1
Basi hao Wafilisti wakakusanya majeshi yao yote huko Afeki; nao Waisraeli wakafanya kambi karibu na chemchemi iliyoko Yezreeli.
Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
2
Nao mashehe wa Wafilisti wakapita mbele, mia kwa mia, na elfu kwa elfu; naye Daudi na watu wake wakapita wa mwisho pamoja na Akishi.
As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.
3
Ndipo wakuu wa Wafilisti wakasema, Waebrania hawa wafanyani hapa? Naye Akishi akawaambia wakuu wa Wafilisti, Je! Siye huyu Daudi, yule mtumishi wa Sauli, mfalme wa Israeli, ambaye amefuatana na mimi siku hizi, naam, miaka hii, wala mimi nisione hatia kwake, tangu hapo aliponiangukia mimi hata leo?
Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”
4
Lakini wakuu wa Wafilisti wakamkasirikia; nao wakuu wa Wafilisti wakamwambia, Mrudishe huyu, apate kurejea mahali pake ulipomwagiza, wala asiende pamoja nasi vitani, asije akawa adui wetu vitani; kwani mtu huyu angejipatanisha na bwana wake kwa njia gani? Je! Si kwa vichwa vya watu hawa?
But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?
5
Je! Siye huyo Daudi, ambaye waliimbiana habari zake katika michezo, wakisema,Sauli amewaua elfu zake,Na Daudi makumi elfu yake?
Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
6
Ndipo Akishi akamwita Daudi, akamwambia, Aishivyo Bwana, wewe umekuwa mwenye adili, tena kutoka kwako na kuingia kwako pamoja nami katika jeshi ni kwema machoni pangu; kwa sababu mimi sikuona uovu ndani yako tangu siku ile uliponijia hata leo; walakini hao wakuu hawakuridhii.
So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.
7
Basi sasa urudi, uende zako kwa amani, ili usiwachukize hao mashehe wa Wafilisti.
Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”
8
Naye Daudi akamwambia Akishi, Lakini mimi nimefanyaje? Nawe umeona nini kwangu mimi mtumwa wako, muda wote niliokaa mbele yako hata leo, nisipate ruhusa niende na kupigana na adui za bwana wangu mfalme?
“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
9
Akishi akajibu, akamwambia Daudi, Mimi najua ya kuwa u mwema machoni pangu, kama malaika wa Mungu; ila hao wakuu wa Wafilisti wamesema, Huyu hatakwea pamoja nasi kwenda vitani.
Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
10
Kwa hiyo sasa amka asubuhi na mapema, wewe na watumwa wa bwana wako waliokuja pamoja nawe; nanyi mtakapoamka asubuhi na mapema, na kupata mwanga, nendeni zenu.
Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.”
11
Basi Daudi akaamka asubuhi na mapema, yeye na watu wake, kwenda zao asubuhi, kuirudia nchi ya Wafilisti. Nao Wafilisti wakakwea kwenda Yezreeli.
So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.