Ndebele - I Samuel

Chapter 1

1:1  Kwakukhona-ke indoda ethile yeRamathayimi-Zofimu entabeni yakoEfrayimi; lebizo layo lalinguElkana indodana kaJerohamu, indodana kaElihu, indodana kaTohu, indodana kaZufi umEfrayimi.

1:2  Njalo yayilabafazi ababili; ibizo lomunye lalinguHana, lebizo lomunye lalinguPenina. Njalo uPenina wayelabantwana, kodwa uHana wayengelabantwana.

1:3  Leyondoda yenyuka-ke isuka emzini wayo iminyaka ngeminyaka ukuyakhonza lokuhlabela iNkosi yamabandla eShilo, njalo kwakukhona lapho amadodana amabili kaEli, uHofini loPhinehasi, abapristi beNkosi.

1:4  Kwakusithi mhla uElkana ehlaba, wanika uPenina umkakhe lawo wonke amadodana akhe lamadodakazi akhe izabelo;

1:5  kodwa uHana wamnika isabelo esiphindwe kabili, ngoba wayemthanda uHana; kodwa iNkosi yayisivalile isizalo sakhe.

1:6  Lesitha sakhe laso samcaphula ngentukuthelo ukuze simkhathaze, ngoba iNkosi yayisivalile isizalo sakhe.

1:7  Wayesenza njalo-ke iminyaka ngeminyaka; kusukela lapho esenyukela endlini yeNkosi, ngokunjalo samcaphula. Ngakho walila, kadlanga.

1:8  UElkana umkakhe wasesithi kuye: Hana, ulilelani? Njalo kawudli ngani? Kungani-ke inhliziyo yakho idabukile? Mina kangingcono kuwe kulamadodana alitshumi yini?

1:9  Ngakho uHana wasukuma emva kokudla eShilo langemva kokunatha. UEli umpristi wayehlezi-ke esihlalweni phansi kwensika yethempeli leNkosi.

1:10  Njalo wayelobuhlungu emphefumulweni, wasekhuleka eNkosini ekhala lokukhala inyembezi.

1:11  Wasefunga isifungo wathi: Nkosi yamabandla, uba ungabona lokubona ukuhlupheka kwencekukazi yakho, ungikhumbule, ungakhohlwa incekukazi yakho, kodwa unike incekukazi yakho inzalo yesilisa, ngizamnika iNkosi insuku zonke zempilo yakhe, lempuco kayiyikwedlula ekhanda lakhe.

1:12  Kwasekusithi esaqhubeka ukukhuleka phambi kweNkosi, uEli waqaphelisa umlomo wakhe.

1:13  UHana wayekhulumela-ke enhliziyweni yakhe, kwanyikinyeka indebe zakhe kuphela, kodwa ilizwi lakhe lalingezwakali; ngakho uEli wacabanga ukuthi udakiwe.

1:14  UEli wasesithi kuye: Koze kube nini udakwa? Susa iwayini lakho kuwe.

1:15  UHana wasephendula wathi: Hatshi, nkosi yami, ngingowesifazana odabukileyo emoyeni; kanginathanga wayini loba okunathwayo okulamandla, kodwa bengithulula umphefumulo wami phambi kweNkosi.

1:16  Ungayithathi incekukazi yakho njengendodakazi kaBheliyali, ngoba ebunengini bosizi lwami lenkathazo yami sengikhulume kwaze kwaba khathesi.

1:17  UEli wasephendula wathi: Hamba ngokuthula; uNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli akunike isicelo sakho osicele kuye.

1:18  Wasesithi: Incekukazi yakho kayithole umusa emehlweni akho. Ngakho owesifazana wahamba ngendlela yakhe, wadla; lobuso bakhe abaze busanyukumala ngakho.

1:19  Basebevuka ekuseni kakhulu, bakhonza phambi kweNkosi, basebebuyela bafika emzini wabo eRama. UElkana wasemazi uHana umkakhe, leNkosi yamkhumbula.

1:20  Kwasekusithi ekuqhubekeni kwesikhathi uHana wakhulelwa, wabeletha indodana, wayitha ibizo layo uSamuweli; ngoba wathi: Ngimcelile eNkosini.

1:21  Lendoda uElkana lendlu yakhe yonke benyukela ukuyahlabela iNkosi umhlatshelo weminyaka ngeminyaka, lesifungo sakhe.

1:22  Kodwa uHana kenyukanga, ngoba wathi kumkakhe: Kangiyikuhamba aze alunyulwe umfana; khona ngizamletha ukuze abonakale phambi kweNkosi, abesehlala khona kuze kube nininini.

1:23  UElkana umkakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza okulungileyo emehlweni akho; hlala uze umlumule; kuphela, iNkosi kayiqinise ilizwi lakho. Ngokunjalo owesifazana wahlala, wayimunyisa indodana yakhe waze wayilumula.

1:24  Wasesenyuka layo eseyilumule, elamajongosi amathathu, le-efa* elilodwa lempuphu, lembodlela yewayini, wayiletha endlini yeNkosi eShilo; lomfana wayemncinyane.

1:25  Balihlaba ijongosi, bamletha umntwana kuEli.

1:26  Wasesithi: Hawu nkosi yami, kuphila komphefumulo wakho, nkosi yami, yimi owesifazana owayemi lawe lapha, ekhuleka eNkosini.

1:27  Ngakhulekela lo umfana, njalo iNkosi inginikile isicelo sami engasicela kuyo.

1:28  Ngakho lami ngimnikele eNkosini, zonke izinsuku ekhona; wacelwa eNkosini. Wasekhonza iNkosi lapho.

Chapter 2

2:1  UHana wasekhuleka esithi: Inhliziyo yami iyathokoza eNkosini. Uphondo lwami luphakanyisiwe eNkosini. Umlomo wami wenziwe banzi phezu kwezitha zami, ngoba ngiyajabula ngosindiso lwakho.

2:2  Kakho ongcwele njengeNkosi, ngoba kakho ngaphandle kwakho; futhi kalikho idwala elinjengoNkulunkulu wethu.

2:3  Lingabe lisakhuluma ngokuzigqaja lokuzigqaja, kungaphumi ukuziqakisa emlonyeni wenu; ngoba iNkosi inguNkulunkulu wolwazi, lezenzo zilinganiswa yiyo.

2:4  Idandili lamaqhawe lephukile, kodwa abakhubekileyo babhince amandla.

2:5  Ababesuthi baziqhatshisile ngesinkwa, lababelambile kabasenjalo, kwaze kwathi oyinyumba uzele abayisikhombisa, lolabantwana abanengi uphele amandla.

2:6  INkosi iyabulala njalo iyaphilisa, iyehlisela engcwabeni njalo yenyuse.

2:7  INkosi ipha ubuyanga, njalo iyanothisa; iyehlisela phansi, njalo iphakamise.

2:8  Iyamphakamisa umyanga ethulini, imphakamisa oswelayo enqunjini yomquba, ukuze ibahlalise leziphathamandla, ibadlise ilifa lesihlalo sobukhosi sodumo; ngoba insika zomhlaba zingezeNkosi, ibekile ilizwe phezu kwazo.

2:9  Izagcina inyawo zabangcwele bayo, kodwa ababi bazathuliswa emnyameni; ngoba umuntu kayikunqoba ngamandla.

2:10  Abalwa leNkosi bazaphahlazwa; izaduma phezu kwabo isemazulwini; iNkosi izakwahlulela imikhawulo yomhlaba, inike inkosi yayo amandla, iphakamise uphondo logcotshiweyo wayo.

2:11  UElkana waya eRama endlini yakhe. Lomfana wayekhonza iNkosi phambi kukaEli umpristi.

2:12  Amadodana kaEli ayengabantwana bakaBheliyali; kawayazanga-ke iNkosi.

2:13  Njalo umkhuba wabapristi labantu wawunje; wonke umuntu ohlaba umhlatshelo, kube sekufika inceku yompristi, inyama isaphekiwe, ilefologwe elencijo ezintathu esandleni sayo,

2:14  ihlabe ngayo edengezini, loba egedleleni, loba ebhodweni, loba embizeni; konke ifologwe ekukhuphayo umpristi wayezithathela khona. Benze njalo kuIsrayeli wonke ofika lapho eShilo.

2:15  Njalo engakatshisi amahwahwa, inceku yompristi ifike ithi emuntwini ohlabayo: Letha inyama yokosela umpristi, ngoba kayikuthatha kuwe inyama ephekiweyo, kodwa eluhlaza.

2:16  Uba lowomuntu esithi kuyo: Kabatshise lokutshisa amahwahwa khathesi, ubusuzithathela njengokuthanda komphefumulo wakho; ibisisithi kuye: Hatshi, nginika khathesi; uba kungenjalo, ngizayithatha ngamandla.

2:17  Ngakho isono samajaha saba sikhulu kakhulu phambi kweNkosi; ngoba abantu badelela umnikelo weNkosi.

2:18  Kodwa uSamuweli wayekhonza phambi kweNkosi engumfana ebhince i-efodi* yelembu elicolekileyo.

2:19  Futhi unina wayemenzela ijazana, amphathele lona umnyaka ngomnyaka ekwenyukeni kwakhe lomkakhe ukuyahlaba umhlatshelo womnyaka.

2:20  UEli wasebabusisa oElkana lomkakhe, wathi: INkosi ikunike inzalo ngalowesifazana endaweni yesicelo esicelwe eNkosini. Basebesiya endaweni yabo.

2:21  INkosi isimhambele uHana, wasethatha isisu, wazala amadodana amathathu lamadodakazi amabili. Umfana uSamuweli wasekhula eleNkosi.

2:22  Kodwa uEli wayesemdala kakhulu; wakuzwa konke amadodana akhe akwenza kuIsrayeli wonke, lokuthi ayelala labesifazana ababuthana emnyango wethente lenhlangano.

2:23  Wasesithi kuwo: Lenzelani izinto ezinje? Ngoba ngiyezwa ngabo bonke abantu ngezenzo zenu ezimbi.

2:24  Hatshi, madodana ami; ngoba kakusumbiko omuhle engiwuzwayo ukuthi lenza abantu beNkosi baphambuke.

2:25  Uba umuntu esona komunye, abahluleli bazamahlulela; kodwa uba umuntu esona eNkosini, ngubani ozamlamulela? Kodwa kawalalelanga ilizwi likayise; ngoba iNkosi yayifuna ukuwabulala.

2:26  Umfana uSamuweli waseqhubeka ekhula, ethandeka kubo bobabili iNkosi labantu.

2:27  Kwasekufika umuntu kaNkulunkulu kuEli, wathi kuye: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngabonakaliswa lokubonakaliswa yini kuyo indlu kayihlo beseGibhithe endlini kaFaro?

2:28  Ngamkhetha yini kuzo zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli ukuthi abe ngumpristi wami, anikele elathini lami, atshise impepha, agqoke i-efodi phambi kwami? Ngayinika yini indlu kayihlo yonke iminikelo yabantwana bakoIsrayeli eyenziwe ngomlilo?

2:29  Kungani likhahlela imihlatshelo yami leminikelo yami engiyilayileyo endlini yami, njalo uhlonipha amadodana akho okwedlula mina, ngokuzikhuluphalisa ngekhethelo leminikelo yonke kaIsrayeli, abantu bami?

2:30  Ngakho iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ithi: Ngathi lokuthi: Indlu yakho lendlu kayihlo zizahamba phambi kwami kuze kube nininini; kodwa khathesi ithi iNkosi: Kakube khatshana lami; ngoba abangihloniphayo ngizabahlonipha, labangidelelayo bazakweyiswa.

2:31  Khangela, insuku ziyeza engizaquma ngazo ingalo yakho lengalo yendlu kayihlo, kungabi khona ixhegu endlini yakho.

2:32  Njalo uzabona ukuhlupheka kwendlu yami, kuyo yonke impumelelo ezayenzela uIsrayeli; njalo kakuyikuba lexhegu endlini yakho zonke izinsuku.

2:33  Lowo-ke owakho engingayikumquma asuke elathini lami uzakuba ngowokuqeda amehlo akho, lokudabula umphefumulo wakho; lakho konke ukwanda kwendlu yakho kuzakufa kusebudodeni.

2:34  Lalokhu kuzakuba yisiboniso kuwe okuzakwehlela amadodana akho womabili, kuHofini loPhinehasi; bobabili bazakufa ngasuku lunye.

2:35  Ngizazimisela umpristi othembekileyo; uzakwenza njengokusenhliziyweni yami lemphefumulweni wami. Njalo ngizamakhela indlu eqinileyo; uzahamba-ke phambi kogcotshiweyo wami zonke izinsuku.

2:36  Kuzakuthi-ke wonke oseleyo endlini yakho uzakuza akhothame kuye ngenxa yembadalo yesiliva leqebelengwana lesinkwa, athi: Ake ungibeke kwesinye sezikhundla zompristi ukuze ngidle ucezu lwesinkwa.

Chapter 3

3:1  Umfana uSamuweli wayesebenzela iNkosi phambi kukaEli. Lelizwi leNkosi laliligugu ngalezonsuku; kwakungekho lombono osabaleleyo.

3:2  Kwasekusithi ngalolosuku uEli elele endaweni yakhe, lamehlo akhe eseqala ukufiphala engelakubona,

3:3  lesibane sikaNkulunkulu sasingakacitshwa, njalo uSamuweli wayelele ethempelini leNkosi, lapho okwakukhona umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu,

3:4  iNkosi yambiza uSamuweli, owathi: Khangela ngilapha.

3:5  Wasegijimela kuEli, wathi: Khangela ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile. Wasesithi: Kangibizanga, buyela ulale. Wasesiyalala.

3:6  INkosi yasibuya imbiza uSamuweli futhi. USamuweli wasevuka waya kuEli, wathi: Khangela ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile. Kodwa wathi: Kangibizanga, ndodana yami; buyela ulale.

3:7  Kodwa uSamuweli wayengakayazi iNkosi, lelizwi leNkosi lalingakembulwa kuye.

3:8  INkosi yasimbiza futhi uSamuweli ngokwesithathu. Wasevuka waya kuEli wathi: Khangela ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile. UEli waseqedisisa ukuthi iNkosi imbizile umfana.

3:9  Ngakho uEli wathi kuSamuweli: Hamba uyelala; kuzakuthi-ke nxa ikubiza uzakuthi: Khuluma Nkosi, ngoba inceku yakho iyezwa. Wasehamba uSamuweli, walala endaweni yakhe.

3:10  INkosi yasisiza, yema, yabiza njengakwezinye izikhathi: Samuweli, Samuweli! Wasesithi uSamuweli: Khuluma, ngoba inceku yakho iyezwa.

3:11  INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Khangela, ngizakwenza into koIsrayeli ezakhenceza indlebe zombili zalowo wonke oyizwayo.

3:12  Ngalolosuku ngizakwenza ngimelene loEli konke engakukhuluma ngendlu yakhe; ngiqalise ngiqede.

3:13  Ngoba ngimtshelile ukuthi ngizagweba indlu yakhe kuze kube nininini ngesiphambeko asaziyo, ngoba amadodana akhe azenza aqalekiswa, kodwa kawakhuzanga.

3:14  Ngakho-ke ngifungile kuyo indlu kaEli ukuthi ububi bendlu kaEli kabuyikuhlangulwa ngomhlatshelo langomnikelo kuze kube phakade.

3:15  USamuweli waselala kwaze kwasa; wavula iminyango yendlu yeNkosi, kodwa uSamuweli wesaba ukumtshela uEli umbono.

3:16  UEli wasembiza uSamuweli, wathi: Samuweli, ndodana yami. Wasesithi: Khangela ngilapha.

3:17  Wasesithi: Yinto bani eyikhulume kuwe? Ake ungangifihleli; kenze njalo uNkulunkulu kuwe, ngokunjalo engezelele, uba ungifihlela ulutho lwazo zonke izinto akutshele zona.

3:18  Ngakho uSamuweli wasemtshela zonke izinto, kamfihlelanga lutho. Wasesithi: YiNkosi, kayenze lokho okulungileyo emehlweni ayo.

3:19  Wakhula-ke uSamuweli, leNkosi yayilaye, kayiyekelanga lelilodwa lamazwi ayo liwele emhlabathini.

3:20  UIsrayeli wonke-ke kusukela koDani kuze kube seBherishebha wazi ukuthi uSamuweli uqinisiwe ukuthi abe ngumprofethi weNkosi.

3:21  INkosi yaphinda yabonakala eShilo, ngoba iNkosi yazibonakalisa kuSamuweli eShilo ngelizwi leNkosi.

Chapter 4

4:1  Ilizwi likaSamuweli lafika kuIsrayeli wonke. UIsrayeli wasephuma ukuyamelana lamaFilisti empini, bamisa inkamba ngaseEbeni-Ezeri, lamaFilisti amisa inkamba eAfeki.

4:2  AmaFilisti asezihlela ukumelana loIsrayeli; kwathi impi isabalala, uIsrayeli watshaywa phambi kwamaFilisti; njalo atshaya emaviyweni egangeni phose amadoda azinkulungwane ezine.

4:3  Kwathi abantu befika enkambeni, abadala bakoIsrayeli bathi: INkosi isitshayeleni lamuhla phambi kwamaFilisti? Asizithatheleni eShilo umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi; nxa usiza phakathi kwethu uzasisindisa esandleni sezitha zethu.

4:4  Ngakho abantu bathumela eShilo, ukuthi bathathe khona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi yamabandla, ehlala phakathi kwamakherubhi*; lamadodana amabili kaEli, uHofini loPhinehasi, ayelapho lomtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.

4:5  Kwasekusithi lapho umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi ufika enkambeni, uIsrayeli wonke wahlokoma ngokuhlokoma okukhulu kwaze kwaduma umhlaba.

4:6  Lapho amaFilisti esizwa umsindo wokuhlokoma athi: Utshoni umsindo walokhukuhlokoma okukhulu enkambeni yamaHebheru? Asesazi ukuthi umtshokotsho weNkosi ufikile enkambeni.

4:7  AmaFilisti asesesaba, ngoba athi: UNkulunkulu ufikile enkambeni. Athi-ke: Maye kithi! Ngoba kakuzanga kwenzeke okunje mandulo.

4:8  Maye kithi! Ngubani ozasophula esandleni salaba onkulunkulu abalamandla? Laba ngonkulunkulu abatshaya amaGibhithe ngazo zonke inhlupheko enkangala.

4:9  Qinani, libe ngamadoda, maFilisti, hlezi lisebenzele amaHebheru njengoba alisebenzela. Ngakho banini ngamadoda, lilwe.

4:10  Ngakho amaFilisti alwa, loIsrayeli watshaywa, babalekela, ngulowo lalowo ethenteni lakhe. Njalo kwaba lokubulawa okukhulu kakhulu, ngoba kwawa koIsrayeli abayizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu abahamba ngenyawo.

4:11  Umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wasuthathwa, lamadodana womabili kaEli, uHofini loPhinehasi, abulawa.

4:12  Kwasekugijima umuntu wakoBhenjamini evela emaviyweni, wafika eShilo ngalolosuku, lezigqoko zakhe zidatshuliwe elenhlabathi ekhanda lakhe.

4:13  Ekufikeni kwakhe, khangela-ke, uEli wayehlezi esihlalweni eceleni kwendlela elindile, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe yayithuthumelela umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu. Kwathi lowomuntu esengenile emzini ukubika, kwakhala umuzi wonke.

4:14  Lapho uEli esizwa umsindo wokukhala wathi: Uyini umsindo wale inhlokomo? Lowomuntu wasephangisa weza wamtshela uEli.

4:15  Njalo uEli wayeleminyaka engamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye leyisificaminwembili, lamehlo akhe ema ukuthi ayengelakho ukubona.

4:16  Lowomuntu wasesithi kuEli: Nginguye ovela emaviyweni; ngibaleke emaviyweni lamuhla. Wasesithi: Kwenziweni, ndodana yami?

4:17  Owaletha umbiko wasephendula wathi: UIsrayeli ubalekile phambi kwamaFilisti, futhi kube lokubulawa okukhulu ebantwini, njalo lamadodana akho womabili, uHofini loPhinehasi, afile, lomtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe.

4:18  Kwasekusithi esekhulume ngomtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu, wawa nyovane esihlalweni eceleni kwesango, kwephuka intamo yakhe, wafa, ngoba lowomuntu wayemdala, enzima. Njalo wayahlulele uIsrayeli iminyaka engamatshumi amane.

4:19  Lomalokazana wakhe, umkaPhinehasi, wayekhulelwe, esezabeletha; esezwile umbiko wokuthi umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe, lokuthi uyisezala lomkakhe bafile, wakhothama wabeletha, ngoba wafikelwa yimihelo.

4:20  Njalo phose ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe abesifazana ababemi belaye bathi: Ungesabi, ngoba ubelethe indodana. Kodwa kaphendulanga njalo kazange akunanze.

4:21  Wambiza umfana ngokuthi nguIkabodi, esithi: Inkazimulo isukile koIsrayeli; ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe, langenxa kayisezala lomkakhe.

4:22  Wasesithi: Inkazimulo isukile koIsrayeli ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe.

Chapter 5

5:1  AmaFilisti asewuthatha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu awususa eEbeni-Ezeri awusa eAshidodi.

5:2  AmaFilisti asethatha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu, awungenisa endlini kaDagoni, awubeka ngakuDagoni.

5:3  Kwathi abeAshidodi bevuka kusisa ngovivi, khangela, uDagoni esewile ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini phambi komtshokotsho weNkosi. Basebemthatha uDagoni, bambuyisela endaweni yakhe.

5:4  Sebevukile kusisa ekuseni kakhulu, khangela, uDagoni wayesewile ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini phambi komtshokotsho weNkosi, lekhanda likaDagoni lempama zombili zezandla zakhe kwakuqunyiwe embundwini; kwasala kuye isithombo kuphela.

5:5  Ngakho abapristi bakaDagoni labo bonke abangena endlini kaDagoni kabanyatheli embundwini kaDagoni eAshidodi kuze kube lamuhla.

5:6  Kodwa isandla seNkosi saba nzima phezu kwabeAshidodi, yabachitha, yabatshaya ngamathumba ophayo, iAshidodi lemingcele yayo.

5:7  Kwathi abantu beAshidodi sebebona ukuthi kunjalo, bathi: Umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli kawungahlali kithi, ngoba isandla sakhe sinzima phezu kwethu laphezu kukaDagoni unkulunkulu wethu.

5:8  Ngakho bathuma babuthanisa zonke iziphathamandla zamaFilisti kibo, bathi: Sizakwenzani ngomtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli? Zasezisithi: Umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli kawubhode uye eGathi. Basebewubhodisa bewusa khona umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli.

5:9  Kwasekusithi sebewubhodise bewuthwele, isandla seNkosi sasimelene lomuzi ngomonakalo omkhulu kakhulu, yatshaya abantu bomuzi, kusukela komncinyane kusiya komkhulu; kwasekuqhamuka amathumba ophayo kubo.

5:10  Basebewuthumela umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu eEkhironi. Kwasekusithi ekufikeni komtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu eEkhironi, abeEkhironi bakhala besithi: Babhodise baletha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli kithi ukusibulala labantu bakithi.

5:11  Ngakho bathuma babuthanisa zonke iziphathamandla zamaFilisti, bathi: Thumani lisuse umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli ukuthi ubuyele endaweni yawo, ukuze ungasibulali labantu bakithi, ngoba kwakulomonakalo wokufa emzini wonke, lesandla sikaNkulunkulu sasinzima kakhulu khona.

5:12  Labantu abangafanga batshaywa ngamathumba ophayo; lokukhala komuzi kwenyukela emazulwini.

Chapter 6

6:1  Lomtshokotsho weNkosi wawuselizweni lamaFilisti inyanga eziyisikhombisa.

6:2  AmaFilisti asebiza abapristi labavumisi, esithi: Sizawenzelani umtshokotsho weNkosi? Saziseni ukuthi singawuthumeza lani endaweni yawo.

6:3  Basebesithi: Uba lingawuthumeza umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli, lingawuthumezi uze, kodwa libuyisele lokubuyisela kuye umnikelo wecala. Khona-ke lizasiliswa, njalo kuzakwaziwa kini ukuthi kungani isandla sakhe singasuki kini.

6:4  Basebesithi: Uzakuba yini umnikelo wecala esizawubuyisela kuye? Basebesithi: Amathumba ophayo egolide amahlanu lamagundwane amahlanu egolide, njengokwenani leziphathamandla zamaFilisti; ngoba bekulenhlupheko eyodwa kini lonke lakuziphathamandla zenu.

6:5  Ngakho lizakwenza imifanekiso yamathumba enu ophayo lemifanekiso yamagundwane enu alonayo ilizwe, limnike udumo uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli; mhlawumbe angenza lula isandla sakhe sisuke phezu kwenu sisuke laphezu kwabonkulunkulu benu sisuke laphezu kwelizwe lenu.

6:6  Lenzelani-ke inhliziyo zenu zibe lukhuni njengamaGibhithe loFaro benza inhliziyo zabo zaba lukhuni? Emva kokuthi esenze kabuhlungu kubo kabavumelanga yini ukuthi bahambe, basebehamba?

6:7  Ngakho-ke thathani lilungise inqola entsha lamankomokazi amabili amunyisayo okungezanga jogwe phezu kwawo, liwabophele amankomokazi enqoleni, liwabuyisele ekhaya amankonyana awo asuke emva kwawo.

6:8  Lithathe umtshokotsho weNkosi, liwubeke enqoleni, lempahla zegolide elizibuyisela kuye zibe ngumnikelo wecala, lizifake ebhokisini eceleni kwawo; liyithumeze ihambe.

6:9  Libone aluba isenyuka ngendlela yomngcele wawo eya eBeti-Shemeshi, yiyo esenzele lobububi obukhulu; kodwa uba kungenjalo, sizakwazi ukuthi kakusiso isandla sayo esisitshayileyo, sehlelwe yingozi nje.

6:10  Abantu basebesenza njalo, bathatha amankomokazi amabili amunyisayo, bawabophela enqoleni, bawavalela amankonyana awo ekhaya.

6:11  Bawubeka umtshokotsho weNkosi enqoleni lebhokisi elilamagundwane egolide lezithombe zamathumba abo ophayo.

6:12  Amankomokazi aseqonda endleleni, ngendlela eya eBeti-Shemeshi, ahamba ngomgwaqo omkhulu ehamba ebhonsa, engaphambukeli ngakwesokunene loba ngakwesokhohlo, leziphathamandla zamaFilisti zawalandela kwaze kwaba semngceleni weBeti-Shemeshi.

6:13  AbeBeti-Shemeshi babevuna isivuno sengqoloyi esigodini; lapho bephakamisa amehlo abo, bawubona umtshokotsho, bathokoza ukuwubona.

6:14  Inqola yasingena ensimini kaJoshuwa weBeti-Shemeshi, yema khona, lapho okwakulelitshe elikhulu khona; basebebanda izigodo zenqola, basebenikela amankomokazi aba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa eNkosini.

6:15  AmaLevi asewethula umtshokotsho weNkosi lebhokisi elalilawo, okwakukulo impahla zegolide, akubeka phezu kwelitshe elikhulu. Labantu beBeti-Shemeshi banikela iminikelo yokutshiswa, bayihlabela iNkosi imihlatshelo ngalolosuku.

6:16  Iziphathamandla ezinhlanu zamaFilisti sezikubonile, zabuyela eEkhironi ngalolosuku.

6:17  Lala ngamathumba ophayo egolide amaFilisti awabuyisela abe ngumnikelo wecala eNkosini, eleAshidodi elilodwa, eleGaza elilodwa, eleAshikeloni elilodwa, eleGathi elilodwa, eleEkhironi elilodwa.

6:18  Lamagundwane egolide njengokwenani lemizi yonke yamaFilisti yeziphathamandla ezinhlanu, kusukela emizini ebiyelweyo kuze kube semizaneni yemaphandleni kuze kube selitsheni elikhulu likaAbeli, lapho ababeka khona umtshokotsho weNkosi, elisensimini kaJoshuwa umBeti-Shemeshi kuze kube lamuhla.

6:19  Yasitshaya amadoda eBeti-Shemeshi ngoba ayekhangele phakathi komtshokotsho weNkosi; yebo, yatshaya phakathi kwabantu amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amahlanu lamatshumi ayisikhombisa. Abantu basebelila ngoba iNkosi yayitshaye ngokutshaya okukhulu phakathi kwabantu.

6:20  Ngakho abantu beBeti-Shemeshi bathi: Ngubani olakho ukuma phambi kweNkosi, lo uNkulunkulu ongcwele? Uzakwenyukela kubani esuka kithi?

6:21  Basebethuma izithunywa kubahlali beKiriyathi-Jeyarimi besithi: AmaFilisti asewubuyisile umtshokotsho weNkosi; yehlani liwenyusele kini.

Chapter 7

7:1  Njalo abantu beKiriyathi-Jeyarimi beza, benyusa umtshokotsho weNkosi, bawungenisa endlini kaAbinadaba phezu kwaloloqaqa, bangcwelisa uEleyazare indodana yakhe ukuthi agcine umtshokotsho weNkosi.

7:2  Kwasekusithi kusukela ngosuku umtshokotsho uhlala eKiriyathi-Jeyarimi, insuku zanda; ngoba kwaba yiminyaka engamatshumi amabili; lendlu yonke yakoIsrayeli yakhala ilandela iNkosi.

7:3  USamuweli wasekhuluma endlini yonke kaIsrayeli esithi: Uba libuyela eNkosini ngenhliziyo yenu yonke, susani onkulunkulu bezizweni phakathi kwenu laboAshitarothi, liqondise inhliziyo yenu eNkosini, likhonze yona yodwa, ngakho izalophula esandleni samaFilisti.

7:4  Ngakho abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesusa oBhali laboAshitarothi, bakhonza iNkosi yodwa.

7:5  USamuweli wasesithi: Buthanisani uIsrayeli wonke eMizipa; njalo ngizalikhulekela eNkosini.

7:6  Basebebuthana eMizipa, bakha amanzi, bawathela phambi kweNkosi, bazila ukudla mhlalokho, bathi lapho: Sonile eNkosini. USamuweli wasesahlulela abantwana bakoIsrayeli eMizipa.

7:7  Kwathi amaFilisti esezwile ukuthi abantwana bakoIsrayeli babuthene eMizipa, iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zenyuka zamelana loIsrayeli. Abantwana bakoIsrayeli sebekuzwile bawesaba amaFilisti.

7:8  Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesithi kuSamuweli: Ungathuli ukusikhalela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wethu ukuze asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.

7:9  USamuweli wasethatha iwundlu elimunyayo, walinikela lonke eNkosini laba ngumnikelo otshiswayo. USamuweli wakhalela uIsrayeli eNkosini, iNkosi yasimphendula.

7:10  Kwathi uSamuweli esanikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, amaFilisti asondela empini loIsrayeli; kodwa iNkosi yaduma ngelizwi elikhulu phezu kwamaFilisti ngalolosuku, yawachithachitha, asetshaywa phambi kukaIsrayeli.

7:11  Amadoda akoIsrayeli asephuma eMizipa axotshana lamaFilisti, awatshaya, kwaze kwaba ngaphansi kweBetikari.

7:12  USamuweli wasethatha ilitshe, walimisa phakathi kweMizipa leSheni, wabiza ibizo lalo iEbeni-Ezeri, wathi: Kuze kube khathesi iNkosi isisizile.

7:13  Ngakho amaFilisti ehliselwa phansi, kawabe esaphinda ukungena emngceleni wakoIsrayeli. Njalo isandla seNkosi samelana lamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweli.

7:14  Imizi amaFilisti ayeyithethe-ke koIsrayeli yabuyiselwa kuIsrayeli kusukela eEkhironi kuze kufike eGathi; lomngcele wayo uIsrayeli wawukhulula esandleni samaFilisti. Njalo kwaba lokuthula phakathi kukaIsrayeli lamaAmori.

7:15  USamuweli wasesahlulela uIsrayeli insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.

7:16  Wahamba iminyaka ngeminyaka wabhoda eBhetheli, leGiligali, leMizipa; wahlulela uIsrayeli kuzo zonke lezozindawo.

7:17  Lokubuyela kwakhe kwakuyikuya eRama, ngoba indlu yakhe yayilapho; wahlulela uIsrayeli khona, wayakhela lapho iNkosi ilathi.

Chapter 8

8:1  Kwasekusithi uSamuweli esemdala wabeka amadodana akhe ukuze abe ngabahluleli koIsrayeli.

8:2  Lebizo lendodana yakhe elizibulo lalinguJoweli, lebizo leyesibili yakhe linguAbhiya; ayengabahluleli eBherishebha.

8:3  Kodwa amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngendlela zakhe, kodwa aphambukela enzuzweni embi, emukela isivalamlomo, aphambula isahlulelo.

8:4  Kwasekubuthana abadala bonke bakoIsrayeli, beza kuSamuweli eRama,

8:5  bathi kuye: Khangela, wena usumdala, lamadodana akho kawahambi ngendlela zakho; ngakho sibekele inkosi ukuze isahlulele njengazo zonke izizwe.

8:6  Kodwa leyonto yayimbi emehlweni kaSamuweli lapho besithi: Sinike inkosi ukusahlulela. USamuweli wasekhuleka eNkosini.

8:7  INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labantu kukho konke abakutshoyo kuwe, ngoba kakusuwe abakwalayo, kodwa bala mina ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwabo.

8:8  Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo kusukela ngosuku engabenyusa ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamuhla, bangitshiyile bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; benza njalo lakuwe.

8:9  Ngakho khathesi, lalela ilizwi labo; kodwa nxa ubafakazele kakhulu, ubazise indlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwabo.

8:10  USamuweli wasetshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi wonke amazwi eNkosi.

8:11  Wasesithi: Le izakuba yindlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenu; izathatha amadodana enu izibekele wona enqoleni zayo lakubagadi bamabhiza ayo, agijime phambi kwezinqola zayo.

8:12  Izazibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu, lokulima amasimu ayo, lokuvuna isivuno sayo, lokwenza izikhali zayo zempi, lezikhali zezinqola zayo.

8:13  Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abe ngabenzi bamakha, labapheki, labaphekizinkwa.

8:14  Izathatha amasimu enu, lezivini zenu lezivande zenu zemihlwathi, ezinhle, ikunike inceku zayo.

8:15  Izathatha okwetshumi yenhlanyelo yenu leyezivini zenu, iyinike induna zayo lenceku zayo.

8:16  Izathatha inceku zenu lencekukazi zenu lamajaha enu angcono labobabhemi benu, ikusebenzise emsebenzini wayo.

8:17  Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu; lina-ke libe yizinceku zayo.

8:18  Njalo lizakhala ngalolosuku ngenxa yenkosi yenu elizikhethele yona; kodwa iNkosi kayiyikuliphendula mhlalokho.

8:19  Kodwa abantu bala ukulilalela ilizwi likaSamuweli, bathi: Hatshi, kodwa kuzakuba lenkosi phezu kwethu,

8:20  ukuze lathi sibe njengezizwe zonke, lenkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.

8:21  USamuweli esewazwile wonke amazwi abantu, wawalandisa endlebeni zeNkosi.

8:22  INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labo, ubabekele inkosi. USamuweli wasesithi emadodeni akoIsrayeli: Hambani liye ngulowo lalowo emzini wakhe.

Chapter 9

9:1  Kwakukhona-ke indoda yakoBhenjamini obizo layo linguKishi, indodana kaAbiyeli, indodana kaZerori, indodana kaBekorathi, indodana kaAfiya, umBhenjamini, iqhawe elilamandla.

9:2  Njalo yayilendodana, obizo layo lalinguSawuli, ijaha elihle; kwakungelamuntu omuhle kulalo phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli; kusukela emahlombe alo kusiya phezulu lalilide kulabo bonke abantu.

9:3  Obabhemikazi bakaKishi, uyise kaSawuli, balahleka-ke. Ngakho uKishi wathi kuSawuli indodana yakhe: Ake uthathe enye yezinceku lawe, usukume uhambe uyedinga obabhemikazi.

9:4  Wasedabula intaba zakoEfrayimi, wadabula ilizwe leShalisha, kodwa kababatholanga. Basebedabula ilizwe leShalima, kodwa babengekho. Basebedabula ilizwe lakoBhenjamini, kodwa kababatholanga.

9:5  Bona sebefikile elizweni leZufi, uSawuli wathi encekwini yakhe eyayilaye: Woza sibuyele, hlezi ubaba ayekele obabhemikazi abesenqinekela thina.

9:6  Yasisithi kuye: Khangela-ke, kulomuntu kaNkulunkulu kulumuzi, ungumuntu ohloniphekayo; konke akutshoyo kuyenzeka sibili. Khathesi asiye khona; mhlawumbe angasitshela indlela esizahamba ngayo.

9:7  USawuli wasesithi encekwini yakhe: Kodwa khangela, uba sisiya, sizamphathelani lowomuntu? Ngoba isinkwa kasisekho ezitsheni zethu; futhi kakulasipho sokusa emuntwini kaNkulunkulu. Silani?

9:8  Inceku yasibuya yamphendula uSawuli yathi: Khangela, kutholakala esandleni sami ingxenye yesine yeshekeli* lesiliva; ngizamnika yona lowomuntu kaNkulunkulu ukuze asitshele indlela yethu.

9:9  (Endulo koIsrayeli lapho umuntu esiyabuza kuNkulunkulu, wayesitsho kanje: Woza siye kumboni; ngoba lo ongumprofethi lamuhla kuqala wayebizwa ngokuthi ngumboni.)

9:10  USawuli wasesithi encekwini yakhe: Lihle ilizwi lakho; woza sihambe. Basebesiya emzini lapho okwakukhona lowomuntu kaNkulunkulu.

9:11  Besenyuka ngomqanso womuzi, bona bafica amantombazana ephuma ukuyakukha amanzi, bathi kuwo: Umboni ulapha yini?

9:12  Asebaphendula athi: Ukhona; khangelani, uphambi kwenu. Phangisani khathesi; ngoba ufike lamuhla emzini, ngoba abantu balomhlatshelo lamuhla endaweni ephakemeyo.

9:13  Ekungeneni kwenu emzini, lizahle limthole engakenyukeli endaweni ephakemeyo ukuyakudla; ngoba abantu kabayikudla aze afike, ngoba nguye obusisa umhlatshelo, emva kwalokho abanxusiweyo badle. Ngakho-ke yenyukani, ngoba yena, phose ngalesisikhathi, lizamthola.

9:14  Basebesenyukela emzini; besangena phakathi komuzi, khangela, uSamuweli waphuma ukubahlangabeza ukwenyukela endaweni ephakemeyo.

9:15  INkosi yasibonakalisa endlebeni kaSamuweli ngosuku phambi kokufika kukaSawuli, isithi:

9:16  Kusasa phose ngalesisikhathi ngizathuma kuwe umuntu ovela elizweni lakoBhenjamini; futhi umgcobe abe ngumbusi phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli, ukuze asindise abantu bami esandleni samaFilisti, ngoba ngibonile abantu bami, ngoba ukukhala kwabo kufikile kimi.

9:17  Kwathi uSamuweli ebona uSawuli, iNkosi yamphendula: Khangela, umuntu ebengikhuluma ngaye kuwe. Lo uzabusa phezu kwabantu bami.

9:18  USawuli wasesondela kuSamuweli phakathi kwesango wathi: Akungitshele, ingaphi lapha indlu yomboni?

9:19  USamuweli wasemphendula uSawuli wathi: Yimi umboni; yenyuka phambi kwami uye endaweni ephakemeyo, ngoba lamuhla uzakudla lami; lekuseni ngizakuyekela uhambe, ngikutshele konke okusenhliziyweni yakho.

9:20  Lamayelana labobabhemikazi bakho asebelensuku ezintathu belahlekile, ungafaki inhliziyo yakho kubo, ngoba sebetholiwe. Kodwa zikubani iziloyiso zonke zikaIsrayeli? Kazikho kuwe yini lendlini yonke kayihlo?

9:21  USawuli wasephendula wathi: Kangisuye umBhenjamini yini, owesincinyane sezizwe zakoIsrayeli, losendo lwethu luncinyane kulazo zonke insendo zesizwe sakoBhenjamini? Pho-ke, ukhulumelani kimi ngalindlela?

9:22  USamuweli wasethatha uSawuli lenceku yakhe, wabangenisa ekamelweni lokudlela, wabahlalisa endaweni engaphezulu yabanxusiweyo, ababengaphose babe ngamatshumi amathathu.

9:23  USamuweli wasesithi kumpheki: Letha isabelo engikunike sona, engithe kuwe ngaso: Sibeke ngakuwe.

9:24  Umpheki wasephakamisa umlenze lokwakuphezu kwawo, wakubeka phambi kukaSawuli. USamuweli wasesithi: Khangela, okuseleyo; kubeke phambi kwakho, dlana; ngoba bekubekelwe wena kuze kufike lesisikhathi esimisiweyo, njengoba ngitshilo: Nginxuse abantu. USawuli wasesidla loSamuweli ngalolosuku.

9:25  Sebehlile endaweni ephakemeyo baya emzini, wakhuluma loSawuli ephahleni.

9:26  Basebevuka ngovivi; kwasekusithi phose emadabukakusa, uSamuweli wambiza uSawuli ephahleni esithi: Sukuma ukuze ngikuyekele uhambe. Wasesukuma uSawuli, baphuma bobabili, yena loSamuweli, baya phandle.

