2 Samuweli 1:1-27

Kwathi emva kokufa kukaSawule, uDavide ebuyile ekubulaleni ama-Amaleki, uDavide wahlala izinsuku ezimbili eZikilagi; Kwathi ngosuku lwesithathu kwaphuma umuntu ekamu, izingubo zikaSawule eziklebhukile, enothuli ekhanda lakhe; lapho efika kuDavide, wawa phansi, wakhuleka. UDavida wasesithi kuye: Uvela ngaphi? Wathi kuye: “Ngiphunyukile ekamu lika-Israyeli.” UDavida wasesithi kuye: Kwenze njani? ngiyakuncenga, ungitshele. Futhi waphendula: Ukuthi abantu babaleka empini, futhi futhi abaningi babantu bawa futhi bafa; noSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafa. UDavida wasesithi kuyo ijaha elamtshelayo: Wazi ngani ukuthi uSawuli loJonathani indodana yakhe bafile? Ijaha elamtshela lathi: “Ngathi ngifika entabeni yaseGilibowa, bheka, uSawule wayeme ngomkhonto wakhe; bheka, izinqola nabamahhashi bamxosha kanzima. Wathi ebheka emva kwakhe, wangibona, wangibiza; Futhi ngiyaphendula: Nangu mina. Yasisithi kimi: Ungubani? Ngathi kuye: “NgingumAmaleki.” Wabuye wathi kimi: “Yima phezu kwami, ungibulale, ngokuba usizi lungehlele, ngokuba umphefumulo wami usaphelele kimi.” Ngema phezu kwakhe, ngambulala, ngokuba ngangazi ukuthi akayikuphila emva kokuwa kwakhe; ngase ngithatha umqhele owawusekhanda lakhe nesongo elisengalweni yakhe ngakuletha lapha enkosini yami. UDavide wathatha izingubo zakhe, waziklebhula; kanjalo nawo onke amadoda aye naye. Balila, bakhala, bazila ukudla kwaze kwahlwa ngenxa kaSawule, nangenxa kaJonathani indodana yakhe, naphezu kwabantu bakaJehova, naphezu kwendlu yakwa-Israyeli; ngoba bawa ngenkemba. UDavide wayesethi kuyo insizwa eyamtshelayo: “Ungowaphi na? Wathi: “Ngiyindodana yomfokazi, umAmaleki.” UDavide wayesethi kuye: “Awuzange wesabe kanjani ukwelula isandla sakho ukubhubhisa ogcotshiweyo weNkosi na? UDavida wasebiza enye yezinsizwa, wathi: Sondela umhlasele. Futhi wamshaya waze wafa. UDavida wasesithi kuye: Igazi lakho liphezu kwekhanda lakho; ngoba umlomo wakho ufakazile ngawe, wathi: Mina ngibulele ogcotshiweyo weNkosi. UDavide walilela ngalesi sililo ngoSawule nangoJonathani indodana yakhe. (Futhi wabayala ukuba bafundise abantwana bakwaJuda ukusebenzisa umnsalo; bheka, kulotshiwe encwadini kaJasheri.) Ubuhle buka-Israyeli bubulewe ezindaweni zakho eziphakemeyo; awe kanjani amaqhawe! Lingakutsheli eGati, lingakwenzi kwaziwe ezitaladeni zeAshikeloni; ukuze amadodakazi amaFilisti angathokozi, namadodakazi angasokile angathokozi. Zintaba zaseGilibowa, makungabikho mazolo, kungabikho mvula phezu kwenu, namasimu emihlatshelo; ngoba kukhona isihlangu samaqhawe, isihlangu sikaSawuli esilahlwe lapho kungathi kagcotshiweyo amafutha. Egazini lababuleweyo, emanoni amaqhawe, umnsalo kaJonathani awubuyanga, nenkemba kaSawule ayibuyanga ilambatha. OSawule noJonathani babebahle, bethandeka ekuphileni kwabo, nasekufeni kwabo abahlukananga; babenejubane kunezinkozi, babenamandla kunezingonyama. Madodakazi akwa-Israyeli, mkhaleleni uSawule, owanigqokisa okubomvu nezinye izibiliboco, owafaka imihlobiso yegolide engutsheni yenu. Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe phakathi kwempi! Jonathani, ubulewe ezindaweni zakho eziphakemeyo. Ngikhathazekile ngawe, mfowethu Jonathani; wawumuhle kakhulu kimi; uthando lwakho kimi lwalumangalisa ngaphezu kothando lwabesifazane. Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe nezikhali zempi zabhubha!