1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so . 3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. 5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. 6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
11 ¶ And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day , and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; 13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying , Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. 19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand , and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof , as though I shot at a mark. 21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying , Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth. 22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
24 ¶ So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem: 29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. 30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman , do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
35 ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. 36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? 38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
41 ¶ And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
Jonatani unobhatsha Dafite
1 Dafite katizha kudwa mu Naioti ku Rama, kayenda kuna Jonatani kambhuzwa kati, “Ndakathamani? Nlandu wangu ini? Apa ndakatjinyilani tate babo kwabanogwisa kundibulaya kene?” 2 Jonatani kadabila eti, “Ndodwa! Aungafe. Akuna tate tjabangathama basandibudza, kene tjingabe tjikulu kene tjitukununu kungapani, ngono ikoku bangandisumbikila iko tjini kene? Akuna tjakajalo!” 3 Koga Dafite na iyebo katuna kati, “Tate babo banoziba zubuyanana kuti unondida, ngono banokumbula beti, ‘Ikoku akusizibgwe ndi Jonatani, pamwe kunganhwisa zogwadza.’ Koga ndolebesa, ndotuna na Yahwe banotjila, nanganawe tjose, kwabe pejo nami kuti ndife.” 4 Jonatani kadwa Dafite kati, “Tjaungandikumbila, ndowokuthamila itjo.” 5 Dafite kadwa Jonatani kati, “Bona, mangwana, Nzano we Mwedzi ugala ndakafanila kuti ndibe ndili pa ndilo na mambo, koga ima ndiyende, ndinobgwata ku shango kuswikila nngwani madekwana. 6 Ha kuli kuti tate babo bangandishaka, ubadwe uti, ‘Dafite wakazwikumbila mundili eteta, eti ndinsunungule, alabukile ku Bhetelehema nzi nkulu wa kanyi kwabo, ngobe kuna nshingo we tjibhayilo tje gole ikweno, tje nsha wabo wose.’ 7 Ha bangati, ‘Kwakalulwama!’ Nlanda uwo unowobe atjila, koga abangagwadza moyo, uzibe kuti bakazwimisila kundibulaya. 8 Ndizo ngwenu, uhwile nlanda uwo ngoni, ngobe wakathama tjidumano naye mbeli kwa Yahwe. Koga ha ndili nlandu, undizwibulaigwe iwe! Ini ungandiseyenya kuna tate babo?”
9 Jonatani kashandula eti, “Ndodwa! Apa ha ndabe ndina luzibonyana gwe kuti tate bakazwimisila kukubulaya, ndobe ndisakakubudza kene?” 10 Dafite kabhuzwa Jonatani kati, “Ndowobudziwa ndiani, ha tate babo bakushandula nge bushongola?” 11 Jonatani kashandula Dafite eti, “Izha ngeno, ngatibhudile ku shango.” Ndizo bakayenda bose. 12 Jonatani kadwa Dafite kati, “Ndotuna na Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela! Ndowodaziba muna tate mangwana nge tjibaka itjetji, kuti ndiwe mazwihwo a tate nge kuko. Ha kuli kuti batjina ludo mu kuli, apa andingatumile dama ku kuli kukuzibisa kene? 13 Koga ha kuli kuti tate banoshaka kukubulaya, ngono ndibe ndisingakubudze, kuti uzwiyendigwezo utjila, ndoti Yahwe bandilobe bepaphulula. Yahwe babe nawe, se kwabagala ba na tate. 14 Koga ha nditjatjila, undilakidze ludo gwe malebeswa gwa Yahwe, ngono nakutobe ndingafa, 15 usitongobe ukapedza ludo gugo gwe malebeswa mu nsha wangu, nakutobe Yahwe bakabe batshwayila zwita zose zwa Dafite mu shango.” 16 Ipapo Jonatani kathama tjidumano ne be nsha wa Dafite, kaleba eti, “Yahwe banowobuzuludzila zwita zwa Dafite.” 