9:27  Sebesehlela ekucineni komuzi, uSamuweli wathi kuSawuli: Tshela inceku ukuthi yedlule phambi kwethu (yasisedlula), kodwa wena mana okwakhathesi, ukuthi ngikuzwise ilizwi likaNkulunkulu.

Chapter 10

10:1  USamuweli wasethatha umfuma wamafutha, wawathela ekhanda lakhe, wamanga, wathi: Angithi kungoba iNkosi ikugcobele ukuthi ube ngumbusi phezu kwelifa layo?

10:2  Ekusukeni kwakho kimi lamuhla uzafica abantu ababili engcwabeni likaRasheli emngceleni wakoBhenjamini eZeliza; njalo bazakuthi kuwe: Obabhemikazi obuyebadinga sebetholiwe, khangela-ke, uyihlo useyekele udaba labobabhemikazi, usenqinekela lina esithi: Ngizayenzelani indodana yami?

10:3  Nxa usudlule lapho waya phambili, uzafika esihlahleni se-okhi* seThabhori; lalapho uzahlangana labantu abathathu besenyuka besiya kuNkulunkulu eBhetheli, omunye ephethe amazinyane amathathu, lomunye ephethe amaqebelengwana ezinkwa amathathu, lomunye ephethe imbodlela yewayini.

10:4  Bazakubuza ngempilo, bakunike izinkwa ezimbili, ozazithatha esandleni sabo.

10:5  Emva kwalokho uzafika eqaqeni lukaNkulunkulu lapho okuhlala khona ibutho lenqaba yamaFilisti; kuzakuthi-ke, nxa ufika lapho emzini uzahlangana lexuku labaprofethi besehla endaweni ephakemeyo, laphambi kwabo kulogubhu lwezintambo, lesigubhu, lomhlanga, lechacho, beprofetha.

10:6  LoMoya kaNkulunkulu uzafika ngamandla phezu kwakho, uprofethe kanye labo, uphendulwe ube ngomunye umuntu.

10:7  Kuzakuthi-ke lapho lezizibonakaliso zikufikela, wena wenze lokho isandla sakho esizakuthola, ngoba uNkulunkulu ulawe.

10:8  Uzakwehla phambi kwami uye eGiligali; khangela-ke, ngizakwehlela kuwe ukuze nginikele iminikelo yokutshiswa, ngihlabe imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula. Uzalinda insuku eziyisikhombisa ngize ngifike kuwe, ngikutshele lokho ozakwenza.

10:9  Kwasekusithi lapho esefulathele ukuthi asuke kuSamuweli, uNkulunkulu wamnika enye inhliziyo; lazo zonke lezizibonakaliso zeza mhlalokho.

10:10  Lapho sebefikile khona eqaqeni, khangela, ixuku labaprofethi lamhlangabeza; uMoya kaNkulunkulu wasefika ngamandla phezu kwakhe, waprofetha phakathi kwabo.

10:11  Kwasekusithi bonke ababemazi mandulo bebona ukuthi, khangela, uprofetha labaprofethi, abantu bathi, omunye komunye: Kuyini lokhu okwehlele indodana kaKishi? Kanti uSawuli laye uphakathi kwabaprofethi?

10:12  Kwasekuphendula umuntu owakhona wathi: Kanti ngubani uyise wabo? Ngakho kwasekusiba yisaga ukuthi: Kanti uSawuli laye uphakathi kwabaprofethi?

10:13  Eseqedile ukuprofetha wafika endaweni ephakemeyo.

10:14  Uyise omncinyane kaSawuli wathi kuye lencekwini yakhe: Beliye ngaphi? Wasesithi: Ukuyadinga obabhemikazi; lapho sesibona ukuthi kabakho sasesifika kuSamuweli.

10:15  Uyise omncinyane kaSawuli wathi: Ake ungitshele ukuthi utheni kini uSamuweli?

10:16  USawuli wasesithi kuyise omncinyane: Usitshelile sibili ukuthi obabhemikazi sebetholakele. Kodwa udaba lombuso akhuluma ngalo uSamuweli kamtshelanga.

10:17  USamuweli wasebizela abantu ndawonye eNkosini eMizipa;

10:18  wathi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli: Itsho njalo iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Mina ngamenyusa uIsrayeli eGibhithe, ngalikhulula esandleni samaGibhithe lesandleni sayo yonke imibuso eyalicindezelayo.

10:19  Kodwa lamuhla lina limalile uNkulunkulu wenu, yena ngokwakhe owalisindisayo engozini zonke zenu lensizini zenu; laselisithi kuye: Hatshi, beka inkosi phezu kwethu. Ngakho-ke manini phambi kweNkosi ngezizwe zenu langezinkulungwane zenu.

10:20  USamuweli wasesondeza zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli; njalo isizwe sakoBhenjamini sabanjwa.

10:21  Wasesondeza isizwe sakoBhenjamini ngensendo zaso, losendo lwakoMatiri lwabanjwa, loSawuli indodana kaKishi wabanjwa. Kuthe bemdinga katholakalanga.

10:22  Ngakho babuya babuza eNkosini ukuthi lowomuntu usezafika lapha yini? INkosi yasisithi: Khangelani, ucatshile empahleni.

10:23  Basebegijima bamlanda khona; lapho esemi phakathi kwabantu, wayemude kulabo bonke abantu kusukela ehlombe lakhe kusiya phezulu.

10:24  USamuweli wasesithi kubo bonke abantu: Liyambona yini lowo iNkosi emkhethileyo, ukuthi kakho loyedwa onjengaye kubo bonke abantu? Bonke abantu basebememeza bathi: Kayiphile inkosi!

10:25  USamuweli wasebatshela abantu indlela yombuso, wawubhala egwalweni, walubeka phambi kweNkosi. USamuweli wasebayekela bonke abantu bahamba, wonke waya endlini yakhe.

10:26  USawuli laye wasesiya endlini yakhe eGibeya; kwasekuhamba laye amaqhawe onhliziyo zawo uNkulunkulu wayezithintile.

10:27  Kodwa abantwana bakaBheliyali bathi: Uzasisindisa njani lo? Basebemdelela, kabamphathelanga sipho; kodwa wazithulela.

Chapter 11

11:1  Kwasekusenyuka uNahashi umAmoni, wamisa inkamba maqondana leJabeshi-Gileyadi; wonke amadoda eJabeshi asesithi kuNahashi: Yenza isivumelwano lathi, sizakusebenzela.

11:2  Kodwa uNahashi umAmoni wathi kibo: Ngizasenza phezu kwalokhu isivumelwano lani, ukuze ngilikopole wonke amehlo awesokunene njalo ngehlisele uIsrayeli wonke ihlazo.

11:3  Abadala beJabeshi basebesithi kuye: Siyekele okwensuku eziyisikhombisa ukuze sithume izithunywa kuwo wonke umngcele wakoIsrayeli. Uba-ke kungekho ongasisindisa, sizaphuma size kuwe.

11:4  Izithunywa zasezifika eGibeya kaSawuli, zalandisa amazwi endlebeni zabantu, labantu bonke baphakamisa ilizwi labo bakhala inyembezi.

11:5  Khangela-ke, uSawuli weza emva kwezinkabi evela emasimini, uSawuli wathi: Kwenze njani ebantwini ukuthi bakhale? Basebemtshela amazwi amadoda eJabeshi.

11:6  UMoya kaNkulunkulu wafika ngamandla phezu kukaSawuli lapho esizwa lawomazwi, lolaka lwakhe lwavutha kakhulu.

11:7  Wasethatha inkabi ezimbili, waziquma zaba yiziqa, wazithumela kuwo wonke umngcele wakoIsrayeli ngesandla sezithunywa esithi: Ongaphumi alandele uSawuli alandele loSamuweli, kuzakwenziwanje enkabini zakhe. Ukwesaba iNkosi kwasekusehlela phezu kwabantu, baphuma njengamuntu munye.

11:8  Lapho ebabala eBezeki, abantwana bakoIsrayeli babe yizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu, lamadoda akoJuda eyizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu.

11:9  Basebesithi kuzo izithunywa ezazifikile: Lizawatshela njalo amadoda eJabeshi-Gileyadi lithi: Kusasa lizakuba losindiso nxa ilanga selitshisa. Lapho izithunywa zifika zawatshela amadoda eJabeshi, athokoza.

11:10  Ngakho amadoda eJabeshi athi: Kusasa sizaphumela kini, lenze kithi njengakho konke okulungileyo emehlweni enu.

11:11  Kwasekusithi kusisa, uSawuli wamisa abantu ngezigaba ezintathu; bafika phakathi kwenkamba ngomlindo wekuseni; bamtshaya uAmoni lwaze lwatshisa usuku; kwasekusithi abaseleyo bahlakazeka, kwaze kwathi kakusalanga kibo ababili bendawonye.

11:12  Abantu basebesithi kuSamuweli: Ngubani othe: USawuli uzabusa yini phezu kwethu? Baletheni labobantu ukuze sibabulale.

11:13  Kodwa uSawuli wathi: Kakuyikubulawa muntu ngalolusuku, ngoba lamuhla iNkosi yenze inkululeko koIsrayeli.

11:14  USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: Wozani siye eGiligali, sivuselele umbuso khona.

11:15  Bonke abantu basebesiya eGiligali, bambeka khona uSawuli waba yinkosi phambi kweNkosi eGiligali. Bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula phambi kweNkosi, lalapho uSawuli lawo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli bathokoza kakhulukazi.

Chapter 12

12:1  USamuweli wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Khangelani, ngililalele ilizwi lenu kukho konke elakutsho kimi, sengibeke inkosi phezu kwenu.

12:2  Khathesi-ke, khangelani, inkosi iyahamba phambi kwenu; mina sengimdala, sengiyimpunga, khangelani, lamadodana ami akini; mina-ke ngihambile phambi kwenu kusukela ebutsheni bami kuze kube lamuhla.

12:3  Khangelani, ngilapha; fakazani limelane lami phambi kweNkosi laphambi kogcotshiweyo wayo: Ngithethe inkabi kabani? Loba ngithethe ubabhemi kabani? Ngiqilibezele bani? Ngicindezele bani? Ngemukele kubani isivalamlomo ukuze ngiphofuze amehlo ami ngawo? Njalo ngizakubuyisela kini.

12:4  Basebesithi: Kawusiqilibezelanga, kawusicindezelanga, njalo kawemukelanga lalutho esandleni samuntu.

12:5  Wasesithi kibo: INkosi ingumfakazi imelene lani logcotshiweyo wayo ungumfakazi lamuhla ukuthi kalitholanga lutho esandleni sami. Bathi: Ingumfazaki.

12:6  USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: KuyiNkosi eyenza uMozisi loAroni, eyenyusa oyihlo elizweni leGibhithe.

12:7  Khathesi-ke, manini njalo ngahlulelane lani phambi kweNkosi ngezenzo zonke ezilungileyo zeNkosi eyazenza kini lakuboyihlo.

12:8  Lapho uJakobe esefikile eGibhithe, oyihlo bakhala eNkosini, iNkosi yasithuma oMozisi loAroni, abakhupha oyihlo eGibhithe, babenza bahlala kulindawo.

12:9  Sebeyikhohliwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo, yabathengisa esandleni sikaSisera induna yebutho leHazori, lesandleni samaFilisti, lesandleni senkosi yakoMowabi; basebesilwa bemelene labo.

12:10  Basebekhala eNkosini bathi: Sonile, ngoba siyilahlile iNkosi, sakhonza oBhali laboAshitarothi. Kodwa khathesi sophule esandleni sezitha zethu, sizakukhonza.

12:11  INkosi yasithuma uJerubali, loBhedani, loJefitha, loSamuweli, yalikhulula esandleni sezitha zenu inhlangothi zonke, laselihlala livikelekile.

12:12  Lapho libona ukuthi uNahashi inkosi yabantwana bakoAmoni yeza ukumelana lani, lathi kimi: Hatshi, kodwa inkosi izasibusa; kanti iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu yayiyinkosi yenu.

12:13  Khathesi-ke, khangelani, inkosi elayikhethayo, elayicelayo; khangelani-ke, iNkosi imisile inkosi phezu kwenu.

12:14  Uba liyesaba iNkosi liyikhonza lilalela ilizwi layo, lingawuvukeli umlomo weNkosi, khona lina, lani kanye lenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenu lizalandela iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.

12:15  Kodwa uba lingalilaleli ilizwi leNkosi, kodwa livukela umlomo weNkosi, isandla seNkosi sizamelana lani, njengoba samelana laboyihlo.

12:16  Lakhathesi manini, libone linto enkulu iNkosi ezayenza phambi kwamehlo enu.

12:17  Angithi lamuhla kuyisivuno sengqoloyi? Ngizakhala eNkosini njalo izanika umdumo lezulu, ukuze lazi libone ukuthi ububi benu bukhulu elibenze emehlweni eNkosi ngokuzicelela inkosi.

12:18  USamuweli wasekhala eNkosini, iNkosi yasinika umdumo lezulu mhlalokho; ngakho bonke abantu bayesaba kakhulu iNkosi loSamuweli.

12:19  Bonke abantu basebesithi kuSamuweli: Khulekela izinceku zakho eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakho, ukuze singafi; ngoba sengezelele ezonweni zethu zonke lobububi bokuzicelela inkosi.

12:20  USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: Lingesabi; lina lenze bonke lobububi, kodwa lingaphambuki ekuyilandeleni iNkosi, kodwa likhonze iNkosi ngenhliziyo yenu yonke.

12:21  Njalo lingaphambuki ngoba lingalandela izinto eziyize ezingasizi lutho ezingakhululiyo, ngoba ziyize.

12:22  Ngoba iNkosi kayiyikubatshiya abantu bayo ngenxa yebizo layo elikhulu, ngoba iNkosi yathokoza ukulenza libe ngabantu bayo.

12:23  Mina-ke kakube khatshana lami ukuthi ngone eNkosini ngokuyekela ukulikhulekela; kodwa ngizalifundisa indlela enhle lelungileyo.

12:24  Kuphela yesabani iNkosi, liyikhonze ngeqiniso ngenhliziyo yenu yonke, ngoba bonani okukhulu elenzele khona.

12:25  Kodwa uba liphikelela lisenza okubi, lina kanye lenkosi yenu lizachithwa.

Chapter 13

13:1  USawuli wayelomnyaka embusweni wakhe. Esebuse uIsrayeli okweminyaka emibili,

13:2  uSawuli wasezikhethela abayizinkulungwane ezintathu kwamaIsrayeli; njalo abayizinkulungwane ezimbili babeloSawuli eMikimashi lentabeni yeBhetheli, lenkulungwane yaba loJonathani eGibeya yakoBhenjamini; labaseleyo babantu wabayekela bahamba, ngulowo lalowo ethenteni lakhe.

13:3  UJonathani wasetshaya ibutho lenqaba yamaFilisti eyayiseGeba, lamaFilisti akuzwa. USawuli wasevuthela uphondo elizweni lonke esithi: AmaHebheru kawezwe.

13:4  UIsrayeli wonke wezwa kuthiwa uSawuli utshayile ibutho lenqaba yamaFilisti lokuthi uIsrayeli laye waba levumba kumaFilisti. Abantu basebebizelwa ndawonye ukulandela uSawuli baye eGiligali.

13:5  AmaFilisti asebuthana ukuthi alwe loIsrayeli, inqola eziyizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu, labagadi bamabhiza abayizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, labantu abalingana letshebetshebe elisekhunjini lolwandle ngobunengi; enyuka amisa inkamba eMikimashi, empumalanga kweBeti-Aveni.

13:6  Kwathi amadoda akoIsrayeli ebona ukuthi asekuminyezelweni, ngoba abantu bacindezelwa, abantu bacatsha embalwini lezixukwini zameva, lemadwaleni, lezinqabeni, lemigodini.

13:7  LamaHebheru achapha iJordani, aya elizweni leGadi leGileyadi. Kodwa uSawuli wayelokhu eseGiligali, labantu bonke bathuthumela bemlandela.

13:8  Waselinda insuku eziyisikhombisa, njengesikhathi esamiswa nguSamuweli; kodwa uSamuweli kafikanga eGiligali, labantu bahlakazeka besuka kuye.

13:9  USawuli wasesithi: Sondezani kimi umnikelo wokutshiswa leminikelo yokuthula. Wasenikela umnikelo wokutshiswa.

13:10  Kwasekusithi eseqede ukunikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, khangela, uSamuweli wafika; uSawuli wasephuma ukumhlangabeza ukuze ambingelele.

13:11  USamuweli wasesithi: Wenzeni? USawuli wasesithi: Ngoba ngibone ukuthi abantu babehlakazeka besuka kimi, lawe ungafikanga ngesikhathi esimisiweyo sezinsuku, lokuthi amaFilisti asebuthene eMikimashi.

13:12  Ngakho ngathi: Khathesi amaFilisti azangehlela eGiligali, ngingancenganga ubuso beNkosi. Ngasengizibamba ngamandla, nganikela umnikelo wokutshiswa.

13:13  USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: Wenze ngobuwula; kawuwugcinanga umlayo weNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho eyakulaya wona; ngoba khathesi iNkosi ibizawumisa umbuso wakho koIsrayeli kuze kube nininini.

13:14  Kodwa khathesi umbuso wakho kawuyikuma. INkosi isizidingele umuntu ngokwenhliziyo yayo, njalo iNkosi isimlayile ukuthi abe ngumbusi phezu kwabantu bayo, ngoba kawugcinanga lokho iNkosi ekulaye khona.

13:15  USamuweli wasesukuma wenyuka esuka eGiligali waya eGibeya yakoBhenjamini. USawuli wasebala abantu abaficwa belaye, phose abangamakhulu ayisithupha.

13:16  Njalo uSawuli loJonathani indodana yakhe labantu abaficwa belabo bahlala eGibeya yakoBhenjamini, kodwa amaFilisti amisa inkamba eMikimashi.

13:17  Abachithi basebephuma enkambeni yamaFilisti ngezigaba ezintathu; esinye isigaba saphendukela endleleni yeOfira, saya elizweni leShuwali;

13:18  lesinye isigaba saphendukela endleleni yeBhethi-Horoni; lesinye isigaba saphendukela endleleni yomngcele okhangele esihotsheni seZeboyimi ngasenkangala.

13:19  Njalo kwakungatholakali mkhandi elizweni lonke lakoIsrayeli, ngoba amaFilisti athi: Hlezi amaHebheru enze izinkemba loba imikhonto.

13:20  UIsrayeli wonke-ke wehlela kumaFilisti ukulola, ngulowo lalowo isikali sakhe sekhuba, lemataka yakhe, lehloka lakhe, lesikela yakhe.

13:21  Imbadalo yezikali zekhuba lamamataka lamafologwe alencijo ezintathu lamahloka lokulungisa izincijo yayiyipimi*.

13:22  Ngakho kwathi ngosuku lwempi kakutholakalanga inkemba loba umkhonto esandleni saloba ngubani wabantu ababeloSawuli lababeloJonathani; kodwa kwatholakala kuSawuli loJonathani indodana yakhe.

13:23  Lebutho lenqaba yamaFilisti laphuma laya emkhandlweni weMikimashi.

Chapter 14

14:1  Kwasekusithi ngolunye usuku, uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti elingaphetsheya ngale. Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.

14:2  USawuli wayehlala-ke ephethelweni leGibeya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sepomegranati* esiseMigironi; labantu ababelaye babengaphose babe ngamadoda angamakhulu ayisithupha;

14:3  loAhiya, indodana kaAhitubi, umfowabo kaIkabodi, indodana kaPhinehasi, indodana kaEli, umpristi weNkosi eShilo, wayembethe i-efodi*. Kodwa abantu babengazi ukuthi uJonathani uhambile.

14:4  Laphakathi kwemikhandlo, lapho uJonathani ayezama ukuchapha khona ukuya ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti, kwakuledwala elicijileyo nganeno, ledwala elicijileyo ngaphetsheya; njalo ibizo lelinye laliyiBozezi, lebizo lelinye laliyiSene.

14:5  Elinye iliwa laligxile enyakatho maqondana leMikimashi, lelinye ngeningizimu maqondana leGeba.

14:6  UJonathani wasesithi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba elalaba abangasokanga; mhlawumbe iNkosi izasisebenzela, ngoba kakulasenqabelo eNkosini ukusindisa ngabanengi loba ngabalutshwana.

14:7  Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza konke okusenhliziyweni yakho; phambuka, khangela ngilawe njengokwenhliziyo yakho.

14:8  UJonathani wasesithi: Khangela, sizachaphela kulabobantu sizibonakalise kibo.

14:9  Uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Manini mpo, size sifike kini; sizakuma-ke endaweni yethu, singenyukeli kibo.

