1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.24.1 following: Heb. after 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.24.4 Saul’s…: Heb. the robe which was Saul’s 5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.24.7 stayed: Heb. cut off 8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9¶ And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed. 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.24.15 deliver: Heb. judge
16¶ And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.24.18 delivered: Heb. shut up 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Davide Amusiya Sauli Wosamupha
1Sauli atabwera kuchokera kumene amathamangitsa Afilisti anamva kuti, “Davide ali mʼchipululu cha Eni Gedi.” 2Tsono Sauli anatenga asilikali 3,000 odziwa kumenya bwino nkhondo kuchokera pakati pa Aisraeli onse ndipo anapita kukafunafuna Davide ndi anthu ake ku Matanthwe a Mbalale.
3Iye anafika ku makola a nkhosa amene anali mʼmbali mwa njira. Kumeneko kunali phanga, ndipo Sauli analowa mʼphangamo kuti akadzithandize. Davide ndi anthu ake ankabisala mʼkati mwenimweni mwa phangalo. 4Tsono anthu a Davide anamuwuza kuti, “Tsiku lija lafika limene Yehova anakuwuzani kuti, ‘Ndidzapereka mdani wanu mʼmanja mwanu, ndi kumuchita chimene chidzakukomereni.’ ” Koma Davide anapita mwakachetechete ndi kukadula msonga ya mkanjo wa Sauli.
5Atachita izi, Davide anatsutsika mu mtima chifukwa anadula msonga ya mkanjo wa Sauli. 6Tsono anawuza anthu ake kuti, “Yehova asalole kuti ndimuchite choyipa mbuye wanga, wodzozedwa wa Yehova. Ndisamupweteke pakuti ndi wodzozedwa wa Yehova.” 7Choncho Davide anabweza mitima ya anthu ake ndi mawu amenewa, ndipo sanawalole kuti aphe Sauli. Pambuyo pake Sauli anatuluka mʼphangamo ndipo anachoka.
8Kenaka Davide anatuluka mʼphanga muja ndipo anayitana Sauli, “Mbuye wanga!” Sauli atayangʼana mʼmbuyo, Davide anawerama ndi kugunditsa nkhope yake pansi. 9Anafunsa Sauli kuti, “Nʼchifukwa chiyani mumamvera mawu a anthu kuti, ‘Davide wakukonzerani chiwembu?’ 10Lero lino inu mwadzionera nokha kuti Yehova anakuperekani mʼmanja mwanga mʼphanga muja. Ena anandiwuza kuti ndikupheni, koma ndakusiyani. Ndinati, ‘Sindidzapha mbuye wanga pakuti ndiye wodzozedwa wa Yehova.’ 11Tsono abambo anga, onanitu kansalu ka mkanjo wanu kali mʼdzanja langali! Popeza kuti ndinatha kudula msonga ya mkanjo wanu koma osakuphani, pamenepo mudziwe kuti ine ndilibe maganizo woti ndikuchiteni choyipa kapena kukuwukirani. Sindinakulakwireni ngakhale kuti inu mukufuna moyo wanga kuti mundiphe. 12Yehova aweruze pakati pa inu ndi ine, akulangeni chifukwa cha zoyipa zimene mukundichitazi, koma dzanja langa silidzakukhudzani. 13Paja anthu akale anati, ‘Munthu woyipa, ntchito zakenso ndi zoyipa.’ Kotero dzanja langa silidzakukhudzani.
14“Kodi mfumu ya Israeli yadzalondola yani. Inu mukuthamangitsa yani? Galu wakufa kodi? Nsabwe kodi? 15Nʼchifukwa chake Yehova agamule, inde aweruze pakati pa inu ndi ine ndi kupeza wolakwa. Yehova anditeteze ndi kundipulumutsa mʼdzanja lanu.”
16Davide atatsiriza kuyankhula mawu awa, Sauli anafunsa kuti, “Kodi mawu amenewa ndi akodi mwana wanga Davide?” Sauli anayamba kulira mokweza. 17Anawuza Davide kuti, “Ndiwe wolungama kuposa ine. Iwe wandikomera mtima pamene ine ndakuchitira zoyipa. 18Iweyo lero lino wandifotokozera zabwino zimene wandichitira. Yehova anandipereka mʼdzanja lako koma iwe sunandiphe. 19Kodi munthu atapeza mdani wake angamulole kuti apite wosamuvulaza? Motero Yehova akuchitire iwe zabwino chifukwa cha zimene wandichitira lerozi. 20Ona tsono, Ine ndikudziwa kuti udzakhala mfumu ndithu ndipo ufumu wa Israeli udzakhazikika mʼmanja mwako. 21Tsopano undilonjeze molumbira lero mʼdzina la Yehova kuti sudzapha zidzukulu zanga ine nditamwalira kapena kufuta dzina langa pa banja la makolo anga.”
22Choncho Davide analumbira pamaso pa Sauli. Pambuyo pake Sauli anabwerera kwawo, koma Davide ndi anthu ake anapitanso ku phanga kuja.
