Jonathan Helps David Escape
1 David escaped from Prophets Village. Then he ran to see Jonathan and asked, “Why does your father Saul want to kill me? What have I done wrong?”
2 “My father can't be trying to kill you! He never does anything without telling me about it. Why would he hide this from me? It can't be true!”
3 “Jonathan, I swear it's true! But your father knows how much you like me, and he didn't want to break your heart. That's why he didn't tell you. I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I'm only one step ahead of death.”
4 Then Jonathan said, “Tell me what to do, and I'll do it.”
5 David answered:
Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, and I'm supposed to eat dinner with your father. But instead, I'll hide in a field until the evening of the next day. 6 If Saul wonders where I am, tell him, “David asked me to let him go to his hometown of Bethlehem, so he could take part in a sacrifice his family makes there every year.”
7 If your father says it's all right, then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know he wants to harm me. 8 Be kind to me. After all, it was your idea to promise the Lord that we would always be loyal friends. If I've done anything wrong, kill me yourself, but don't hand me over to your father.
9 “Don't worry,” Jonathan said. “If I find out that my father wants to kill you, I'll certainly let you know.”
10 “How will you do that?” David asked.
11 “Let's go out to this field, and I'll tell you,” Jonathan answered.
When they got there, 12 Jonathan said:
I swear by the Lord God of Israel, that two days from now I'll know what my father is planning. Of course I'll let you know if he's friendly toward you. 13 But if he wants to harm you, I promise to tell you and help you escape. And I ask the Lord to punish me severely if I don't keep my promise.
I pray that the Lord will bless you, just as he used to bless my father. 14-15 Someday the Lord will wipe out all of your enemies. Then if I'm still alive, please be as kind to me as the Lord has been. But if I'm dead, be kind to my family.
16 Jonathan and David made an agreement that even David's descendants would have to keep. Then Jonathan said, “I pray that the Lord will take revenge on your descendants if they break our promise.”
17 Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself, so he asked David to promise once more that he would be a loyal friend. 18 After this Jonathan said:
Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, and people will wonder where you are, because your place at the table will be empty. 19 By the day after tomorrow, everyone will think you've been gone a long time. Then go to the place where you hid before and stay beside Going-Away Rock. 20 I'll shoot three arrows at a target off to the side of the rock, 21 and send my servant to find the arrows.
You'll know if it's safe to come out by what I tell him. If it is safe, I swear by the living Lord that I'll say, “The arrows are on this side of you! Pick them up!” 22 But if it isn't safe, I'll say to the boy, “The arrows are farther away!” This will mean that the Lord wants you to leave, and you must go. 23 But he will always watch us to make sure that we keep the promise we made to each other.
24 So David hid there in the field.
During the New Moon Festival, Saul sat down to eat 25 by the wall, just as he always did. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner sat next to him. But David's place was empty. 26 Saul didn't say anything that day, because he was thinking, “Something must have happened to make David unfit to be at the Festival. Yes, something must have happened.”
27 The day after the New Moon Festival, when David's place was still empty, Saul asked Jonathan, “Why hasn't that son of Jesse come to eat with us? He wasn't here yesterday, and he still isn't here today!”
28-29 Jonathan answered, “The reason David hasn't come to eat with you is that he begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Please let me go. My family is offering a sacrifice, and my brother told me I have to be there. Do me this favor and let me slip away to see my brothers.’ ”
30 Saul was furious with Jonathan and yelled, “You're no son of mine, you traitor! I know you've chosen to be loyal to that son of Jesse. You should be ashamed of yourself! And your own mother should be ashamed that you were ever born. 31 You'll never be safe, and your kingdom will be in danger as long as that son of Jesse is alive. Turn him over to me now! He deserves to die!”
32 “Why do you want to kill David?” Jonathan asked. “What has he done?”
33 Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. Then Jonathan was sure that his father really did want to kill David. 34 Jonathan was angry and hurt that his father had insulted David so terribly. He got up, left the table, and didn't eat anything all that day.
35 In the morning, Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a servant boy along 36 and told him, “When I shoot the arrows, you run and find them for me.”
The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow so that it would go beyond him. 37 When the boy got near the place where the arrow had landed, Jonathan shouted, “Isn't the arrow on past you?” 38 Jonathan shouted to him again, “Hurry up! Don't stop!”
The boy picked up the arrows and brought them back to Jonathan, 39 but he had no idea about what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew. 40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and told him, “Take these back into town.”
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from beside the mound and bowed very low three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and cried, but David cried louder. 42 Jonathan said, “Take care of yourself. And remember, we each have asked the Lord to watch and make sure that we and our descendants keep our promise forever.”
David left and Jonathan went back to town.
Yonatani ye Dawuda maakoyi
1 Bituŋ Dawuda borita ka bo Nayoti meŋ be Rama, a taata Yonatani yaa, ka a ñininkaa ko, “Ŋa muŋ ne ke? Muŋ ne mu n na kuruŋyaa ti? Ŋa muŋ kuu jawu le ke i faamaa la, fo a lafita ka m faa?”
