< 2 Samuel 3 >

1 Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Na rĩrĩ, mbaara gatagatĩ ka nyũmba ya Saũlũ na nyũmba ya Daudi nĩyatũũrire ihinda iraaya. Daudi agĩkĩrĩrĩria kũgĩa hinya; nayo nyũmba ya Saũlũ ĩgĩkĩrĩrĩria kwaga hinya.
2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
Nake Daudi nĩagĩire na ciana cia aanake arĩ kũu Hebironi: Mũriũ wake wa irigithathi eetagwo Amunoni ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Ahinoamu ũrĩa Mũjezireeli;
3 his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
Mũriũ wa keerĩ eetagwo Kileabu ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Abigaili ũrĩa warĩ mũtumia wa ndigwa wa Nabali ũrĩa Mũkarimeli; na wa gatatũ aarĩ Abisalomu ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Maaka mwarĩ wa Talimai mũthamaki wa Geshuru;
4 his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
wa kana aarĩ Adonija ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Hagithu; wa gatano aarĩ Shefatia ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Abitali;
5 and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
na wa gatandatũ aarĩ Ithireamu mũrũ wa Egila mũtumia wa Daudi. Acio nĩo maaciarĩirwo Daudi kũu Hebironi.
6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.
Hĩndĩ ya mbaara ya nyũmba ya Saũlũ na nyũmba ya Daudi, Abineri no kũgĩa aagĩaga na hinya arĩ thĩinĩ wa nyũmba ya Saũlũ.
7 Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
Na rĩrĩ, Saũlũ nĩ arĩ na thuriya yetagwo Rizipa mwarĩ wa Aia. Nake Ishi-Boshethu akĩũria Abineri atĩrĩ, “Wakomire na thuriya ya baba nĩkĩ?”
8 Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
Abineri nĩarakarire mũno tondũ wa kwĩrwo ũguo nĩ Ishi-Boshethu, nake akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Kaĩ ndĩkĩrĩ mũtwe wa ngui mwena-inĩ wa Juda? Ũmũthĩ ũyũ niĩ ndĩ rũmwe na nyũmba ya thoguo Saũlũ na andũ a nyũmba yake na arata. Niĩ ndirĩ ndaamũneana kũrĩ Daudi. No rĩu ũranjĩĩra atĩ nĩhĩtĩtie ihĩtia ũhoro-inĩ ũkoniĩ mũndũ-wa-nja ũyũ!
9 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
Ngai arothũũra, niĩ Abineri, na anjĩke ũũru makĩria, ingĩaga kũhingĩria Daudi ũrĩa Jehova aamwĩrĩire na mwĩhĩtwa,
10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
na ndute ũthamaki nyũmba-inĩ ya Saũlũ, na ndũgamie gĩtĩ kĩa Daudi kĩa ũnene igũrũ wa Isiraeli na Juda, kuuma Dani nginya Birishiba.”
11 And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
Ishi-Boshethu ndaigana kwĩra Abineri ũndũ ũngĩ tondũ nĩamwĩtigĩrĩte.
12 Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
Ningĩ Abineri agĩtũma andũ kũrĩ Daudi makamwĩre atĩrĩ, “Bũrũri ũyũ nĩ waũ? Nĩtũgĩe na kĩrĩkanĩro nawe, na nĩngũgũteithia ngũrehere andũ a Isiraeli othe mwena waku.”
13 “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
Nake Daudi akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũguo nĩ wega. Nĩtũkũgĩa na kĩrĩkanĩro nawe. No nĩ harĩ ũndũ ũmwe ngwenda wĩke: ndũkanooke mbere yakwa angĩkorwo ndũkarehe Mikali mwarĩ wa Saũlũ hĩndĩ ĩrĩa ũgooka kũnyona.”
14 Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
Ningĩ Daudi agĩtũma andũ kũrĩ Ishi-Boshethu mũrũ wa Saũlũ makamwĩre atĩrĩ, “Nengera mũtumia wakwa Mikali, ũrĩa ndagũrire na ikonde igana rĩmwe cia Afilisti.”
15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Ishi-Boshethu agĩathana Mikali agĩĩrwo kuuma kũrĩ mũthuuriwe Palitieli mũrũ wa Laishi.
16 Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
No rĩrĩ, mũthuuriwe, agĩtwarana nake, agĩthiĩ amũrũmĩrĩire akĩrĩraga nginya Bahurimu. Hĩndĩ ĩyo Abineri akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Cooka mũciĩ!” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩcooka mũciĩ.
17 Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.
Nake Abineri akĩaranĩria na athuuri a Isiraeli akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Kwa ihinda nĩmũkoretwo mwĩrirĩirie gũtua Daudi mũthamaki wanyu.
18 Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
Mũtigĩĩke ũguo rĩu! Nĩgũkorwo Jehova nĩerire Daudi atĩrĩ, ‘Na ũndũ wa ndungata yakwa Daudi nĩngahonokia andũ akwa a Isiraeli kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa Afilisti na kuuma guoko-inĩ gwa thũ ciao ciothe.’”
19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
Nake Abineri nĩacookire akĩaranĩria na andũ a Benjamini. Agĩcooka agĩthiĩ Hebironi akeere Daudi maũndũ mothe marĩa Isiraeli na nyũmba yothe ya Benjamini meendaga gwĩka.
20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
Rĩrĩa Abineri, ũrĩa warĩ na andũ mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ ookire kũrĩ Daudi kũu Hebironi, Daudi akĩmũrugithĩria iruga hamwe na andũ ake.
