1 Samuel 20

1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”

1 Kisha Daudi akakimbia kutoka Nayothi huko Rama akamwendea Yonathani na kumuuliza, “Kwani nimefanya nini? Kosa langu ni nini? Nimemkosea baba yako kwa jinsi gani, hata kwamba anajaribu kuuondoa uhai wangu?”

2 “Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!”

2 Yonathani akajibu, “La hasha! Hutakufa! Tazama, baba yangu hafanyi kitu chochote, kikubwa au kidogo, bila kuniambia mimi. Kwa nini anifiche hili? Sivyo ilivyo!”

3 But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”

3 Lakini Daudi akaapa na kusema, “Baba yako anajua kabisa kwamba nimepata kibali mbele yako, naye amesema moyoni mwake, ‘Yonathani sharti asilijue hili, la sivyo atahuzunika.’ Lakini kweli kama Bwana aishivyo na kama uishivyo, kuna hatua moja tu kati yangu na mauti.”

4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.”

4 Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Chochote unachotaka nifanye, nitakufanyia.”

5 So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I am supposed to dine with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field until the third evening from now.

5 Basi Daudi akamwambia, “Angalia, kesho ni sikukuu ya Mwezi Mwandamo, nami inanipasa kula chakula pamoja na mfalme; lakini niache niende kujificha shambani mpaka kesho kutwa.

6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’

6 Kama baba yako akiona ya kuwa sipo, mwambie, ‘Daudi aliniomba sana ruhusa kuwahi Bethlehemu, mji wake wa nyumbani, kwa sababu dhabihu ya mwaka inafanywa huko kwa ajili ya ukoo wake wote.’

7 If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions.

7 Kama akisema, ‘Ni vyema sana,’ basi mtumishi wako yu salama. Lakini kama akikasirika, unaweza kuwa na hakika kwamba anakusudia kunidhuru.

8 Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”

8 Lakini kwa habari yako wewe, mtende wema mtumishi wako, kwa sababu mmeingia kwenye agano pamoja naye mbele za Bwana. Kama nina hatia, basi niue wewe mwenyewe! Kwa nini unikabidhi kwa baba yako?”

9 “Never!” Jonathan replied. “If I ever found out that my father had evil intentions against you, would I not tell you?”

9 Yonathani akasema, “La hasha! Kama ningekuwa na kidokezo kidogo kwamba baba yangu amekusudia kukudhuru wewe, je, nisingekuambia?”

10 Then David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

10 Daudi akamuuliza, “Je, nani atakayeniambia kama baba yako atakujibu kwa ukali?”

11 “Come,” he replied, “let us go out to the field.” So the two of them went out into the field,

11 Yonathani akamwambia, “Njoo, twende shambani.” Basi wakaenda huko pamoja.

12 and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?

12 Kisha Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Ninakuahidi kwa jina la Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, hakika nitamchunguza baba yangu wakati kama huu kesho kutwa! Kama ameweka utaratibu wa kufaa kukuhusu wewe, je, sitakutumia ujumbe na kukufahamisha?

13 But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father.

13 Lakini ikiwa baba yangu amenuia kukudhuru, Bwana na anishughulikie kwa ukali, iwapo sitakufahamisha na kukuaga uende salama. Bwana na awe pamoja nawe kama alivyokuwa pamoja na baba yangu.

14 And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,

14 Lakini nitendee wema usiokoma kama ule wa Bwana siku zote za maisha yangu, ili nisije nikauawa,

15 and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

15 wala usiuondoe wema wako kwa jamaa yangu, hata kama ni wakati ule Bwana atakapokuwa amekatilia mbali kila adui wa Daudi kutoka kwenye uso wa dunia.”

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”

16 Basi Yonathani akafanya agano na nyumba ya Daudi, akisema: “Bwana na awaangamize adui za Daudi.”

17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

17 Naye Yonathani akamtaka Daudi athibitishe tena kiapo chake cha kumpenda, kwa sababu Yonathani alimpenda Daudi kama nafsi yake mwenyewe.

18 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

18 Kisha Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Kesho ni sikukuu ya Mwezi Mwandamo. Itajulikana kwamba haupo kwa kuwa kiti chako kitakuwa hakina mtu.

19 When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel.

19 Kesho kutwa, inapokaribia jioni, nenda mahali pale ulipojificha wakati tatizo hili lilipoanza na usubiri karibu na jiwe la Ezeli.

20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target.

20 Nitapiga mishale mitatu kando yake, kama kwamba nilikwenda kulenga shabaha.

21 Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you, and there is no danger.

21 Kisha nitamtuma mvulana na kumwambia, ‘Nenda ukaitafute mishale.’ Kama nikimwambia, ‘Tazama mishale iko upande huu wako! Uilete hapa,’ basi uje, kwa sababu hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, wewe ni salama, hakuna hatari.