2 Yonatani ye a jaabi ko, “A te ke la wo ñaama. I maŋ taa faa la. M faamaa buka kuu-wo-kuu ke, kuu baa waraŋ kuundiŋ, a maŋ n kalamutandi a la. Muŋ ne ye a tinna, a be ñiŋ maabo la n na? Wo te ke la.”
3 Bari Dawuda kalita le, aduŋ a ko, “I faamaa ye a loŋ koyike le ko, i ye n kanu baake le. A ko a faŋo ye le ko, Yonatani te ñiŋ loŋ na. Niŋ wo nte, a niyo be toora la le. Bari a be koyiriŋ ñaameŋ ko Yaawe* be baluuriŋ ne aniŋ ite faŋo, simfaa kiliŋ, wo le be n niŋ saayaa teema.”
4 Wo to le Yonatani ko Dawuda ye ko, “I lafita ŋa feŋ-wo-feŋ ke i ye, m be a ke la le.”
5 Bituŋ Dawuda ko, “A juubee, saama le mu Kari Kuta Juurali* luŋo ti, aduŋ n niŋ mansa ñanta domoroo ke la le. Bari m batu, ŋa taa m maabo kenoo kono fo sinindiŋ wulaaroo. 6 Niŋ i faamaa ye n ñininkaa, i si a fo a ye ko, ‘Dawuda ye n na yamfoo daani le ka taa Betilehemu a la saatewo to, kaatu ì ka saŋ-wo-saŋ sadaaboo* le ke a la kaabiiloo bee ye.’ 7 Niŋ a ko, a sonta le, a be beteyaa la nte i la dookuulaa fee le. Bari niŋ a kamfaata, i si a loŋ ko, a pareeta le ka kuu jawoo ke n na. 8 Ite la karoo la, i si tiliŋo yitandi nte i la dookuulaa la, kaatu i niŋ ŋa kambeŋo le siti Yaawe ñaatiliŋo la. Niŋ m boyita, bituŋ ite faŋo si m faa. Muŋ ne ye a tinna i be n dii la i faamaa la?”
9 Yonatani ko a ye ko, “Allamaa a jamfa la i la. Niŋ ŋa a loŋ koyike ko, m faamaa lafita i faa la le, fo n te a fo la i ye baŋ?”
10 Dawuda ye a ñininkaa ko, “Jumaa le be a fo la n ye, niŋ i faamaa ye i saŋara jaabi?”
11 Yonatani ko a ye ko, “Naa ŋà taa kene koomoo to.” Bituŋ ì taata ñoo la jee. 12 Bituŋ Yonatani ko Dawuda ye ko, “Yaawe Banisirayilankoolu la Alla, si ke ǹ seedoo ti. M be feere le ke la, ka kuu soto m faamaa bulu sinindiŋ ñiŋ ñoŋ tumoo. Niŋ a jikoo falinta i la karoo la, m be kiilaa kii la i ye le. 13 Bari niŋ m faamaa lafita kuu jawoo ke la i la, Allamaa Yaawe ye kuu jawoo laa n kaŋ, niŋ m maŋ i kalamutandi, ka i kanandi i ye taa. Allamaa Yaawe ye tara i fee, ko a be m faamaa fee nuŋ ñaameŋ. 14 Niŋ m be baluwo to, i si Yaawe la kanu bambaloo yitandi n na. Aduŋ niŋ m faata, 15 i kana i la kanu bambaloo koo dindi n na dimbaayaa la, hani a ye a tara, Yaawe ye Dawuda jawoolu bee kasaara le ka bo duniyaa kono.”
16 Bituŋ Yonatani ye kambeŋo siti a niŋ Dawuda niŋ a la moolu teema, ka a fo ko, “Allamaa Yaawe ye Dawuda jawoolu halaki.”
17 Aduŋ Yonatani ye a ke, Dawuda kalita kotenke ko a ye a kanu le, kaatu ate ye a kanu le, ko a ye a faŋo kanu ñaameŋ.
18 Wo to le Yonatani ko Dawuda ye ko, “Saama le mu Kari Kuta Juurali luŋo ti. I la siiraŋo kenseŋo le be tara la jee, kaatu i te maabee la. 19 Bituŋ sinindiŋ wulaara maafaŋo la, i si taa wo dulaa to, i ye i maabo nuŋ daameŋ, biriŋ ñiŋ kuwo foloota. I si i maabo Eseli Beroo daala. 20 M be kalabeñe saba le fayi la a karoo la ko niŋ n lafita feŋ ne buŋ na. 21 Bituŋ m be kambaanoo kii la, ka a fo a ye ko, ‘Taa i ye taa beñoolu ñini.’ Niŋ n ko a ye ko, ‘A juubee, beñoolu be n niŋ i teema, ì samba naŋ jaŋ,’ bituŋ i si naa, kaatu niŋ Alla be baluuriŋ, i be tanka la le, aduŋ mantoora te jee. 22 Bari niŋ n ko kambaanoo ye ko, ‘A juubee, beñoolu tambita i la le,’ bituŋ fo i si taa, kaatu Yaawe le ye a fo. 23 Aduŋ n niŋ i ye kuwo meŋ kacaa, i hakiloo bulandi ko, Yaawe le mu nte niŋ ite la seedoo ti fo abadaa.”
