1
Akafa Samweli; nao Israeli wote wakakusanyika, wakamwomboleza, wakamzika nyumbani mwake huko Rama.
When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
2
Na huko Maoni kulikuwa na mtu mmoja, ambaye alikuwa na mali yake katika Karmeli; naye yule mtu alikuwa mkuu sana, mwenye kondoo elfu tatu na mbuzi elfu; naye alikuwa akiwakata manyoya kondoo zake huko Karmeli.
Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
3
Na jina la mtu huyo aliitwa Nabali; na jina la mkewe aliitwa Abigaili, na huyo mwanamke alikuwa mwenye akili njema, mzuri wa uso; bali yule mwanamume alikuwa hana adabu, tena mwovu katika matendo yake; naye alikuwa wa mbari ya Kalebu.
His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.
4
Basi Daudi akasikia huko nyikani ya kuwa Nabali alikuwa katika kuwakata manyoya kondoo zake.
While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
5
Daudi akatuma vijana kumi, Daudi naye akawaambia hao vijana, Kweeni mwende Karmeli, na kumwendea huyu Nabali ili mnisalimie;
So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name
6
na hivi ndivyo mtakavyomwambia huyu aishiye salama, Amani na iwe kwako, na amani nyumbani mwako, na amani kwao wote ulio nao.
and say to him, ‘Long life to you, and peace to you and to your house and to all that belongs to you.
7
Nami sasa nimesikia ya kuwa una watu wanaokata manyoya kondoo zako; haya! Wachungaji wako wamekuwa pamoja nasi, wala hatukuwadhuru, wala hawakukosa kitu wakati wote walipokuwako huko Karmeli.
Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.
8
Waulize vijana wako, nao watakuambia; basi na wakubaliwe vijana hawa machoni pako; maana tumekujia katika siku ya heri; uwape, nakusihi, cho chote kitakachokujia mkononi, uwape watumwa wako na mwanao Daudi.
Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on the day of a feast. Please give whatever you can spare to your servants and to your son David.’”
9
Basi walipofika vijana wake Daudi, wakamwambia Nabali sawasawa na maneno hayo yote kwa jina la Daudi, kisha wakanyamaza.
When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.
10
Naye Nabali akawajibu wale watumishi wa Daudi, akasema, Huyu Daudi ni nani? Na mwana wa Yese ni nani? Siku hizi kuna watumwa wengi wanaomtoroka kila mtu bwana wake!
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
11
Basi mimi je! Nitwae mkate wangu, na maji yangu, na machinjo yangu niliyowachinjia hao watu wangu wakatao manyoya kondoo zangu, na kuwapa watu ambao siwajui wametoka wapi?
Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”
12
Basi vijana wake Daudi wakageuka, wakaenda zao, wakarudi, nao wakaja wakamwambia sawasawa na maneno hayo yote.
So David’s men turned around and went back, and they relayed to him all these words.
13
Kisha Daudi akawaambia watu wake, Haya! Jifungeni kila mtu upanga wake. Nao wakajifunga kila mtu upanga wake; Daudi naye akajifunga upanga wake; nao wakapanda nyuma yake Daudi, wapata kama watu mia nne; na watu mia mbili wakakaa na vyombo vyao.
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14
Lakini kijana mmojawapo alimpasha habari Abigaili, mkewe Nabali, kasema, Tazama, Daudi alituma wajumbe kutoka nyikani waje ili kumsalimu bwana wetu, naye akawatukana.
Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them.
15
Walakini watu hawa walitutendea mema sana, wala hatukupata dhara, wala sisi hatukupotewa na kitu cho chote, wakati wote tulipofuatana nao, tulipokuwako mavueni;
Yet these men were very good to us. When we were in the field, we were not harassed, and nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived among them.
16
watu hao walikuwa boma kwetu usiku na mchana, wakati wote tulipokuwa nao tukiwachunga kondoo.
They were a wall around us, both day and night, the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.
17
Basi sasa ujue na kufikiri utakayotenda; kwa sababu yamekusudiwa mabaya juu ya bwana wetu, na juu ya nyumba yake yote; kwa kuwa yeye ni mtu asiyefaa kabisa, hata mtu hawezi kusema naye.
Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
18
Ndipo Abigaili akafanya haraka, akatwaa mikate mia mbili, na viriba viwili vya divai, na kondoo watano waliofanyizwa tayari, na vipimo vitano vya bisi, na vishada mia vya zabibu, na mikate ya tini mia mbili; akavipakia vitu hivi juu ya punda.
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys
19
Akawaambia vijana wake, Haya! Tangulieni mbele yangu; angalieni, mimi nawafuata. Ila hakumwambia mumewe, Nabali.
and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20
Ikawa, alipokuwa amepanda punda wake, na kutelemka penye sitara ya mlima, tazama, Daudi na watu wake walikuwa wakishuka kumkabili; naye akawakuta.
As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.
21
Basi Daudi alikuwa amesema, Hakika ni bure nilivyokuwa nikilinda nyikani yote aliyo nayo mtu huyu, asipotewe na kitu cho chote cha mali yake yote; naye amenilipa mabaya badala ya mema.
Now David had just said, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good.
22
Mungu naye awafanyie hivyo adui za Daudi, na kuzidi, nikimwachia katika wote walio wake hata mtoto mume mmoja, kutakapopambazuka asubuhi.
May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one male belonging to Nabal survive until morning.”