14:10  Kodwa uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Yenyukelani kithi; sizakwenyuka-ke, ngoba iNkosi ibanikele esandleni sethu; lalokhu kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kithi.

14:11  Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti; amaFilisti asesithi: Khangelani, amaHebheru asephuma emilindini abecatshe kiyo.

14:12  Amadoda ebutho lenqaba asephendula oJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe athi: Yenyukelani kithi, sizalitshengisa ulutho. UJonathani wasesithi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe: Yenyuka ungilandele, ngoba iNkosi iwanikele esandleni sikaIsrayeli.

14:13  UJonathani wasekhwela ngezandla zakhe langenyawo zakhe, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe emva kwakhe. Asesiwa phambi kukaJonathani, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe wawabulala emva kwakhe.

14:14  Ukutshaya kokuqala atshaya ngakho uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe kwakungaba phose ngamadoda angamatshumi amabili, ensimini elingana lengxenye yendima yesipani.

14:15  Kwasekusiba khona ukuthuthumela enkambeni, egangeni, laphakathi kwabantu bonke; ibutho lenqaba labachithi labo bathuthumela, lomhlaba wanyikinyeka, kwasekusiba yikuthuthumela okukhulu.

14:16  Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibeya yakoBhenjamini basebebona ukuthi, khangela, ixuku lancibilika lihamba litshayelana phansi.

14:17  USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye: Ake libale, libone ukuthi ngubani osuke kithi. Kwathi sebebalile, khangela, uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babengekho.

14:18  USawuli wasesithi kuAhiya: Letha lapha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu ngalolosuku wawukubantwana bakoIsrayeli.

14:19  Kwasekusithi uSawuli esakhuluma lompristi, umsindo owawusenkambeni yamaFilisti waqhubeka wanda. USawuli wasesithi kumpristi: Buyisela isandla sakho.

14:20  USawuli labo bonke abantu ababelaye basebebizelwa ndawonye bafika empini, khangela-ke, inkemba yalowo lalowo yayimelene lomakhelwane wakhe, isiyaluyalu esikhulu kakhulu.

14:21  LamaHebheru ayelamaFilisti njengakuqala, enyukela lawo enkambeni inhlangothi zonke, ngitsho lawo aphenduka ukuthi abe loIsrayeli owayeloSawuli loJonathani.

14:22  Kwathi amadoda wonke akoIsrayeli ayecatshe entabeni yakoEfrayimi esezwile ukuthi amaFilisti ayabaleka, ngitsho lawo awanamathela ewalandela empini.

14:23  Ngokunjalo iNkosi yamsindisa uIsrayeli ngalolosuku; lempi yedlulela eBeti-Aveni.

14:24  Amadoda akoIsrayeli asekhathala ngalolosuku, ngoba uSawuli wafungisa abantu esithi: Kaqalekiswe umuntu odla ukudla kuze kube ntambama, ukuze ngiziphindiselele ezitheni zami. Ngakho kakho ebantwini owanambitha ukudla.

14:25  Bonke abelizwe basebefika ehlathini; njalo kwakuloluju phezu kobuso bomhlabathi.

14:26  Lapho abantu bengena ehlathini, khangela, uluju lwathonta; kodwa kakho loyedwa owasa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, ngoba abantu besaba isifungo.

14:27  Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga lapho uyise efungisa abantu; ngakho welula isihloko somqwayi owawusesandleni sakhe, wasigxamuza ehlangeni lwenyosi, wasesisa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, lamehlo akhe aqaqabuka.

14:28  Omunye wabantu wasephendula wathi: Uyihlo ubafungisile lokubafungisa abantu esithi: Uqalekisiwe umuntu odla ukudla lamuhla. Abantu basebephele amandla.

14:29  UJonathani wasesithi: Ubaba ulihluphile ilizwe; ake libone ukuthi amehlo ami aseqaqabuke njani, ngoba nginambithe ingcosana yaloluluju.

14:30  Kudlula kangakanani aluba abantu bebedlile lokudla lamuhla okwempango yezitha zabo abayitholayo? Ngoba khathesi ukubulala kakubanga kukhulu phakathi kwamaFilisti.

14:31  Basebetshaya amaFilisti ngalolosuku kusukela eMikimashi kuze kube seAjaloni. Abantu basebephele amandla kakhulu.

14:32  Abantu basebetheleka empangweni; bathatha izimvu, lezinkabi, lamathole enkomo, bakuhlabela emhlabathini; abantu bakudla kanye legazi.

14:33  Basebemtshela uSawuli besithi: Khangela, abantu bayona eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazi. Wasesithi: Lenze ngokungathembeki; giqelani kimi ilitshe elikhulu lamuhla.

14:34  USawuli wasesithi: Zihlakazeni phakathi kwabantu lithi kibo: Sondezani kimi, ngulowo lalowo inkabi yakhe, langulowo lalowo imvu yakhe, lizihlabele lapha, lidle; njalo lingoni eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazi. Ngakho bonke abantu basondeza, ngulowo lalowo inkabi yakhe ngesandla sakhe ngalobobusuku, bazihlaba khona.

14:35  USawuli waseyakhela iNkosi ilathi; kwakulilathi lokuqala alakhela iNkosi.

14:36  USawuli wasesithi: Asehleni silandele amaFilisti ebusuku, siwaphange kuze kube yikukhanya kokusa, singatshiyi lamuntu kiwo. Basebesithi: Yenza konke okuhle emehlweni akho. Kodwa umpristi wathi: Asisondeleni lapha kuNkulunkulu.

14:37  USawuli wasebuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: Ngehle ngilandele amaFilisti yini? Uzawanikela esandleni sikaIsrayeli yini? Kodwa kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.

14:38  USawuli wasesithi: Sondelani lapha lonke bakhokheli babantu, lazi libone ukuthi lesisono sikukuphi lamuhla.

14:39  Ngoba kuphila kukaJehova owasindisa uIsrayeli, lanxa kungaba kuJonathani indodana yami, isibili uzakufa lokufa. Kodwa kakho loyedwa owamphendulayo ebantwini bonke.

14:40  Wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Banini nganxanye lina, mina-ke loJonathani indodana yami sizakuba nganxanye. Abantu basebesithi kuSawuli: Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho.

14:41  Ngakho uSawuli wathi eNkosini uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Phana opheleleyo. UJonathani loSawuli basebebanjwa, kodwa abantu baphunyuka.

14:42  USawuli wasesithi: Yenzani inkatho yokuphosa phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami. UJonathani wasebanjwa.

14:43  USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani: Ngitshela okwenzileyo. UJonathani wasemtshela wathi: Oqotho nginambithe ngesihloko somqwayi obusesandleni sami imbijana yoluju; khangela ngilapha, sengizakufa!

14:44  USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu kenze njalo langokunjalo engezelele; ngoba uzakufa lokufa, Jonathani.

14:45  Kodwa abantu bathi kuSawuli: Uzakufa yini uJonathani, owenze lolusindiso olukhulu koIsrayeli? Kakube khatshana! Kuphila kukaJehova, kakuyikuwela emhlabathini lolulodwa unwele lwekhanda lakhe, ngoba usebenze loNkulunkulu lamuhla. Ngakho abantu bamhlenga uJonathani ukuthi angafi.

14:46  USawuli wasesenyuka esuka ekulandeleni amaFilisti; amaFilisti asesiya endaweni yawo.

14:47  USawuli wasethatha ubukhosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, walwa emelene lezitha zakhe zonke inhlangothi zonke, emelene loMowabi, njalo emelene labantwana bakoAmoni, njalo emelene loEdoma, njalo emelene lamakhosi eZoba, njalo emelene lamaFilisti; laloba ngaphi lapho aphendukela khona wayejezisa.

14:48  Wenza ngobuqhawe wasetshaya amaAmaleki, wakhulula uIsrayeli esandleni somphangi wakhe.

14:49  Lamadodana kaSawuli ayengoJonathani loIshivi, loMaliki-Shuwa; lamabizo amadodakazi akhe amabili yila: Ibizo lezibulo lalinguMerabi, lebizo lencinyane linguMikhali.

14:50  Lebizo lomkaSawuli lalinguAhinowama indodakazi kaAhimahazi; lebizo lenduna yebutho lakhe lalinguAbhineri indodana kaNeri, uyise omncinyane kaSawuli.

14:51  Njalo uKishi wayenguyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise kaAbhineri wayeyindodana kaAbiyeli.

14:52  Njalo kwakukhona impi enzima lamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSawuli; lapho uSawuli ebona indoda elamandla loba iqhawe, wayezibuthela yona.

Chapter 15

15:1  USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: INkosi yangithuma ukuthi ngikugcobe ube yinkosi phezu kwabantu bayo, phezu kukaIsrayeli; ngakho-ke lalela ilizwi lamazwi eNkosi.

15:2  Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla ithi: Ngizananzelela lokho uAmaleki akwenza kuIsrayeli, ukuthi wema njani emelene laye endleleni ekwenyukeni kwakhe eGibhithe.

15:3  Hamba-ke uyetshaya uAmaleki, utshabalalise konke alakho; ungamyekeli, kodwa ubulale kusukela kowesilisa kusiya kowesifazana, kusukela kusane kusiya komunyayo, kusukela enkabini kusiya emvini, kusukela ekamelweni kusiya kubabhemi.

15:4  USawuli wasebiza abantu, wababala eTelayimi, izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili abahamba ngenyawo, lamadoda azinkulungwane ezilitshumi akoJuda.

15:5  USawuli wasefika emzini kaAmaleki, wacathama esigodini.

15:6  USawuli wasesithi kumaKeni: Hambani, lisuke, lehle liphume phakathi kwamaAmaleki, hlezi ngilibhubhise kanye lawo; ngoba lina lenza umusa kubo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli ekwenyukeni kwabo bephuma eGibhithe. Ngakho amaKeni asuka aphuma phakathi kwamaAmaleki.

15:7  USawuli wasetshaya amaAmaleki, kusukela eHavila uze uyefika eShuri ephambi kweGibhithe.

15:8  Wambamba uAgagi inkosi yamaAmaleki ephila; labo bonke abantu wabatshabalalisa ngobukhali benkemba.

15:9  Kodwa uSawuli labantu bamyekela uAgagi, lokuhle kakhulu kwezimvu lokwenkomo, lokunonisiweyo, lamawundlu, lakho konke okuhle; kabathandanga ukukutshabalalisa, kodwa yonke into edelelekayo lecakileyo bayitshabalalisa.

15:10  Kwasekufika ilizwi leNkosi kuSamuweli lisithi:

15:11  Sengizisola ngokuthi ngambeka uSawuli waba yinkosi; ngoba ubuyele emuva ekungilandeleni, kaqinisanga amazwi ami. USamuweli wasethukuthela, wakhala eNkosini ubusuku bonke.

15:12  USamuweli wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu ukuhlangabeza uSawuli; kwasekutshelwa uSamuweli kuthiwa: USawuli usefikile eKharmeli; khangela-ke, uzimisele insika, wabhoda, wedlula, wehlela eGiligali.

15:13  USamuweli wasefika kuSawuli; uSawuli wathi kuye: Kawubusiswe yiNkosi; ngiliqinisile ilizwi leNkosi.

15:14  USamuweli wasesithi: Kuyini pho lokhukukhala kwezimvu endlebeni zami, lokubhonsa kwenkomo engikuzwayo?

15:15  USawuli wasesithi: Babuye lazo kumaAmaleki; ngoba abantu bayekele okuhle kakhulu kwezimvu lokwenkomo ukuze bahlabele iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho; kodwa okuseleyo sikutshabalalisile.

15:16  USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: Yekela, ngikutshele ukuthi iNkosi itheni kimi kulobubusuku. Wasesithi kuye: Khuluma.

15:17  USamuweli wasesithi: Angithi, lapho usemncinyane emehlweni akho, waba yinhloko yezizwe zakoIsrayeli, leNkosi yakugcoba waba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli?

15:18  INkosi ikuthumile-ke ngendlela yathi: Hamba uyetshabalalisa izoni, amaAmaleki, ulwe lawo aze aphele.

15:19  Pho, kungani ungalilalelanga ilizwi leNkosi, kodwa waphaphela impango, wenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi?

15:20  USawuli wasesithi kuSamuweli: Isibili ngililalele ilizwi leNkosi, ngihambile ngendlela iNkosi ebingithume ngayo, ngibuyile loAgagi inkosi yakoAmaleki, njalo ngitshabalalisile amaAmaleki.

15:21  Kodwa abantu bathethe okwempango, izimvu lenkomo, okuhle kwezinto ebezizatshabalaliswa, ukuze bahlabele iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho eGiligali.

15:22  Kodwa uSamuweli wathi: Kambe iNkosi iyathokoza ngeminikelo yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo, njengekulaleleni ilizwi leNkosi? Khangela, ukulalela kungcono kulomhlatshelo, lokuqaphelisa kulamahwahwa ezinqama.

15:23  Ngoba umvukela unjengesono sokuvumisa, lobuqholo buyisiphambeko lokukhonza izithombe. Ngoba ulalile ilizwi leNkosi, layo ikwalile ukuthi ungabi yinkosi.

15:24  USawuli wasesithi kuSamuweli: Ngonile; ngoba ngeqile umlayo weNkosi lamazwi akho; ngoba ngesaba abantu, ngakho ngalalela ilizwi labo.

15:25  Ngakho-ke ake uthethelele isono sami, ubuyele lami, ukuze ngikhonze iNkosi.

15:26  Kodwa uSamuweli wathi kuSawuli: Kangiyikubuyela lawe ngoba ulalile ilizwi leNkosi, layo iNkosi ikwalile ukuthi ungabi yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli.

15:27  Kuthe uSamuweli etshibilika ukuthi ahambe, wabamba umphetho wesembatho sakhe, sasesidabuka.

15:28  USamuweli wasesithi kuye: INkosi iwudabule kuwe lamuhla umbuso wakoIsrayeli, yawunika umakhelwane wakho ongcono kulawe.

15:29  Futhi-ke aMandla kaIsrayeli kawaqambi manga, kawazisoli, ngoba kawasimuntu ukuthi azisole.

15:30  Wasesithi: Ngonile, ake ungihloniphe khathesi phambi kwabadala babantu bakithi laphambi kukaIsrayeli, ubuyele lami, ukuthi ngikhonze iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho.

15:31  Ngakho uSamuweli wabuyela elandela uSawuli; uSawuli wayikhonza-ke iNkosi.

15:32  USamuweli wasesithi: Msondezeni kimi uAgagi inkosi yakoAmaleki. UAgagi wasesiya kuye ethokozile; uAgagi wathi: Isibili ukubaba kokufa sekudlulile.

15:33  USamuweli wasesithi: Njengoba inkemba yakho yemuke abesifazana abantwana, ngokunjalo unyoko uzakwemukwa abantwana phakathi kwabesifazana. USamuweli wasemhlahlela uAgagi phambi kweNkosi eGiligali.

15:34  USamuweli wasesiya eRama, loSawuli wenyukela endlini yakhe eGibeya kaSawuli.

15:35  USamuweli kaphindanga wambona uSawuli kwaze kwaba lusuku lokufa kwakhe, kodwa uSamuweli wamlilela uSawuli; leNkosi yazisola ngokuthi yayimbekile uSawuli abe yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli.

Chapter 16

16:1  INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Koze kube nini umlilela uSawuli lokhu mina ngimalile ekubeni yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli? Gcwalisa uphondo lwakho ngamafutha, uhambe; ngizakuthuma kuJese umBhethelehema, ngoba ngizibonele emadodaneni akhe inkosi.

16:2  USamuweli wasesithi: Ngizahamba njani? Uba uSawuli ekuzwa, uzangibulala. INkosi yasisithi: Thatha ithokazi lenkomo esandleni sakho uthi: Ngizehlabela iNkosi.

16:3  Ubizele uJese emhlatshelweni; mina ngizakwazisa ozakwenza; uzangigcobela lowo engizamutsho kuwe.

16:4  USamuweli wasesenza lokho iNkosi ekutshiloyo, wafika eBhethelehema. Abadala bomuzi basebethuthumela ukumhlangabeza bathi: Ukufika kwakho kulokuthula yini?

16:5  Wasesithi: Ukuthula; ngize ukuhlabela iNkosi; zingcweliseni, lize lami emhlatshelweni. Wasengcwelisa uJese lamadodana akhe, wababizela emhlatshelweni.

16:6  Kwasekusithi ekufikeni kwabo, wakhangela uEliyabi wathi: Isibili ogcotshiweyo wayo uphambi kweNkosi.

16:7  Kodwa iNkosi yathi kuSamuweli: Ungakhangeli isimo sakhe lobude besithombo sakhe, ngoba ngimalile, ngoba kakunjengokubona komuntu, ngoba umuntu ubona okuphambi kwamehlo, kodwa iNkosi ibona enhliziyeni.

16:8  UJese wasebiza uAbinadaba, wamedlulisa phambi kukaSamuweli, kodwa wathi: Laye lo iNkosi kayimkhethanga.

16:9  UJese wasedlulisa uShama, kodwa wathi: Laye lo iNkosi kayimkhethanga.

16:10  UJese wasedlulisa amadodana akhe ayisikhombisa phambi kukaSamuweli. Kodwa uSamuweli wathi kuJese: INkosi kayibakhethanga laba.

16:11  USamuweli wasesithi kuJese: Abafana sebephelile yini? Wasesithi: Kusasele icinathunjana; khangela-ke, liyelusa izimvu. USamuweli wasesithi kuJese: Thuma ulithathe, ngoba kasiyikuhlala phansi lize lifike lapha.

16:12  Wasethuma walingenisa. Lona-ke lalibomvana lilamehlo amahle lokukhangeleka okuhle. INkosi yasisithi: Sukuma, uligcobe, ngoba yilo leli.

16:13  USamuweli wasethatha uphondo lwamafutha, waligcoba phakathi kwabafowabo; uMoya weNkosi wasefika ngamandla phezu kukaDavida kusukela kulolosuku kusiya phambili. USamuweli wasesukuma waya eRama.

16:14  Kodwa uMoya weNkosi wasuka kuSawuli, lomoya omubi ovela eNkosini wamhlukuluza.

16:15  Izinceku zikaSawuli zasezisithi kuye: Ake ukhangele, umoya omubi kaNkulunkulu uyakwesabisa.

16:16  Ake itsho inkosi yethu kunceku zakho eziphambi kwakho ukuthi zidinge umuntu okwaziyo ukutshaya ichacho; kuzakuthi-ke lapho umoya omubi ovela kuNkulunkulu uphezu kwakho, uzatshaya ngesandla sakhe ukuze kube kuhle kuwe.

16:17  Ngakho uSawuli wathi ezincekwini zakhe: Ake lingibonele umuntu otshaya kuhle, limlethe kimi.

16:18  Omunye wamajaha wasephendula wathi: Khangela, ngibone indodana kaJese umBhethelehema, ekwaziyo ukutshaya, futhi eliqhawe elilamandla, lendoda yempi, lehlakaniphileyo endabeni, futhi indoda ebukekayo, leNkosi ilayo.

16:19  Ngakho uSawuli wathuma izithunywa kuJese, wathi: Thuma kimi uDavida indodana yakho osezimvini.

16:20  UJese wasethatha ubabhemi, ethwele isinkwa, lembodlela yewayini, lezinyane lembuzi elilodwa, wakuthumela ngesandla sikaDavida indodana yakhe kuSawuli.

16:21  UDavida wasefika kuSawuli, wema phambi kwakhe; wasemthanda kakhulu, wasesiba ngumthwali wezikhali zakhe.

16:22  USawuli wasethumela kuJese esithi: UDavida ake eme phambi kwami, ngoba uthole umusa emehlweni ami.

16:23  Kwakusithi-ke lapho umoya ovela kuNkulunkulu uphezu kukaSawuli, uDavida athathe ichacho atshaye ngesandla sakhe, ukuze uSawuli avuseleleke abe ngcono, lomoya omubi usuke kuye.

Chapter 17

17:1  AmaFilisti asebuthela amabutho awo impi; abuthana eSoko engeyakoJuda, amisa inkamba phakathi kweSoko leAzeka, eEfesi-Damimi.

17:2  USawuli lamadoda akoIsrayeli babuthana, bamisa inkamba esigodini seEla, bahlela impi ukumelana lamaFilisti.

17:3  AmaFilisti asesima entabeni ngapha, loIsrayeli wema entabeni ngale, lesigodi sasiphakathi kwabo.

17:4  Kwasekuphuma enkambeni yamaFilisti iqhawe; ibizo lalo lalinguGoliyathi weGathi; ubude balo babuyizingalo eziyisithupha lokwelulwa kweminwe.

