< 2 Samuel 3 >

1 Now there was a long war between Saul's people and David's people; and David became stronger and stronger, but those on Saul's side became more and more feeble.
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 While David was in Hebron he became the father of sons: the oldest was Amnon, son of 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 And the second, Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom, son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king 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 And the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
wa kana aarĩ Adonija ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Hagithu; wa gatano aarĩ Shefatia ũrĩa waciarĩtwo nĩ Abitali;
5 And the sixth, Ithream, whose mother was David's wife Eglah. These were the sons of David, whose birth took place in Hebron.
na wa gatandatũ aarĩ Ithireamu mũrũ wa Egila mũtumia wa Daudi. Acio nĩo maaciarĩirwo Daudi kũu Hebironi.
6 Now while there was war between Saul's people and David's people, Abner was making himself strong among the supporters 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 Now Saul had among his wives a woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you taken my father's wife?
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 And Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, Am I a dog's head of Judah? I am this day doing all in my power for the cause of your father Saul and for his brothers and his friends, and have not given you up into the hands of David, and now you say I have done wrong with a 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's punishment be on Abner, if I do not for David as the Lord in his oath has said,
Ngai arothũũra, niĩ Abineri, na anjĩke ũũru makĩria, ingĩaga kũhingĩria Daudi ũrĩa Jehova aamwĩrĩire na mwĩhĩtwa,
10 And if I do not take away the kingdom from the family of Saul and make David ruler over Israel and Judah from Dan as far as Beer-sheba!
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 so great was Ish-bosheth's fear of Abner that he was not able to say a word in answer.
Ishi-Boshethu ndaigana kwĩra Abineri ũndũ ũngĩ tondũ nĩamwĩtigĩrĩte.
12 And Abner sent men to David at Hebron, saying, Make an agreement with me, and I will give you my support in getting all Israel on your side.
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 And he said, It is well; I will make an agreement with you, but on one condition, which is, that when you come before me, Saul's daughter Michal is to come with you; till she comes you will not see my face.
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 And David sent men to Saul's son Ish-bosheth, saying, Give me back Michal, my wife, whom I made mine for the price of the private parts of a hundred Philistines.
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 her from her husband Paltiel, the son of Laish.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Ishi-Boshethu agĩathana Mikali agĩĩrwo kuuma kũrĩ mũthuuriwe Palitieli mũrũ wa Laishi.
16 And her husband went with her as far as Bahurim, weeping while he went. Then Abner said to him, Go back. And he went back.
No rĩrĩ, mũthuuriwe, agĩtwarana nake, agĩthiĩ amũrũmĩrĩire akĩrĩraga nginya Bahurimu. Hĩndĩ ĩyo Abineri akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Cooka mũciĩ!” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩcooka mũciĩ.
17 Then Abner had a talk with the chief men of Israel, saying, In the past it was your desire to make David your king: so now, do it:
Nake Abineri akĩaranĩria na athuuri a Isiraeli akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Kwa ihinda nĩmũkoretwo mwĩrirĩirie gũtua Daudi mũthamaki wanyu.
18 For the Lord has said of David, By the hand of my servant David I will make my people Israel safe from the Philistines, and from all who are against them.
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 And Abner said the same things to Benjamin: and he went to David in Hebron to make clear to him what seemed good to Israel and to all the people 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 So Abner, with twenty men, came to Hebron, to David. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
Rĩrĩa Abineri, ũrĩa warĩ na andũ mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ ookire kũrĩ Daudi kũu Hebironi, Daudi akĩmũrugithĩria iruga hamwe na andũ ake.
21 And Abner said to David, Now I will go, and make all Israel come to my lord the king, so that they may make an agreement with you, and your kingdom may be as wide as your heart's desire. Then David sent Abner away 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 Now the servants of David and Joab had been out attacking a band of armed men, and they came back with a great store of goods taken in the fight: but Abner was no longer in Hebron with David, for he had sent him away and he had gone 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 his men came, news was given them that Abner, the son of Ner, had come to the king, who had let him go away again 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 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? when Abner came to you why did you send him away and let him go?
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 Is it not clear to you that Abner, the son of Ner, came with deceit to get knowledge of your going out and your coming in and of all you are doing?
Wee nĩũũĩ atĩ Abineri mũrũ wa Neri egũũkĩte gũkũheenia na gũthigaana mĩthiĩre yaku, na amenye maũndũ marĩa mothe ũreka.”
26 And when Joab had come out from David, he sent men after Abner, and they overtook him at the water-spring of Sirah, and made him come back with them: but David had no knowledge 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 And when Abner was back in Hebron, Joab took him on one side by the doorway of the town to have a word with him quietly, and there he gave him a wound in the stomach, causing his death in payment for the death of his 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 And when David had word of it he said, May I and my kingdom be clear for ever in the eyes of the Lord from the blood of Abner, the 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 come on the head of Joab and all his father's family: among the men of Joab's family may there ever be some who are diseased or lepers, or who do the work of women, or are put to the sword, or are wasted from need of 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 So Joab and Abishai his brother put Abner to death, because he had put to death their brother Asahel in the fight at Gibeon.
(Joabu na Abishai mũrũ wa nyina mooragire Abineri tondũ nĩooragĩte Asaheli mũrũ wa nyina wao mbaara-inĩ kũu Gibeoni.)
31 And David said to Joab and all the people who were with him, Go in grief and put haircloth about you, in sorrow for Abner. And King David went after the dead body.
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 And they put Abner's body to rest in Hebron; and the king and all the people were weeping loudly by the resting-place of Abner's body.
Nao magĩthika Abineri kũu Hebironi, nake mũthamaki akĩrĩra aanĩrĩire hau mbĩrĩra-inĩ ya Abineri. O nao andũ othe makĩrĩra.
33 And the king made a song of grief for Abner and said, Was the death of Abner to be like the death of a foolish man?
Mũthamaki akĩina icakaya rĩĩrĩ nĩ ũndũ wa Abineri: “Abineri nĩaragĩrĩirwo nĩgũkua ta andũ arĩa moinaga watho?
34 Your hands were free, your feet were not chained: like the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. And the weeping of the people over him went on again.
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 And the people came to make David take food, while it was still day, but David with an oath said, May God's punishment be on me if I take a taste of bread or any other thing till the sun has gone down!
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 And all the people took note of it and were pleased: like everything the king did, it was pleasing to the people.
Nao andũ acio othe maakĩona ũrĩa gwathiĩ magĩkena; ti-itherũ, maũndũ mothe marĩa mũthamaki eekire nĩmamakenirie.
37 So it was clear to Israel and to all the people on that day that the king was not responsible for the death of Abner, the 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 And the king said to his servants, Do you not see that a chief and a great man has come to his end 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 While I, though I am crowned king, have little strength, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are out of my control: may the Lord give to the evil-doer the reward of his evil-doing!
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 >