23
Ndipo hapo Abigaili alipomwona Daudi, alifanya haraka kushuka juu ya punda wake, akamwangukia Daudi kifulifuli, akainama mpaka nchi.
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
24
Akamwangukia miguuni pake, akasema, Juu yangu, bwana wangu, juu yangu mimi na uwe uovu; tafadhali mjakazi wako na anene masikioni mwako, nawe uyasikilize maneno ya mjakazi wako.
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.
25
Nakusihi, bwana wangu, wewe usimwangalie huyu mtu asiyefaa, yaani, Nabali; kwa maana kama lilivyo jina lake ndivyo alivyo yeye; jina lake ndilo Nabali, na upumbavu anao; lakini mimi, mjakazi wako, sikuwaona hao vijana wa bwana wangu aliowatuma.
My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
26
Basi sasa, bwana wangu, aishivyo Bwana, na iishivyo nafsi yako, kwa kuwa Bwana amekuzuia usimwage damu, tena usijilipize kisasi mkono wako mwenyewe, basi sasa adui zako, na hao wamtakiao bwana wangu mabaya, wawe kama Nabali.
Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.
27
Na sasa zawadi hii, mjakazi wako aliyomletea bwana wangu, na wapewe vijana wamfuatao bwana wangu.
Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.
28
Nakuomba ulisamehe kosa lake mjakazi wako, kwa kuwa hakika Bwana atamfanyia bwana wangu nyumba iliyo imara, kwa sababu bwana wangu anavipiga vita vya Bwana; tena uovu hautaonekana ndani yako siku zako zote.
Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.
29
Na hata ijapokuwa binadamu angeinuka akuwinde, na kuitafuta nafsi yako, hiyo nafsi ya bwana wangu itafungwa katika furushi ya uhai pamoja na Bwana, Mungu wako; na nafsi za adui zako ndizo atakazozitupa nje, kama kutoka kati ya teo.
And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.
30
Tena itakuwa, hapo Bwana atakapokuwa amemtendea bwana wangu sawasawa na mema yote aliyoyanena juu yako, na kukutawaza juu ya Israeli;
When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,
31
hili halitakuwa kwazo, wala chukizo la moyoni kwa bwana wangu, ama ya kuwa umemwaga damu bure, ama ya kuwa bwana wangu amejilipiza kisasi mwenyewe; tena hapo Bwana atakapokuwa amemtendea bwana wangu mema, ndipo umkumbuke mjakazi wako.
then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your servant.”
32
Naye Daudi akamwambia Abigaili, Na ahimidiwe Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, ambaye amekuleta hivi leo kunilaki;
Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!
33
na ibarikiwe busara yako, na ubarikiwe wewe, uliyenizuia hivi leo nisimwage damu, wala kujilipiza kisasi kwa mkono wangu mwenyewe.
Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.
34
Kwa kuwa ni kweli, aishivyo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, aliyenizuia nisikudhuru, kwamba hungefanya haraka kuja kunilaki, hakika huyu Nabali asingaliachiwa hata mtoto mume mmoja, kutakapopambazuka asubuhi.
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”
35
Basi Daudi akapokea mkononi mwake vitu vile alivyomletea; akamwambia, Haya! Kwea kwa amani kwenda nyumbani kwako; tazama, nimeisikiliza sauti yako, nami nimeukubali uso wako.
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”
36
Kisha Abigaili alimjia Nabali; na tazama, alikuwa amefanya karamu nyumbani mwake, kama karamu ya kifalme; na moyo wake huyo Nabali ukafurahiwa ndani yake, kwa maana amelewa kabisa. Kwa sababu hiyo hakumwambia neno, dogo wala kubwa, hata kulipopambazuka.
When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
37
Ikawa asubuhi, divai ilipokuwa imemtoka Nabali, mkewe alimwambia mambo hayo, na moyo wake ukafa ndani yake, akawa kama jiwe.
In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him, and he became like a stone.
38
Tena ikawa, yapata siku kumi baadaye, Bwana alimpiga huyo Nabali, hata akafa.
About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.
39
Naye aliposikia ya kwamba Nabali amekufa, Daudi alisema, Na ahimidiwe Bwana ambaye amenitetea teto la shutumu langu mkononi mwa Nabali, na kumzuia mtumwa wake asitende maovu; tena uovu wake Nabali Bwana amemrudishia juu ya kichwa chake mwenyewe. Kisha Daudi akatuma watu, akamposa Abigaili ili amwoe.
On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
40
Na hao watumishi wa Daudi walipomjia huyo Abigaili huko Karmeli, walimwambia, wakasema, Daudi ametutuma kwako ili tukutwae uwe mkewe.
When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”
41
Naye akainuka na kujiinamisha kifulifuli mpaka nchi, akasema, Tazama, mjakazi wako ni mtumwa wa kuwaosha miguu watumishi wa bwana wangu.
She arose, bowed facedown, and said, “Here is your servant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
42
Abigaili akafanya haraka, akainuka, akapanda punda, pamoja na vijakazi watano wake waliofuatana naye, akawafuata hao wajumbe wa Daudi, akawa mkewe.
So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.
43
Tena Daudi akamwoa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli; wakawa wote wawili wakeze.
David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.
44
Walakini Sauli alikuwa amempa Palti, mwana wa Laishi, aliyekuwa mtu wa Galimu, Mikali binti yake, aliyekuwa mkewe Daudi.
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.