1 Phahi siku mwenga Jonathani mwana wa Sauli, wamuamba mtsukuziwe wa silaha, “Ndzo! Huphiye kambi ya Afilisti kura ngʼambo ya phiri.” Ela Jonathani kayamuambira ise. 2 Sauli kala akapiga kambi phephi na mudzi wa Gibeya, tsini ya mkomamanga urio hiko Migironi. Na atu ariokala phamwenga naye kala anaphaha kama magana sita. 3 Piya phamwenga na Sauli kala ni Ahija, mlavyadzi-sadaka yekala akavwala chisibao cha ulavyadzi-sadaka. Ahija kala ni mwana wa Ahitubu ndugungbwa wa Ikabodi, mwana wa Finehasi, mwana wa Eli. Eli yekala mlavyadzi-sadaka wa Mwenyezi Mlungu hiko Shilo. Nao atu taayamanya kukala Jonathani akauka. 4 Kahi za myanya ambayo Jonathani walonda kuitsupira ili kuifikira iyo ngome ya Afilisti, phakala na myamba hiku na hiku, mmwenga waihwa Bosesi na nyo wanjina waihwa Sene. 5 Mwamba mmwenga waima uphande wa vurini, mbere za Mikimashi na hinyo wa phiri wakala uphande wa mwakani, mbere za Geba.

6 Phahi, Jonathani achimuambira ye mtsukuziwe wa silaha, “Nahuphiye kura kambini kpwa atu asiotiywa tsatsani. Mendzerepho Mwenyezi Mlungu andauhumira, kpwa mana takuna rinaromzuwiya asitivye, kutsupira atu anji au achache.” 7 Naye hiye mtsukuziwe wa silaha wamjibu, “Henda gosi garigo mwako moyoni. Mino ni phamwenga nawe, vyo urivyo moyoo ndivyo urivyo wangu.” 8 Ndipho Jonathani achiamba, “Nahuvuke huphiye ko kpwao ahuone. 9 Nao achihuambira, ‘Hugodzeni hadi hufike,’ ndipho hundaima hipho phatu phehu, husiapandire. 10 Ela achiamba, ‘Ambukani muhulunge,’ ndipho hundaambuka, mana iyo ndiyo ndokala ishara kpwehu kukala Mwenyezi Mlungu akaatiya mwehu mikononi.”

11 Phahi osi airi adzionyesa mbere za chikosi cha jeshi ra Afilisti nao Afilisti achiamba, “Lolani! Hara Aeburania anatuluka kula mo madibwani mokala akadzifwitsa!” 12 Nao chikosi cha jeshi ra Afilisti amjibu Jonathani na mtsukuziwe wa silaha achiamba, “Haya! Mwimwi, pandani dzulu hipha huripho naswi hundakuonyesani dzambo.” Jonathani achimuambira yuya yetsukula silaha, “Haya! Kpwera unilunge, kpwa kukala Mwenyezi Mlungu akaatiya mikononi mwa Aiziraeli.”

13 Phahi Jonathani waambuka na mtsukuziwe wa silaha achimlunga nyuma. Jonathani achiapiga na kuabwaga nyo Afilisti na mtsukuziwe wa silaha achiaolaga nyumaze. 14 Hinyo uolagadzi wa kpwandza ariouhenda Jonathani na mtsukuziwe wa silaha, aolaga kama atu mirongo miiri, kahi ya phatu phafikapho nusu eka. 15 Afilisti osi tsi ndzima amenywa nchiwewe, ariokala kambini, mindani na kahi-kahi za atu hata cho chikosi cha jeshi na avamizi piya akakama. Tsi piya nayo yasumba na phachikala na chiwewe.* 14:15 Maandishi ganjina ganaamba, Wuoga uho kala ukasababishwa ni Mlungu.

16 Arindzi a Sauli hiko Gibeya ya Benjamini alola na achiona liguphuphu ra Afilisti akatsamukana hiku na hiku anachimbira.