17 Jonatani katunisa Dafite kakale nge ludo gwanon'da ndigo, ngobe en'da sekwa anozwida. 18 Jonatani kandwa kati, “Mangwana Nzano we Mwedzi ugala, unowobe ushakika, ngobe bugalo gugo gowobe gusina nthu. 19 Mu zhuba la nngwani, unowoshakiwa kwazo, uyende kwawakabe wakabgwatako zhulo, ngono ugale pa wunde ne shongwe ikweno. 20 Ndowoposela misebe mitatu pawunde nayo, seungati ndoposela ku tjilipo. 21 Ndowobe ndituma mbisana, nditi, ‘Yenda unoshaka misebe.’ Ha ndingadwa mbisana nditi, ‘Bona misebe yakabapa nawe, uizhise ngeno,’ ipapo ube uzha, ngobe, kowobe kwakakululwama, kusina mbatsha, ndotuna na Yahwe. 22 Koga andingadwa mbisana nditi, ‘Bona misebe itjandieno kuko,’ ipapo uyende, ngobe Yahwe banowobe bekupa zila. 23 Mu ndebeleko yatalebeleka imi nawe, ziba kuti, Yahwe ntendeki pakati kwangu nawe nge kusingapele.” 24 Ndizo Dafite kanobgwata mu shango ngono kukati Nzano we Mwedzi ugala waswika mambo kagala pasi kuti aje. 25 Wakagala pa tjigalo tjitje tje misi yose pa hwunde ne guma, kulingisana na Jonatani, Abineri kagala pejo na Saulo, koga bugalo gwa Dafite gwakabe gusina nthu. 26 Mu zhuba ilelo Saulo aana tjaakaleba, ngobe wakakumbula eti, “Kuna tjimwe tjawila Dafite, tjantemapadza, tjoselele wakatemapala.” 27 Koga tjimuka, zhuba le bubili le Nzano we Mwedzi ugala, bugalo gwa Dafite gukabe gusina nthu kakale. Ndizo Saulo kabhuzwa nkololo uwe Jonatani kati, “Hwutini nkololo wa Jesi asazha ku zojiwa, kwetjinga kwe madekwe na nasi?” 28 Jonatani wakadabila Saulo eti, “Dafite wakazwikumbila mundili nge buthu eti ndinsunungule ayende ku Bhetelehema. 29 Wakandidwa kati, ‘Undidumile ndiyende, ngobe be nsha wedu bana tjibhayilo mu nzi, ngono nkulu wangu wakandidwa kati ndibepo bo. Ha ubona kuli kubuyanana mu mesho awo, ndokumbila, undidumile ndiyende ndinobona bakulu bangu.’ Ndizo wale asazha kuwoja na mambo.”
30 Saulo kagwadziligwamoyo Jonatani, kandwa kati, “Iwe nkololo we nkadzi wakakombama, usingagalikebgwe! Unozwidwa uti anditoziba kuti umile ne nkololo wa Jesi, kuzwibhatisa shoni na mme yabo bakakuzwala kene? 31 Ha nkololo wa Jesi atjatjila mu shango iyeyi, nakuto kuli iwe kene bushe gugo akungabe ne tjilumbi. Sangwenu wale, untumile bathu azhe kundili, ngobe wakafanilo fa.” 32 Jonatani kabhuzwa Saulo tate babe kati, “Hwutini angabulawa? Wathamani?” 33 Ipapo Saulo kamposa nge thumo kuti ambhaye, ndizo Jonatani kaziba kuti kumu nkumbulo wa tate babe kubulaya Dafite. 34 Jonatani wakamilika pa tafuli nge bushongola gunotjisa, kasitongoja zojiwa mu zhuba le bubili le Nzano we Mwedzi ugala, ngobe wakabe elilila Dafite, nenge kuti tate babe bakabe banlengudza. 35 Kwakati mu mangwanana Jonatani kabhudila kuzhe mu shango kunoshangana na Dafite, ngono wakabe ana mbisana ntjetjana. 36 Kadwa mbisana kati, “Labuka unonunga misebe yandinoposa.” Kwakati mbisana atjakalabuka, kaposa nsebe ukampindila. 37 Kukati mbisana eswika pawila nsebe wa Jonatani, Jonatani kakambidza mbisana kati, “Apa, nsebe auteli mbeli kuko kene?” 38 Jonatani kakambidza mbisana kati, “Tjimbidza, libilidza, usimoneleke.” Ndizo mbisana wa Jonatani kanunga misebe kashandukila kuna tetshi uwe. 39 Mbisana wakabe asingazibe tjinoshingikala, Jonatani na Dafite bali ibo banoziba. 40 Jonatani wakapa mbisana zwibhayano zwizwe, kandwa kati, “Yenda, uzwiyise ku nzi.” 41 Kwakati mbisana asinoyenda, Dafite kamilika kudwa ku burwa gwe bgwe kakotamisa nsholo mbeli kwa Jonatani katatu akalinga pasi. Ndizo bakaputana, bakalilidzana, koga Dafite kalila kupinda. 42 Ndizo Jonatani kadwa Dafite kati, “Yenda ne mbakiso, tatuna tose bubili gwedu nge zina la Yahwe, ati, Yahwe ba ntendeki pakati kwangu nawe, nenge pakati kwe zwizekugwana zwangu ne zwizekugwana zwizo nge kusingapele.” Ndizo Dafite kamilika kayenda, ngono Jonatani kabgwilila ku nzi.