Lufu gwa Samuele
1 Ipapo Samuele kafa, Baiziraela bose bakakubungana bakanlilila. Bakambiganyila mu nzi uwe mu Rama.
Dafite na Abigaile
Ipapo Dafite kamilika kadelukila ku tjilambanyika tje Parani.
2 Kwakabe kuna nlume ku Maoni, ana thundu iye ku Karimeli, akabe akafuma kwazo, akathuwa pkhwizi dzili zwiwulu zwili zwitatu (3 000) mbudzi dzili tjiwulu tjing'ompela (1 000). Wakabe eteselela pkhwizi dzidze mu Karimeli. 3 Zina lile lakabe liyi Nabhali, zina le nkadzi uwe kuyi Abigaile. Ali nkadzi mbuya wakatjenjela, koga nlume wakabe ana moyo wakabipa asina buthu, wakabe ali Nkhalibhi. 4 Kukati Dafite ali mu tjilambanyika kahwa kuyi Nabhali unotesela pkhwizi dzidze. 5 Ndizo Dafite katuma bazhuzha bali gumi, kabadwa kati, “Tathilani ku Karimeli kuna Nabhali, muswike mundidumilisile iye. 6 Ha mundumilisa muti, ‘Mbakiso ngaibe namwi, ibe nenge nsha wenyu, nenge zose zwamunazo.’ 7 Ndiko ndihwa kuyi nsi we kutesegwa kwe pkhwizi, ngono takabe tina balisi be pkhwizi dzenyu, atizotongo badziyidza, akuna tjakabamilila tjibaka tjose tjabakabe bali mu Karimeli. 8 Mubabhuzwe, banowomubudza. Tazha nge zhuba le nzano, ngono Dafite wamukumbila kuti mutibhate nge maboko mabili. Wakumbila kuti mupe balanda benyu ne nkololo wenyu Dafite tjamungabe munatjo.”
9 Kwakati balanda ba Dafite baswika, bakaleba sekwa batumwa ndi Dafite. Ndizo bakalinda. 10 Koga Nabhali kashandula balanda ba Dafite eti, “Apa Dafite ndiani kene? Nkololo wa Jesi iwoyu ndiani? Balanda banjinji mazhuba iyawa banonyeluka botetshi babo. 11 Apa ndingatola tjiwunga tjangu ne vula yangu, ne nyama yandabhayila bateseli be pkhwizi dzangu, ndipa bathu bandisingazibe kuti banodwa ngayi beyenda ngayi kene?”
12 Ndizo balanda ba Dafite bakashanduka bakabgwilila, bakaswika bakabikila Dafite matama wose iyawa. 13 Dafite kadwa balanda babe kati, “Nlume mmwe ne mmwe ngadedele bukano gugwe!” Mmwe ne mmwe wabo kadedela bukano gugwe, Dafite na iyebo kadedelabo gugwe, ndizo balume bangabe mazana manna (400), bakamilika na Dafite, bali mazana mabili (200) bakasala bakalinda thundu.
14 Ngono mmwe we balanda kabudza Abigaile nkadzi wa Nabhali eti, “Dafite wakatuma balanda kudwa mu tjilambanyika kuwodumilisa tetshi wedu, ngono babashanganidza nge masapa. 15 Ipapa balume ibaba bakabe bakatilulamila kwazo, abazotongo tidziyidza, nenge nako dzose tili mu shango pejo nabo akuna tjakatongo timilila. 16 Takabe takalisa pkhwizi dzedu tili pejo nabo, bakatibakilila siku ne sikati. 17 Ndizo ngwenu kumbulani mu bone kuti mungathamani, ngobe kungadwa kukabe mbatsha muna tetshi wedu na bose be nsha uwe, ngoti iye nthu una moyo wakabipa kwazo, akuna nthu ungalebeleka naye.”
