Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag
1The Philistines gathered their whole army together at Aphek. Israel’s army camped by the spring of water at Jezreel. 2The Philistine rulers marched out in groups of hundreds and thousands. David and his men were marching with Achish behind the others. 3The commanders of the Philistines asked, “Why are these Hebrews here?”
Achish replied, “That’s David, isn’t it? Wasn’t he an officer of Saul, the king of Israel? He has already been with me for more than a year. I haven’t found any fault in him. That’s been true from the day he left Saul until now.”
4But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They said, “Send David back. Let him return to the town you gave him. He must not go with us into battle. If he does, he’ll turn against us during the fighting. In fact, he might even cut off the heads of our own men. What better way could he choose to win back his master’s favor? 5Isn’t David the one the Israelites sang about when they danced? They sang,
“ ‘Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands.’ ”
6So Achish called David over to him. He said, “You have been faithful to me. And that’s just as sure as the Lord is alive. I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. I haven’t found any fault in you. That’s been true from the day you came to me until today. But the Philistine rulers aren’t pleased to have you come along. 7So now go back home in peace. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t please the Philistine rulers.”
8“But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against me from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against your enemies? After all, you are my king and master.”
9Achish answered, “You have been as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘We don’t want David to go up with us into battle.’ 10So get up early in the morning. Take with you the men who used to serve Saul. Leave as soon as the sun begins to come up.”
11So David and his men got up early in the morning. They went back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Afilisti Akana Davide
1Afilisti anasonkhanitsa asilikali awo onse ku Afeki, ndipo Israeli anamanga misasa yawo pa chitsime cha Yezireeli. 2Pamene atsogoleri a Afilisti ankatsogolera magulu awo ankhondo a miyandamiyanda, Davide ndi ankhondo ake ankayenda pambuyo pamodzi ndi Akisi. 3Tsono atsogoleri a Afilisti aja anafunsa kuti, “Kodi Ahebri awa akufuna chiyani?”
Akisi anayankha kuti, “Uyu ndi Davide, mtumiki wa Sauli mfumu ya Israeli. Iye wakhala ndi ine kwa masiku ndithu, kapena titi zaka ndipo kuyambira tsiku limene anachoka kwa Sauli mpaka lero, ine sindinapeze cholakwa mwa iye.”
4Koma atsogoleri a ankhondo a Afilisti anamukwiyira Akisi kwambiri ndipo anati, “Mubweze munthuyu kuti abwerere ku malo amene unamupatsa. Iye asapite nafe ku nkhondo kuopa kuti angadzasanduke mdani wathu. Kodi iyeyu adzadziyanjanitsa bwanji ndi mbuye wake? Iyeyutu adzadziyanjanitsa ndi mbuye wake pakupha anthu ali panowa? 5Paja ameneyu ndi Davide yemwe ankamuvinira namuyimbira kuti,
“ ‘Sauli wapha anthu 1,000
koma Davide wapha miyandamiyanda?’ ”
6Kotero Akisi anayitana Davide ndipo anamuwuza kuti, “Pali Yehova wamoyo, iwe wakhala wodalirika ndipo chikanakhala chinthu chabwino kuti uzimenya nkhondo pamodzi nane popeza chibwerere iwe kuno ine sindinapeze cholakwa chilichonse ndi iwe. Koma atsogoleri enawa ndiwo sakukufuna. 7Tsono bwerera. Upite mu mtendere kuopa kuti ungachite kanthu kena koyipira atsogoleri a Afilistiwa.”
8Davide anafunsa Akisi kuti, “Kodi ndachita chiyani? Kodi mwapeza cholakwa chotani mwa ine mtumiki wanu chiyambire kukutumikirani mpaka lero? Tsono chifukwa chiyani sindingapite kukamenya nkhondo ndi adani a mbuye wanga mfumu?”
9Akisi anayankha kuti, “Ine ndikudziwa kuti ndiwe wangwiro ngati mngelo wa Mulungu. Komabe atsogoleri a ankhondo a Afilisti akuti, ‘Davide asapite nafe ku nkhondo.’ 10Tsono udzuke mmamawa, pamodzi ndi ankhondo ako amene unabwera nawo, ndipo unyamuke kukangocha.”
11Choncho Davide ndi anthu ake anadzuka mmamawa kubwerera ku dziko la Afilisti. Koma Afilistiwo anapita ku Yezireeli.