24 Bituŋ Dawuda ye i maabo kenoo kono. Kabiriŋ Kari Kuta Juuraloo siita, mansa siita ka domoroo ke. 25 A siita a la dulaa kiliŋo le to bumbaloo la, Yonatani tarata a ñaatiliŋo la. Abuna, wo siita mansa le daala, bari Dawuda la palaasoo, moo te siiriŋ nuŋ jee. 26 Wo luŋo a keta ñaa-wo-ñaa, Sawulu maŋ feŋ fo. A ye a miira le ko, kosoo le be Dawuda la, aduŋ a maŋ i seneyandi foloo. 27 Bari kari kutoo saamoo, tili fulanjaŋo, Dawuda la palaasoo, moo te siiriŋ jee kotenke. Bituŋ Sawulu ko a dinkewo Yonatani ye ko, “Muŋ ne ye a tinna, Yese dinkewo maŋ naa domoridulaa to kunuŋ niŋ bii?”
28 Yonatani ye a jaabi ko, “Dawuda ye n na yamfoo le daani, ka a bula a ye taa Betilehemu. 29 A ko n ye le ko, ‘M batu ŋa taa, kaatu n na kaabiiloo ka sadaaboo le ke saatewo to, aduŋ n kotoomaa ye n yaamari le ka tara jee. Niŋ ŋa maakoyiroo je i ñaato, i si m bula, ŋa taa n kotoomaalu je.’ Ñiŋ daliiloo le ye a tinna, a maŋ naa mansa la taabuloo to.”
30 Sawulu jusoo bota Yonatani kamma, a ko a ye ko, “Ite baafutuubali diŋ! Fo m maŋ a loŋ ko, i ye Yese dinkewo ke i teeri ti i la maloo le kaŋ, aniŋ i baamaa meŋ ye i wuluu? 31 Niŋ Yese dinkewo be baluuriŋ ñiŋ duniyaa kono, ite la mansamarali bankoo te loo la, i te ke la ñiŋ bankoo mansa ti. Saayiŋ kiilaa kii, i ye a samba n ye naŋ, fo a si faa!”
32 Yonatani ye a faamaa ñininkaa ko, “Muŋ ne ye a tinna, a ñanta faa la? A ye muŋ ne ke?”
33 Bituŋ Sawulu ye a la sooroo fayi a kaŋ, ka a faa. Wo to le Yonatani ye a loŋ ko, a faamaa lafita Dawuda faa la le. 34 Yonatani kamfaatoo wulita taabuloo to. Kari kutoo tili fulanjaŋo luŋo, a maŋ domori ke, kaatu a niyo toorata a faamaa la malu kuwo la le, a ye meŋ ke Dawuda la. 35 Wo saamoo Yonatani taata kenoo kono ka taa Dawuda yaa, ko ì ye a fo nuŋ ñaameŋ. A niŋ kambaanoo le taata ñoo la. 36 Aduŋ a ko a ye ko, “Bori, i ye taa beñoolu ñini, ŋa mennu fayi.” Kabiriŋ kambaanoo be bori kaŋ, a ye beñoo fayi a ñaato. 37 Biriŋ kambaanoo futata beñoo boyita daameŋ, Yonatani wuurita, a ko a ye ko, “Beñoo be i ñaato le.” 38 Bituŋ a ko, “Kana tu looriŋ jee! I tariyaa!” Kambaanoo ye beñoolu tomboŋ, a muruta a la keebaa yaa. 39 Bari a maŋ a loŋ meŋ be keriŋ, Yonatani niŋ Dawuda dammaa le ye a loŋ. 40 Wo to le Yonatani ye a la jooraŋolu dii kambaanoo la, a ko a ye ì murundi saatewo kono.
41 Kabiriŋ kambaanoo taata, Dawuda bota naŋ beroo bulubaa karoo la, a ye a kuŋo jimi Yonatani ñaatiliŋo la, a ñoyita a ye ko siiñaa saba. Bituŋ ì ye ñoo sumbu, ì kumboota, bari Dawuda le kumboota baake. 42 Yonatani ko Dawuda ye ko, “Taa kayiroo kono, kaatu ǹ kalita ñoo ye teeriyaa la le Yaawe too la, ka a fo ko, Yaawe le mu nte niŋ ite seedoo ti, aniŋ ite koomalankoolu niŋ nte koomalankoolu fo abadaa.” Bituŋ Dawuda taata, Yonatani fanaa muruta saatewo kono.