18 Ndizo Abigaile kalibilidza katola zwiwunga zwili mazana mabili (200), makukhwa mabili e nkumbi we zhambi, pkhwizi dzili shanu dzakashashikwa, makabha mashanu ye mathunde akakangiwa, thabi dzili zana (100) dze zhambi dzakawanikiwa ne makhekhe e phaya ali mazana mabili (200). Kazwibelesa mu madonki. 19 Kadwa bazhuzha babe kati, “Munditungamile, ndomusala shule.” Koga kasitongobudza nlume uwe Nabhali.
20 Kwakati ekunguluka ali pezhugwi kwe donki, atjisitigwa nge dombo, kashangana na Dafite ne bathu babe bedelukila kunli, ngono kabashangamidza. 21 Ipapo Dafite kalebeleka eti, “Tjoselele kwakabe masimba malashe, kose kwandakatjengeta mu tjilambanyika, kwe nthu iwoyu, ngobe akuna tjakamila tja zose zwaakabe anazo, koga mu bubuya gwandakanthamila igo, wandilipa nge mbipo. 22 Ndzimu undilobe upaphulula, ha lingati mangwana libhuda, abe ndasiya nng'ompela we tjilume etjila, we balanda babe bose.”
23 Kwakati Abigaile ebona Dafite, kalibilidza kadeluka donki, kawila pasi nge zwidwi mbeli kwa Dafite akakotamisa nsholo. 24 Kawila pa makumbo a Dafite kandwa kati, “Tetshi wangu, nlandu ube mu mathudzi angu, nlanda wenyu unokumbila lebeleka namwi, ngono muteedze tjinowobe tjilebgwa nge nlanda wenyu. 25 Tetshi wangu, musitongo tobelela nthu iwoje we meya mbi Nabhali, mbimbi seleba kwe zina lile Nabhali, kudwiwa kuti tjilengwe, bulengwe gumunli, koga imi, nlanda wenyu, andizobe ndabona balanda ba tetshi wangu, bamakatuma. 26 Ngono ngweno tetshi wangu, ndotuna ndi Yahwe banotjila, nanga namwi, sekwa Yahwe bamudziba mu kutebula malopa ne kuzwibgwilizila nge maboko enyu, tjiletjedzani zwita zwenyu na bose banoshaka kumuthamila mbipo bafanane na Nabhali. 27 Ngono ngwenu amutjilani tjipo etji, tjazhisiwa nge nlandakadzi wenyu, tetshi wangu, kuti tjipiwe balanda bakasala shule tetshi wangu. 28 Ndomukumbila muzwiibhatigwe nlandu we nlandakadzi wenyu, ngobe Yahwe nge malebeswa banowopa tetshi wangu bushe gusingapele, ngobe mobhayana ngwa dza Yahwe. Akusiwanike mbipo mu muli mu butjilo gwenyu gose. 29 Nakuto kuna mmwe angamutobelela eshaka kumubulaya, tetshi wangu, butjilo gwa tetshi wangu gowowang'wa pakati kwe batjili, mu maboko a Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu. Koga Yahwe banowopaladza butjilo gwe zwita zwenyu se mabgwe anoposiwa edwa mu tjivirimabgwe. 30 Ha Yahwe basinothamila tetshi wangu kuyendidzana ne ndulamo yose yabakaleba nge kwenyu, bamubiga mbusi we Iziraela, 31 tetshi wangu abatowobe ne kuhwa zogwadza kene tjibhayo mu moyo, tje nlandu we kutebula malopa mwaza kene kuzwitjidza nge kwabo. Ngono ha Yahwe bathama kuti mutubule tetshi wangu, mukumbule nlandakadzi wenyu.”
