1 Samweli 24
1 Sauli aliporudi kuwafukuza Wafilisti, akaambiwa kwamba, “Daudi yuko katika jangwa la Engedi.”
When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, it was reported to him, “David is in the Desert of En-gedi.”
2 Ndipo Sauli akachukua watu elfu tatu waliochaguliwa kutoka Iraeli yote, wakaenda kumtafuta Daudi na watu wake katika miamba ya Mbuzi Mwitu.
So Saul took three thousand specially-picked men from all Israel and went searching for David and his men in the area around Wild Goats' Rocks.
3 Akafika penye mazizi ya kondoo kando ya njia, mahali palipokuwa na pango. Sauli akaingia ndani yake kujisaidia. Wakati huo Daudi na watu wake walikuwa wamekaa mbali zaidi ndani ya pango lilelile.
As Saul passed the sheep pens on the way, there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding deep inside the cave.
4 Watu wake Daudi wakamwambia, “Hii ndiyo siku ambayo BWANA aliisema akikuambia, 'Nitamweka adui wako mkononi mwako, ili umtendee kama unavyotaka.”' Kisha Daudi akainuka na kumnyemelea kwa mbele kimya kimya na kulikata pindo la kanzu ya Sauli.
David's men said to him, “Today's the day the Lord promised you when he told you, ‘Listen, I'm going to hand over your enemy to you, so you can do to him whatever you want.’” Then David crept up quietly and cut a piece from the edge of Saul's robe.
5 Baadaye moyo wa Daudi ukamchoma kwa sababu alilikata pindo la kanzu ya Sauli.
But afterwards David felt really bad because he'd cut off a piece of Saul's robe.
6 Akawaambia watu wake, “BWANA anisamehe, sikupaswa kumtendea jambo hili bwana wangu, Mtiwa mafuta wa BWANA, kwa kunyoosha mkono wangu juu yake, maana yeye ni masihi wa BWANA.”
He told his men, “May the Lord prevent me from doing anything like this to my master, the Lord's anointed one. I will never attack him, for he is the Lord's anointed one.”
7 Hivyo Daudi akawakemea watu wake kwa maneno haya, na kuwazuia wasimpige Sauli. Sauli akasimama, akatoka pangoni, na kwenda zake.
He reprimanded his men and didn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul stood up and went on his way.
8 Baadaye tena, Daudi akasimama juu, akatoka pangoni, na kumwita Sauli: “Bwana wangu mfalme.” Sauli alipotazama nyuma, Daudi akasujudu hadi chini na kuonyesha heshima.
A little later David came out of the cave and shouted, “My master the king!” When Saul looked around, David bowed down with his face to the ground.
9 Daudi akamwambia Sauli, “Kwa nini unawasikiliza watu ambao wanasema, “Angalia, Daudi anatafuta kukudhuru?'
“Why do you pay attention to people who say, ‘Watch out, David wants to harm you’?” David asked.
10 Leo macho yako yameona jinsi BWANA alivyokuweka mkononi mwangu tulipokuwa ndani ya pango. Wengine waliniambia nikuuwe, lakini nilikuacha hai. Nikasema, 'Sitanyoosha mkono wangu juu ya bwana wangu; kwa kuwa ni masihi wa BWANA.'
“Just look! You've seen with your own eyes today that the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I showed you compassion, and said, ‘I refuse to attack my master, for he is the Lord's anointed one.’
11 Tazama, baba yangu, angalia pindo la kanzu yako mkononi mwangu. Kwa maana kama nilikata pindo la kanzu yako na sikukuua, basi ujuwe na uone kwamba sina uovu au kosa katika mkono wangu, na sijafanya dhambi juu yako, ingawa unawinda kuutoa uhai wangu.
Take a look, my father! You see this piece of your robe I'm holding. Yes, I did I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Now you can see for yourself and you can be sure that I have done nothing evil or rebellious. I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me.
12 BWANA aamue kati yangu na wewe, na BWANA anilipizie kisasi juu yako, lakini mkono wangu kamwe hautakuwa juu yako.
May the Lord decide between you and me as to who of us is right, and may the Lord punish you, but I myself will never try to harm you.
13 Kama mithali ya wazee isemavyo, 'Katika waovu hutoka uovu.' Lakini mkono wangu hautakuwa juu yako.
As the old saying goes, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but I myself will never try to harm you.
14 Mfalme wa Israeli ametoka kumuandama nani? Unamsaka nani? Unasaka mzoga wa mbwa! Unasaka kiroboto!
Who is the king of Israel coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog! Just a flea!
15 BWANA na awe mwamuzi na atoe hukumu kati yangu na wewe, na akaione, na akatetee sababu yangu na aniruhusu kuepuka mkono wako.”
May the Lord decide and choose between you and me. May he pay attention to my case and support it; may he save me from you.”
16 Daudi alipomaliza kuongea maneno haya kwa Sauli, Sauli akasema, “Hii ni sauti yako, mwanangu Daudi?” Sauli alinyanyua sauti yake akalia.
After David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, David my son?” and he wept out loud.
17 Akamwambia Daudi, “Wewe ni mwenye haki kuliko mimi. Kwa sababu umenilipa mazuri, wakati mimi nimekulipa maovu.
He told David, “You are a better person than I am, because you have repaid me with good, but I have repaid you with evil.
18 Leo umetangaza jinsi ulivyonitendea mazuri, kwa sababu hukuniua wakati BWANA aliponiweka katika rehema yako.
Today you have demonstrated how well you have treated me—for when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn't kill me.
19 Kwa kuwa mtu akimpata adui yake, atamwacha aende zake salama? Na BWANA akuzawadie mema kwa kile ulichonifanyia leo.
For if a man caught hold of his enemy, would he let him escape unharmed? The Lord reward you well for how you've treated me today.
20 Basi, najua kwa hakika kwamba utakuwa mfalme na kwamba ufalme wa Israeli utaimarika katika mkono wako.
Listen, I know you definitely will be king, and your rule over the kingdom of Israel will be secure.
21 Niapie kwa BWANA kwamba baada yangu hautawakatilia mbali uzao wangu, na kwamba hautaliharibu jina langu katika nyumba ya baba yangu.”
Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my descendants who follow me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my family line.”
22 Hivyo Daudi akamwapia Sauli kiapo. Kisha Sauli akaenda nyumbani, lakini Daudi na watu wake wakapanda kwenda ngomeni.
So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went back home, but David and his men returned to the stronghold.
