2 Samuel 18
1 Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
Daudi akawahesabu askari waliokuwa pamoja naye na akaweka akida wa elfu na akida wa mia juu yao.
2 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.”
Kisha Daudi akalipeleka jeshi, thelusi moja chini ya Yoabu, thelusi nyingine chini ya Abishai mwana wa Seruya, ndugu wa Yoabu, na thelusi nyingine tena chini ya Itai Mgiti. Mfalme akaliambia jeshi, “kwa hakika mimi mwenyewe pia nitakwenda pamoja nanyi.
3 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.”
Lakini watu wakasema, “Wewe usiende vitani, kwani ikiwa tutakimbia hawatatujari sisi, ama nusu yetu wakifa hawatajari. Lakini wewe ni zaidi ya elfu kumi yetu sisi! Kwa hiyo ni afadhari zaidi ukitusaidia ukiwa mjini.”
4 “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.
Hivyo mfalme akawajibu, “Nitafanya lolote lionekanalo jema machoni penu.” Mfalme akasimama kati ya lango la mji wakati jeshi lilipoondoka katika mamia na katika maelfu.
5 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.
Mfalme akawaagiza Yoabu, Abishai, na Itai kusema, “Mmtendee huyo kijana, Absalomu, kwa upole kwa ajili yangu.” Watu wote wakasikia jinsi mfalme alivyowaagiza maakida kuhusu Absalomu.
6 So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
Hivyo jeshi likaenda nyikani dhidi ya Israeli; vita ikaenea katika msitu wa Efraimu.
7 There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.
Jeshi la Israeli likashindwa mbele ya askari wa Daudi; kulikuwa na machinjo makuu kwa watu elfu ishirini siku hiyo.
8 The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.
Vita ikaenea katika eneo lote na watu wengi wakaangamizwa na msitu kuliko upanga.
9 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.
Ikatukia kwamba Absalomu akakutana na askari wa Daudi. Absalomu alikuwa amepanda juu ya nyumbu wake na nyumbu akapita chini ya matawi manene ya mti wa mwaloni, na kichwa chake kikanaswa katika matawi ya mti. Akaachwa akining'inia kati ya nchi na anga wakati nyumbu alipoendelea mbele.
10 When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
Mtu mmoja akaona lililotukia na akamwambia Yoabu, “Tazama, nilimwona Absalomu akining'inia katika mwaloni!”
11 “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!”
Yoabu akamwambia aliyemwambia kuhusu Absalomu, “Tazama! Ulimwona! Kwa nini haukumpiga hata chini. Ningekupa shekeli kumi za fedha na mkanda.”
12 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.’
Yule mtu akamjibu Yoabu, “Hata kama ningepewa shekeli elfu za fedha hata hivyo nisingeinua mkono wangu juu ya mwana wa mfalme, kwa maana sisi sote tulimsikia mfalme akiwaagiza wewe, Abishai na Itai kusema, mtu asimguse huyo kijana Absalomu.'
13 If I had jeopardized my own life —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”
Ikiwa ningehatarisha maisha yangu kwa uongo(na hakuna jambo linalofichika kwa mfalme), ungejitenga nami.”
14 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.
Ndipo Yoabu aliposema, “sitakusubiri.” Kisha akachukua mishale mitatu mkononi mwake na akairusha katika moyo wa Absalomu wakati yu ngali hai na amening'inia katika mwaloni.
15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
Kisha vijana kumi waliochukua slaha za Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumwua.
16 Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them.
Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta na jeshi likarudi kutoka kuwafuatia Israeli, hivyo Yoabu akalirudisha jeshi.
17 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.
Wakamchukua Absalomu na kumtupa katika shimo kubwa msituni; wakaufukia mwili wake chini ya rundo kubwa la mawe, wakati Israeli wote walipokimbia kila mtu nyumbani kwake.
18 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.