32 Dafite kadwa Abigaile kati, “Ngakukudziwe Yahwe, Ndzimu we Iziraela, bakutuma kuwoshangana nami nasi. 33 Ngakukudziwe nkumbulo uwo, ukombolegwe iwe, wandidziba mu kutebula malopa ne mu kuzwibgwilizila nge luboko gwangu. 34 Ndolebesa ndotuna ndi Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela banotjila, ibo bandidziba mu kukukubadza, ha wabe usatjimbidza ukandishanganidza, ndolebesa kwabe kowoti mangwanana kukabe kusina ne ng'ompela we tjilume wasalila Nabhali etjila.” 35 Ndizo Dafite kaamutjila mu luboko gugwe tjaakabe anzhila, ngono kandwa kati, “Yenda ku nzi uwo nge mbakiso, bona, ndahwa tjawaleba, ngono ndaamutjila kukumbila kuko.”
36 Kwakati Abigaile eswika kuna Nabhali, kawana akabhata nzano mu ng'umba iye, unonga wa mambo, wakabe ebilima, akalaladza kupinda tjilizanyo. Koga kasindwe tjimwe kuswikila tjimuka kwayedza. 37 Ndizo kukati tjimuka budakwa gwapela muna Nabhali, nkadzi uwe kambudza zwithu izwezwi, moyo uwe ukama, kawoma se danda. 38 Shule kwe mazhuba angabe gumi, Yahwe bakaloba Nabhali, kafa.
39 Kwakati Dafite ehwa kuti Nabhali wakafa, kabe eti, “Ngakukudziwe Yahwe bakasumikilisa ndebo ye sapa la Nabhali laakandituka, ngono bakadziba nlanda wabo mu mbipo, Yahwe bakabgwilizila zwiyito zwakabipa zwa Nabhali mu nli.”
Ndizo Dafite katuma nthu kun'shakila Abigaile, kuti abe nkadzi uwe. 40 Balanda ba Dafite bakayenda kuna Abigaile ku Karimeli bakaswika bendwa beti, “Tatumwa ndi Dafite kumuli kuti tomutola kunobe nkadzi uwe.”
41 Abigaile kamilika kakotamisa nsholo, kabe eti, “Nlandakadzi wenyu upano, wazwimisila kumushingila ne kungudza makumbo e balanda ba tetshi wangu.” 42 Abigaile kamilika tjinyolotjo kayenda akatatha donki, kanokotosiwa nge balandakadzi babe bali bashanu, kayenda ali shule kwe batumwa ba Dafite, kanobe nkadzi uwe.
43 Dafite wakabe akalobola Ahinoamu we Jezerele, ngono bose nge bubili bakabe bakadzi babe. 44 Koga Saulo wakabe akoba nkololokadzi uwe Mikhali wakabe ali nkadzi wa Dafite, anlobodza Palitiele nkololo wa Laishe wakabe edwa ku Galimu.
Samuel Dies
1 Samuel died, and people from all over Israel gathered to mourn for him when he was buried at his home in Ramah. Meanwhile, David moved his camp to Paran Desert.
Abigail Keeps David from Killing Innocent People
2-3 Nabal was a very rich man who lived in Maon. He owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, which he kept at Carmel. His wife Abigail was sensible and beautiful, but he was from the Caleb clan and was rough and mean.
4 One day, Nabal was in Carmel where his servants were cutting the wool from his sheep. David was in the desert when he heard about it. 5-6 So he sent ten men to Carmel with this message for Nabal:
I hope that you and your family are healthy and that all is going well for you. 7 I've heard that you are cutting the wool from your sheep.
When your shepherds were with us in Carmel, we didn't harm them, and nothing was ever stolen from them. 8 Ask your shepherds, and they'll tell you the same thing.
My servants are your servants, and you are like a father to me. This is a day for celebrating, so please be kind and share some of your food with us.
9 David's men went to Nabal and gave him David's message, then they waited for Nabal's answer.
10 This is what he said:
Who does this David think he is? That son of Jesse is just one more slave on the run from his master, and there are too many of them these days. 11 What makes you think I would take my bread, my water, and the meat that I've had cooked for my own servants and give it to you? Besides, I'm not sure that David sent you!
