1
Basi Daudi akaondoka huko, akakimbilia pango la Adulamu; na ndugu zake na watu wote wa mbari ya baba yake waliposikia habari hiyo, wakamwendea huko.
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
2
Na kila mtu aliyekuwa katika hali ya dhiki, na kila mtu aliyekuwa na deni, na watu wote wenye uchungu mioyoni mwao, wakakusanyika kwake; naye akawa jemadari wao; nao waliokuwa pamoja naye walipata kama watu mia nne.
And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
3
Kutoka huko Daudi akaenda Mispa ya Moabu; akamwambia mfalme wa Moabu, Tafadhali ukubali baba yangu na mama yangu watoke huko waliko, wakakae kwenu, hata nitakapojua Mungu atakalotenda kwa ajili yangu.
From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
4
Akawaleta mbele ya mfalme wa Moabu, nao wakakaa pamoja naye wakati wote Daudi alipokuwa ngomeni.
So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
5
Kisha nabii Gadi akamwambia Daudi, Usikae hapa ngomeni; ondoka, ukaende mpaka nchi ya Yuda. Ndipo Daudi akaondoka, akaenda zake, akakaa katika msitu wa Herethi.
Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
6
Kisha Sauli akasikia ya kwamba Daudi ameonekana, na wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye. Basi Sauli alikuwa akikaa Gibea, chini ya mkwaju katika mahali palipoinuka, naye alikuwa na mkuki wake mkononi, na watumishi wake wote wakimzunguka.
Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.
7
Naye Sauli akawaambia watumishi wake waliomzunguka, Sikieni sasa, enyi Wabenyamini; je! Huyu mwana wa Yese atawapa ninyi kila mmoja mashamba, na mashamba ya mizabibu, atawafanya kuwa maakida wa watu elfu, na maakida wa watu mia;
Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
8
hata ninyi nyote mkafanya fitina juu yangu, wala hapana mtu anifunuliaye habari hii mwanangu afanyapo agano na mwana wa Yese, wala hapana mmoja wenu anayenisikitikia, wala kunifunulia ya kuwa mwanangu amemwondokesha mtumishi wangu juu yangu, anivizie kama hivi leo?
Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
9
Ndipo akajibu Doegi, Mwedomi, aliyesimama karibu na watumishi wa Sauli, akasema, Mimi nalimwona mwana wa Yese akienda Nobu, kwa Ahimeleki, mwana wa Ahitubu.
But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
10
Naye akamwuliza Bwana kwa ajili yake, akampa vyakula, akampa na ule upanga wa Goliathi, Mfilisti.
Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11
Ndipo mfalme akatuma watu waende kumwita Ahimeleki, kuhani, mwana wa Ahitubu, na jamaa yote ya baba yake, hao makuhani, waliokuwako huko Nobu; nao wakaenda kwa mfalme wote pia.
Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
12
Sauli akasema, Sikia sasa, Ewe mwana wa Ahitubu. Naye akaitika, Mimi hapa, bwana wangu.
“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied.
13
Sauli akamwuliza, Mbona mmefanya fitina juu yangu, wewe na mwana wa Yese? Kwa maana umempa mikate, na upanga, nawe umemwuliza Mungu kwa ajili yake, ili aniondokee na kunivizia kama hivi leo?
And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”
14
Basi Ahimeleki akamjibu mfalme, akasema, Katika watumishi wako wote ni nani aliye mwaminifu kama Daudi, aliye mkwewe mfalme, tena msiri wako, mwenye heshima nyumbani mwako?
Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?
15
Je! Mimi nimeanza leo tu kumwuliza Mungu kwa ajili yake? Hasha! Mfalme asinidhanie mimi, mtumishi wake neno hili, Wala jamaa yote ya baba yangu, kwa maana mimi, mtumishi wako siyajui hayo yote, yaliyopungua au yaliyozidi.
Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”
16
Naye mfalme akasema, Kufa utakufa, Ahimeleki, wewe na jamaa yote ya baba yako.
But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”
17
Kisha mfalme akawaambia askari walinzi waliosimama karibu naye Geukeni, mkawaue hao makuhani wa Bwana, kwa sababu mkono wao u pamoja na Daudi, na kwa sababu walijua ya kuwa amekimbia, wasiniarifu. Lakini watumishi wa mfalme walikataa kunyosha mkono na kuwaangukia makuhani wa Bwana.
Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
18
Basi mfalme akamwambia Doegi, Geuka wewe, ukawaangukia hao makuhani. Basi Doegi, Mwedomi, akageuka, akawaangukia makuhani, akaua siku ile watu themanini na watano wenye kuvaa naivera ya kitani.
So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
19
Kisha akaupiga Nobu, mji wa makuhani, kwa makali ya upanga, wanaume na wanawake, watoto na wanyonyao, na ng'ombe, na punda, na kondoo.
He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
20
Na katika wana wa Ahimeleki, mwana wa Ahitubu, akaokoka mtu mmoja tu, aliyeitwa jina lake Abiathari, akamkimbilia Daudi.
But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
21
Naye Abiathari akamweleza Daudi ya kwamba Sauli amewaua makuhani wa Bwana.
And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.
22
Daudi akamwambia Abiathari, Siku ile alipokuwako Doegi, Mwedomi, nalijua yakini ya kuwa atamwambia Sauli; mimi nimewapatia watu wote wa jamaa ya baba yako kifo.
Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
23
Kaa wewe pamoja nami, usiogope; kwa maana yeye atafutaye roho yangu, ndiye atafutaye na roho yako; nawe utakaa kwangu salama.
Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.”