Ahimelech Helps David
1 David went to see Ahimelech, a priest who lived in the town of Nob. Ahimelech was trembling with fear as he came out to meet David. “Why are you alone?” Ahimelech asked. “Why isn't anyone else with you?”
2 “I'm on a mission for King Saul,” David answered. “He ordered me not to tell anyone what the mission is all about, so I ordered my soldiers to stay somewhere else. 3 Do you have any food you can give me? Could you spare five loaves of bread?”
4 “The only bread I have is the sacred bread,” the priest told David. “You can have it if your soldiers didn't sleep with women last night.”
5 “Of course we didn't sleep with women,” David answered. “I never let my men do that when we're on a mission. They have to be acceptable to worship God even when we're on a regular mission, and today we're on a special mission.”
6 The only bread the priest had was the sacred bread that he had taken from the place of worship after putting out the fresh loaves. So he gave it to David.
7 It so happened that one of Saul's officers was there, worshiping the Lord that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite, and he was the strongest of Saul's shepherds.
8 David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or a sword? I had to leave so quickly on this mission for the king that I didn't bring along my sword or any other weapons.”
9 The priest answered, “The only sword here is the one that belonged to Goliath the Philistine. You were the one who killed him in Elah Valley, and so you can take his sword if you want to. It's wrapped in a cloth behind the statue.”
“It's the best sword there is,” David said. “I'll take it!”
David Tries To Find Safety in Gath
10 David kept on running from Saul that day until he came to Gath, where he met with King Achish. 11 The officers of King Achish were also there, and they asked Achish, “Isn't David a king back in his own country? Don't the Israelites dance and sing,
‘Saul has killed
a thousand enemies;
David has killed
ten thousand’?”
12 David thought about what they were saying, and it made him afraid of Achish. 13 So right there in front of everyone, he pretended to be insane. He acted confused and started making scratches on the doors of the town gate, while drooling in his beard.
14 “Look at him!” Achish said to his officers. “You can see he's crazy. Why did you bring him to me? 15 I have enough crazy people without your bringing another one here. Keep him away from my palace!”
David ta yi Saul ontuku
1 David okwa yi komuyambi Ahimelek muNob. Ahimelek okwe ya oku mu tsakaneka ta kakama e ta pula: “Omolwashike we ya ongoye awike; ku li nando onomuntu?” 2 David okwa yamukula: “Ondi li miilonga yambala. Omukwaniilwa okwa lombwele ndje, ndaa tseyithile nando olye shoka a tumine ndje. Naantu yandje onde ya lombwele, ya tsakaneke ndje peha lyontumba. 3 Ou na po sha shokulya? Pe ndje iikwiila itano nenge sha shilwe shoka u na.”
4 Omuyambi okwa ti: “Kandi na iikwiila yilwe, oombika iiyapuki ayike; oto vulu oku yi taamba, ngele aantu yoye opwa piti elala inaa gumathana naakiintu.”
5 David okwa yamukula: “Aawe, inaye shi ninga. Aantu yandje ohaa idhiginine yo yene, ya kale aayogoki pamisindilo, shampa tatu yi kolweendo; unene tuu ngashingeyi, sho tu li molweendo nduka lwa sheywa!”
6 Omuyambi okwa pe David iikwiila iiyapuki; okwa li kee na iikwiila yilwe, oombika ayike ya adhika ya kuthwa po koshitaafula oshiyapuki, sho ya pingenithwa niikwiila iipe.
7 (Omukuluntu gwaasita yaSaul, Omuedomi Doeg, oko a li nkoka esiku ndyoka, oshoka okwa li e na okugwanitha oshinakugwanithwa she shelongelokalunga.)
8 David okwa ti kuAhimelek: “Ou na po egonga nenge egongamwele to vulu oku li pa ndje? Omalombwelo gomukwaniilwa oge endelelitha ndje unene, onkee inandi kutha egonga lyandje nenge uutati washa.”
9 Ahimelek okwa yamukula: “Ondi na po egongamwele lyOmufilisti Goliat, ngoka wa dhipagele mesilu lyaEla; oli li konima yomapepenguwo lya gonyenwa melapi. Ngele owe li hala, li kutha po, oshoka olyo alike li li mpaka.”
David okwa ti: “Li pa ndje. Kaku na egongamwele lilwe li vule ndi.”
10 Osho ngeyi David a yi Saul ontuku nokwa yi komukwaniilwa Akish gwokuGat. 11 Aambala yaAkish oya ti komukwaniilwa gwawo: “Nguka ndishi oDavid, omukwaniilwa gwoshilongo she? Oye omulumentu ngoka a ligolelwa kaakiintu taa tembula yo taa ti: ‘Saul okwa dhipaga eyuvi, ihe David omayuvi omulongo.’ ”
12 Oohapu dhawo odha halutha David unene, nokwa tila omukwaniilwa Akish noonkondo. 13 Onkee okwi ifethitha omuyanankwengu montaneho yawo nokwa pwidhuka, sho ya kambadhala oku mu thiminika. Okwa li ta nyolagula komiyelo dhoshilando nokwa ziyithile omayeye moombenzi dhe. 14 Onkee Akish okwa ti kaambala ye: “Taleni! Omulumentu omupwidhi! Omwe mu etele shike kungame? 15 Kandi na ano aapwidhi ya gwana? Omolwashike mwe eta ishewe gumwe, a piyaganeke ndje niikungunika ye megumbo lyandje?”