22 But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away.

22 Lakini kama nikimwambia huyo mvulana, ‘Angalia, mishale iko mbele yako,’ basi inakupasa uondoke, kwa sababu Bwana amekuruhusu uende zako.

23 And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”

23 Kuhusu yale tuliyozungumza wewe na mimi: kumbuka, Bwana ndiye shahidi kati yako wewe na mimi milele.”

24 So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat.

24 Basi Daudi akajificha shambani, na sikukuu ya Mwezi Mwandamo ilipowadia, mfalme akaketi ili ale.

25 He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner, but David’s place was empty.

25 Akaketi mahali pake pa kawaida karibu na ukuta, kuelekeana na Yonathani, naye Abneri akaketi karibu na Mfalme Sauli, lakini kiti cha Daudi kilikuwa wazi.

26 Saul said nothing that day because he thought, “Something has happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”

26 Sauli hakusema chochote siku ile kwa kuwa alifikiri, “Kuna kitu cha lazima kimetokea kwa Daudi ambacho kimemfanya najisi asihudhurie karamuni, hakika yeye yu najisi.”

27 But on the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today?”

27 Lakini siku iliyofuata, siku ya pili ya mwezi, kiti cha Daudi kilikuwa wazi tena. Kisha Sauli akamwambia mwanawe Yonathani, “Kwa nini mwana wa Yese hajaja chakulani jana wala leo?”

28 Jonathan answered, “David urgently requested my permission to go to Bethlehem,

28 Yonathani akamjibu, “Daudi alinisihi sana nimpe ruhusa aende Bethlehemu.

29 saying, ‘Please let me go, because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”

29 Alisema, ‘Niruhusu niende, kwa sababu jamaa yetu wana dhabihu mjini, na ndugu yangu ameniagiza niwepo huko. Kama nimepata kibali mbele yako, niruhusu niende kuona ndugu zangu.’ Hii ndiyo sababu hakuja mezani pa mfalme.”

30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?

30 Hasira ya Sauli ikawaka dhidi ya Yonathani na kumwambia, “Wewe mwana wa mwanamke mkaidi na mwasi! Je, sijui kuwa umekuwa upande wa mwana wa Yese kwa aibu yako mwenyewe na kwa aibu ya mama yako aliyekuzaa?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

31 Maadamu mwana wa Yese angali anaishi katika dunia hii wewe wala ufalme wako hautasimama. Sasa tuma aitwe umlete kwangu, kwa kuwa ni lazima afe!”

32 “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”

32 Yonathani akamuuliza baba yake, “Kwa nini auawe? Kwani amefanya nini?”

33 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.

33 Lakini Sauli akamtupia Yonathani mkuki wake kwa nguvu ili amuue. Hapo ndipo Yonathani alipotambua kwamba baba yake alikusudia kumuua Daudi.

34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the month, for he was grieved by his father’s shameful treatment of David.

34 Yonathani akainuka kutoka mezani kwa hasira kali. Siku ile ya pili ya mwezi hakula chakula, kwa kuwa alikuwa amehuzunishwa na vitendo vya aibu ambavyo baba yake alikuwa anamtendea Daudi.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointment with David, and a small boy was with him.

35 Kesho yake asubuhi Yonathani alikwenda shambani kukutana na Daudi. Alikuwa amefuatana na mvulana mdogo,

36 He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” And as the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

36 naye Yonathani akamwambia yule mvulana, “Kimbia ukatafute mishale nitakayorusha.” Mvulana alipokuwa akikimbia, akarusha mishale mbele yake.

37 When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”

37 Yule mvulana alipofika mahali pale ambapo mshale wa Yonathani ulipokuwa umeanguka, Yonathani akamwita, “Je, mshale hauko mbele yako?”

38 Then Jonathan cried out, “Hurry! Make haste! Do not delay!” So the boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.

38 Yonathani akampigia kelele, “Harakisha, nenda haraka! Usisimame!” Mvulana akaokota mshale na kurudi kwa bwana wake.

39 But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.

39 (Mvulana hakujua chochote juu ya hayo yote; Yonathani na Daudi tu ndio waliojua.)

40 Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the boy and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”

40 Basi Yonathani akampa yule mvulana silaha zake na kumwambia, “Nenda, zirudishe mjini.”

41 When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.

41 Baada ya mvulana kwenda, Daudi akainuka kutoka upande wa kusini wa lile jiwe, naye akasujudu uso wake mpaka nchi mara tatu mbele ya Yonathani. Kisha kila mmoja akambusu mwenzake, wakalia pamoja. Lakini Daudi akalia zaidi.

42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

42 Yonathani akamwambia Daudi, “Nenda kwa amani, kwa kuwa tumeapiana kiapo cha urafiki kati yetu kwa jina la Bwana, tukisema, ‘Bwana ndiye shahidi kati yako na mimi, na kati ya wazao wako na wazao wangu milele.’” Kisha Daudi akaondoka, naye Yonathani akarudi mjini.