2 Samuel 15
1 Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
Baada ya muda, Absalomu akajipatia magari ya vita na farasi pamoja na watu hamsini wa kupiga mbio mbele yake.
2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
Akawa anaamka asubuhi na mapema na kusimama kando ya barabara inayoelekea kwenye lango la mji. Wakati wowote alipokuja mtu yeyote mwenye mashtaka yanayohitaji kuletwa mbele ya mfalme kwa maamuzi, Absalomu naye angemwita na kumuuliza, “Wewe unatoka mji upi?” Naye angejibu, “Mtumishi wako anatoka katika mojawapo ya makabila ya Israeli.”
3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”
Kisha Absalomu angemwambia, “Tazama, malalamiko yako ni ya haki na sawasawa, lakini hakuna mwakilishi wa mfalme wa kukusikiliza.”
4 And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
Absalomu aliongeza, “Laiti tu ningeteuliwa kuwa mwamuzi katika nchi. Ndipo kila mmoja mwenye mashtaka au shauri angekuja kwangu nami ningeona kwamba anapata haki.”
5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
Pia, wakati mtu yeyote alipomkaribia ili kusujudu mbele yake, Absalomu alinyoosha mkono wake na kumshika pia kumbusu.
6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Absalomu akaendelea na tabia hii mbele ya Waisraeli wote waliomjia mfalme kumwomba awape haki; kwa hiyo Absalomu akaiba mioyo ya watu wa Israeli.
7 After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
Mnamo mwisho wa mwaka wa nne, Absalomu akamwambia mfalme, “Naomba unipe ruhusa niende Hebroni nikatimize nadhiri niliyomwekea Bwana.
8 For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”
Wakati mtumishi wako alipokuwa huko Geshuri katika nchi ya Aramu, niliweka nadhiri hii, ‘Ikiwa Bwana atanirudisha Yerusalemu, nitamwabudu Bwana huko Hebroni.’”
9 “Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.
Mfalme akamwambia, “Enenda kwa amani.” Hivyo akaenda Hebroni.
10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
Kisha Absalomu akatuma wajumbe kwa siri katika makabila yote ya Israeli, kusema, “Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya tarumbeta basi semeni, ‘Absalomu ni mfalme huko Hebroni.’”
11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.
Watu mia mbili kutoka Yerusalemu walikuwa wamefuatana na Absalomu. Walikuwa wamealikwa kama wageni nao walikwenda kwa nia njema, pasipo kujua lolote.
12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.
Wakati Absalomu alipokuwa anatoa dhabihu, pia akatuma aitwe Ahithofeli, Mgiloni, mshauri wa Daudi, aje kutoka Gilo, ambao ndio mji wake wa nyumbani. Kwa hiyo mpango wa hila ukapata nguvu, na idadi ya waliofuatana na Absalomu ikaongezeka.
13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
Mjumbe akaja na kumwambia Daudi, “Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inaambatana na Absalomu.”
14 And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
Ndipo Daudi akawaambia maafisa wake wote waliokuwa pamoja naye huko Yerusalemu, “Njooni! Ni lazima tukimbie, la sivyo hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayeokoka kutoka mkononi mwa Absalomu. Ni lazima tuondoke kwa haraka, la sivyo atakuja mbio na kutupata, atatuangamiza na kuupiga mji kwa upanga.”
15 The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
Maafisa wa mfalme wakamjibu, “Watumishi wako tu tayari kufanya lolote mfalme bwana wetu analochagua.”
16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
Mfalme akatoka, pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake wakimfuata; lakini akawaacha masuria kumi ili kuangalia jumba la kifalme.
17 So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,
Hivyo mfalme akaondoka, pamoja na watu wote wakimfuata, wakatua mahali mbali kiasi.
18 and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
Watu wake wote wakatembea, wakampita wakiwa wamefuatana na Wakerethi na Wapelethi wote; pia Wagiti wote mia sita waliokuwa wamefuatana naye kutoka Gathi wakapita mbele ya mfalme.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
Mfalme akamwambia Itai, Mgiti, “Kwa nini ufuatane na sisi? Rudi ukakae pamoja na Mfalme Absalomu. Wewe ni mgeni, mkimbizi kutoka nchini mwako.