17 Ndipho Sauli achiambira atu ariokala phamwenga naye, “Haya! Olangani muone ni ani ambaye kapho.” Nao ariphomala kuolanga achimanya kukala Jonathani na mtsukuziwe wa silaha taapho. 18 Phahi Sauli achimuambira Ahija, “Nirehera hipha ro sanduku ra Mlungu.” Kpwa kukala hiro sanduku† 14:18 Au piya unaweza kuamba Chisibao Mana Ahija kala nkuvwala chisibao. ra Mlungu wakati hinyo rakala ri phamwenga na Aiziraeli. 19 Phahi Sauli ariphokala anagomba na mlavyadzi-sadaka, hizo kululu kula kambi ya Afilisti zaenderera kuzidi. Hipho Sauli achimuambira mlavyadzi-sadaka, “Gariche gago.” 20 Naye Sauli na atu osi ariokala phamwenga naye achikusanyika, achiphiya vihani. Na ariphofika hiko vihani lola, Afilisti kala anakatana maphanga, kpwakala fujo kpweli-kpweli. 21 Phahi Aeburania ariokala phamwenga na Afilisti hangu kare, hinyo arioambuka nao hadi kambini, agaluka kukala uphande wa Aiziraeli ariokala phamwenga na Sauli na Jonathani. 22 Na atu osi a Iziraeli ariokala akadzifwitsa kpwenye tsi za myango ya Efuraimu, ariphosikira kukala Afilisti akachimbira, aho nao achialunga mairo vihani. 23 Chihivyo Mwenyezi Mlungu achiativya Aiziraeli siku iyo na viha vyaenderera hadi vichitsupa Bethi-Aveni.

24 Aiziraeli agaya sana siku iyo mana Sauli kala akaapisha atu achiamba, “Nalonda kudziriphiza chisasi dzulu ya aviha angu, phahi mutu yeyesi ndiyerya chakurya chochosi kabila ya dziloni na alaniwe.” Phahi takuna mutu yetata chakurya. 25 Nao atu osi ainjira tsakani namo muchikala na asali chila phatu. 26 Dzagbwe atu ariphoinjira tsakani akuta asali inatwena napho taphana hata mmwenga ariyesubutu kuilamba kpwa sababu ya kuogopha hicho chirapho. 27 Ela Jonathani kpwa vira kayakalapho hipho ise ariphorisa atu chirapho, phahi ye wagolosa tsa ya fwimbo yokala mwakpwe mkpwononi achitsotsa phalala ra asali, chisha achitiya mkpwonowe mromoni na achiphaha mkpwotse. 28 Ndipho mmwenga wao wagomba achiamba, “Sowe waapiza atu achiamba, ‘Mutu ndiyerya chakurya rero na alaniwe.’ Nao atu kala akaphungukirwa ni mkpwotse.” 29 Hipho Jonathani achiamba, “Baba akayuga tsi. Lola jinsi nchivyophaha mkpwotse kpwa kukala nkatata hino asali chache. 30 Dze! Taingekala vinono kama atu akarya na kumvuna kula kpwa hizo zewe za aviha aho achizoziteka? Kpwa mana hungeolaga Afilisti anji kuriko hinya huchioaolaga.”

31 Siku iyo Aiziraeli achiapiga Afilisti kula Mikimashi hadi Aijaloni nao achikala akaphungukirwa sana ni mkpwotse kpwa sababu ya ndzala. 32 Phahi atu achizitinira hizo zewe, achihala mangʼondzi na ngʼombe, achizitsindza photsi nao hara atu achirya nyama phamwenga na milatsoye. 33  14:33 Mwandzo 9:4; Alawi 7:26–27; 17:10–14; 19:26; Kumbukumbu 12:16–23; 15:23Anjina aho amuambira Sauli achiamba, “Lola, atu hinya anamkosera Mwenyezi Mlungu, kpwa kukala anarya nyama phamwenga na milatsoye.” Naye achiamba, “Mwimwi mkakufuru, kaendzeni dziwe kulu mripingilise hadi hipha nripho.” 34 Chisha Sauli achiamba, “Haya tsamukanani kahi-kahi ya atu mkaambire, ‘Chila mutu na arehe hipha ngʼombeye au ngʼondzire muatsindze hipha na kuarya wala msimkosere Mwenyezi Mlungu, kpwa kurya nyama phamwenga na milatsoye.’ ” Nao atu osi chila mmwenga wareha ngʼombeye usiku hinyo nao achendzazitsindza hipho. 35 Naye Sauli wamdzengera Mwenyezi Mlungu phatu pha kulavira sadaka. Hipho ndipho phatu pha kpwandza pha kulavira sadaka ambapho Sauli wamdzengera Mwenyezi Mlungu.

