< 2 Samuel 3 >

1 And the war lasted a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker and weaker.
Vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi vilidumu kwa muda mrefu. Daudi akaendelea kuwa imara zaidi na zaidi, wakati nyumba ya Sauli iliendelea kudhoofika zaidi na zaidi.
2 And there were born unto David sons in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Achino'am the Yizre'elitess;
Wana walizaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni: Mzaliwa wake wa kwanza alikuwa Amnoni mwana wa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli;
3 And his second was Kilab, of Abigayil the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Abshalom, the son of Ma'achah the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur;
mzaliwa wake wa pili alikuwa Danieli mwana wa Abigaili, mjane wa Nabali wa Karmeli; wa tatu, Absalomu mwana wa Maaka, binti Talmai mfalme wa Geshuri;
4 And the fourth, Adoniyah, the son of Chaggith; and the fifth, Shephatyah, the son of Abital;
wa nne, Adoniya mwana wa Hagithi; wa tano, Shefatia mwana wa Abitali;
5 And the sixth, Yithre'am, by 'Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
wa sita, Ithreamu mwana wa Egla, mkewe Daudi. Hawa ndio waliozaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni.
6 And it came to pass, while the war lasted between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner upheld with all his strength the house of Saul.
Wakati wa vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi, Abneri alikuwa anajiimarisha katika nafasi yake kwenye nyumba ya Sauli.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ayah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
Basi Sauli alikuwa amekuwa na suria, jina lake Rispa binti wa Aiya. Naye Ish-Boshethi akamwambia Abneri, “Kwa nini umekutana kimwili na suria wa baba yangu?”
8 And Abner became very wroth because of the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I the chief of the dogs which belong to Judah? unto this day have I shown kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me today with a wrong committed with this woman?
Abneri akakasirika sana kwa sababu ya kile Ish-Boshethi alichosema, naye akamjibu, “Je, mimi ni kichwa cha mbwa, kwa upande wa Yuda? Siku hii ya leo mimi ni mtiifu kwa nyumba ya baba yako Sauli, kwa jamaa yake na rafiki zake. Sijakukabidhi kwa Daudi, lakini bado unanilaumu kwa kosa la kuhusika na huyu mwanamke!
9 May God do so to Abner, and continue to do yet more to him, that, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so will I surely do to him;
Mungu na amshughulikie Abneri, tena kwa ukali, ikiwa sitafanya kwa ajili ya Daudi kile Bwana alichomwahidi kwa kiapo,
10 To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba'.
na kuuhamisha ufalme kutoka kwenye nyumba ya Sauli na kuimarisha kiti cha ufalme cha Daudi juu ya Israeli na Yuda kuanzia Dani mpaka Beer-Sheba.”
11 And he could not answer Abner a word more in reply, because of his fear of him.
Ish-Boshethi hakuthubutu kusema neno jingine kwa Abneri, kwa sababu alimwogopa Abneri.
12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also, ] Make thy covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.
Ndipo Abneri akatuma wajumbe kwa niaba yake kwa Daudi, kumwambia, “Nchi hii ni ya nani? Fanya mapatano na mimi, nami nitakusaidia kuiweka Israeli yote juu yako.”
13 And he said, Well: I will indeed make a covenant with thee; but one thing I require of thee, namely, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
Daudi akasema, “Vyema, nitafanya mapatano nawe. Lakini nahitaji jambo moja kwako: Usije mbele yangu mpaka umemleta Mikali binti Sauli wakati utakapokuja kuniona.”
14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, saying, Give up to me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
Kisha Daudi akapeleka wajumbe kwa Ish-Boshethi mwana wa Sauli, kudai, “Nipe Mikali mke wangu, ambaye nilimposa mwenyewe kwa mahari ya magovi 100 ya Wafilisti.”
15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from the man, from Paltiel the son of Layish.
Kwa hiyo Ish-Boshethi akatoa amri kwamba Mikali achukuliwe kutoka kwa Paltieli mumewe, mwana wa Laishi.
16 And her husband went with her going along and weeping behind her as far as Bachurim: when Abner said unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
Hata hivyo, mumewe alikwenda pamoja naye, akilia nyuma ya mkewe njia yote hadi Bahurimu. Ndipo Abneri akamwambia Paltieli, “Rudi nyumbani!” Kwa hiyo akarudi.
17 And Abner had used these words with the elders of Israel, saying, Already yesterday and even before ye have been desiring David as king over you:
Abneri akafanya shauri pamoja na wazee wa Israeli, akasema, “Muda mrefu mmetaka kumfanya Daudi mfalme wenu.
18 And now do it; for the Lord hath said of David thus, By the hand of my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
Sasa fanyeni hivyo! Kwa maana Bwana alimwahidi Daudi akisema, ‘Kwa kupitia Daudi mtumishi wangu nitawaokoa watu wangu Israeli kutoka mikononi mwa Wafilisti na kutoka mikononi mwa adui zako wote.’”
19 And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of the whole house of Benjamin.
Pia Abneri mwenyewe akazungumza na kabila la Benyamini. Kisha akaenda mpaka Hebroni kumwambia Daudi kila kitu ambacho Israeli na nyumba yote ya Benyamini walichotaka kufanya.
20 And Abner came to David to Hebron, and with him were twenty men; and David made for Abner and for the men that were with him a feast.
Wakati Abneri aliyekuwa na watu ishirini pamoja naye, alipokuja kwa Daudi huko Hebroni, Daudi akamwandalia karamu pamoja na watu wake.