17:5  Kwakulekhowa lethusi ekhanda lalo; laligqoke ibhatshi lensimbi elilamaxolo; njalo isisindo sebhatshi lensimbi sasingamashekeli* ethusi ayizinkulungwane ezinhlanu.

17:6  Njalo kwakulemigwamazi yethusi emibaleni yalo, lomkhonto wethusi phakathi laphakathi kwamahlombe alo.

17:7  Loluthi lomkhonto walo lwalunjengogodo lomaluki, lengqamu yomkhonto walo yayingamashekeli ensimbi angamakhulu ayisithupha; lophatha isihlangu esikhulu wayehamba phambi kwalo.

17:8  Lema, lamemeza emaviyweni akoIsrayeli lathi kuwo: Liphumelani ukuzahlela impi? Kangisuye umFilisti yini, lani izinceku zikaSawuli? Zikhetheleni umuntu ehlele kimi.

17:9  Uba elakho ukulwa lami angibulale, sizakuba yizigqili zenu; kodwa uba mina ngimehlula ngimbulale, lizakuba yizigqili zethu, lisisebenzele.

17:10  UmFilisti wasesithi: Mina ngiyaweyisa amaviyo akoIsrayeli lamuhla; nginikani indoda ukuze silwisane.

17:11  Lapho uSawuli loIsrayeli wonke besizwa lamazwi omFilisti, batshaywa luvalo, besaba kakhulu.

17:12  UDavida wayeyindodana yalowomEfrathi weBhethelehema-Juda, obizo lakhe lalinguJese; wayelamadodana ayisificaminwembili. Njalo lowomuntu wahamba njengomuntu omdala phakathi kwamadoda ensukwini zikaSawuli.

17:13  Asehamba amadodana amathathu kaJese amadala, amlandela uSawuli empini. Lamabizo amadodana akhe amathathu ayeyile empini ayenguEliyabi izibulo, lowesibili wakhe uAbinadaba, lowesithathu uShama.

17:14  Njalo uDavida nguye owayelicinathunjana; lamathathu amadala alandela uSawuli.

17:15  Kodwa uDavida wahamba wabuyela esuka kuSawuli ukuyakwelusa izimvu zikayise eBhethelehema.

17:16  UmFilisti wayesondela-ke ekuseni kakhulu lantambama ezimisa okwensuku ezingamatshumi amane.

17:17  UJese wasesithi kuDavida indodana yakhe: Ake uthathele abafowenu i-efa* lamabele akhanzingiweyo, lalezizinkwa ezilitshumi, ugijimele enkambeni kubafowenu.

17:18  Laleziziqa zetshizi ezilitshumi uziphathele induna yenkulungwane; ubone impilakahle yabafowenu, uthathe isibambiso kibo.

17:19  Njalo uSawuli, labo, lawo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli babesesigodini seEla besilwa lamaFilisti.

17:20  UDavida wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu, watshiya izimvu kumlindi, wakuthatha wahamba njengokulaywa kwakhe nguJese. Wafika enqabeni yezinqola lapho ibutho liphuma ngamaviyo, bememezela impi.

17:21  Njalo uIsrayeli lamaFilisti bahlela iviyo laqondana leviyo.

17:22  UDavida wasetshiya impahla ezisuka kuye ngaphansi kwesandla somlindi wempahla, wagijimela eviyweni wafika wabuza abafowabo impilakahle.

17:23  Esakhuluma labo, khangela, iqhawe lenyuka, ibizo lalo lalinguGoliyathi, umFilisti weGathi, laphuma emaviyweni amaFilisti, lakhuluma njengokwalawomazwi; loDavida wawezwa.

17:24  Njalo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli athi embona lowomuntu ambalekela, esaba kakhulu.

17:25  Amadoda akoIsrayeli athi-ke: Limbonile lowana umuntu owenyukileyo yini? Ngoba wenyukele ukweyisa uIsrayeli. Kuzakuthi-ke indoda ezambulala, inkosi izayinothisa ngenotho enkulu, iyinike lendodakazi yayo, lendlu kayise izayenza ikhululeke koIsrayeli.

17:26  UDavida wasekhuluma emadodeni ayemi laye esithi: Kuzakwenziwani endodeni ebulala lumFilisti, isuse ihlazo koIsrayeli? Ngoba ungubani lumFilisti ongasokanga ukuthi aweyise amaviyo kaNkulunkulu ophilayo?

17:27  Abantu basebemphendula njengalelolizwi besithi: Kuzakwenziwa njalo endodeni embulalayo.

17:28  UEliyabi umnewabo omdala wezwa-ke lapho ekhuluma lamadoda; lentukuthelo kaEliyabi yavuthela uDavida, wathi: Wehleleleni lapha? Izimvu leziyana ezinlutshwana uzitshiye lobani egangeni? Mina ngiyakwazi ukuziqhenya kwakho lobubi benhliziyo yakho; ngoba wehlele ukubona impi.

17:29  Kodwa uDavida wathi: Sengenzeni? Bekungasilizwi nje yini?

17:30  Wasemfulathela, waya komunye, wakhuluma laye njengokwalelolizwi; abantu basebebuyisela impendulo kuye njengelizwi lakuqala.

17:31  Lapho sebewezwile amazwi uDavida awakhulumayo, bawakhuluma phambi kukaSawuli; wasememukela.

17:32  UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: Kakungehluleki inhliziyo yomuntu ngenxa yakhe; inceku yakho izahamba iyekulwa lalowomFilisti.

17:33  Kodwa uSawuli wathi kuDavida: Ungeke waya kulumFilisti ukulwa laye; ngoba wena ungumfana, yena-ke uyindoda yempi kusukela ebutsheni bakhe.

17:34  Kodwa uDavida wathi kuSawuli: Inceku yakho yayiselusa izimvu zikayise; lapho kwafika isilwane lebhere, kwathatha imvu emhlanjini,

17:35  ngaphuma ngakulandela, ngakutshaya, ngayikhulula emlonyeni wakho; lapho kungivukela, ngakubamba ngendevu, ngakutshaya, ngakubulala.

17:36  Inceku yakho yabulala kokubili isilwane lebhere; lalo umFilisti ongasokanga uzakuba njengokunye kwakho, lokhu eyise amaviyo kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.

17:37  UDavida wathi futhi: INkosi eyangophula kuzipho lwesilwane lakuzipho lwebhere, yona izangophula esandleni salo umFilisti. USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: Hamba, leNkosi kayibe lawe.

17:38  USawuli wasegqokisa uDavida izigqoko zakhe, wafaka ikhowa lethusi ekhanda lakhe, wamgqokisa ibhatshi lensimbi.

17:39  UDavida wasebhinca inkemba yakhe phezu kwezigqoko zakhe, walinga ukuhamba, ngoba wayengakuzamanga. UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: Kangilakho ukuhamba ngilalezizinto ngoba kangizizamanga. UDavida wasezikhumula kuye.

17:40  Wasethatha umqwayi wakhe esandleni sakhe, wazikhethela amatshe amahlanu abutshelezi esifuleni, wawafaka esikhwameni sikamelusi ayelaso, ngitsho emxhakeni, lesavutha sakhe sasisesandleni sakhe, wasesondela kumFilisti.

17:41  UmFilisti wasehamba waya wasondela kuDavida; lomuntu ophethe isihlangu esikhulu wayephambi kwakhe.

17:42  Kwathi umFilisti ekhangela ebona uDavida, wameyisa; ngoba wayengumfana njalo ebomvana elobuso obubukekayo.

17:43  UmFilisti wasesithi kuDavida: Ngiyinja yini ukuthi wena uze kimi ulezinduku? UmFilisti wasemqalekisa uDavida ngabonkulunkulu bakhe.

17:44  UmFilisti wasesithi kuDavida: Woza kimi, ngizanika inyoni zamazulu lenyamazana zeganga inyama yakho.

17:45  UDavida wasesithi kumFilisti: Wena uza kimi ulenkemba, lomkhonto, lomdikadika; kodwa mina ngiza kuwe ngebizo leNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu wamaviyo akoIsrayeli omeyisileyo.

17:46  Lamuhla iNkosi izakuvalela esandleni sami, ngizakutshaya, ngisuse ikhanda lakho kuwe; nginike lamuhla inyoni zamazulu lenyamazana zomhlaba izidumbu zebutho lamaFilisti, ukuze umhlaba wonke wazi ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu koIsrayeli.

17:47  Lalelibandla lonke lizakwazi ukuthi iNkosi kayisindisi ngenkemba langomkhonto; ngoba impi ngeyeNkosi, njalo izalinikela esandleni sethu.

17:48  Kwasekusithi lapho umFilisti esukuma ehamba esondela ukuhlangabeza uDavida, uDavida wasephangisa wagijimela ngaseviyweni ukuhlangana lomFilisti.

17:49  UDavida wasefaka isandla sakhe esikhwameni, wakhupha khona ilitshe, walijikijela, wamtshaya umFilisti ebunzini lakhe ilitshe laze latshona ebunzini lakhe, wawela emhlabathini ngobuso bakhe.

17:50  Ngalokho uDavida wamehlula umFilisti ngesavutha langelitshe, wamtshaya umFilisti, wambulala; kodwa kwakungelankemba esandleni sikaDavida.

17:51  Ngakho uDavida wagijima wema phezu komFilisti, wathatha inkemba yakhe, wayihwatsha esikhwameni sayo, wambulala, waquma ikhanda lakhe ngayo. Lapho amaFilisti ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo selifile, abaleka.

17:52  Lamadoda akoIsrayeli lawakoJuda asukuma amemeza, axotshana lamaFilisti uze uyefika esigodini lemasangweni eEkhironi. Labalimeleyo bamaFilisti bawela endleleni yeShaharayimi kuze kube seGathi njalo kuze kube seEkhironi.

17:53  Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebephenduka ekuxotshaneni ngamandla lamaFilisti, baphanga inkamba zawo.

17:54  UDavida wasethatha ikhanda lomFilisti, waliletha eJerusalema; kodwa wabeka izikhali zakhe ethenteni lakhe.

17:55  Lapho uSawuli ebona uDavida ephuma ukuyahlangabeza umFilisti, wathi kuAbhineri induna yebutho: Uyindodana kabani lumfana Abhineri? UAbhineri wasesithi: Kuphila komphefumulo wakho, nkosi, kangazi.

17:56  Inkosi yasisithi: Buza wena ukuthi liyindodana kabani lelijaha.

17:57  Lapho uDavida esephendukile ekubulaleni umFilisti, uAbhineri wamthatha, wamusa phambi kukaSawuli elekhanda lomFilisti esandleni sakhe.

17:58  USawuli wasesithi kuye: Uyindodana kabani, jaha? UDavida wasesithi: Ngiyindodana yenceku yakho uJese umBhethelehema.

Chapter 18

18:1  Kwasekusithi eseqedile ukukhuluma loSawuli, umphefumulo kaJonathani wabotshelwa emphefumulweni kaDavida; uJonathani wasemthanda njengomphefumulo wakhe.

18:2  USawuli wasemthatha ngalolosuku, kaze amvumela ukubuyela endlini kayise.

18:3  UJonathani loDavida basebesenza isivumelwano ngoba wamthanda njengomphefumulo wakhe.

18:4  UJonathani wasezikhulula ibhatshi ayeligqokile, walinika uDavida, lezembatho zakhe, kuze kube senkembeni yakhe, kuze kube sedandilini lakhe, njalo kuze kube sebhantini lakhe.

18:5  UDavida wasephuma waya loba ngaphi lapho uSawuli amthuma khona, waziphatha ngenhlakanipho, uSawuli waze wambeka phezu kwamadoda empi. Njalo wayelungile emehlweni abantu bonke njalo lemehlweni ezinceku zikaSawuli.

18:6  Kwasekusithi ekufikeni kwabo, uDavida esebuye ekubulaleni umFilisti, abesifazana baphuma emizini yonke yakoIsrayeli, behlabela, begida, ukuhlangabeza uSawuli inkosi ngezigubhu, ngentokozo, langamachacho.

18:7  Abesifazana basebevumelana bedlala bathi: USawuli utshayile izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida izinkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumi.

18:8  USawuli wasethukuthela kakhulu, lalelolizwi lalilibi emehlweni akhe, wathi: Banike uDavida izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi, kodwa mina banginika izinkulungwane; usesalelwe ngumbuso kuphela.

18:9  USawuli wasemqaphela uDavida kusukela kulolosuku kusiya phambili.

18:10  Kwasekusithi kusisa umoya omubi ovela kuNkulunkulu wafika ngamandla phezu kukaSawuli, waprofetha phakathi kwendlu; uDavida wasetshaya ichacho ngesandla sakhe njengensuku ngensuku; njalo kwakulomkhonto esandleni sikaSawuli.

18:11  USawuli wasewuphosa umkhonto wathi: Ngizammbandakanya uDavida ngitsho emdulini. Kodwa uDavida wavika kabili esuka phambi kwakhe.

18:12  USawuli wayemesaba-ke uDavida ngoba iNkosi yayilaye, kodwa yayisisukile kuSawuli.

18:13  Ngakho uSawuli wasemsusa kuye, wambeka waba yinduna yakhe yabayizinkulungwane; njalo wayephuma engena phambi kwabantu.

18:14  UDavida waseziphatha ngenhlakanipho endleleni zakhe zonke, leNkosi yayilaye.

18:15  Lapho uSawuli ebona ukuthi waziphatha ngenhlakanipho enkulu, wamesaba.

18:16  Kodwa uIsrayeli wonke loJuda bamthanda uDavida, ngoba wayephuma engena phambi kwabo.

18:17  USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: Khangela, indodakazi yami endala uMerabi, ngizakunika yona ibe ngumkakho; kuphela bana liqhawe kimi, ulwe izimpi zeNkosi. Ngoba uSawuli wathi: Isandla sami kasingabi phezu kwakhe, kodwa isandla samaFilisti kasibe phezu kwakhe.

18:18  Kodwa uDavida wathi kuSawuli: Ngingubani mina? Lempilo yami iyini, losendo lukababa koIsrayeli, ukuthi ngibe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi?

18:19  Kodwa kwathi ngesikhathi uMerabi indodakazi kaSawuli ayezanikwa ngaso uDavida, wayesenikwe uAdriyeli umMehola ukuba ngumkakhe.

18:20  UMikhali indodakazi kaSawuli wamthanda-ke uDavida; basebemtshela uSawuli, lalolodaba lwaluqondile emehlweni akhe.

18:21  USawuli wasesithi: Ngizamnika yena ukuze abe ngumjibila kuye, lokuze isandla samaFilisti simelane laye. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kuDavida: Ngokwesibili uzakuba ngumkhwenyana wami lamuhla.

18:22  USawuli waselaya inceku zakhe wathi: Khulumani loDavida ngensitha lithi: Khangela, inkosi iyathokoza ngawe, lazo zonke inceku zayo ziyakuthanda; ngakho-ke woba ngumkhwenyana wenkosi.

18:23  Izinceku zikaSawuli zasezikhuluma lawomazwi endlebeni zikaDavida. UDavida wasesithi: Kuyinto elula yini emehlweni enu ukuba ngumkhwenyana wenkosi, lokhu mina ngingumuntu ongumyanga lodelelekayo?

18:24  Lenceku zikaSawuli zamtshela zisithi: UDavida wakhuluma ngalindlela.

18:25  USawuli wasesithi: Lizakutsho njalo kuDavida lithi: Inkosi kayiloyisi lobolo, kodwa amajwabu aphambili alikhulu amaFilisti, ukuze kuphindiselwe ezitheni zenkosi. Kodwa uSawuli wacabanga ukwenza uDavida awe ngesandla samaFilisti.

18:26  Lapho inceku zakhe zimtshela uDavida lawomazwi, udaba lwalulungile emehlweni kaDavida ukuthi abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi. Kodwa insuku zazingakagcwaliseki.

18:27  Ngakho uDavida wasukuma wahamba, yena labantu bakhe, basebetshaya phakathi kwamaFilisti amadoda angamakhulu amabili; uDavida waseletha amajwabu awo aphambili, wawasa enkosini ephelele ukuze abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi. USawuli wasemnika uMikhali indodakazi yakhe ukuthi abe ngumkakhe.

18:28  USawuli wasebona wazi ukuthi iNkosi iloDavida, loMikhali indodakazi yakhe yamthanda.

18:29  Njalo uSawuli waya lokhu emesaba kakhulu uDavida; njalo uSawuli waba yisitha sikaDavida zonke izinsuku.

18:30  Iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zaseziphuma; kwasekusithi seziphumile uDavida waziphatha ngenhlakanipho okwedlula zonke izinceku zikaSawuli, laze laduma kakhulu ibizo lakhe.

Chapter 19

19:1  USawuli wasekhuluma kuJonathani indodana yakhe lakuzo zonke inceku zakhe ukuthi babulale uDavida. Kodwa uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wayemthanda kakhulukazi uDavida.

19:2  UJonathani wasemtshela uDavida esithi: USawuli ubaba udinga ukukubulala; ngakho-ke ake uzinanzelele ekuseni, uhlale ekusithekeni, ucatshe.

19:3  Mina-ke ngizaphuma ngime eceleni kukababa emmangweni lapho okhona, mina ngizakhuluma ngawe kubaba; lengikubonayo ngizakutshela.

19:4  UJonathani wasekhuluma okuhle ngoDavida kuSawuli uyise, wathi kuye: Inkosi kayingayoni inceku yayo, imelane loDavida, ngoba kakonanga wena, langokunjalo imisebenzi yakhe ilungile kakhulu kuwe.

19:5  Ngoba wafaka impilo yakhe esandleni sakhe watshaya umFilisti; leNkosi yenzela uIsrayeli wonke usindiso olukhulu. Wakubona, wathokoza. Pho, uzalonelani igazi elingelacala ngokubulala uDavida kungelasizatho?

19:6  USawuli waselilalela ilizwi likaJonathani, uSawuli wafunga wathi: Kuphila kukaJehova, kayikubulawa.

19:7  UJonathani wasembiza uDavida, uJonathani wamtshela wonke lawomazwi. UJonathani wasemletha uDavida kuSawuli, njalo wayephambi kwakhe njengakuqala.

19:8  Kwabuya kwaba khona impi; uDavida wasephuma walwa lamaFilisti, wawatshaya ngokutshaya okukhulu aze ambalekela.

19:9  Njalo umoya omubi ovela eNkosini wawuphezu kukaSawuli ehlezi endlini yakhe, lomkhonto usesandleni sakhe; loDavida wayetshaya ichacho ngesandla sakhe.

19:10  USawuli wasedinga ukummbandakanya uDavida ngitsho emdulini ngomkhonto; kodwa waphunyuka ebukhoneni bukaSawuli, owahlaba umkhonto emdulini. UDavida wabaleka waphepha ngalobobusuku.

19:11  USawuli wasethuma izithunywa endlini kaDavida ukuze zimqaphele zimbulale ekuseni. UMikhali umkakhe wasemtshela uDavida esithi: Uba ungasindisi impilo yakho ngalobubusuku, kusasa uzabulawa.

19:12  Ngakho uMikhali wasemehlisa uDavida ngewindi, wasehamba wabaleka waphepha.

19:13  UMikhali wasethatha isithombe, wasifaka embhedeni, wabeka umqamelo woboya bembuzi endaweni yekhanda laso, wasembesa ngelembu.

19:14  Lapho uSawuli ethuma izithunywa ukuthatha uDavida, wathi: Uyagula.

19:15  USawuli wasethuma izithunywa ukumbona uDavida esithi: Menyuseleni kimi ngombheda ukuze ngimbulale.

19:16  Lapho izithunywa zingena, khangela-ke, kwakulesithombe embhedeni, lomqamelo woboya bembuzi endaweni yekhanda laso.

19:17  USawuli wasesithi kuMikhali: Ungikhohliseleni kanje, wayekela isitha sami sahamba saphepha? UMikhali wasesithi kuSawuli: Yena uthe kimi: Ngiyekela ngihambe; ngizakubulalelani?

19:18  Ngokunjalo uDavida wabaleka waphunyuka, wafika kuSamuweli eRama; wamtshela konke uSawuli ayekwenze kuye. Yena loSamuweli basebesiyahlala eNayothi.

19:19  USawuli wasebikelwa kwathiwa: Khangela, uDavida useNayothi eRama.

19:20  USawuli wasethuma izithunywa ukumthatha uDavida; lapho zibona ixuku labaprofethi beprofetha, loSamuweli emi engumkhokheli phezu kwabo, uMoya kaNkulunkulu waba phezu kwezithunywa zikaSawuli, lazo zaseziprofetha.

19:21  Lapho ebikelwa uSawuli, wathuma ezinye izithunywa, zona lazo zaprofetha. USawuli wasephinda ethuma izithunywa ngokwesithathu, zona lazo zaprofetha.

19:22  Laye wasesiya eRama, wafika emthonjeni omkhulu oseSeku, wabuza wathi: Bangaphi oSamuweli loDavida? Kwathiwa: Khangela, eNayothi eRama.

