2 Samuel 18
1 Daudi nochano joma ne ni kode kendo noyieronigi jotend lweny mag alufe to gi mag miche.
Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
2 Daudi nooro migepe adek mag jolweny: mokwongo notelne gi Joab, mar ariyo notelne gi Abishai ma owadgi Joab wuod Zeruya, mar adek notelne gi Itai ja-Giti. To ruoth nowachone migepego niya, “An bende nyaka adhi kodu.”
He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”
3 To jogo nowachone niya, “In ok inyal dhi kodwa, nikech ka ochuno ni nyaka waringi, to ok gibi dewowa. Kata ka nuswa otho to ok gidhi dewo nikech in iromri gi ji alufu apar kuomwa. Omiyo ber ka in idongʼ mondo ikonywa gie dala maduongʼ ka.”
But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”
4 Ruoth nodwoko niya, “Abiro timo gima uneno ni bernu.” Omiyo ruoth nochungʼ but rangach sa ma ne oganda lweny duto ne wuok e migepegi mag miche gi mag alufe.
“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Ruoth nochiko Joab gi Abishai kod Itai niya, “Beduru mangʼwon ne wuoda Abisalom nikech an.” Oganda duto mag jolweny nowinjo ka ruoth chiko jotelo ni kik gihiny Abisalom.
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
6 Jolweny nowuok modhi e paw lweny mondo giked gi Israel, kendo lweny nogore e bungu mar Efraim.
So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7 Jolwenj mag Daudi noloyo jo-Israel kanyo, kendo ji mane otho ne ngʼeny maloyo ji alufu piero ariyo.
There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.
8 Lweny nolandore mokwako piny, kendo joma notho chiengʼno e bungu ne ngʼeny moloyo joma noneg gi ligangla.
The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.
9 Koro Abisalom nopo koromo gi jolwenj Daudi koidho pundane. To kane oyudo kanyna kadho e bwo yiend ober man-gi tipo malach, wi Abisalom nomoko e bad yadhno, mi nodongʼ koliero e kor yamo, ka kanyna mane oidho to ne dhiyo nyime gi wuoth.
Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.
10 Kane achiel kuom jogo noneno ma, nonyiso Joab niya, “Aneno Abisalom koliero e bad yiend ober.”
When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11 Joab nowacho ni ngʼat mane onyise wachno niya, “Angʼo! Inene? Angʼo ma nomoni chwowe molwar piny kanyo? To damiyi shekel apar mag fedha gi okanda mar jolweny.”
“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
12 To ngʼatno nodwoke niya, “Kata dine unyalo pimo shekel alufu achiel moket e lweta, anto ok datingʼ lweta mondo aket kuom wuod ruoth. Ne wawinjo gi itwa ka ruoth chiko in gi Abishai kod Itai ni, ‘Rituru wuoda Abisalom nikech an.’
The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
13 To ka dine atim mano, to dine aketo ngimana e chandruok nikech onge gima opondo ne ruoth bende dine ok ikonya.”
If I had jeopardized my own life —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”
14 Joab nowacho niya, “Anto ok abi rito kamano.” Ka Abisalom ne pod oliero e bad yiend ober kangima, nokawo tonge adek e lwete mochwoyo dho chuny Abisalom.
But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
15 Kendo ji apar matingʼo gige lweny mag Joab nolworo Abisalom, negigoye, ma ginege.
And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16 Eka Joab nogoyo turumbete mi jolweny noweyo lawo jo-Israel nikech Joab nokwerogi.
Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them.
17 Negikawo Abisalom ma giwito e bugo maduongʼ manie bungu, mi gibiwo kite madongo dongo kuome. E kindeno jo-Israel duto noringo modhi e miechgi.
They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.
18 Ka Abisalom ne pod ngima nokawo siro mochungo e Holo mar Ruoth kaka rapar mare owuon nimar noparo niya, “Aonge wuowi manyalo tingʼo wiya malo kata ma dichaka.” Nochako sirono nyinge owuon, mi oluonge ni Rapar mar Abisalom nyaka chil kawuono.