12 The men returned to their camp and told David everything Nabal had said.
13 “Everybody get your swords!” David ordered.
They all strapped on their swords. Two hundred men stayed behind to guard the camp, but the other 400 followed David.
14-16 Meanwhile, one of Nabal's servants told Abigail:
David's men were often nearby while we were taking care of the sheep in the fields. They were very good to us, they never hurt us, and nothing was ever stolen from us while they were nearby. With them around day or night, we were as safe as we would have been inside a walled city.
David sent some messengers from the desert to wish our master well, but he shouted insults at them. 17 He's a bully who won't listen to anyone.
Isn't there something you can do? Please think of something! Or else our master and his family and everyone who works for him are all doomed.
18 Abigail quickly got together 200 loaves of bread, two large clay jars of wine, the meat from five sheep, a large sack of roasted grain, 100 handfuls of raisins, and 200 handfuls of dried figs. She loaded all the food on donkeys 19 and told her servants, “Take this on ahead, and I'll catch up with you.” She didn't tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.
20 Abigail was riding her donkey on the path that led around the hillside, when suddenly she met David and his men heading straight at her.
21 David had just been saying, “I surely wasted my time guarding Nabal's things in the desert and keeping them from being stolen! I was good to him, and now he pays me back with insults. 22 I swear that by morning, there won't be a man or boy left from his family or his servants' families. I pray that God will punish me if I don't do it!”
23 Abigail quickly got off her donkey and bowed down in front of David. 24 Then she said:
Sir, please let me explain! 25 Don't pay any attention to that good-for-nothing Nabal. His name means “fool,” and it really fits him!
I didn't see the men you sent, 26-27 but please take this gift of food that I've brought and share it with your followers. The Lord has kept you from taking revenge and from killing innocent people. But I hope your enemies and anyone else who wants to harm you will end up like Nabal. I swear this by the living Lord and by your life.
28 Please forgive me if I say a little more. The Lord will always protect you and your family, because you fight for him. I pray that you won't ever do anything evil as long as you live. 29 The Lord your God will keep you safe when your enemies try to kill you. But he will snatch away their lives quicker than you can throw a rock from a sling.
30 The Lord has promised to do many good things for you, even to make you the ruler of Israel. The Lord will keep his promises to you, 31 and now your conscience will be clear, because you won't be guilty of taking revenge and killing innocent people.
When the Lord does all those good things for you, please remember me.
32 David told her:
I praise the Lord God of Israel! He must have sent you to meet me today. 33 And you should also be praised. Your good sense kept me from taking revenge and killing innocent people. 34 If you hadn't come to meet me so quickly, every man and boy in Nabal's family and in his servants' families would have been killed by morning. I swear by the living Lord God of Israel who protected you that this is the truth.
35 David accepted the food Abigail had brought. “Don't worry,” he said. “You can go home now. I'll do what you asked.”
36 Abigail went back home and found Nabal throwing a party fit for a king. He was very drunk and feeling good, so she didn't tell him anything that night. 37 But when he sobered up the next morning, Abigail told him everything that had happened. Nabal had a heart attack, and he lay in bed as still as a stone. 38 Ten days later, the Lord took his life.
39-40 David heard that Nabal had died. “I praise the Lord!” David said. “He has judged Nabal guilty for insulting me. The Lord kept me from doing anything wrong, and he made sure that Nabal hurt only himself with his own evil.”
David and Abigail Are Married
Abigail was still at Carmel. So David sent messengers to ask her if she would marry him.
41 She bowed down and said, “I would willingly be David's slave and wash his servants' feet.”
42 Abigail quickly got ready and went back with David's messengers. She rode on her donkey, while five of her servant women walked alongside. She and David were married as soon as she arrived.
43 David had earlier married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel, so both she and Abigail were now David's wives. 44 Meanwhile, Saul had arranged for Michal to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.