< 2 Samuel 3 >
1 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Impi phakathi kwendlu kaSawuli lendlu kaDavida yathatha isikhathi eside. UDavida wathuthuka elokhu esiba lamandla, kodwa indlu kaSawuli yaqhubeka ilokhu iphela amandla.
2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
UDavida wazala amadodana la eHebhroni: Izibulo lakhe lalingu-Amnoni indodana ka-Ahinowama owaseJezerili;
3 and his second, Daluiah, of Abigail of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
eyesibili kunguKhileyabi indodana ka-Abhigeli umfelokazi kaNabhali waseKhameli; eyesithathu kungu-Abhisalomu indodana kaMahakha indodakazi kaThalimayi inkosi yaseGeshuri;
4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, of Abital;
eyesine kungu-Adonija indodana kaHagithi; eyesihlanu kunguShefathiya indodana ka-Abhithali;
5 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
eyesithupha kungu-Ithireyamu indodana yomkaDavida u-Egila. La uDavida wawazalela eHebhroni.
6 And it came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.
Ngesikhathi sempi phakathi kwendlu kaSawuli lendlu kaDavida, u-Abhineri wayeqinisa isikhundla sakhe endlini kaSawuli.
7 Now Saul had a secondary wife, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal son of Saul said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's secondary wife?"
Kunjalo-nje uSawuli wayekade elomfazi weceleni owayethiwa nguRizipha indodakazi ka-Ayiya. U-Ishi-Bhoshethi wasesithi ku-Abhineri, “Kungani wembathe lomkababa owangaphandle na?”
8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ishbaal, and said, "Am I a dog's head? Until today, is it for myself that I have been doing all these things, showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David? And yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.
U-Abhineri wazonda kakhulu ngenxa yalokho okwatshiwo ngu-Ishi-Bhoshethi, wasephendula esithi, “Kanti ngilikhanda lenja eceleni lakoJuda na? Lanamuhla ngithembekile endlini kayihlo uSawuli lasemulini yakhe lakubangane bakhe. Angikunikelanga kuDavida. Kodwa khathesi usungethesa icala ngowesifazane lo!
9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not do even so to him;
UNkulunkulu kamjezise u-Abhineri ngokunzima kakhulu, nxa uDavida ngingamenzeli lokho uThixo amthembisa khona ngesifungo
10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba."
ngisuse umbuso endlini kaSawuli ngimise isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavida ko-Israyeli lakoJuda kusukela koDani kusiyafika eBherishebha.”
11 And Ishbaal could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
U-Ishi-Bhoshethi kasatshongo elinye ilizwi ku-Abhineri, ngoba wayemesaba.
12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make an agreement with me, and look, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you."
Emva kwalokho u-Abhineri wathuma izithunywa zimele yena ukuba ziyekuthi kuDavida, “Kanti ilizwe ngelikabani na? Yenza isivumelwano lami, mina ngizakusiza ekuletheni u-Israyeli wonke kuwe.”
13 He said, "Good. I will make a covenant with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Mikal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face."
UDavida wathi, “Kulungile, ngizakwenza isivumelwano lawe. Kodwa ngifuna into eyodwa kuwe: Ungezi kimi ngaphandle kokuba uze loMikhali indodakazi kaSawuli lapho usizangibona.”
14 David sent messengers to Ishbaal, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Mikal, whom I betrothed to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines."
UDavida wasethuma izithunywa ku-Ishi-Bhoshethi indodana kaSawuli ebamba ngamandla esithi, “Ngipha umkami uMikhali, engazendisela yena kimi ngentengo yamajwabu emiphambili yamaFilistiya alikhulu.”
15 Ishbaal sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.
Ngakho u-Ishi-Bhoshethi wakhupha imilayo uMikhali wahlubulwa kumkakhe uPhalithiyeli indodana kaLayishi.
16 But her husband went with her, weeping behind her, as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.
Kodwa umkakhe wahamba laye ekhala ngemva kwakhe indlela yonke kusiya eBhahurimi. U-Abhineri wasesithi kuye, “Buyela ekhaya!” Ngakho wabuyela.
17 Abner advised the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time you have wanted David to be king over you.
U-Abhineri wakhuluma labadala bako-Israyeli wathi, “Sekulesikhathi esithile lifuna ukwenza uDavida abe yinkosi yenu.
18 Now then do it, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'"
Khathesi-ke kwenzeni! Ngoba uThixo wathembisa uDavida wathi, ‘Ngenceku yami uDavida ngizahlenga abantu bami u-Israyeli esandleni samaFilistiya lasesandleni sezitha zabo zonke.’”
19 And Abner also spoke privately to the sons of Benjamin. And Abner also spoke privately to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.
U-Abhineri wakhuluma njalo labakoBhenjamini yena ngokwakhe. Emva kwalokho waya eHebhroni ukuyatshela uDavida konke u-Israyeli kanye lendlu yonke kaBhenjamini ababefuna ukukwenza.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
Kwathi u-Abhineri, owayelabantu abangamatshumi amabili, efika kuDavida eHebhroni, uDavida wamenzela idili kanye labantu bakhe.