19:23  Wasesiya khona eNayothi eRama; loMoya kaNkulunkulu waba phezu kwakhe laye; wahamba ehamba eprofetha waze wafika eNayothi eRama.

19:24  Laye wasekhulula izigqoko zakhe, laye waprofetha phambi kukaSamuweli, walala phansi enqunu lonke lolosuku labo bonke lobobusuku. Yikho besithi: USawuli laye uphakathi kwabaprofethi yini?

Chapter 20

20:1  UDavida wasebaleka esuka eNayothi eRama, wafika wathi phambi kukaJonathani: Ngenzeni? Isiphambeko sami siyini? Lesono sami siyini phambi kukayihlo ukuze adinge umphefumulo wami?

20:2  Wasesithi kuye: Kakube khatshana! Kawusoze ufe; khangela, ubaba kenzi ulutho olukhulu loba ulutho oluncinyane engakuvezi endlebeni yami. Pho, ubaba uzayifihlelani kimi linto? Kayisikho.

20:3  UDavida wasefunga futhi wathi: Uyihlo uyakwazi lokwazi ukuthi ngithole umusa emehlweni akho; ngakho uthi: UJonathani kangakwazi hlezi abe losizi. Kodwa ngeqiniso, kuphila kukaJehova njalo kuphila komphefumulo wakho, kukhona inyathelo nje phakathi kwami lokufa.

20:4  UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: Lokho umphefumulo wakho okuloyisayo, ngizakwenzela khona.

20:5  UDavida wasesithi kuJonathani: Khangela, kusasa yikuthwasa kwenyanga; mina-ke ngifanele ukuhlala lokuhlala ukuthi ngidle lenkosi; kodwa ngiyekela ngihambe ngiyecatsha egangeni kuze kube lusuku lwesithathu kusihlwa.

20:6  Uba uyihlo engiswela lokungiswela, uzakuthi: UDavida ungicelile lokungicela ukuthi agijimele eBhethelehema umuzi wakibo; ngoba kukhona lapho umhlatshelo weminyaka ngeminyaka owenzelwe usendo lonke.

20:7  Uba esitsho njalo: Kulungile; inceku yakho izakuba lokuthula. Kodwa uba ethukuthela lokuthukuthela, yazi ukuthi ububi buqondwe nguye.

20:8  Ngakho yenzela inceku yakho umusa, ngoba ulethe inceku yakho esivumelwaneni seNkosi lawe. Kodwa uba kulesiphambeko kimi, ngibulala wena; ngoba uzangiselani kuyihlo?

20:9  UJonathani wasesithi: Kakube khatshana lami! Ngoba uba bengisazi lokwazi ukuthi ububi buqondwe ngubaba ukuthi bukwehlele, mina bengingayikukutshela yini?

20:10  UDavida wasesithi kuJonathani: Ngubani ozangitshela uba uyihlo ekuphendula ngolaka?

20:11  UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: Woza siphume siye emmangweni. Basebephuma bobabili besiya emmangweni.

20:12  UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: INkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, lapho sengimhlolile ubaba phose ngalesisikhathi kusasa loba ngomhlomunye, uba, khangela, kukuhle kuDavida, uba ngingathumeli kuwe ngalesosikhathi ngikuveze endlebeni yakho,

20:13  kayenze njalo iNkosi kuJonathani, langokunjalo yengezelele. Uba ububi phezu kwakho bulungile kubaba, ngizakuveza endlebeni yakho, ngikuyekele uhambe ukuze uhambe ngokuthula. Njalo iNkosi ibe lawe njengoba yayilobaba.

20:14  Kawuyikungenzela yini umusa weNkosi, ngitsho, nxa ngisaphila, ukuze ngingafi,

20:15  kodwa kawuyikuquma umusa wakho usuke endlini yami kuze kube phakade, njalo hatshi lapho iNkosi isiziqumile izitha zikaDavida, zisuke ngulowo lalowo ebusweni bomhlaba.

20:16  Ngokunjalo uJonathani wenza isivumelwano lendlu kaDavida, esithi: INkosi kayikubize esandleni sezitha zikaDavida.

20:17  UJonathani wasephinda wamfungisa uDavida ngenxa yokumthanda kwakhe; ngoba wayemthanda njengoba ethanda umphefumulo wakhe.

20:18  UJonathani wasesithi kuye: Kusasa yikuthwasa kwenyanga, njalo uzaswelwa ngoba isihlalo sakho sizakuba size.

20:19  Usuhlale insuku ezintathu uzakwehla masinyane, uze endaweni owacatsha khona ngosuku lwendaba leyo, uzahlala eduze lamatshe e-Ezeli.

20:20  Mina-ke ngizatshoka imitshoko emithathu eceleni, kungathi ngitshoka ibala.

20:21  Khangela-ke, ngizathuma umfana ngithi: Hamba uyeyidinga imitshoko. Uba ngisithi lokuthi emfaneni: Khangela, imitshoko inganeno kwakho, ithathe, ubuye; ngoba kulokuthula kuwe, njalo kakulandaba, kuphila kukaJehova!

20:22  Kodwa uba ngisitsho njalo ejaheni: Khangela, imitshoko ingale kwakho; hamba ngoba iNkosi ikuyekele uhambe.

20:23  Mayelana lendaba esikhulume ngayo mina lawe, khangela, iNkosi iphakathi kwami lawe kuze kube nininini.

20:24  Ngakho uDavida wasecatsha emmangweni. Isithwasile inyanga, inkosi yahlala ekudleni ukuze idle.

20:25  Inkosi yasihlala esihlalweni sayo njengezikhathi ngezikhathi, esihlalweni eduze lomduli; uJonathani wasesukuma, loAbhineri wahlala eceleni kukaSawuli; kodwa indawo kaDavida yayize.

20:26  Kodwa uSawuli katshongo lutho ngalolosuku; ngoba wathi: Okuthile kumehlele; kahlambulukanga, isibili kahlambulukanga.

20:27  Kwasekusithi kusisa, ngolwesibili lokuthwasa kwenyanga, indawo kaDavida yayize. USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani indodana yakhe: Kungani indodana kaJese ingezanga ekudleni ngitsho izolo lalamuhla?

20:28  UJonathani wasephendula uSawuli wathi: UDavida wangicela lokungicela ukuthi aye eBhethelehema.

20:29  Wasesithi: Akungivumele ukuthi ngihambe; ngoba usendo lwakwethu lulomhlatshelo emzini, lomfowethu ungilayile. Khathesi-ke uba ngithole umusa emehlweni akho, ake ngikhululeke ukuthi ngiyebona abafowethu. Ngenxa yalokho kezanga etafuleni lenkosi.

20:30  Khona intukuthelo kaSawuli yamvuthela uJonathani, wathi kuye: Ndodana yomfazi owonakeleyo lovukelayo! Kangazi yini ukuthi uyikhethile indodana kaJese, kube lihlazo lakho, njalo kube lihlazo lobunqunu bukanyoko?

20:31  Ngoba zonke izinsuku indodana kaJese iphila emhlabeni, kawuyikuma wena lombuso wakho. Ngakho-ke thuma umlethe kimi, ngoba uyindodana yokufa.

20:32  UJonathani wasephendula uSawuli uyise wathi kuye: Uzabulawelwani? Wenzeni?

20:33  USawuli wasephosa umkhonto kuye ukumtshaya. Ngalokho uJonathani wakwazi ukuthi kwakuqondwe nguyise ukumbulala uDavida.

20:34  Ngakho uJonathani wasuka etafuleni ekuvutheni kwentukuthelo, njalo kadlanga ukudla ngosuku lwesibili lokuthwasa kwenyanga, ngoba wayedabukile ngoDavida, ngoba uyise emyangisile.

20:35  Kwasekusithi ekuseni uJonathani waphuma waya emmangweni ngesikhathi esimisiweyo loDavida, lomfanyana elaye.

20:36  Wasesithi emfaneni wakhe: Gijima, ake udinge imitshoko engiyitshokayo. Umfana wagijima, yena wasetshoka umtshoko ukuze umedlule.

20:37  Lapho umfana esefikile endaweni yomtshoko uJonathani awutshokileyo, uJonathani wamemeza emva komfana wathi: Umtshoko kawuphambi kwakho yini?

20:38  Njalo uJonathani wamemeza emva komfana wathi: Phangisa, ukhawuleze, ungemi. Umfana kaJonathani waseyiqoqa imitshoko, wabuya enkosini yakhe.

20:39  Kodwa umfana wayengazi lutho, kuphela uJonathani loDavida babelwazi udaba.

20:40  UJonathani wasenika umfana owayelaye izikhali zakhe, wathi kuye: Hamba, uzise emzini.

20:41  Esehambile umfana, uDavida wasukuma ngaseningizimu, wathi mbo ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini, wakhothama kathathu; basebesangana, bakhala inyembezi omunye lomunye, uDavida waze wedlulisa.

20:42  UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: Hamba ngokuthula; lokhu esikufunge sobabili ngebizo leNkosi, sisithi: INkosi ibe phakathi kwami lawe, laphakathi kwenzalo yami lenzalo yakho, kakube kuze kube nininini. Wasesukuma wahamba, loJonathani waya emzini.

Chapter 21

21:1  UDavida wasesiza eNobi kuAhimeleki umpristi; uAhimeleki wasesesaba ukuhlangabeza uDavida, wathi kuye: Kungani wena uwedwa, njalo kungelamuntu olawe?

21:2  UDavida wasesithi kuAhimeleki umpristi: Inkosi ingilaye udaba, yathi kimi: Kakungabi lamuntu owazi lalutho ngaloludaba engikuthuma lona, lengikulaya khona; lamajaha ngiwazisile ngendawo enje lenje.

21:3  Khathesi-ke kuyini okungaphansi kwesandla sakho? Nika esandleni sami izinkwa ezinhlanu loba okungatholakala.

21:4  Umpristi wasephendula uDavida wathi: Kakulasinkwa esejwayelekileyo ngaphansi kwesandla sami, kodwa kulesinkwa esingcwele, nxa amajaha ezigcinile esifazaneni kuphela.

21:5  UDavida wasemphendula umpristi wathi kuye: Isibili abesifazana bavinjelwe kithi phose lezinsuku ezintathu ekuphumeni kwami; lezitsha zamajaha zingcwele; kodwa ngandlela thize sejwayelekile, laphezu kwalokho, ngoba lamuhla singcweliswe ezitsheni.

21:6  Ngakho umpristi wamnika esingcwele; ngoba kwakungelasinkwa lapho, ngaphandle kwesinkwa sokubukiswa, ebesisuswe phambi kweNkosi ukuthi kubekwe isinkwa esitshisayo mhla sithathwa.

21:7  Njalo kwakulomuntu lapho owenceku zikaSawuli mhlalokho, ebambekile phambi kweNkosi, lebizo lakhe lalinguDowegi umEdoma, induna yabelusi uSawuli ayelabo.

21:8  UDavida wasesithi kuAhimeleki: Kanti kakulamkhonto loba inkemba lapha ngaphansi kwesandla sakho? Ngoba kokubili inkemba yami lezikhali zami kangikuthathanga esandleni sami, ngoba udaba lwenkosi lwalungoluphuthunywayo.

21:9  Umpristi wasesithi: Inkemba kaGoliyathi umFilisti, owambulala esigodini seEla, njalo khangela, igoqelwe ngelembu ngemva kwe-efodi; uba uzithathela yona, ithathe, ngoba kayikho enye lapha ngaphandle kwayo. UDavida wasesithi: Kayikho enjengayo; nginika yona.

21:10  Wasesukuma uDavida wabaleka ngalolosuku esuka ebusweni bukaSawuli, waya kuAkishi inkosi yeGathi.

21:11  Izinceku zikaAkishi zasezisithi kuye: Lo kayisuye uDavida yini inkosi yelizwe? Kabahlabelanga yini ngaye emigidweni besithi: USawuli utshayile izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida inkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumi?

21:12  UDavida wasewafaka lamazwi enhliziyweni yakhe, wamesaba kakhulu uAkishi inkosi yeGathi.

21:13  Ngakho waguqula ukuziphatha kwakhe emehlweni abo, wazitshaya uhlanya ezandleni zabo, wadweba ezivalweni zamasango, wagxozisela indenda esilevini sakhe.

21:14  UAkishi wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: Khangelani, liyabona ukuthi lumuntu uyahlanya; limletheleni kimi?

21:15  Ngiswele inhlanya yini ukuthi lilethe lo ukuthi ahlanye phambi kwami? Lo uzangena endlini yami yini?

Chapter 22

22:1  UDavida wasesuka lapho, waphephela ebhalwini lweAdulamu. Lapho abafowabo lendlu yonke kayise bekuzwa lokho, behlela kuye lapho.

22:2  Kwasekubuthana kuye wonke umuntu ocindezelweyo, laye wonke umuntu owayelesikwelede, laye wonke umuntu owayebuhlungu emphefumulweni, wasesiba yinduna phezu kwabo, kwaze kwaba laye phose abantu abangamakhulu amane.

22:3  UDavida wasesuka lapho waya eMizipa yakoMowabi, wathi enkosini yakoMowabi: Ngiyacela ukuthi ubaba lomama baphume lani, ngize ngazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzangenzelani.

22:4  Wasebaletha phambi kwenkosi yakoMowabi, basebehlala layo insuku zonke uDavida esenqabeni.

22:5  Umprofethi uGadi wasesithi kuDavida: Ungahlali enqabeni; hamba wena ngena elizweni lakoJuda. UDavida wasehamba wangena eguswini leHerethi.

22:6  USawuli wasesizwa ukuthi uDavida uyaziwa labantu ababelaye. USawuli wayehlezi eGibeya ngaphansi kwesihlahla setamarisiki* eRama, elomkhonto esandleni sakhe, lazo zonke inceku zakhe zazimi laye.

22:7  USawuli wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe ezazimi laye: Ake lizwe, bakoBhenjamini: Kambe indodana kaJese izalinika lonke amasimu lezivini, ilibeke lonke libe zinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamakhulu,

22:8  ngokuthi lonke lingenzele ugobe, njalo kakho owembule endlebeni yami ukuthi indodana yami yenza isivumelwano lendodana kaJese; kakho loyedwa kini ongizwelayo, lowembula endlebeni yami, ukuthi indodana yami ingivusela inceku yami ukuthi icathame njengalamuhla?

22:9  Kwasekuphendula uDowegi umEdoma owayemi lenceku zikaSawuli, wathi: Ngayibona indodana kaJese isiza eNobi kuAhimeleki indodana kaAhitubi.

22:10  Wasembuzela eNkosini, wamnika umphako, lenkemba kaGoliyathi umFilisti wamnika yona.

22:11  Inkosi uSawuli yasithuma ukubiza uAhimeleki umpristi, indodana kaAhitubi, lendlu yonke kayise, abapristi ababeseNobi; bonke basebesiza enkosini.

22:12  USawuli wasesithi: Ake ulalele, ndodana kaAhitubi. Wasesithi: Khangela ngilapha, nkosi yami.

22:13  USawuli wasesithi kuye: Kungani lingenzela ugobe, wena lendodana kaJese, njengoba wayinika isinkwa lenkemba, wayibuzela kuNkulunkulu, ukuthi ingivukele icathame njengalamuhla?

22:14  UAhimeleki waseyiphendula inkosi wathi: Pho, ngubani kuzo zonke inceku zakho othembekileyo njengoDavida, ongumkhwenyana wenkosi, oqhubeka ekukulaleleni, lohloniphekayo endlini yakho?

22:15  Ngiyaqalisa lamuhla yini ukumbuzela kuNkulunkulu? Kakube khatshana lami! Inkosi kayingabeki udaba encekwini yayo lendlini yonke kababa; ngoba inceku yakho yayingazi lutho ngaloludaba, oluncinyane kumbe olukhulu.

22:16  Inkosi yasisithi: Ahimeleki, uzakufa lokufa, wena lendlu yonke kayihlo.

22:17  Inkosi yasisithi kuzigijimi ezazimi layo: Phendukani, libulale abapristi beNkosi; ngoba isandla sabo laso siloDavida, futhi ngoba babesazi ukuthi ubalekile, kodwa kabembulanga endlebeni yami. Kodwa inceku zenkosi kazithandanga ukwelula isandla sazo ukuthi zihlasele abapristi beNkosi.

22:18  Inkosi yasisithi kuDowegi: Phenduka wena, uhlasele abapristi. UDowegi umEdoma wasephenduka, yena wahlasela abapristi, wabulala ngalolosuku abantu abangamatshumi ayisificaminwembili lanhlanu ababegqoke i-efodi* yelembu elicolekileyo.

22:19  LeNobi, umuzi wabapristi, wayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba, kusukela endodeni kusiya kowesifazana, kusukela emntwaneni kusiya komunyayo, lezinkabi labobabhemi lezimvu, ngobukhali benkemba.

22:20  Kodwa omunye wamadodana kaAhimeleki indodana kaAhitubi waphepha, obizo lakhe lalinguAbhiyatha, wabaleka walandela uDavida.

22:21  UAbhiyatha wasetshela uDavida ukuthi uSawuli ubulele abapristi beNkosi.

22:22  UDavida wasesithi kuAbhiyatha: Ngakwazi ngalolosuku lapho uDowegi umEdoma elapho ukuthi uzamtshela lokumtshela uSawuli. Yimi engibangele ukufa kwawo wonke umphefumulo wendlu kayihlo.

22:23  Hlala lami, ungesabi, ngoba lowo odinga umphefumulo wami udinga umphefumulo wakho; kodwa uzalondolozeka ulami.

Chapter 23

23:1  Basebebika kuDavida besithi: Khangela, amaFilisti alwa emelene leKeyila, aphanga amabala okubhulela.

23:2  UDavida wasebuza eNkosini esithi: Ngihambe yini ngitshaye lamaFilisti? INkosi yasisithi kuDavida: Hamba uyetshaya amaFilisti, usindise iKeyila.

23:3  Kodwa abantu bakaDavida bathi kuye: Khangela, siyesaba khonapha koJuda; pho, kangakanani uba sisiya eKeyila emaviyweni amaFilisti?

23:4  UDavida wasephinda futhi ukubuza eNkosini. INkosi yasimphendula yathi: Sukuma wehlele eKeyila, ngoba ngizanikela amaFilisti esandleni sakho.

23:5  Ngakho uDavida labantu bakhe baya eKeyila, balwa lamaFilisti, baqhuba inkomo zawo, bawatshaya ngokutshaya okukhulu. Ngalokho uDavida wasindisa abahlali beKeyila.

23:6  Kwasekusithi lapho uAbhiyatha indodana kaAhimeleki ebalekela kuDavida eKeyila, wehla ele-efodi* esandleni sakhe.

23:7  Kwasekubikwa kuSawuli ukuthi uDavida ungenile eKeyila. USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu umnikele esandleni sami, ngoba uvalelwe ngokungena emzini olamasango lemigoqo.

23:8  USawuli wasebizela bonke abantu empini ukwehlela eKeyila, ukuvimbezela uDavida labantu bakhe.

23:9  UDavida wasesazi ukuthi uSawuli wenza iqhinga elibi ngasese ngaye, wathi kuAbhiyatha umpristi: Letha lapha i-efodi.

23:10  UDavida wasesithi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, inceku yakho izwile lokuzwa ukuthi uSawuli udinga ukuza eKeyila ukuchitha umuzi ngenxa yami.

23:11  Abahlali beKeyila bazanginikela esandleni sakhe yini? USawuli uzakwehla yini njengokuzwa kwenceku yakho? Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, akuyitshele inceku yakho. INkosi yasisithi: Uzakwehla.

23:12  UDavida wasesithi: Abahlali beKeyila bazanginikela mina labantu bami esandleni sikaSawuli yini? INkosi yasisithi: Bazalinikela.

23:13  Wasesukuma uDavida labantu bakhe, phose abangamakhulu ayisithupha, baphuma eKeyila, baya lapho ababengaya khona. Lapho uSawuli esetshelwa ukuthi uDavida usephephile eKeyila, wayekela ukuphuma.

23:14  UDavida wasehlala enkangala ezinqabeni, wahlala ezintabeni enkangala yeZifi. LoSawuli wayemdinga insuku zonke, kodwa uNkulunkulu kamnikelanga esandleni sakhe.

23:15  UDavida wasebona ukuthi uSawuli wayephumele ukudinga impilo yakhe. UDavida wayesenkangala yeZifi eguswini.

23:16  UJonathani, indodana kaSawuli, wasesukuma waya kuDavida eguswini, waqinisa isandla sakhe kuNkulunkulu.

23:17  Wathi kuye: Ungesabi, ngoba isandla sikaSawuli ubaba kasiyikukuthola, njalo uzakuba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, mina-ke ngibe ngowesibili kuwe, loSawuli laye ubaba ukwazi kunjalo.