21 And Abner said unto David, I will now arise and go, and I will assemble unto my Lord the king all Israel, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul longeth for. And David dismissed Abner: and he went in peace.
Ndipo Abneri akamwambia Daudi, “Niache niende mara moja nikakusanye Israeli yote kwa ajili ya mfalme bwana wangu, ili waweze kufanya mapatano na wewe, ili kwamba uweze kutawala juu ya yote yale ambayo moyo wako unaonea shauku.” Basi Daudi akamuaga Abneri, naye akaenda kwa amani.
22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a predatory excursion, and brought in much booty with them; but Abner was no more with David in Hebron; for he had dismissed him, and he was gone in peace.
Wakati huo huo, watu wa Daudi na Yoabu walirudi kutoka kwenye kushambulia, nao wakarudi na nyara nyingi mno. Lakini Abneri hakuwa tena pamoja na Daudi huko Hebroni, kwa sababu Daudi alikuwa amemruhusu aende zake, naye akaenda kwa amani.
23 When Joab and all the army that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath dismissed him, and he is gone in peace.
Yoabu na askari wote aliokuwa nao walipowasili, aliambiwa kwamba Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuwa amekuja kwa mfalme na kwamba mfalme alikuwa amemruhusu aende zake, na kwamba alikwisha ondoka kwa amani.
24 Then came Joab to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee: why is it that thou hast dismissed him, that he went freely away?
Basi Yoabu alikwenda kwa mfalme na kumwambia, “Ni nini hiki ulichofanya? Tazama, Abneri alikuja kwako. Kwa nini ukamwacha aende? Sasa amekwenda!
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that to deceive thee did he come, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.
Wajua Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kukudanganya na kuchunguza nyendo zako na kupata kila kitu unachokifanya.”
26 And Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David knew it not.
Ndipo Yoabu akamwacha Daudi na kutuma wajumbe wamfuate Abneri, nao wakamrudisha kutoka kisima cha Sira. Lakini Daudi hakufahamu jambo hili.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him in private; and he smote him there under the fifth rib, and he died, for the blood of 'Asahel his brother.
Basi Abneri aliporudi Hebroni, Yoabu akamchukua kando ndani ya lango, kama vile kuzungumza naye faraghani. Ili kulipiza kisasi damu ya nduguye Asaheli, Yoabu akamchoma mkuki tumboni palepale, naye akafa.
28 And when David heard it afterward, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
Baadaye, Daudi aliposikia kuhusu jambo hili, akasema, “Mimi na ufalme wangu kamwe hatuna hatia mbele za Bwana kuhusu damu ya Abneri mwana wa Neri.
29 May it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a crutch, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.
Damu yake na iwe juu ya kichwa cha Yoabu na juu ya nyumba yote ya baba yake! Kamwe asikosekane yeyote katika nyumba ya Yoabu mwenye kidonda chenye usaha, au ukoma au mwenye kuegemea fimbo au aangukaye kwa upanga au kupungukiwa na chakula.”
30 But Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother 'Asahel at Gib'on in the battle.
(Yoabu na Abishai ndugu yake walimuua Abneri kwa sababu alikuwa amemuua Asaheli ndugu yao katika vita huko Gibeoni.)
31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and [go] mourning before Abner. And king David walked behind the bier.
Kisha Daudi akamwambia Yoabu na watu wote aliokuwa pamoja nao, “Rarueni nguo zenu na mvae nguo za gunia na mtembee mkiomboleza mbele ya Abneri.” Mfalme Daudi mwenyewe akatembea nyuma ya jeneza.
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
Wakamzika Abneri huko Hebroni, naye mfalme akalia kwa sauti kwenye kaburi la Abneri. Pia watu wote wakalia.
33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, O, that Abner had to die, as the worthless dieth!
Mfalme akaimba ombolezo hili kwa ajili ya Abneri: “Je, ilipasa Abneri afe kama afavyo mpumbavu?
34 Thy hands were not bound, and thy feet were not put into fetters: as one falleth before men of wickedness art thou fallen. And all the people wept again over him.
Mikono yako haikufungwa, miguu yako haikufungwa pingu. Ulianguka kama yeye aangukaye mbele ya watu waovu.” Nao watu wote wakamlilia tena.
35 And all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and thus may he continue, if before the sun be down I taste bread, or the least else.
Kisha watu wote wakaja kumsihi Daudi ale chochote kulipokuwa kungali bado mchana; lakini Daudi akaapa, akisema, “Mungu na anishughulikie, tena kwa ukali, kama nikionja mkate au kitu kingine chochote kabla ya jua kutua!”
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it was pleasing in their eyes: as whatsoever the king did was pleasing in the eyes of all the people.
Watu wote wakaona hilo nao ikawapendeza; naam, kila kitu mfalme alichofanya kiliwapendeza.
37 And all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
Kwa hiyo siku ile watu wote na Israeli yote wakajua kwamba mfalme hakushiriki katika mauaji ya Abneri mwana wa Neri.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that a prince and a great man hath fallen this day in Israel?
Kisha mfalme akawaambia watu wake, “Je, hamfahamu kwamba mkuu na mtu mashuhuri ameanguka katika Israeli leo?
39 And I am this day yet weak, and just anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruyah, are too strong for me: may the Lord pay the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
Nami leo ingawa ni mfalme mpakwa mafuta, mimi ni dhaifu, nao hawa wana wa Seruya wananizidi nguvu. Bwana na amlipize mtenda maovu sawasawa na matendo yake maovu!”

< 2 Samuel 3 >