21 Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he left in peace.
U-Abhineri wasesithi, “Yekela ngihle ngihambe ngiyebuthanisela inkosi, inkosi yami, u-Israyeli wonke, ukuze benze isivumelwano lawe, lokuthi ungabusa konke okufiswa yinhliziyo yakho.” Ngakho uDavida wathi u-Abhineri kahambe, wahamba ngokuthula.
22 Look, the servants of David and Joab were returning from a raid, and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he left in peace.
Khonokho nje abantu bakaDavida loJowabi babuya bevelahlasela njalo beze lempango enengi kakhulu. Kodwa u-Abhineri wayesesukile kuDavida eHebhroni, ngoba uDavida wayethe kahambe, njalo wayehambe ngokuthula.
23 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to David, and he has sent him away, and he left in peace."
Kwathi uJowabi lamabutho wonke ayelaye befika, watshelwa ukuthi u-Abhineri indodana kaNeri wayeze enkosini lokuthi inkosi yayithe kahambe njalo ahambe ngokuthula.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away? Now he has gone.
Ngakho uJowabi waya enkosini wathi, “Kuyini okwenzileyo? Khangela, u-Abhineri ufikile kuwe. Kungani umyekele wahamba? Khathesi usehambile!
25 Don't you know the evil ways of Abner the son of Ner? He came to deceive you and to observe your movements and to learn everything that you are doing."
Uyamazi u-Abhineri indodana kaNeri; ulande ukuzakukhohlisa lokubona ukuhambahamba kwakho kanye lokwazi konke okwenzayo.”
26 When Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.
UJowabi wasuka kuDavida wasethuma izithunywa ukuba zilandele u-Abhineri, njalo zayabuya laye zivela emthonjeni waseSira. Kodwa uDavida kakwazanga lokho.
27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the abdomen, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Khathesi-ke Abhineri, esebuyele eHebhroni, uJowabi wamusa eceleni esangweni, kungani uzakhuluma laye ngasese. Khonapho-ke ukuba aphindisele igazi lomfowabo u-Asaheli, uJowabi wamgwaza esiswini, wafa.
28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD now and forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
Muva, uDavida esekuzwile lokhu, wathi, “Mina lombuso wami kasilacala lanini phambi kukaThixo mayelana legazi lika-Abhineri indodana kaNeri.
29 May it whirl over the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."
Sengathi igazi lakhe lingehlela phezu kwekhanda likaJowabi laphezu kwendlu yonke kayise. Sengathi endlini kaJowabi akungasweleki lanininini omunye olenxeba elibhibhidlayo loba ubulephero, loba edondolozela ngodondolo kumbe obulawa ngenkemba loba oswela ukudla.”
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
(UJowabi lomfowabo u-Abhishayi bambulala u-Abhineri ngoba wayebulele umfowabo u-Asaheli empini eGibhiyoni.)
31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the coffin.
UDavida wasesithi kuJowabi lakubo bonke abantu ababelaye, “Dabulani izigqoko zenu ligqoke amasaka lihambe ngokulila phambi kuka-Abhineri.” Inkosi uDavida yena ngokwakhe wahamba ngemva kwethala lesidumbu.
32 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
U-Abhineri bamgcwaba eHebhroni, njalo inkosi yakhala yaphumisela ethuneni lika-Abhineri. Abantu bonke labo bakhala.
33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
Inkosi yahlabelela u-Abhineri isililo lesi: “U-Abhineri bekumele afe njengokufa kwezixhwali na?
34 Your hands were not bound in chains, your feet were not put into fetters. As a man falls before the ruthless, so you fell." All the people wept again over him.
Izandla zakho kade zingabotshwanga, inyawo zakho zingelamaketane. Ufe ngokubulawa ngabantu ababi.” Abantu bonke bamlilela futhi.
35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down."
Emva kwalokho bonke beza bancenga uDavida ukuba adle okunye nje kusesemini; kodwa uDavida wafunga esithi, “UNkulunkulu kangijezise, kube nzima kakhulu, nxa nginambitha isinkwa loba olunye ulutho ilanga lingakatshoni!”
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased the people.
Abantu bonke bakunanzelela njalo bathaba; impela konke okwenziwa yinkosi kwabathokozisa.
37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
Ngakho ngalelolanga abantu bonke lo-Israyeli wonke bakwazi ukuthi inkosi yayingelasandla ekubulaweni kuka-Abhineri indodana kaNeri.
38 The king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
Inkosi yasisithi ebantwini bayo, “Kaliboni yini ukuthi inkosana lomuntu odumileyo ifile ko-Israyeli lamhla na?
39 I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."
Njalo lamhla, lanxa ngiyinkosi egcotshiweyo, ngibuthakathaka, njalo amadodana kaZeruya la alamandla kakhulu kulami. Sengathi uThixo angaphindisela umenzi wokubi mayelana lezenzo zakhe ezimbi!”