23:18  Basebesenza isivumelwano bobabili phambi kweNkosi; uDavida wasehlala eguswini, loJonathani waya endlini yakhe.

23:19  AbeZifi basebesenyukela kuSawuli eGibeya bathi: UDavida kacatshanga lathi yini ezinqabeni eguswini, eqaqeni lweHakila engeningizimu kweJeshimoni?

23:20  Ngakho-ke, ngokwesifiso sonke somphefumulo wakho sokwehla, nkosi, yehla; njalo kungokwethu ukumnikela esandleni senkosi.

23:21  USawuli wasesithi: Libusisiwe yiNkosi ngoba liyangizwela.

23:22  Ake lihambe, libe lilungisa, lazi libone indawo yakhe lapho unyawo lwakhe lukhona, ngubani ombone lapho, ngoba ngitsheliwe ukuthi wenza ngobuqili isibili.

23:23  Bonani-ke, lizazi zonke indawo zokucatsha lapho acatsha khona, libuye kimi lileqiniso, ngizahamba-ke lani; kuzakuthi-ke nxa ekhona elizweni, ngizamdinga phakathi kwazo zonke inkulungwane zakoJuda.

23:24  Basebesukuma baya eZifi phambi kukaSawuli; kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe babesenkangala yeMahoni, emagcekeni, ngeningizimu kweJeshimoni.

23:25  USawuli labantu bakhe basebesiyamdinga. Basebemtshela uDavida, wasesehla edwaleni, wahlala enkangala yeMahoni. Kwathi uSawuli esekuzwile, waxotshana loDavida enkangala yeMahoni.

23:26  USawuli wasehamba nganeno kuloluhlangothi lwentaba, loDavida labantu bakhe bahamba ngakolunye uhlangothi lwentaba. Kwasekusithi uDavida waphangisa ukusuka ebusweni bukaSawuli, ngoba uSawuli labantu bakhe bahanqa uDavida labantu bakhe ukubabamba.

23:27  Kodwa kwafika isithunywa kuSawuli sisithi: Phangisa ubuye, ngoba amaFilisti asehlasele ilizwe.

23:28  Ngakho uSawuli waphenduka ekuxotshaneni loDavida, wayamelana lamaFilisti. Ngakho bayibiza leyondawo bathi yiSela-Hamalekoti.

23:29  UDavida wasesenyuka esuka lapho, wahlala ezinqabeni zeEngedi.

Chapter 24

24:1  Kwasekusithi uSawuli esebuyile ekulandeleni amaFilisti, bambikela besithi: Khangela, uDavida usenkangala yeEngedi.

24:2  USawuli wasethatha amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu akhethiweyo kuIsrayeli wonke, wayadinga uDavida labantu bakhe phezu kwamadwala amagogo.

24:3  Wasefika ezibayeni zezimvu endleleni, lapho okwakulobhalu khona; uSawuli wasengena ukwembesa inyawo zakhe; uDavida labantu bakhe babehlezi-ke enhlangothini zobhalu.

24:4  Abantu bakaDavida basebesithi kuye: Khangela, usuku iNkosi ethi ngalo kuwe: Khangela, ngizanikela isitha sakho esandleni sakho, ukuthi wenze kuso njengokuhle emehlweni akho. UDavida wasesukuma, wasika ensitha umphetho wesembatho uSawuli ayelaso.

24:5  Kwasekusithi emva kwalokho inhliziyo kaDavida yamtshaya, ngenxa yokuthi wayesike umphetho wesembatho uSawuli ayelaso.

24:6  Wasesithi ebantwini bakhe: Kakube khatshana lami ngeNkosi ukuthi ngenze linto enkosini yami, ogcotshiweyo weNkosi, ukwelulela isandla sami kuye, ngoba engogcotshiweyo weNkosi.

24:7  UDavida wabanqanda abantu bakhe ngalawomazwi, kabavumelanga ukuthi bamvukele uSawuli. USawuli wasesukuma waphuma ebhalwini, wahamba endleleni.

24:8  Emva kwalokho uDavida laye wasukuma waphuma ebhalwini, wamemeza emva kukaSawuli esithi: Nkosi yami nkosi! Lapho uSawuli enyemukula, uDavida wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wakhonza.

24:9  UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: Ulalelelani amazwi abantu besithi: Khangela, uDavida udinga ukulinyazwa kwakho?

24:10  Khangela, lamuhla amehlo akho abonile ukuthi iNkosi ibikunikele lamuhla esandleni sami ebhalwini; njalo besithi kangikubulale, kodwa ngakuhawukela, ngathi: Kangiyikwelulela isandla sami enkosini yami, ngoba ingogcotshiweyo weNkosi.

24:11  Futhi-ke, baba, bona, yebo bona umphetho wesembatho sakho esandleni sami; ngoba ekusikeni kwami umphetho wesembatho sakho, lokuthi kangikubulalanga, yazi ubone ukuthi kakukho ububi lesiphambeko esandleni sami, njalo kangonanga kuwe, kanti wena uzingela umphefumulo wami ukuwuthatha.

24:12  INkosi kayahlulele phakathi kwami lawe, njalo iNkosi ingiphindiselele kuwe, kodwa isandla sami kasiyikumelana lawe.

24:13  Njengokutsho kwesaga sabendulo esithi: Kwababi kuvela okubi; kodwa isandla sami kasiyikumelana lawe.

24:14  Inkosi yakoIsrayeli iphume ukulandela bani? Uxotshana lobani? Emva kwenja efileyo, emva kwendwebundwebu eyodwa!

24:15  Ngakho iNkosi kayibe ngumahluleli, yahlulele phakathi kwami lawe, ibone, ilumele udaba lwami, ingikhulule esandleni sakho.

24:16  Kwasekusithi uDavida eseqedile ukukhuluma lamazwi kuSawuli, uSawuli wathi: Yilizwi lakho lelo yini, ndodana yami, Davida? USawuli wasephakamisa ilizwi lakhe, wakhala inyembezi.

24:17  Wasesithi kuDavida: Ulungile kulami, ngoba wena ungivuze ngokuhle, kodwa mina ngikuvuze ngokubi.

24:18  Wena-ke utshengisile lamuhla ukuthi wenze okuhle ngami, ngoba lapho iNkosi ibinginikele esandleni sakho, kawungibulalanga.

24:19  Ngoba nxa umuntu efica isitha sakhe, uzasiyekela sihambe ngendlela enhle yini? Ngakho iNkosi ikuvuze ngokuhle ngokwenze kimi lamuhla.

24:20  Manje-ke, khangela, ngiyazi ukuthi uzakuba yinkosi isibili, lokuthi umbuso wakoIsrayeli uzaqiniswa esandleni sakho.

24:21  Ngakho khathesi funga kimi ngeNkosi ukuthi kawuyikuyiquma inzalo yami emva kwami, lokuthi kawuyikulicitsha ibizo lami endlini kababa.

24:22  UDavida wasefunga kuSawuli, loSawuli waya endlini yakhe, kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe benyukela enqabeni.

Chapter 25

25:1  USamuweli wasesifa; loIsrayeli wonke wahlangana, bamlilela, bamngcwabela endlini yakhe eRama. UDavida wasesukuma wehlela enkangala yeParani.

25:2  Kwakukhona-ke indoda eMahoni, lomsebenzi wayo wawuseKharmeli; lindoda-ke yayiyisikhulu esikhulu, yayilezimvu eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu lembuzi eziyinkulungwane, yayigunda izimvu zayo eKharmeli.

25:3  Njalo ibizo laleyondoda lalinguNabali, lebizo lomkayo lalinguAbigayili. Njalo owesifazana wayelokuqedisisa okuhle, elesimo esihle, kodwa indoda yayilukhuni ilezenzo ezimbi; yayingeyakoKalebi.

25:4  UDavida wasesizwa esenkangala ukuthi uNabali ugunda izimvu zakhe.

25:5  UDavida wasethuma amajaha alitshumi, uDavida wathi emajaheni: Yenyukelani eKharmeli, liye kuNabali, limbuze impilo ebizweni lami,

25:6  lizakutsho njalo: Impilakahle kayibe kuwe, ukuthula kakube kuwe, lokuthula kakube sendlini yakho, lokuthula kakube kukho konke olakho!

25:7  Sengizwile-ke ukuthi ulabagundi; abelusi olabo-ke babelathi, kasibalimazanga, futhi kabaswelanga lutho zonke izinsuku beseKharmeli.

25:8  Buza amajaha akho, azakutshela. Ngakho amajaha kawathole umusa emehlweni akho, ngoba sifike ngosuku oluhle. Akunike inceku zakho lendodana yakho uDavida lokho isandla sakho esizakuthola.

25:9  Kwathi amajaha kaDavida esefikile, akhuluma kuNabali ngokwalawomazwi wonke ebizweni likaDavida, aselinda.

25:10  UNabali waseziphendula izinceku zikaDavida, wathi: Ngubani uDavida? Njalo ngubani indodana kaJese? Lamuhla zinengi inceku ezibalekayo, ileyo laleyo enkosini yayo.

25:11  Pho, ngithathe isinkwa sami, lamanzi ami, lenyama yami engiyihlabele abagundi bami, ngikuphe abantu engingazi ukuthi bavela ngaphi?

25:12  Amajaha kaDavida asephendukela endleleni yawo, abuyela, eza, ambikela njengawo wonke lamazwi.

25:13  UDavida wasesithi ebantwini bakhe: Bhincani, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe! Babhinca, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe, loDavida laye wabhinca inkemba yakhe; kwasekusenyuka emva kukaDavida phose amadoda angamakhulu amane, kodwa angamakhulu amabili ahlala empahleni.

25:14  Kodwa elinye ijaha lamajaha lamtshela uAbigayili umkaNabali lathi: Khangela, uDavida uthume izithunywa zivela enkangala ukubingelela inkosi yethu, kodwa yazithethisa.

25:15  Kanti labobantu basiphatha kuhle kakhulu, kasilimalanga, kasiswelanga lutho zonke izinsuku sihambisana labo, sisemmangweni.

25:16  Babengumduli kithi ebusuku kanye lemini, zonke izinsuku silabo seluse izimvu.

25:17  Khathesi-ke, yazi ubone ukuthi uzakwenzani; ngoba ububi buqunyelwe inkosi yethu lendlu yayo yonke; ngoba uyindodana kaBheliyali okungangokuthi kakho ongakhuluma laye.

25:18  UAbigayili wasephangisa wathatha izinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili, lembodlela ezimbili zewayini, lezimvu ezinhlanu ezilungisiweyo, lamaseya* amane amabele akhanzingiweyo, lamahlukuzo alikhulu ezithelo zevini ezonyisiweyo, lezinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili zomkhiwa, wakuthwalisa obabhemi.

25:19  Wasesithi emajaheni akhe: Dlulani phambi kwami; khangelani, ngiyalilandela. Kodwa kamtshelanga umkakhe uNabali.

25:20  Kwasekusithi esagade ubabhemi esehlela endaweni esithekileyo yentaba, khangela-ke, uDavida labantu bakhe behla behlangabezana laye; wasehlangana labo.

25:21  Njalo uDavida wayethe: Isibili ngigcine ngeze konke lo ayelakho enkangala, kakwaze kwasweleka lutho kukho konke ayelakho. Usengibuyisele okubi ngokuhle.

25:22  UNkulunkulu akenze njalo ezitheni zikaDavida, engezelele ngokunjalo, uba ngitshiya loyedwa kubo bonke alabo kuze kube sekuseni abachamela emdulini.

25:23  Lapho uAbigayili ebona uDavida, waphangisa wehla kubabhemi, wathi mbo ngobuso bakhe phansi phambi kukaDavida, wakhothamela emhlabathini.

25:24  Wawela enyaweni zakhe wathi: Lobububi kabube phezu kwami mina, nkosi yami; incekukazi yakho ake ikhulume endlebeni zakho, uzwe amazwi encekukazi yakho.

25:25  Inkosi yami ake inganaki lowomuntu kaBheliyali, uNabali; ngoba njengebizo lakhe unjalo; uNabali libizo lakhe, lobuthutha bukuye. Kodwa mina, incekukazi yakho, kangiwabonanga amajaha enkosi yami owawathumayo.

25:26  Ngakho-ke, nkosi yami, kuphila kukaJehova, lokuphila komphefumulo wakho, njengoba iNkosi ikunqandile ukungena ngokuchitha igazi, lokuziphindisela ngesandla sakho, ngalokho-ke kazibe njengoNabali izitha zakho lalabo abadinga ububi enkosini yami.

25:27  Manje-ke, lesisibusiso incekukazi yakho esilethe enkosini yami kasinikwe amajaha ahamba esiya le lale emanyathelweni enkosi yami.

25:28  Akuthethelele isiphambeko sencekukazi yakho; ngoba iNkosi izakwenzela lokwenzela inkosi yami indlu eqinileyo, ngoba inkosi yami ilwa izimpi zeNkosi, lobubi kabutholwanga kuwe kusukela ensukwini zakho.

25:29  Loba kusukuma umuntu ukukuxotsha lokudinga impilo yakho, kodwa umphefumulo wenkosi yami uzabotshelwa emqulwini wabaphilayo leNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho; kodwa umphefumulo wezitha zakho izawujikijela kungathi uphume phakathi kwesavutha.

25:30  Kwasekusithi, lapho iNkosi isikwenzile enkosini yami njengakho konke okuhle ekukhulume ngawe, isikumisile waba ngumbusi phezu kukaIsrayeli,

25:31  kakungabi yisikhubekiso kuwe lokukhubekiswa kwenhliziyo enkosini yami, ngokuthi uchithe igazi ngeze, lokuthi inkosi yami iziphindisele. Lapho iNkosi isiyenzele okuhle inkosi yami, khumbula incekukazi yakho.

25:32  UDavida wasesithi kuAbigayili: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ekuthumileyo lamuhla ukungihlangabeza.

25:33  Futhi kakubusiswe ukuqedisisa kwakho, ubusiswe lawe onginqandileyo lamuhla ukuze ngingangeni ekuchitheni igazi lokuziphindisela ngesandla sami.

25:34  Ngoba ngeqiniso, kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, onginqandileyo ukuze ngingenzi ububi kuwe, ngoba uba ubungaphangisanga weza ukungihlangabeza, sibili, bekungayikusala loyedwa kuNabali kuze kube sekukhanyeni kwekuseni ochamela emdulini.

25:35  UDavida wasesemukela esandleni sakhe lokho amlethele khona. Wasesithi kuye: Yenyukela ngokuthula endlini yakho; bona, ngililalele ilizwi lakho, ngibemukele ubuso bakho.

25:36  UAbigayili wasefika kuNabali, khangela-ke, wayeledili endlini yakhe, njengedili lenkosi. Lenhliziyo kaNabali yathokoza phakathi kwakhe, njalo wayedakwe kwedlulisa; ngakho kamtshelanga lutho, oluncinyane loba olukhulu, kwaze kwaba sekukhanyeni kwekuseni.

25:37  Kwasekusithi ekuseni lapho iwayini seliphumile kuNabali, lomkakhe esemtshele lezizinto, inhliziyo yakhe yafa phakathi kwakhe, wasesiba njengelitshe.

25:38  Kwasekusithi phose emva kwensuku ezilitshumi iNkosi yamtshaya uNabali, wasesifa.

25:39  UDavida esezwile ukuthi uNabali usefile wathi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi emele udaba lwehlazo lami esandleni sikaNabali, yavimbela inceku yayo ebubini; iNkosi yabuyisela-ke ububi bukaNabali ekhanda lakhe. UDavida wasethuma, wakhuluma loAbigayili ukuthi amthathe abe ngumkakhe.

25:40  Lapho izinceku zikaDavida zifika kuAbigayili eKharmeli, zakhuluma laye zisithi: UDavida usithumile kuwe ukukuthatha ube ngumkakhe.

25:41  Wasesukuma, wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wathi: Khangela, incekukazi yakho kayibe yisigqili sokugezisa inyawo zenceku zenkosi yami.

25:42  UAbigayili wasephangisa esukuma, wagada ubabhemi, lentombi zakhe ezinhlanu ezazimphelekezela, walandela izithunywa zikaDavida, waba ngumkakhe.

25:43  UDavida wathatha loAhinowama weJizereyeli, labo bobabili baba ngomkakhe.

25:44  Ngoba uSawuli wayenike uMikhali indodakazi yakhe, umkaDavida, kuPaliti indodana kaLayishi owayengoweGalimi.

Chapter 26

26:1  AbeZifi basebesiza kuSawuli eGibeya besithi: UDavida kacatshi yini oqaqeni lweHakila phambi kweJeshimoni?

26:2  USawuli wasesukuma wehlela enkangala yeZifi elabantu abakhethiweyo bakoIsrayeli abayizinkulungwane ezintathu, ukuze adinge uDavida enkangala yeZifi.

26:3  USawuli wasemisa inkamba oqaqeni lweHakila oluphambi kweJeshimoni endleleni, kodwa uDavida wahlala enkangala. Kwathi esebonile ukuthi uSawuli uyamlandela enkangala,

26:4  uDavida wasethuma izinhloli ukuze azi ukuthi uSawuli ufikile isibili.

26:5  UDavida wasesukuma wayafika endaweni lapho uSawuli amise khona inkamba; uDavida wayibona indawo lapho uSawuli alala khona, loAbhineri indodana kaNeri, induna yebutho lakhe. Njalo uSawuli wayelele enqabeni yezinqola, lesizwe sasimise amathente simhanqile.

26:6  UDavida wasephendula wakhuluma kuAhimeleki umHethi, lakuAbishayi indodana kaZeruya, umfowabo kaJowabi, esithi: Ngubani ozakwehlela lami kuSawuli enkambeni? UAbishayi wasesithi: Mina ngizakwehla lawe.

26:7  Ngakho uDavida loAbishayi bafika ebantwini ebusuku; khangela-ke, uSawuli wayelele ubuthongo enqabeni yezinqola, lomkhonto wakhe wawugxunyekiwe emhlabathini ngasekhanda lakhe, loAbhineri labantu babelele bemhanqile.

26:8  UAbishayi wasesithi kuDavida: UNkulunkulu uvalele isitha sakho esandleni sakho lamuhla; ngakho-ke ake ngimtshayele ngitsho emhlabathini kanye ngomkhonto, ngingakuphindi kuye.

26:9  Kodwa uDavida wathi kuAbishayi: Ungamchithi; ngoba ngubani ongelulela isandla sakhe kogcotshiweyo weNkosi angabi lacala?

26:10  UDavida wathi futhi: Kuphila kukaJehova, kodwa iNkosi izamtshaya, loba kufike usuku lwakhe ukuthi afe, kumbe ehlele empini abhujiswe.

26:11  Kakube khatshana lami ngeNkosi ukwelulela isandla sami kogcotshiweyo weNkosi; kodwa khathesi ake uthathe umkhonto osemqamelweni wakhe, lesigxingi samanzi, sihambe.

26:12  UDavida wasethatha umkhonto lesigxingi samanzi ekususa emqamelweni kaSawuli, bahamba. Njalo kakho owakubonayo, kakho owakwaziyo, kakho owavukayo, ngoba bonke babelele, ngoba ubuthongo obunzima beNkosi babubehlele.

26:13  Lapho uDavida esechaphele ngaphetsheya, wema engqongeni yentaba khatshana; kwakukhona ummango omkhulu phakathi kwabo.

26:14  UDavida wasememeza ebantwini lakuAbhineri indodana kaNeri, esithi: Kawuphenduli yini, Abhineri? UAbhineri wasephendula esithi: Ungubani okhala enkosini?

26:15  UDavida wasesithi kuAbhineri: Kawusindoda yini? Njalo ngubani onjengawe koIsrayeli? Kungani-ke ungayilindanga inkosi yakho inkosi? Ngoba kufike omunye wabantu ukuchitha inkosi, inkosi yakho.

26:16  Kayinhle into oyenzileyo. Kuphila kukaJehova, lingabantwana bokufa, ngoba kaliyilindanga inkosi yenu, ogcotshiweyo weNkosi. Khathesi-ke bona ukuthi ungaphi umkhonto wenkosi lesigxingi samanzi ebesingasemqamelweni wayo.

26:17  USawuli waselinanzelela ilizwi likaDavida wathi: Yilizwi lakho lelo yini, ndodana yami, Davida? UDavida wasesithi: Yilizwi lami, nkosi yami, nkosi.

26:18  Wathi njalo: Inkosi yami ixotshanelani lenceku yayo? Ngoba ngenzeni? Kulobubi bani esandleni sami?

