1 Samuel 18

1 After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

1 Baada ya Daudi kumaliza kuongea na Sauli, roho ya Yonathani ikaambatana na roho ya Daudi, naye akampenda kama nafsi yake mwenyewe.

2 And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

2 Kuanzia siku ile Sauli akamchukua Daudi naye hakumruhusu kurudi nyumbani kwa baba yake.

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

3 Yonathani akafanya agano na Daudi kwa sababu alimpenda kama nafsi yake mwenyewe.

4 And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

4 Yonathani akavua joho alilokuwa amevaa na kumpa Daudi, pamoja na koti lake, silaha zake, hata pamoja na upanga wake, upinde wake na mshipi wake.

5 So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

5 Lolote Sauli alilomtuma Daudi kufanya, alitenda kwa hekima, hata Sauli akampa cheo cha juu katika jeshi. Jambo hili likawapendeza watu wote, hata maafisa wa Sauli pia.

6 As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

6 Watu walipokuwa wanarudi nyumbani baada ya Daudi kumuua yule Mfilisti, wanawake wakaja kutoka pande zote za miji ya Israeli kumlaki Mfalme Sauli kwa kuimba na kucheza, kwa nyimbo za furaha na kwa matari na zeze.

7 And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

7 Walipokuwa wanacheza, wakaimba: “Sauli amewaua elfu zake, naye Daudi makumi elfu yake.”

8 And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

8 Sauli akakasirika sana; sehemu hii ya kurudia rudia ya wimbo huu ilimkasirisha sana. Akafikiri kuwa, “Wamempa Daudi makumi elfu, lakini mimi wamenipa elfu tu. Apate nini zaidi isipokuwa ufalme?”

9 And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

9 Kuanzia wakati ule na kuendelea Sauli akawa na jicho la wivu juu ya Daudi.

10 The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

10 Kesho yake roho mbaya iliyoachiwa nafasi na Mungu ikaja kwa nguvu juu ya Sauli. Alikuwa akitabiri nyumbani mwake, wakati Daudi alikuwa akipiga kinubi, kama alivyozoea. Sauli alikuwa na mkuki mkononi mwake;

11 and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

11 akautupa kwa nguvu, akijiambia mwenyewe, “Nitamchoma kwa mkuki abaki hapo ukutani.” Lakini Daudi akamkwepa mara mbili.

12 So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

12 Sauli akamwogopa Daudi, kwa sababu Bwana alikuwa pamoja na Daudi, lakini alikuwa amemwacha yeye.

13 Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

13 Kwa hiyo Sauli akamwondoa Daudi mbele yake na kumpa kuwa kiongozi wa watu elfu moja, naye Daudi akatoka na kuingia akiongoza vikosi katika vita.

14 and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

14 Katika kila kitu alichofanya, Daudi alipata mafanikio makubwa, kwa sababu Bwana alikuwa pamoja naye.

15 When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.

15 Sauli alipoona jinsi alivyokuwa akifanikiwa, akamwogopa.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

16 Lakini Israeli wote na Yuda walimpenda Daudi, kwa sababu ndiye alikuwa akiwaongoza katika vita vyao.

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

17 Sauli akamwambia Daudi, “Huyu hapa binti yangu mkubwa Merabu. Nitakupa umwoe, endapo tu utanitumikia kwa ushujaa na kupigana vita vya Bwana.” Kwa maana Sauli alisema moyoni mwake, “Sitainua mkono wangu dhidi yake. Acha mkono wa Wafilisti uwe juu yake.”

18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

18 Lakini Daudi akamwambia Sauli, “Mimi ni nani, nayo jamaa yangu ni nini au ukoo wa baba yangu katika Israeli, kwamba mimi niwe mkwewe mfalme?”

19 So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

19 Basi ulipofika wakati wa Daudi kupewa Merabu, binti Sauli, huyo binti aliozwa kwa Adrieli, Mmeholathi.

20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

20 Basi Mikali binti Sauli alimpenda Daudi, nao walipomwambia Sauli juu ya jambo hili, likampendeza.

21 “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

21 Sauli akawaza, “Nitampa Daudi binti yangu, ili apate kuwa mtego kwake, ili kwamba mkono wa Wafilisti upate kuwa juu yake.” Hivyo Sauli akamwambia Daudi, “Sasa unayo nafasi ya pili ya kuwa mkwe wangu.”

22 Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

22 Ndipo Sauli akawaagiza watumishi wake, akisema, “Zungumzeni na Daudi kwa siri na kumwambia, ‘Tazama, mfalme amependezwa nawe, nao watumishi wake wote wanakupenda. Basi na uwe mkwewe mfalme.’”

23 But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

23 Watumishi wa Sauli wakarudia hayo maneno kwa Daudi. Lakini Daudi akasema, “Je, mnafikiri ni jambo dogo kuwa mkwewe mfalme? Mimi ni mtu maskini tu, na nisiyejulikana sana.”

24 And the servants told Saul what David had said.

24 Watumishi wa Sauli walipomweleza yale Daudi aliyoyasema,

25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

25 Sauli akajibu, “Mwambieni Daudi, ‘Mfalme hataki zawadi nyingine kuwa mahari isipokuwa magovi 100 ya Wafilisti, ili kulipiza kisasi juu ya adui zake.’” Mawazo ya Sauli yalikuwa Daudi akaanguke mikononi mwa Wafilisti.

26 When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

26 Watumishi walipomwambia Daudi mambo haya, ikampendeza kuwa mkwewe mfalme. Basi kabla siku iliyopangwa haijafika,

27 David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

27 Daudi na watu wake walitoka na kuwaua Wafilisti mia mbili. Akayaleta magovi yao na kupeleka hesabu kamilifu kwa mfalme, ili kwamba apate kuwa mkwewe mfalme. Ndipo Sauli akamwoza Daudi Mikali binti yake.

28 When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

28 Sauli alipotambua kuwa Bwana alikuwa pamoja na Daudi na kwamba Mikali binti yake anampenda Daudi,

29 he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

29 Sauli akazidi kumwogopa Daudi, naye Sauli akabaki kuwa adui yake siku zote za maisha yake.

30 Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

30 Majemadari wa jeshi la Wafilisti waliendelea kupigana vita na kadiri walivyoendelea kupigana, Daudi akazidi kutenda kwa hekima kuliko maafisa wengine wa Sauli, nalo jina lake likajulikana sana.