?”
Then David went into Nob, to the priest Ahimelech. And Ahimelech was astonished that David had arrived. And he said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?”
2 Daudi akamjibu Ahimeleki kuhani, “Mfalme amenituma kwa jambo maalum na ameniambia hivi, 'Asiwepo hata mtu mmoja anayejua chochote kuhusu shughuli niliyokutuma, na kile nilichokuagiza.' Nimewaelekeza vijana kwenda sehemu fulani.
And David said to the priest Ahimelech: “The king has instructed to me a word, and he said: ‘Let no one know the matter about which you have been sent by me, and what type of instructions I have given to you. For I have also summoned servants to one and another place.’
3 Sasa basi chakula gani kinapatikana hapa? Nipatie mikate mitano, au chochote kilichopo hapa.”
Now therefore, if you have anything at hand, even five loaves of bread, or whatever you may find, give it to me.”
4 Huyo Kuhani alimjibu Daudi na kusema, “Hakuna mkate wa kawaida mkononi, lakini ipo mikate takatifu- kama vijana hawajatembea na wanawake.”
And the priest, responding to David, said to him: “I have no common bread at hand, but only holy bread. Are the young men clean, especially from women?”
5 Daudi akamjibu kuhani, “Hakika hatujatembea na wanawake kwa siku hizi tatu. Nilipoanza safari, miili ya vijana iliwekwa wakfu kwa BWANA, ingawa ilikuwa safari ya kawaida. Je, si zaidi sana leo miili yao ikawekwa wakfu kwa BWANA.”
And David responded to the priest, and said to him: “Indeed, as concerns being with women, we have abstained since yesterday and the day before, when we departed, and so the vessels of the young men have been holy. And although, this journey has been defiled, it will also be sanctified today as concerns the vessels.”
6 Hivyo kuhani akampa mikate iliyokuwa imewekwa wakfu kwa BWANA. Maana haikuwepo mikate mingine hapo, isipokuwa tu ile ya wonyesho, ambayo iliondolewa kutoka kwa BWANA, ili sehemu yake iwekwe mikate ya moto, inapokuwa imeondolewa.
Therefore, the priest gave to him sanctified bread. For there was no bread there, but only the bread of the Presence, which had been taken away from before the face of the Lord, so that fresh loaves might be set up.
7 Basi siku hiyo mmoja wa watumishi wa Sauli alikuwapo mahali hapo, ameshilkiliwa mbele za BWANA. Jina la mtu huyo aliitwa Doegi Mwedomu, mkuu wa wachungaji wa Sauli.
Now a certain man among the servants of Saul was there on that day, inside the tabernacle of the Lord. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the most powerful among the shepherds of Saul.
8 Daudi akamwambia Ahimeleki, “Je, hakuna hata mkuki wowote au upanga? Maana mimi sikubeba upanga wangu wala silaha zangu, maana ile shughuli ya mfalme ilikuwa ya muhimu.”
Then David said to Ahimelech: “Do you have, here at hand, a spear or a sword? For I did not take my own sword, or my own weapons with me. For the word of the king was urgent.”
9 Kuhani akasema, “Ule upanga wa Mfilisti Goliathi, uliyemuua katika bonde la Ela, uko hapa umefunikwa katika nguo nyuma ya naivera. kama unataka kuuchukua huo, uchukue, maana hakuna silaha nyingine hapa.” Daudi akasema, “Hakuna silaha nyingine kama hiyo, nipatie hiyo.”
And the priest said: “Behold, here is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Terebinth. It is wrapped up in a cloak behind the ephod. If you wish to take this, take it. For there is nothing else here except this.” And David said, “There is nothing else like this, so give it to me.”
10 Daudi aliamka na kukimbia mbali na Sauli na akaenda kwa Akishi, mfalme wa Gathi.
And so, David rose up, and he fled on that day from the face of Saul. And he went to Achish, the king of Gath.
11 Mtumishi wa Akishi akamwambia, “huyu siye Daudi mfalme wa nchi hii? Je, wanawake hawakupokezana wakiimba na kucheza, 'Sauli ameua maelfu yake, na Daudi makumi elfu yake?”'
And the servants of Achish, when they had seen David, said to him: “Is this not David, the king of the land? Were they not singing about him, while dancing, saying, ‘Saul has struck down a thousand, and David ten thousand?’”
12 Daudi akayaweka maneno hayo moyoni mwake na akamwogopa sana Akishi, mfalme wa Gathi.
Then David took these words to his heart, and he became exceedingly afraid before the face of Achish, the king of Gath.
13 Daudi akabadili mwenendo wake mbele yao na akajifanya kuwa mwendawazimu machoni pao; akachora-chora alama kwenye vizingiti vya milango huku akitiririsha mate yake chini ya ndevu zake.
And he altered his mouth before them, and he slipped down between their hands. And he stumbled against the doors of the gate. And his spit flowed down his beard.
14 Ndipo Akishi akawaambia watumishi wake, “Tazameni, mnaona mtu huyu ni mwehu.
And Achish said to his servants: “You saw that the man is insane. Why did you bring him to me?
15 Kwa nini mmemleta kwangu? Je, mimi nina haja na wehu, kumbe mmemleta mtu huyu ili anifanyie hayo mbele yangu? Hivi kweli huyu ataingia nyumbani mwangu?
Or do we have need of those who are mad, so that you would bring in this one, to behave madly in my presence? How did this man get into my house?”