Wakati Absalomu alipokuwa yu ngali hai alijijengea nguzo kubwa ya jiwe katika Bonde la Mfalme, kwani alisema, “Sina mwana wa kuchukua kumbukumbu ya jina langu.” Akaiita nguzo kwa jina lake, hivyo inaitwa Mnara wa Absalomu hata leo.
19 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.”
Kisha Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akasema, “Niruhusu niende kwa mfalme na habari njema, jinsi Yahwe alivyomwokoa kutoka mkono wa adui zake.”
20 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.”
Yoabu akamjibu, “Wewe hautakuwa mchukua habari leo; utafanya hivyo siku nyingine. Leo hautachukua habari yoyote kwa maana mwana wa mfalme ameuawa.”
21 So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia Mkushi, “Nenda umwambia mfalme ulichokiona.” Mkushi akamwinamia Yoabu, na kisha akakimbia.
22 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?”
Kisha tena, Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akamwambia Yoabu, “Pamoja na yote yanayoweza kutokea, tafadhari niruhusu nami pia niende nimfuate Mkushi.” Yoabu akajibu, “Mwanangu kwa nini unataka kwenda, hautapata thawabu yoyote kwa ajili ya habari hii?”
23 “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.
“Vyovyote itakavyokuwa niache niende,” Ahimaasi alijibu. Hivyo Yoabu akamjibu, “Nenda.” Ndipo Ahimaasi akakimbia kwa njia ya tambarare na akampita Mkushi.
24 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.
Basi Daudi alikuwa amekaa kati ya lango la ndani na lango la nje. Na mlinzi alikuwa juu ya lango ukutani naye akainua macho yake. Alipokuwa akiangalia, akamwona mtu anakaribia huku akikimbia peke yake.
25 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,
Mlinzi akaita kwa sauti na kumwambia mfalme. Ndipo mfalme akasema, “Ikiwa yupo peke yake ana habari katika kinywa chake.” Mkimbiaji akasogea na kuukaribia mji.
26 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.
Kisha mlinzi akaona mtu mwingine aliyekuwa anakimbia, naye akamwambia bawabu; kusema, “Tazama, kuna mtu mwingine anakimbia peke yake.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye pia analeta habari.”
27 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.”
Ndipo mlinzi akasema, Nadhani kukimbia kwake mtu aliye mbele ni kama kukimbia kwake Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye ni mtu mwema naye anakuja na habari njema.”
28 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.”
Ndipo Ahimaasi akaita na kumwambia mfalme, “Yote ni mema.” Kisha akainama yeye mwenyewe uso wake chini mbele ya mfalme na kusema, Atukuzwe Yahwe Mungu wako, aliyewatoa watu walioinua mkono wao kinyume cha bwana wangu mfalme.”
29 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.”
Hivyo mfalme akauliza, “Je huyo kijana Absalomu hajambo?” Ahimaasi akajibu, “Wakati Yoabu ananituma kwako mfalme, mimi mtumishi wa mfalme, niliona fujo kubwa sana lakini sikutambua ilihusu nini.”
30 “Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” So he stepped aside.
Mfalme akamwambia, “Geuka usimame kando.” Hivyo Ahimaasi akageuka na kusimama.
31 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!”
Mara Mkushi akafika na kusema, “Kuna habari njema kwa bwana wangu mfalme kwa kuwa leo Yahwe amekulipia kisasi kwa wale wote walioinuka kinyume chako.”
32 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.”
Ndipo mfalme akamwuliza, “Je huyo kijana Absalomu ni mzima?” Mkushi akajibu, “Adui wa bwana wangu mfalme na wote wainukao kukudhuru na wawe kama huyo kijana.”
33 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!”
Ndipo mfalme alipohuzunishwa sana naye akaenda chumbani juu ya lango na kulia. Kadili alivyokwenda aliomboleza, mwanangu Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu Absalomu! afadhari ningekufa badala yako, Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu!”
