1 Samweli 23

1 Daudi alipoambiwa kuwa, “Tazama, Wafilisti wanapigana dhidi ya Keila nao wanapokonya nafaka katika sakafu za kupuria,”

Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors.

2 akauliza kwa Bwana, akisema, “Je, niende na kuwashambulia hawa Wafilisti?” Bwana akamjibu, “Nenda, washambulie Wafilisti na uuokoe Keila.”

Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go, and smite 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!”

And David’s men said to him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come 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 inquired of the LORD yet again. And 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.

So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote 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.)

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that 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.”

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And 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.

And Saul called all the people together 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.”

And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod.

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 said David, O LORD God of Israel, your servant has certainly 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? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant. And 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 said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And 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, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he declined to go forth.

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.

And David stayed in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

15 Daudi alipokuwa huko Horeshi katika Jangwa la Zifu, akajua kuwa Sauli alikuwa amekuja ili amuue.

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16 Naye Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwendea Daudi huko Horeshi na kumtia moyo kusimama imara katika imani yake kwa Mungu.

And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, 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.”

And he said to him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; and that also Saul my father knows.

18 Wote wawili wakaweka agano mbele za Bwana. Kisha Yonathani akaenda zake nyumbani, lakini Daudi akabaki Horeshi.

And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David stayed in the wood, 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 came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

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 shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.

21 Sauli akajibu, “Bwana awabariki kwa kunifikiria.

And Saul said, Blessed be you of the LORD; for you have 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.

Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there: for it is told me that he deals very subtly.

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 you again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout 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.

And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

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 also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; why he came down into a rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after 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,

And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

27 mjumbe alikuja kwa Sauli, akisema, “Njoo haraka! Wafilisti wanaishambulia nchi.”

But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

28 Ndipo Sauli akarudi akaacha kumfuata Daudi na kwenda kukabiliana na Wafilisti. Ndiyo sababu wanaiita sehemu hii Sela-Hamalekothi.

Why Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

29 Naye Daudi akakwea kutoka huko na kuishi katika ngome za En-Gedi.

And David went up from there, and dwelled in strong holds at Engedi.