20 In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”
Ulikuja jana tu. Nami leo nikufanye utangetange pamoja nasi, wakati sijui niendako? Rudi, nawe ukawachukue watu wa kwenu. Wema na uaminifu na viwe pamoja nawe.”
21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”
Lakini Itai akamjibu mfalme, “Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo na kama mfalme bwana wangu aishivyo, popote mfalme bwana wangu atakapokuwa, ikiwa ni kuishi au kufa, hapo ndipo mtumishi wako atakapokuwa.”
22 “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
Daudi akamwambia Itai, “Songa mbele, endelea.” Kwa hiyo Itai, Mgiti, akaendelea pamoja na watu wake wote, pia jamaa zote waliokuwa pamoja naye.
23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.
Watu wote wa nje ya mji wakalia kwa sauti wakati watu wote walipokuwa wakipita. Mfalme naye akavuka Bonde la Kidroni, nao watu wote wakaelekea jangwani.
24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had passed out of the city.
Sadoki pia alikuwako, kadhalika Walawi wote waliokuwa pamoja naye walikuwa wamechukua Sanduku la Agano la Mungu. Wakaweka chini Sanduku la Mungu, naye Abiathari akatoa dhabihu mpaka watu wote walipokuwa wameondoka mjini.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.
Kisha mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, “Rudisha Sanduku la Mungu mjini. Ikiwa nitapata kibali mbele za Bwana, atanirudisha, nami nitaliona Sanduku hili tena pamoja na Maskani yake.
26 But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
Lakini kama yeye atasema, ‘Mimi sipendezwi nawe,’ basi mimi niko tayari; yeye na anifanye chochote aonacho chema kwake.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.
Pia mfalme alimwambia kuhani Sadoki, “Je, wewe si mwonaji? Rudi mjini kwa amani pamoja na mwanao Ahimaasi na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari. Wewe na Abiathari wachukueni wana wenu wawili.
28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
Nitasubiri kwenye vivuko katika jangwa mpaka neno litakapotoka kwenu kuniarifu.”
29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.
Kwa hiyo Sadoki na Abiathari wakarudisha Sanduku la Mungu mpaka Yerusalemu na kukaa huko.
30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
Bali Daudi akaendelea, akapanda Mlima wa Mizeituni, akaenda huku analia, akiwa amefunika kichwa chake na bila viatu miguuni. Watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye nao wakafunika vichwa vyao, wakawa wanapanda mlima huku wanalia.
31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Basi Daudi alikuwa ameambiwa, “Ahithofeli alikuwa miongoni mwa washiriki wa shauri baya la Absalomu.” Ndipo Daudi akaomba, akisema, “Ee Bwana, geuza shauri la Ahithofeli kuwa ujinga.”
32 When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
Daudi alipofika kwenye kilele cha mlima, mahali ambapo watu walikuwa wamezoea kumwabudu Mungu, Hushai, Mwariki, alikuwako huko kumlaki, joho lake likiwa limeraruka na mavumbi kichwani mwake.
33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
Daudi akamwambia, “Kama ukienda pamoja nami, utakuwa mzigo kwangu.
34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’
Lakini ikiwa utarudi mjini na kumwambia Absalomu, ‘Nitakuwa mtumishi wako, ee mfalme; nilikuwa mtumishi wa baba yako wakati uliopita, lakini sasa nitakuwa mtumishi wako,’ basi utaweza kunisaidia kwa kupinga shauri la Ahithofeli.
35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.
Je, makuhani Sadoki na Abiathari hawatakuwa pamoja nawe? Waambie lolote utakalosikia katika jumba la mfalme.
36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”
Wana wao wawili, Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari, wako pamoja nao huko. Watume kwangu na lolote utakalosikia.”
37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.
Kwa hiyo Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akafika Yerusalemu wakati Absalomu alipokuwa anaingia mjini.
