1
Ikawa, Sauli aliporudi baada ya kuwafuatia Wafilisti, aliambiwa ya kwamba, Daudi yuko katika nyika ya Engedi.
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2
Ndipo Sauli akatwaa watu elfu waliochaguliwa katika Israeli wote, akaenda kumtafuta Daudi na watu wake juu ya majabali ya mbuzi-mwitu.
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3
Akafika penye mazizi ya kondoo kando ya njia, na huko kulikuwa na pango; Sauli akaingia ndani ili kuifunika miguu. Na Daudi na watu wake walikuwa wakikaa mle pangoni ndani sana.
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
4
Nao watu wa Daudi wakamwambia, Tazama, hii ndiyo siku ile aliyokuambia Bwana, Angalia, nitamtia adui yako mikononi mwako, nawe utamtenda yo yote utakayoona kuwa mema. Basi Daudi akainuka, akaukata upindo wa vazi lake Sauli kwa siri.
So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5
Lakini halafu, moyo wake Daudi ukamchoma, kwa sababu amekata upindo wa vazi lake Sauli.
Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
6
Akawaambia watu wake, Hasha! Nisimtendee bwana wangu, masihi wa BWANA,neon hili,kuunyosha mkono wangu juu yake,kwa maana yeye ni masihi wa BWANA.
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
7
Basi Daudi akawazuia watu wake kwa maneno hayo, asiwaache kumwondokea Sauli. Kisha Sauli akatoka pangoni, akaenda zake.
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8
Daudi naye akainuka baadaye, akatoka pangoni, akamwita Sauli, akisema, Bwana wangu, mfalme. Na Sauli alipotazama nyuma, Daudi akainama uso wake hata nchi, akamsujudia.
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
9
Daudi akamwambia Sauli, Kwa nini unasikiliza maneno ya watu wasemao, Tazama, Daudi anataka kukudhuru?
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10
Tazama, leo hivi macho yako yameona jinsi Bwana alivyokutia mikononi mwangu pangoni, na watu wengine wakaniambia nikuue; lakini nikakuacha; nikasema, Sitaki kuunyosha mkono wangu juu ya bwana wangu; kwa maana yeye ni masihi wa BWANA.
Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
11
Tena, baba yangu, tazama, tafadhali, tazama upindo wa vazi lako mkononi mwangu; maana ikiwa nimeukata upindo wa vazi lako, nisikuue, ujue, na kuona ya kuwa hakuna uovu wala kosa mkononi mwangu, wala sikukukosa neno; ingawa wewe unaniwinda roho yangu ili kuikamata.
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12
Bwana atuamue, mimi na wewe, na Bwana anilipizie kisasi changu kwako; lakini mkono wangu hautakuwa juu yako.
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
13
Kama vile walivyosema watu wa kale katika mithali yao, Katika waovu hutoka uovu; ila mkono wangu hautakuwa juu yako.
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14
Na mfalme wa Israeli ametoka ili kumfuatia nani? Unamwinda nani? Ni kuwinda mbwa mfu, au kiroboto.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15
Basi Bwana atuamue, akatuhukumu mimi na wewe, akaone, akanitetee neno langu, akaniokoe na mkono wako.
May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
16
Ikawa, Daudi alipokwisha kumwambia Sauli maneno hayo Sauli alisema, Hii ndiyo sauti yako, Daudi, mwanangu? Naye Sauli akapaza sauti yake, akalia.
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
17
Akamwambia Daudi, Wewe u mwenye haki kuliko mimi; maana wewe umenitendea mema, nami nimekutenda mabaya.
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
18
Nawe umeonyesha leo jinsi ulivyonitendea mema, kwani Bwana aliponitia mikononi mwako, hukuniua.
And you have declared this day how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
19
Maana mtu akimwona adui yake, je! Atamwacha aende zake salama? Basi Bwana na akulipe mema kwa haya uliyonitendea leo.
When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
20
Na sasa, angalia, najua ya kuwa hakika utakuwa mfalme, na ufalme wa Israeli utafanyika imara mkononi mwako.
Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21
Basi sasa, uniapie kwa Bwana, ya kwamba hutawakatilia mbali wazao wangu baada yangu, wala hutaliharibu jina langu katika mbari ya baba yangu.
So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22
Naye Daudi akamwapia Sauli. Kisha Sauli akaenda zake kwao; lakini Daudi na watu wake wakapanda kwenda ngomeni.
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.