During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.
19 Koro Ahimaz wuod Zadok nowacho niya, “We aring ater wachni ne ruoth ni Jehova Nyasaye oserese e lwet jowasike.”
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
20 Joab nowachone niya, “In ok niter wach kawuono. Inyalo mana tero wach chiengʼ machielo, nikech wuod ruoth otho.”
But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21 Eka Joab nowachone ja-Kush niya, “Dhiyo mondo inyis ruoth gima ineno.” Ja-Kush nokulore piny e nyim Joab bangʼe noringo modhi.
So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
22 Ahimaz wuod Zadok nochako wacho ne Joab niya, “Kata bed ni angʼo matimore, to yiena alaw ja-Kush.” To Joab nodwoke niya, “Wuoda, angʼo momiyo idwaro dhi? Ionge gi wach maber manyalo keloni mich.”
Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”
23 En to nowacho niya, “Kata angʼo matimore, to nyaka aring adhi.” Omiyo Joab nowachone niya, “Ringi idhi.” Eka Ahimaz noringo odhi koluwo yor pap moyombo ja-Kush.
“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. “Then run!” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
24 Kane oyudo Daudi obet e kind rangach maiye gi ma oko, jarito noidho wi dhoranga ohinga mar ngʼicho. Kane ongʼiyo oko, noneno ngʼato karingo kende.
Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
25 Jarito noluongo ruoth monyise. To ruoth nowacho niya, “Ka en kende to nyaka bed ni en gi wach maber.” Kendo ngʼatno nomedo sudo machiegni koringo.
So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,
26 Eka jarito noneno ngʼat machielo karingo, kendo noluongo jarit dhorangach mowachone niya, “Ne ngʼat machielo bende ringo biro ka en kende!” To ruoth nowacho niya, “En bende nyaka bed ni okelo wach maber.”
the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said the king.
27 Jarito nowacho niya, “Nenorena ni ngʼat mokwongo ringo ka Ahimaz wuod Zadok.” Ruoth nowacho niya, “En ngʼat maber. Obiro gi wach maber.”
The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”
28 Eka Ahimaz nowuoyo gi ruoth kowacho niya, “Gik moko dhi maber!” Nopodho piny auma e nyim ruoth ka wangʼe ochomo piny mi owacho niya, “Pak obed ni Jehova Nyasaye ma Nyasachi! Osechiwo e lwet ruodha ma en ruoth jogo mosepiem kode.”
Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king. He continued, “Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.”
29 Ruoth nopenjo niya, “Bende wuowi ma Abisalom ngima?” Ahimaz nodwoke niya, “Ne aneno ka mutni nitie maduongʼ e sa ma Joab ne oro jatich ruoth kod an, jatichni, to ok angʼeyo gima ne timore.”
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”
30 To ruoth nowachone niya, “Chungʼ e bathe ka kendo iriti.” Omiyo nosudo bathe mochungʼ kanyo.
“Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” So he stepped aside.
31 Eka ja-Kush nochopo mowacho niya, “Ruodha ma en ruoth, winj wach maber! Jehova Nyasaye oseresi kawuononi e lwet joma piem kodi duto.”
Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”
32 Ruoth nopenjo ja-Kush niya, “Bende wuowi ma Abisalom ngima?” Ja-Kush nodwoko niya, “Mad wasigu mag ruodha ma en ruoth gi ji duto mane ongʼanyo ka dwahinyi obed kaka wuowino.”
The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.”
33 Ruoth nobwok motetni. Noidho malo e ot man ewi rangach mi oywak. Noywak kowacho niya, “Yaye wuoda Abisalom, wuoda, wuoda Abisalom! Onego an ema ne atho kari, yaye Abisalom wuoda, wuoda!”
The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
