< 2 Samuel 14 >
1 Joab realized that the king yearned [IDM] to see Absalom.
Joab, nwa Zeruaya matara na obi eze dị nʼebe Absalọm nọ.
2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa [town] to bring back a woman who was very clever. [When she arrived, ] Joab said to her, “Pretend that you are grieving because someone has died. Put on clothes that show that you are mourning. Do not put any lotion/ointment on your body. Act as if you are a woman who has been mourning for a long time.
Joab zigara ozi na Tekoa, si nʼebe ahụ kpọta otu nwanyị maara ihe. Mgbe nwanyị ahụ bịaruru, Joab gwara ya sị, “Mee onwe gị dịka onye na-eru ụjụ. Yiri akwa mkpe, etekwala mmanụ otite. Kpaa agwa dịka nwanyị nọ nʼiru ụjụ ogologo oge.
3 And go to the king, and tell him what I tell you to say.” Then Joab told her what to say [MTY] [to the king].
Emesịa, jekwuru eze, gwa ya okwu ndị a m na-agwa gị.” Joab tinyere okwu ndị ahụ nʼọnụ ya.
4 So the woman from Tekoa went to the king. She prostrated herself in front of him and then bowed down to him, and said, “Your Majesty, help me!”
Mgbe nwanyị ahụ si Tekoa gara na nke eze, ọ dara nʼala kpuo ihu ya nʼala ịsọpụrụ eze. Ọ sịrị, “Biko nyere m aka, gị onye a na-asọpụrụ!”
5 The king replied, “What is your problem?” She replied, “Please, sir, I am a widow. My husband died [some time ago].
Eze jụrụ ya ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị bụ mkpa gị?” Ọ zara sị, “Abụ m nwanyị isi mkpe, di m anwụọla.
6 I had two sons. But one day they quarreled with each other out in the fields. There was no one to separate them, and one of them struck the other one and killed him.
Enwere m ụmụ ndị ikom abụọ ndị gara lụọ ọgụ nʼọhịa. Mgbe ha na-alụ ọgụ ahụ, o nweghị onye pụtara gboo ha. Nʼihi ya, otu nʼime ha tigburu ibe ya.
7 Now, all my family oppose me. They are insisting that I allow them to kill my son who is still alive [MTY], in order that they may get revenge for his killing his brother. But if they do that, I will not have any son to inherit [my husband’s possessions]. That would be like [MET] extinguishing the last coals of a fire, and my husband would not have a son to preserve our family’s name. [DOU]”
Ma ugbu a, ndị ikwu di m na-esogbu m na-asị ‘Kpọpụta onye ahụ gburu nwanne ya ka anyị gbuo ya nʼihi ndụ nwanne ya o wepụrụ, ka anyị si otu a memilaa onye nke fọdụrụ ga-erita oke ezinaụlọ.’ Ha chọrọ isi otu a menyụọ icheku ọkụ nke fọdụụrụ m, nke bụ na di m agaghị enwezikwa aha maọbụ onye fọdụụrụ ya nʼelu ụwa.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go back home; I will take care of this matter for you.”
Eze sịrị nwanyị ahụ, “Laa nʼụlọ gị, aga m ahụ na o nweghị onye metụrụ ya aka.”
9 The woman from Tekoa replied to the king, “Your Majesty, if you are criticized [for helping me], my family and I will accept the blame. You and the royal family will (be innocent/not have done what is wrong).”
Ma nwanyị ahụ si Tekoa sịrị ya, “Ka onyenwe m, bụ eze, gbaghara mụ na ezinaụlọ m, ka ikpe ọmụma ọbụla ghara ịdịrị eze na ocheeze ya.”
10 The king said to her, “If anyone says anything [to threaten you/cause you trouble] you, bring that person to me, and [I will make sure that] he will never cause you trouble again.”
Eze zara ya, “Enyela onwe gị nsogbu maka nke ahụ. Ọ bụrụ na onye ọbụla agwa gị okwu ọbụla, kpọtara m ya. Onye dị otu a agaghị enyekwa gị nsogbu ọzọ.”
11 Then the woman said, “Your Majesty, please pray that Yahweh your God will not allow my relative, who [wants to get] revenge on my son for killing [MTY] his brother, to be able to do that.” David replied, “As surely as Yahweh lives, your son will not be harmed at all. [IDM]”
Mgbe ahụ ọ zara, “Biko, ka eze kpọkuo aha Onyenwe anyị Chineke ya ka ọ kwụsị onye na-agwa ọchụ, ka ọ ghara igbu onye ọzọ, ka a gharakwa ịla nwa m nwoke nʼiyi.” