Kubaleka kwaDavide abalekela Sawula
1Davide wahamba waya ku-Ahimeleki, umphristi, eNobi. Ahimeleki watfutfumela kakhulu, nakahlangana naye, wambuta watsi: “Uhambelani wedvwa? Awuhambi ngani nemuntfu?”
2Davide waphendvula Ahimeleki, umphristi, watsi: “Inkhosi ingitfume indzaba letsite, yatsi: ‘Kufanele kubete lowatiko ngemsebenti wakho.’ Mine-ke lamadvodza akami ngiwatjele kutsi abongihlangabeta endzaweni letsite. 3Manje-ke, yini lonako? Ngiphe imikhama yetinkhwa letisihlanu, nome yini-ke longaba nayo.”
4Kodvwa umphristi waphendvula Davide, watsi: “Ngite sinkhwa lesivamile lengingakunika sona; noko sikhona lapha sinkhwa lesingcwele. Ungasitsatsa, nangabe lamajaha lohamba nawo angakalali nalabasikati.”
5Davide waphendvula watsi: “Vele, akakaze kulamalanga, ngobe lamadvodza akami atigcina amsulwa kulabasikati njalo nje nasitawuba neluhambo. Imitimba yawo ihlala ingcwele, nome ngabe aneluhambo loluvamile, kakhulu kangakanani-ke nangabe loluhambo lumcoka!”
6Umphristi wase utsatsa lesinkhwa lesasingcwele wasinika Davide, ngobe kwakute sinkhwa lapho ngaphandle kwesinkhwa sebukhona baSimakadze, lesase sisusiwe embikwaSimakadze, kwatsi esikhundleni saso kwabekwa leso lesasisesisha sisashisa.
7Lomunye wetinceku taSawula, lekwakunguDowegi, um-Edomu, abelapho embikwaSimakadze ngalelo langa, angumholi webelusi baSawula.
8Davide wabuta Ahimeleki watsi: “Kute yini sikhali nome inkemba lonayo lapha? Angiketi nayo inkemba yami nome nguluphi nje luhlobo lwesikhali, ngobe lomsebenti wenkhosi bewunekuphutfuma lokukhulu.”
9Umphristi waphendvula watsi: “Yinkemba yaGoliyathi, umFilisti, lowambulala eSigodzini sase-Ela, lekhona lapha; igocotwe ngendvwangu lapha emvakwesidziya. Nawuyifuna, yitsatse; kute lenye inkemba lelapha ngaphandle kwaleyo.”
Davide watsi: “Kute lefanana nayo; nginike yona.”
10Ngalona lelo langa Davide wabalekela Sawula waya ku-Akhishi, inkhosi yaseGathi. 11Kodvwa tinceku ta-Akhishi takhuluma kuye tatsi: “Akusiye Davide yini lona, loyinkhosi yalelive? Akusiye yini lona labahlabela ngaye nabagidzako batsi:
“ ‘Sawula ubulele tinkhulungwane takhe,
kodvwa Davide ubulele emashumi etinkhulungwane takhe’?”
12Davide watsatsa lamavi wawafaka enhlitiyweni yakhe. Wamesaba kakhulu Akhishi, inkhosi yaseGathi. 13Ngako kwakutsi njalo nje nabalapho Davide atentise kube shangatsi uyahlanya. Abevame kudvweba tivalo tesigodlo, nematse awavutisele esilevini sakhe.
14Akhishi wakhuluma netinceku takhe, watsi: “Ase nibuke lendvodza. Iyahlanya! Niyiletselani lapha kimi? 15Bantfu labahlanyako ngibeswele kangangobe ningaze niletse lomuntfu lapha embikwami? Lendvodza niyiletseleni lapha endlini yami?”