26:19  Ngakho-ke, ake izwe inkosi yami, inkosi, amazwi enceku yayo. Uba iNkosi ikuqubula ukumelana lami, kayemukele umnikelo; kodwa uba kungabantwana babantu, kabaqalekiswe phambi kweNkosi; ngoba bangixotshile lamuhla ukuthi ngingazihlanganisi lelifa leNkosi, besithi: Hamba, ukhonze abanye onkulunkulu.

26:20  Ngakho-ke igazi lami kalingaweli emhlabathini lisuke phambi kobuso beNkosi; ngoba inkosi yakoIsrayeli iphumele ukudinga indwebundwebu eyodwa, njengozingela ithendele ezintabeni.

26:21  USawuli wasesithi: Ngonile; buya, ndodana yami Davida, ngoba kangisayikwenza ububi kuwe, ngenxa yokuthi umphefumulo wami ubuligugu emehlweni akho lamuhla. Khangela, ngenze ngobuphukuphuku, ngaduha kakhulu sibili.

26:22  UDavida wasephendula wathi: Khangela, umkhonto wenkosi! Kalichaphe elinye lamajaha, liwuthathe.

26:23  INkosi kayibuyisele kulowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe lokuthembeka kwakhe; ngoba iNkosi ibikunikele esandleni sami lamuhla, kodwa kangithandanga ukwelulela isandla sami kogcotshiweyo weNkosi.

26:24  Khangela-ke, njengoba impilo yakho ibinkulu emehlweni ami lamuhla, ngokunjalo impilo yami ayibe nkulu emehlweni eNkosi, kayingophule ekuhluphekeni konke.

26:25  USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: Kawubusiswe wena, ndodana yami Davida. Lawe uzakwenza isibili, lawe uzanqoba lokunqoba. UDavida wasehamba ngendlela yakhe, loSawuli wabuyela endaweni yakhe.

Chapter 27

27:1  UDavida wasesithi enhliziyweni yakhe: Sengizabhubha ngolunye usuku ngesandla sikaSawuli. Kakulalutho olungcono kimi ngaphandle kokuphepha lokuphepha ngiye elizweni lamaFilisti, loSawuli uzadela ngami ukungidinga futhi kuwo wonke umngcele wakoIsrayeli; ngokunjalo ngiphephe esandleni sakhe.

27:2  Wasesukuma uDavida wachapha, yena labantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ayelabo, waya kuAkishi indodana kaMahoki, inkosi yeGathi.

27:3  UDavida wasehlala loAkishi eGathi, yena labantu bakhe, ngulowo lalowo lendlu yakhe; uDavida labomkakhe bobabili, uAhinowama umJizereyelikazi loAbigayili umKharmelikazi umkaNabali.

27:4  Kwathi kubikwa kuSawuli ukuthi uDavida ubalekele eGathi, kabe esamdinga futhi.

27:5  UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Uba khathesi ngithole umusa emehlweni akho, kabangiphe indawo komunye wemizi emaphandleni ukuthi ngihlale khona; ngoba inceku yakho izahlalelani lawe emzini wenkosi?

27:6  UAkishi wasemnika iZikilagi ngalolosuku. Ngakho iZikilagi ingeyamakhosi akoJuda kuze kube lamuhla.

27:7  Lenani lensuku uDavida azihlala elizweni lamaFilisti lalingumnyaka lenyanga ezine.

27:8  UDavida labantu bakhe basebesenyuka bahlasela amaGeshuri lamaGirizi, lamaAmaleki, ngoba lawo ayengabahlali balelolizwe kwasendulo, lapho usiya eShuri, njalo kuze kube selizweni leGibhithe.

27:9  UDavida waselitshaya ilizwe, kazatshiya ophilayo, owesilisa lowesifazana, wathatha izimvu lenkomo labobabhemi lamakamela lezigqoko, wabuyela wafika kuAkishi.

27:10  Lapho uAkishi esithi: Belihlasela ngaphi lamuhla? UDavida wayesithi: Ngaseningizimu yakoJuda, langaseningizimu yamaJerameli, langaseningizimu yamaKeni.

27:11  UDavida katshiyanga owesilisa kumbe owesifazana ophilayo, ukuletha ilizwi eGathi, esithi: Hlezi bakhulume ngathi, besithi: Wenze njalo uDavida. Wawunjalo-ke umkhuba wakhe zonke izinsuku azihlala elizweni lamaFilisti.

27:12  UAkishi wasemkholwa uDavida esithi: Uzenze waba levumba kakhulu ebantwini bakibo koIsrayeli. Ngakho uzakuba yinceku yami kuze kube nininini.

Chapter 28

28:1  Kwasekusithi ngalezonsuku amaFilisti abuthanisela impi amabutho awo ukuze alwe loIsrayeli. UAkishi wasesithi kuDavida: Yazi lokwazi ukuthi uzaphuma impi lami, wena labantu bakho.

28:2  UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Sibili, wena uzakwazi ukuthi inceku yakho ingenzani. UAkishi wasesithi kuDavida: Ngakho, ngizakubeka ube ngumlindi wekhanda lami zonke izinsuku.

28:3  USamuweli wayesefile, loIsrayeli wonke wayemlilele, bamngcwabela eRama, ngitsho emzini wakibo. USawuli wayebasusile-ke elizweni abalamadlozi labalumbayo.

28:4  AmaFilisti asebuthana afika amisa inkamba eShunemi. USawuli wasebuthanisa uIsrayeli wonke, bamisa inkamba eGilibowa.

28:5  Lapho uSawuli ebona inkamba yamaFilisti, wesaba, lenhliziyo yakhe yathuthumela kakhulu.

28:6  Lapho uSawuli ebuza eNkosini, iNkosi kayimphendulanga langamaphupho langeUrimi langabaprofethi.

28:7  USawuli wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: Ngidingelani owesifazana oledlozi ukuze ngiye kuye, ngibuze kuye. Inceku zakhe zasezisithi kuye: Khangela, kulowesifazana oledlozi eEndori.

28:8  USawuli wasezifihla isimo, wagqoka ezinye izigqoko, wahamba, yena lamadoda amabili laye; basebefika kowesifazana ebusuku. Wathi: Akungivumisele ngedlozi, ungenyusele engizamutsho kuwe.

28:9  Kodwa owesifazana wathi kuye: Khangela, wena uyazi ukuthi uSawuli wenzeni, ukuthi ubaqumile elizweni abalamadlozi labalumbayo. Pho, uwuthiyelani umphefumulo wami ukungibulala?

28:10  Kodwa uSawuli wafunga kuye ngeNkosi, esithi: Kuphila kukaJehova, isijeziso kasiyikuza kuwe ngaloludaba.

28:11  Owesifazana wasesithi: Ngikwenyusele bani? Wasesithi: Ngenyusela uSamuweli.

28:12  Lapho owesifazana ebona uSamuweli, wakhala ngelizwi elikhulu; owesifazana wasekhuluma kuSawuli esithi: Ungikhohliseleni? Ngoba unguSawuli.

28:13  Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi; kodwa ubonani? Owesifazana wasesithi kuSawuli: Ngibona onkulunkulu besenyuka emhlabathini.

28:14  Wasesithi kuye: Sinjani isimo sakhe? Wasesithi: Kwenyuka ixhegu elembethe isembatho. Lapho uSawuli esesazi ukuthi nguSamuweli, wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wakhonza.

28:15  USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: Ungikhathazeleni ngokungenyusa? USawuli wasephendula wathi: Ngibandezelekile kakhulu, ngoba amaFilisti alwa lami, loNkulunkulu usukile kimi, kasangiphenduli, langesandla sabaprofethi langamaphupho. Ngakho ngikubizile ukuthi ungazise ukuthi ngenzeni.

28:16  USamuweli wasesithi: Pho, ubuzelani kimi, lokhu iNkosi isisukile kuwe, yaba yisitha sakho?

28:17  INkosi isizenzele njengokukhuluma kwayo ngesandla sami; iNkosi isidabule umbuso usuka esandleni sakho, yawunika umakhelwane wakho, uDavida.

28:18  Njengoba ungalilalelanga ilizwi leNkosi, futhi ungenzanga ukuvutha kolaka lwayo kumaAmaleki, ngakho iNkosi yenzile linto kuwe lamuhla.

28:19  Futhi iNkosi izanikela uIsrayeli laye kanye lawe esandleni samaFilisti; kusasa-ke wena lamadodana akho lizakuba lami. Lenkamba yakoIsrayeli iNkosi izayinikela esandleni samaFilisti.

28:20  USawuli wasehle edilikela emhlabathini, ngokuphelela kobude bakhe, wesaba kakhulu ngenxa yamazwi kaSamuweli, njalo kwakungelamandla kuye, ngoba wayengadlanga kudla usuku lonke lobusuku bonke.

28:21  Owesifazana wasesiza kuSawuli, wabona ukuthi wethukile kakhulu, wathi kuye: Khangela, incekukazi yakho ililalele ilizwi lakho, ngifakile umphefumulo wami esandleni sami, ngalalela amazwi owakhulume kimi.

28:22  Ngakho-ke lawe akulalele ilizwi lencekukazi yakho, ngifake phambi kwakho ucezwana lwesinkwa ukuze udle, ukuze amandla abe kuwe nxa uhamba indlela yakho.

28:23  Kodwa wala wathi: Kangiyikudla. Kodwa inceku zakhe kanye lowesifazana bamcindezela; waselalela ilizwi labo. Wasesukuma emhlabathini, wahlala embhedeni.

28:24  Njalo owesifazana wayelethole elinonileyo endlini; waphangisa walihlaba; wathatha impuphu, wayixova, wabhaka isinkwa esingelamvubelo ngayo;

28:25  wasisondeza phambi kukaSawuli laphambi kwenceku zakhe; badla. Basukuma bahamba ngalobobusuku.

Chapter 29

29:1  AmaFilisti ayebuthanise-ke wonke amabutho awo eAfeki; lamaIsrayeli ayemise inkamba ngasemthonjeni oseJizereyeli.

29:2  Iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zasezidlula ngamakhulu langezinkulungwane, kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe bedlula emuva loAkishi.

29:3  Induna zamaFilisti zasezisithi: Ayini lamaHebheru? UAkishi wasesithi kuzo induna zamaFilisti: Lo kayisuye uDavida yini, inceku kaSawuli inkosi yakoIsrayeli, obelami lezinsuku kumbe liminyaka? Njalo kangitholanga lutho kuye kusukela kusuku lokuwa kwakhe kuze kube lamuhla.

29:4  Kodwa induna zamaFilisti zamthukuthelela; izinduna zamaFilisti zathi kuye: Mbuyisele lumuntu ukuthi abuyele endaweni yakhe owambeka khona. Njalo kangehleli empini lathi, ukuze angabi yisitha sethu empini. Ngoba lo angazenza athandeke ngani enkosini yakhe? Hatshi ngamakhanda alamadoda yini?

29:5  Lo kayisuye uDavida yini ababevumelana ngaye emigidweni besithi: USawuli utshaye izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida inkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumi?

29:6  UAkishi wasebiza uDavida wathi kuye: Kuphila kukaJehova, isibili wena uqondile, lokuphuma kwakho lokungena kwakho lami enkambeni kuhle emehlweni ami; ngoba kangitholanga ububi kuwe kusukela osukwini lokufika kwakho kimi kuze kube lamuhla; kodwa emehlweni eziphathamandla kawumuhle.

29:7  Ngakho-ke buyela uhambe ngokuthula, ukuze ungenzi ububi emehlweni eziphathamandla zamaFilisti.

29:8  UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Kodwa ngenzeni? Uficeni encekwini yakho, kusukela osukwini engangiphambi kwakho ngalo kuze kube lamuhla, ukuthi ngingayikulwa lezitha zenkosi yami, inkosi?

29:9  UAkishi wasephendula wathi kuDavida: Ngiyazi ukuthi ulungile emehlweni ami njengengilosi kaNkulunkulu; kodwa izinduna zamaFilisti zithe: Kayikwenyukela empini lathi.

29:10  Ngakho-ke ubovuka ekuseni kakhulu kanye lenceku zenkosi yakho ezifike lawe; selivuke ekuseni kakhulu sekukhanya kini, lihambe.

29:11  Ngakho uDavida wavuka ngovivi, yena labantu bakhe, ukuhamba ekuseni, ukuthi babuyele elizweni lamaFilisti. AmaFilisti asesenyukela eJizereyeli.

Chapter 30

30:1  Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesithathu, lapho uDavida labantu bakhe befika eZikilagi, amaAmaleki ayehlasele iningizimu, leZikilagi, ayitshaya iZikilagi, ayitshisa ngomlilo,

30:2  athumba abesifazana ababephakathi kwayo; kusukela komncinyane kuze kube komkhulu kawabulalanga muntu, kodwa abaqhuba, ahamba ngendlela yawo.

30:3  Lapho uDavida labantu bakhe befika emzini, khangela, wawutshisiwe ngomlilo, labomkabo, lamadodana abo lamadodakazi abo sebethunjiwe.

30:4  UDavida labantu ababelaye basebephakamisa ilizwi labo bakhala inyembezi akaze aba khona kubo amandla okukhala.

30:5  OmkaDavida bobabili labo babethunjiwe, uAhinowama umJizereyelikazi loAbigayili umkaNabali weKharmeli.

30:6  UDavida wasecindezeleka kakhulu, ngoba abantu babekhuluma ngokumkhanda ngamatshe, ngoba umphefumulo wabantu bonke wawubuhlungu, ngulowo lalowo ngenxa yamadodana langenxa yamadodakazi akhe. Kodwa uDavida waziqinisa ngeNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe.

30:7  UDavida wasesithi kuAbhiyatha umpristi indodana kaAhimeleki: Akungilethele lapha i-efodi*. UAbhiyatha waseyiletha i-efodi kuDavida.

30:8  UDavida wasebuza eNkosini esithi: Ngixotshane laleliviyo yini? Ngizalifica yini? Yasisithi kuye: Xotshana lalo, ngoba uzalifica lokulifica, ubakhulule lokubakhulula.

30:9  Ngakho uDavida wahamba, yena labantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ababelaye, bafika esifuleni iBesori lapho abasalayo bahlala khona.

30:10  Kodwa uDavida waxotshana labo, yena labantu abangamakhulu amane; ngoba abangamakhulu amabili basala, ababekhathele kakhulu ukuthi babengelakuchapha isifula iBesori.

30:11  Basebefica umGibhithe emmangweni, bamletha kuDavida, bamnika ukudla, wadla, bamnathisa amanzi;

30:12  bamnika ucezu lwesinkwa somkhiwa lamahlukuzo amabili ezithelo zevini ezonyisiweyo. Kwathi esedlile umoya wabuyela kuye, ngoba wayengadlanga kudla, enganathanga manzi, insuku ezintathu lobusuku obuthathu.

30:13  UDavida wasesithi kuye: Ungokabani? Uvela ngaphi? Wasesithi: Ngilijaha leGibhithe, inceku yomAmaleki, lenkosi yami ingitshiyile ngoba bengigula okwensuku ezintathu.

30:14  Thina besihlasela iningizimu yamaKerethi, lakwelakoJuda, leningizimu yakoKalebi, leZikilagi sayitshisa ngomlilo.

30:15  UDavida wasesithi kulo: Ungangehlisela kuleloviyo yini? Laselisithi: Funga kimi ngoNkulunkulu ukuthi kawuyikungibulala, njalo kawuyikunginikela esandleni senkosi yami, besengikwehlisela kuleloviyo.

30:16  Selimehlisile, khangela, babehlakazekile ebusweni bomhlaba wonke, besidla, benatha, begidela impango enkulu ababeyithethe elizweni lamaFilisti lelizweni lakoJuda.

30:17  UDavida wasebatshaya kusukela libantubahle kwaze kwaba kusihlwa kosuku olulandelayo lwabo. Njalo kakuphunyukanga muntu kubo, ngaphandle kwamajaha angamakhulu amane, agada amakamela, abaleka.

30:18  UDavida wasekhulula konke amaAmaleki ayekuthethe, labomkakhe bobabili uDavida wabakhulula.

30:19  Njalo kakusilelanga lutho kubo kusukela komncinyane kuze kube komkhulu, kuze kube semadodaneni lemadodakazini, lempangweni, ngitsho lakuphi ababezithathele khona; uDavida wakubuyisa konke.

30:20  UDavida wasethatha zonke izimvu lenkomo. Baziqhuba phambi kwenkomo lezo, bathi: Le yimpango kaDavida.

30:21  UDavida wasefika kulabobantu abangamakhulu amabili ababekhathele kakhulu ukuthi babengelakulandela uDavida, abathi kabahlale esifuleni seBesori; basebephuma ukumhlangabeza uDavida lokuhlangabeza abantu ababelaye. Lapho uDavida esondela kubantu, wababuza impilakahle.

30:22  Basebephendula bonke abantu ababi labakaBheliyali phakathi kwabantu ababehambe loDavida bathi: Njengoba bengahambanga lathi, kasiyikubanika empangweni esiyikhululileyo, ngaphandle kwakuleyo laleyondoda umkayo labantwana bayo, ukuthi babakhokhele bahambe.

30:23  Kodwa uDavida wathi: Kaliyikwenza njalo, bafowethu, ngalokho iNkosi esiphe khona, esilondolozileyo, yanikela esandleni sethu iviyo eleza lamelana lathi.

30:24  Pho, ngubani ozalilalela kuloludaba? Ngoba njengesabelo salowo owehlela empini sinjalo isabelo salowo ohlala lempahla; bazakwabelana ngokulinganayo.

30:25  Kwasekusiba njalo kusukela mhlalokho kusiya phambili, ukuthi wakwenza kwaba yisimiso lesimiselo koIsrayeli kuze kube lamuhla.

30:26  UDavida esefikile eZikilagi, wathumela okwempango kubadala bakoJuda, kubo abangane bakhe, esithi: Khangela, isibusiso senu esivela empangweni yezitha zeNkosi.

30:27  KwabeseBhetheli, lakwabaseRamothi yeningizimu, lakwabaseJatiri,

30:28  lakwabaseAroweri, lakwabaseSifimothi, lakwabaseEshithemowa,

30:29  lakwabaseRakali, lakwabasemizini yamaJerameli, lakwabasemizini yamaKeni,

30:30  lakwabaseHorma, lakwabaseBorashani, lakwabaseAthaki,

30:31  lakwabaseHebroni, lendaweni zonke lapho uDavida ahamba khona besiya le lale, yena labantu bakhe.

Chapter 31

31:1  AmaFilisti alwa-ke loIsrayeli; lamadoda akoIsrayeli abaleka phambi kwamaFilisti, awa efile entabeni yeGilibowa.

31:2  AmaFilisti asenamathela kuSawuli lamadodana akhe; amaFilisti abulala uJonathani, loAbinadaba, loMaliki-Shuwa, amadodana kaSawuli.

31:3  Lempi yaba nzima kuSawuli, abatshoki bamfica, amadoda edandili; wasesiba lobuhlungu kakhulu ngabatshoki.

31:4  USawuli wasesithi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe: Hwatsha inkemba yakho, ungigwaze ngayo, hlezi laba abangasokanga bafike bangigwaze, badlale kubi ngami. Kodwa umthwali wezikhali zakhe kavumanga, ngoba wesaba kakhulu. Ngakho uSawuli wathatha inkemba, waziwisela phezu kwayo.

31:5  Lapho umthwali wezikhali zakhe ebona ukuthi uSawuli usefile, laye waziwisela phezu kwenkemba yakhe, wafa kanye laye.

31:6  Wafa-ke uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu lomthwali wezikhali zakhe labo bonke abantu bakhe ngalolosuku ndawonye.

31:7  Lapho amadoda akoIsrayeli ayengaphetsheya kwesigodi layengaphetsheya kweJordani ebona ukuthi amadoda akoIsrayeli abalekile, lokuthi uSawuli lamadodana akhe sebefile, atshiya imizi, abaleka; amaFilisti asefika, ahlala kiyo.

31:8  Kwasekusithi kusisa lapho amaFilisti efika ukuhlubula ababuleweyo, afica uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu bewile entabeni yeGilibowa.

31:9  Asequma ikhanda lakhe, ahlubula izikhali zakhe, athumela elizweni lamaFilisti inhlangothi zonke ukumemezela imibiko endlini yezithombe zabo lebantwini.

31:10  Abeka izikhali zakhe endlini kaAshitarothi. Abophela isidumbu sakhe emdulini weBeti-Shani.

31:11  Kwathi abahlali beJabeshi-Gileyadi sebezwile ngalokho amaFilisti akwenze kuSawuli,

31:12  asukuma wonke amaqhawe, ahamba ubusuku bonke, athatha isidumbu sikaSawuli lezidumbu zamadodana akhe emdulini weBeti-Shani, eza eJabeshi, azitshisa khona.

31:13  Asethatha amathambo abo, awangcwaba ngaphansi kwesihlahla setamarisiki* eJabeshi, azila ukudla insuku eziyisikhombisa.