1 Samweli 26
1 Wazifi wakamwendea Sauli huko Gibea na kusema, “Je, Daudi akujificha katika vilima vya Hakila, ambavyo viko mbele ya jangwa?”
One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”
2 Kisha Sauli akaamka na kwenda chini ya jangwa la Zifu, akiwa na watu elfu tatu waliochaguliwa katika Israeli, wamtafute Daudi katika jangwa la Zifu.
So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.
3 Sauli akaweka kambi kwenye kilima cha Hakila, kilicho mbele ya jangwa, kando ya barabara. Lakini Daudi alikuwa akikaa nyikani, na akaona kwamba Sauli alikuwa anamfuatia huko jangwani.
Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,
4 Hivyo Daudi akawatuma wapelelezi na akafahamu kwamba hakika Sauli alikuwa amekuja.
he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
5 Daudi akaamka na kwenda hadi mahali ambapo Sauli alipiga kambi; akaona mahali alipolala Sauli, na Abneri mwana wa Neri, mkuu wa jeshi lake; Sauli alilala katikati ya kambi, na watu walipiga kambi kumzunguka, na wote wamesinzia.
Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.
6 Ndipo Daudi akamwambia Ahimeleki Mhiti, na Abishai mwana wa Seruya, ndugu yake Yoabu, “Ni nani atakwenda nami kambini kwa Sauli? Abishai akasema, “Mimi nitashuka pamoja nawe.”
David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go with you.”
7 Hivyo Daudi na Abishai wakaliendea jeshi usiku. Na Sauli alikuwapo akisinzia ndani ya kambi, mkuki wake umechomekwa chini pembeni mwa kichwa chake. Abneri na Askari wake wamelala kwa kumzunguka.
So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.
8 Kisha Abishai akamwambia Daudi, “Leo Mungu amemweka adui yako mkononi mwako. Basi tafadhali acha nimchome mkuki nimtoboe hadi chini kwa pigo moja. Sitampiga mara mbili.”
Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”
9 Daudi akamwambia Abishai, “Usimwangamize; kwa maana nani awezaye kunyoosha mkono wake dhidi ya mtiwa mafuta wa BWANA na asiwe na hatia?”
But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.
10 Daudi akasema, “Kama BWANA aishivyo, BWANA atamuua, au siku ya kufa kwake itakuja, au atakwenda katika vita na ataangamia.
Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.
11 BWANA apishe mbali nisinyooshe mkono wangu dhidi ya mtiwa mafuta wake; lakini sasa, nakusihi chukua mkuki uliokichwani pake na jagi la maji, tuondoke.”
But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”
12 Hivyo Daudi akachukua mkuki na jagi la maji kutoka kichwani pa Daudi, wakatoweka. Hakuna mtu aliyewaona au kufahamu habari hii, wala hakuna aliyetoka usingizini, maana wote walisinzia, kwa sababu usingizi mzito kutoka kwa BWANA uliwaangukia.
So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.
13 Kisha Daudi akaenda upande mwingine na akasimama juu ya mlima mbali sana; ukiwepo umbali mkubwa katikati yao.
David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.
14 Daudi akawapigia kelele watu hao na Abneri mwana Neri; akisema, “Hujibu neno, Abneri?” Ndipo Abneri akajibu na kusema, “Wewe ni nani unayempigia mfalme kelele?”
Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”
15 Daudi akamwambia Abneri, “Wewe siye mtu jasiri? Ni nani yuko kama wewe katika Israeli? Kwa nini basi hukukaa macho kumlinda bwana wako mfalme? Kwa maana mtu fulani aliingia kumuua mfalme, bwana wako.
David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.
16 Jambo hili ulilolifanya siyo zuri. Kama BWANA aishivyo, unapaswa kufa kwa sababu hukumlinda bwana wako, mtiwa mafuta wa BWANA. Na sasa tazama ulipo mkuki wa mfalme, na jagi la maji lililokuwa kichwani pake.”
You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”
17 Sauli aliitambua sauti ya Daudi akasema, “Hiyo ni sauti yako, Daudi mwanangu?” Daudi akasema, “Ni sauti yangu, mfalme, bwana wangu.”
[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”
18 Daudi akasema, “Kwa nini bwana wangu anamwandama mtumishi wake? Nimefanya nini? Mkononi mwangu kuna uovu gani?
Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?
19 Kwa hiyo sasa, nakusihi, bwana wangu mfalme asikilize maneno ya mtumishi wake. Kama ni BWANA ndiye amekuchochea dhidi yangu, na aikubali sadaka; lakini kama ni wanadamu, na walaaniwe mbele za BWANA, maana leo wamenifukuza, nisishikamane na urithi wa BWANA; wameniambia, 'Nenda ukaabudu miungu mingine.'
Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’
20 Kwa hiyo, sasa, usiiachilie damu yangu ianguke ardhini mbali na uwepo wa BWANA; kwa kuwa mfalme wa Israeli ametoka nje kutafuta kiroboto, kama vile mtu awindavyo kware milimani.”
Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”
21 Kisha Sauli akasema, “Nimefanya dhambi. Rudi, Mwanangu, Daudi; maana sitakudhuru tena, kwa sababu leo maisha yangu yalikuwa yenye thamani machoni pako. Tazama, nimetenda upumbavu na nimekosa sana.”
Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”
22 Daudi akajibu na akasema, “Tazama, mkuki wako uko hapa, mfalme! Mruhusu kijana mmojawapo aje auchukue na aulete kwako.
David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get it.
23 Na BWANA amlipe kila mtu kwa ajili ya uadilifu wake na kwa uaminifu wake; kwa sababu leo BWANA alikuweka mkononi mwangu, lakini nisinge mpiga mtiwa mafuta wake.
Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.
24 Na tazama, kama maisha yako leo yalivyokuwa ya thamani machoni pangu, vivyo hivyo maisha yangu yathaminiwe sana machoni pa BWANA, na aweze kuniokoa katika shida zote.”
Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”
25 Ndipo Sauli akamwambia Daudi, “Na ubarikiwe, mwanangu Daudi, ili uweze kutenda mambo makuu, na hakika uweze kufanikiwa.” Ndipo Daudi akaenda zake, na Sauli akarudi kwake.
Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.