36 Chisha Sauli achiamba, “Haya! Nahutserere hualunge Afilisti hukaashambuliye wakati wa usiku na kuahala vitu vyao zewe hadi ligundzu, wala husiriche hata mmwenga wao.” Nao amjibu, “Henda gosi uonago kukala ni manono.” Ela yuya mlavyadzi-sadaka achiamba, “Nahumuuze ushauri Mlungu kpwandza.” 37 Phahi Sauli walonda ushauri kula kpwa Mlungu, achiuza, “Dze! Ntserere ili kualunga-lunga Afilisti? Dze! Undaatiya mikononi mwa Iziraeli?” Ela Mlungu kayamjibu neno rorosi siku hiyo. 38 Ndipho Sauli achiiha akulu osi a jeshi achiaamba, “Ndzoni hipha ili humanye hukahenda dambi yani rero.” 39 Kama Mwenyezi Mlungu aishivyo, iye ativyaye Iziraeli, hata kama dambi ihi ikahendwa ni mwanangu Jonathani, kufwa andafwa. Ela kahi za atu osi taphana ariyemjibu. 40 Ndipho achiambira Aiziraeli osi, “Mwimwi kalani uphande wenu nami na mwanangu Jonathani hundakala uphande wehu.” Nao atu achimuambira Sauli, “Henda uonavyo ni sawa.” 41  14:41 Isabu 27:21; 1 Samueli 28:6Kpwa hivyo Sauli achivoya achiamba, “Ee Mwenyezi Mlungu, Mlungu wa Iziraeli, Mbona rero kukanijibu mino mtumishio? Ichikala dambi nkaihenda mimi au ikahendwa ni mwanangu Jonathani, Ee Mwenyezi Mlungu, Mlungu wa Iziraeli, jibu kpwa kutuluza Urimu. Ela napho dambi ikahendwa ni atuo Iziraeli, jibu kpwa kutuluza Thumimu.”‡ 14:41 Thumimu na Urimu ni vihunde avi ni vidziwe ambavyo enye kala nkuvihumira kumanya Mlungu alondavyo. Phahi Jonathani na Sauli achigbwererwa ni kura, ela Aiziraeli taayaphahikana na makosa. 42 Alafu Sauli achiamba, “Ndipho pigani kura kahi yangu na mwanangu Jonathani. [Ye ndiyeonewa ni Mwenyezi Mlungu kukala ana makosa, andaolagbwa.” Nyo atu achimuamba Sauli, “Hata, navisikale hivyo,” ela achiashinda nyo atu, na kpwa vivyo achipiga kura kahi za iye na mwanawe Jonathani.] Naye Jonathani achigbwererwa ni kura. 43 Ndipho Sauli achimuambira Jonathani, “Niambira ukahendadze.” Phahi Jonathani achijibu achiamba, “Mino nátata asali chache na tsa ya fwimbo yokala mwangu mkpwononi, nami ni tayari kufwa.” 44 Naye Sauli achiamba, “Mlungu naanione ichikala hakika Jonathani kandafwa.” 45 Ela atu achimuambira Sauli, “Dze! Ye Jonathani afwe na ndiye achiyehenda Aiziraeli aphahe ushindi mkpwulu? Hata! Dza Mwenyezi Mlungu aishivyo, taphandagbwa photsi hata lidzere ra chitswache, mana rero akahenda kazi phamwenga na Mlungu.” Kpwa njira iyo atu amtivya Jonathani. 46 Phahi Sauli achiricha kualunga Afilisti, nao Afilisti achiuya kpwao midzini.

47 Phahi Sauli ariphohala utawala wa Iziraeli, wapigana na avihae a pande zosi. Wapigana na atu a Moabu, Aamoni, Aedomu, afalume a Zoba na Afilisti. Na kokosi arikophiya kupigana washinda. 48 Naye wapigana chisujaa, achiaturya Aamaleki na kuativya Aiziraeli kula mikononi mwa aviha ao, atu ariokala achiapiga na kuafuta vitu vyao.

49 Sambi ana a chilume a Sauli kala ni Jonathani, Ishivi na Maliki-Shua. Na anae airi achetu, wa kpwandza kala aihwa Merabu na mdidewe kala anaihwa Mikali. 50 Na mkpwaza Sauli waihwa Ahinoamu, mwana mchetu wa Ahimaazi. Alafu mkpwulu wa jeshire waihwa Abineri, mwana wa Neri. Neri kala ni ise mdide wa Sauli. 51 Kishi isengbwa wa Sauli na Neri isengbwa wa Abineri kala ni anangbwa a Abieli.

52 Phahi siku zosi Sauli ariphokala mfalume kpwakala na viha vikali sana kahi ya Aiziraeli na Afilisti. Naye Sauli chila ariphomuona mutu yeyesi yekala hodari au sujaa wamuhala achimuhenda mmwenga wa anajeshie.