LukaSamuyeli

Yena waphendula wathi, “Ngibalekile ezihonqweni zabako-Israyeli.”

4 UDavida wabuza wathi, “Kutheni? Ngitshela.”

Yena wathi, “Abantu babalekile empini. Inengi labo lifile. USawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani labo bafile?”

5 UDavida wasesithi kulelojaha elamlethela umbiko, “Wazi njani ukuthi uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani bafile?”

6 Ijaha lelo lathi, “Kwenzakele ukuthi mina kade ngiphezu kweNtaba iGilibhowa ngabona uSawuli eyame umkhonto wakhe, izinqola zempi labagadi bamabhiza sebebanga kuye. 7 Uthe etshibilika wangibona, wasengibiza, mina ngathi, ‘Kuyini engingakwenza?’

8 Ungibuzile wathi, ‘Ungubani wena na?’

Ngiphendule ngathi, ‘NgingumʼAmaleki.’

9 Wasesithi kimi, ‘Sondela eduze ungibulale! Sengiseduze lokufa, kodwa ngisaphila.’

10 Ngakho ngisondele kuye ngambulala, ngoba ngazile ukuthi emva kwalokho ubengeke aphile. Njalo ngithethe umqhele obusekhanda lakhe lesongo ebelisengalweni yakhe okuyikho engikulethe lapha enkosini yami.”

11 Lapho-ke uDavida labantu bonke ababelaye babamba izigqoko zabo bazidabula. 12 Babakhalela, babalilela, babazilela kwaze kwahlwa uSawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani kanye lebutho likaThixo lendlu ka-Israyeli, ngoba babebulewe ngenkemba.

13 UDavida wasesithi ejaheni elalimlethele umbiko, “Wena ungowangaphi na?”

Lona laphendula lathi, “Ngiyindodana yezizweni, umʼAmaleki.”

14 UDavida waselibuza esithi, “Kungani ungesabanga ukuphakamisa isandla sakho ukuba ubulale ogcotshiweyo kaThixo na?”

15 UDavida wabiza omunye wabantu bakhe wathi, “Sondela umgongode!” Ngakho wamgongoda wafa. 16 Ngoba uDavida wayethe kuye, “Igazi lakho kalibe phezu kwekhanda lakho. Umlomo wakho ufakaze okubi ngawe lapho wena uthe, ‘Ngimbulele ogcotshiweyo kaThixo.’ ”