1
Kisha wakamwambia Daudi, kusema, Angalia, Wafilisti wanapigana vita juu ya Keila na kuiba nafaka sakafuni mwa kupuria.
Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”
2
Basi Daudi akamwuliza Bwana, kusema, Je! Niende nikawapige hao Wafilisti? Naye Bwana akamwambia Daudi, Nenda ukawapige Wafilisti, na kuuokoa Keila.
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3
Ila watu wake Daudi wakamwambia, Tazama, sisi tunaogopa hapa katika Yuda; je! Si zaidi tukienda Keila juu ya majeshi ya Wafilisti?
But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4
Basi Daudi akamwuliza Bwana tena, Naye Bwana akamjibu, akasema, Ondoka, ukashukie Keila; kwa kuwa nitawatia hao Wafilisti mikononi mwako.
Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
5
Ndipo wakaenda Keila, Daudi na watu wake, wakapigana na hao Wafilisti, wakateka nyara ng'ombe zao, na kuwaua uuaji mkuu. Hivyo Daudi akawaokoa watu wa Keila.
Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.
6
Ikawa Abiathari, mwana wa Ahimeleki, alipomkimbilia Daudi huko Keila, alishuka na naivera mkononi mwake.
(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
7
Kisha Sauli aliambiwa ya kwamba Daudi amefika Keila. Sauli akasema, Mungu amemtia mkononi mwangu; kwa maana amefungwa ndani, kwa vile alivyoingia katika mji wenye malango na makomeo.
When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
8
Basi Sauli akawaita watu wote waende vitani, ili waishukie Keila, na kumhusuru Daudi na watu wake.
Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9
Naye Daudi alifahamu ya kuwa Sauli amemkusudia mabaya; akamwambia Abiathari, kuhani, Lete hapa hiyo naivera.
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10
Ndipo Daudi akasema, Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mimi mtumwa wako nimesikia hakika ya kuwa Sauli anataka kuja huku Keila, ili kuuharibu mji kwa ajili yangu.
And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.
11
Je! Watu wa Keila watanitoa, nitiwe mkononi mwake? Je! Sauli atashuka, kama mtumwa wako alivyosikia? Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, nakusihi, umwambie mtumwa wako. Naye Bwana akamjibu, Atashuka.
Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.
12
Ndipo Daudi akasema, Je! Watu wa Keila watanitia mimi na watu wangu mkononi mwake Sauli? Bwana akasema, Watakutia.
So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.
13
Basi Daudi na watu wake, ambao wapata kama mia sita, wakaondoka na kutoka Keila, wakaenda po pote walipoweza kwenda. Kisha Sauli akaambiwa ya kwamba Daudi amekimbia toka Keila; akaacha kutoka nje.
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.
14
Basi Daudi alikuwa akikaa nyikani ngomeni, akakaa katika nchi ya milima milima kwenye nyika ya Zifu. Naye Sauli alikuwa akimtafuta kila siku, lakini Mungu hakumtia mikononi mwake.
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.
15
Daudi akaona ya kwamba Sauli ametoka nje ili kutafuta roho yake; naye Daudi akawako katika nyika ya Zifu, huko Horeshi.
While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
16
Ndipo Yonathani, mwana wa Sauli, akainuka akamwendea Daudi huko Horeshi, akamtia nguvu mkono wake katika Mungu.
And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
17
Akamwambia, Usiogope, kwa maana mkono wa Sauli, babangu, hautakupata; na wewe utakuwa mfalme juu ya Israeli; na mimi nitakuwa wa pili wako; ndivyo ajuavyo hata Sauli, babangu.
saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
18
Na hao wawili wakafanya agano mbele za Bwana; Daudi naye akakaa huko Horeshi, na Yonathani akaenda nyumbani kwake.
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
19
Ndipo wale Wazifi wakakwea kwa Sauli huko Gibea, wakasema, Je! Yule Daudi hakujificha kwetu ngomeni mwa Horeshi, kilimani pa Hakila upande wa kusini wa Yeshimoni?
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
20
Basi sasa, Ee mfalme, ushuke, kama utakavyo nafsini mwako kushuka; na kazi yetu itakuwa kumtia mkononi mwa mfalme.
Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”
21
Naye Sauli akasema, Na mbarikiwe ninyi na Bwana; kwa sababu mmenihurumia.
“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.
22
Nendeni, nawasihi, mkazidi kupata hakika, mkajue na kuona mahali pake anapojificha, tena ni nani aliyemwona huko; maana nimeambiwa ya kwamba atenda kwa hila nyingi.
Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.
23
Chunguzeni basi, mkayajue maficho yake yote anapojificha; kisha njoni kwangu, tena msikose, nami nitakwenda pamoja nanyi; tena itakuwa, akiwapo katika nchi, mimi nitamtafuta-tafuta katika elfu zote za Yuda.
Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”
24
Nao wakaondoka, wakaenda Zifu kumtangulia Sauli; lakini Daudi na watu wake walikuwapo nyikani pa Maoni, katika Araba upande wa kusini wa jangwa.
So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,
25
Basi Sauli na watu wake wakaenda kumtafuta. Watu wakamwambia Daudi; basi kwa hiyo akashuka mpaka mwambani, akakaa nyikani pa Maoni. Naye Sauli alipopata habari, alimwinda Daudi nyikani pa Maoni.
and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.
26
Sauli akaenda upande huu wa mlima, na Daudi na watu wake wakaenda upande huu wa mlima; naye Daudi akafanya haraka sana kwenda zake kwa hofu ya Sauli; kwa sababu Sauli na watu wake wakamzunguka Daudi na watu wake ili kuwakamata.
Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
27
Lakini akaja mjumbe kwa Sauli, kusema, Njoo upesi, kwa kuwa Wafilisti wameishambulia nchi.
Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”
28
Basi Sauli akarudi kutoka kumwinda Daudi, akaenda kinyume cha Wafilisti; kwa hiyo wakapaita mahali pale, Selahamalekothi.
So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.
29
Naye Daudi akakwea kutoka huko, akakaa katika ngome ya Engedi.
And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.