21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Abineri akĩĩra Daudi atĩrĩ, “Reke thiĩ o ro rĩu ngacookanĩrĩrie andũ a Isiraeli othe nĩ ũndũ wa mũthamaki mwathi wakwa, nĩgeetha marĩkanĩre nawe, na nĩguo ũthamakagĩre o kũrĩa guothe ngoro yaku ĩĩrirĩirie.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Daudi agĩtũma Abineri athiĩ, nake agĩthiĩ na thayũ.
22 Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace.
Hĩndĩ o ĩyo andũ a Daudi, na Joabu magĩcooka kuuma mbaara-inĩ, na magĩũka na indo nyingĩ iria maatahĩte. No Abineri ndaarĩ hamwe na Daudi kũu Hebironi, tondũ Daudi nĩamwĩrĩte athiĩ, nake agĩthiĩ na thayũ.
23 When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
Rĩrĩa Joabu na thigari ciothe iria ciarĩ hamwe nake maakinyire-rĩ, akĩĩrwo atĩ Abineri mũrũ wa Neri nĩokĩte kũrĩ mũthamaki, na atĩ mũthamaki nĩarekire athiĩ, nake agĩthiĩ na thayũ.
24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Joabu agĩthiĩ kũrĩ mũthamaki akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Nĩ atĩa ũguo weka? Ta kĩone, Abineri nĩokire kũrĩ wee. Ũrekire athiĩ nĩkĩ? Rĩu nĩagĩthiire!
25 Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”
Wee nĩũũĩ atĩ Abineri mũrũ wa Neri egũũkĩte gũkũheenia na gũthigaana mĩthiĩre yaku, na amenye maũndũ marĩa mothe ũreka.”
26 As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.
Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Joabu oimire harĩ Daudi, agĩtũma andũ makinyĩre Abineri, nao makĩmũcookia kuuma gĩthima-inĩ gĩa Sira. No Daudi ndaigana kũmenya ũhoro ũcio.
27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
Na rĩrĩ, rĩrĩa Abineri aacookire Hebironi, Joabu akĩmũtwara keheri-inĩ kĩhingo-inĩ, ta ekwenda kwaria nake na hitho. Na marĩ hau, akĩmũtheeca nda agĩkua, nĩguo arĩhĩrie thakame ya mũrũ wa nyina Asaheli.
28 Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
Thuutha ũcio, rĩrĩa Daudi aiguire ũhoro ũcio, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Niĩ na ũthamaki wakwa tũtirĩ na ihĩtia nginya tene mbere ya Jehova ũhoro-inĩ wa thakame ya Abineri mũrũ wa Neri.
29 May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
Thakame yake ĩrocookerera Joabu na nyũmba ya ithe yothe! Nayo nyũmba ya Joabu ndĩkanaage mũndũ ũmwe ũrĩ na kĩronda gĩkuura thakame, kana mangũ, kana mũndũ ũrĩthiiaga na mĩtĩ, kana mũndũ ũũragĩtwo na rũhiũ rwa njora, kana mũndũ wagĩte irio.”
30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
(Joabu na Abishai mũrũ wa nyina mooragire Abineri tondũ nĩooragĩte Asaheli mũrũ wa nyina wao mbaara-inĩ kũu Gibeoni.)
31 Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo Daudi akĩĩra Joabu na andũ othe arĩa aarĩ nao atĩrĩ, “Tembũrangai nguo cianyu na mwĩhumbe makũnia, na mũthiĩ mũgĩcakayaga mbere ya Abineri.” Nake Daudi ũcio mũthamaki agĩthiĩ arũmĩrĩire ndayaya ĩrĩa yakuuĩte kĩimba.
32 When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.
Nao magĩthika Abineri kũu Hebironi, nake mũthamaki akĩrĩra aanĩrĩire hau mbĩrĩra-inĩ ya Abineri. O nao andũ othe makĩrĩra.
33 And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?
Mũthamaki akĩina icakaya rĩĩrĩ nĩ ũndũ wa Abineri: “Abineri nĩaragĩrĩirwo nĩgũkua ta andũ arĩa moinaga watho?
34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.
Moko maku matiarĩ moohe, namo magũrũ maku matiarĩ moohe na nyororo. Wagũire o ta mũndũ ũrĩa ũgũũaga mbere ya andũ arĩa aaganu.” Nao andũ othe makĩrĩra rĩngĩ nĩ ũndũ wake.
35 Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
Ningĩ andũ othe magĩũka na makĩringĩrĩria Daudi arĩe irio gũtanatuka, no Daudi akĩĩhĩta na mwĩhĩtwa, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ngai arothũũra, o na anjĩke ũũru makĩria, ingĩcama irio kana kĩndũ kĩngĩ riũa rĩtanathũa!”
36 All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
Nao andũ acio othe maakĩona ũrĩa gwathiĩ magĩkena; ti-itherũ, maũndũ mothe marĩa mũthamaki eekire nĩmamakenirie.
37 So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ othe na Isiraeli guothe makĩmenya mũthenya ũcio atĩ mũthamaki ndaarĩ na itemi ũhoro-inĩ wa gĩkuũ kĩa Abineri mũrũ wa Neri.
38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?
Ningĩ mũthamaki akĩĩra andũ ake atĩrĩ, “Kaĩ mũtaramenya atĩ mũndũ mũnene na ũrĩ igweta mũno nĩarĩkĩtie gũkua ũmũthĩ thĩinĩ wa Isiraeli?
39 And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”
Na rĩrĩ, ũmũthĩ, o na gũkorwo ndĩmũitĩrĩrie maguta nduĩke mũthamaki, ndirĩ na hinya, nao ariũ aya a Zeruia marĩ na hinya mũno kũngĩra. Jehova arorĩhia mwĩki ũũru kũringana na ciĩko ciake njũru!”

< 2 Samuel 3 >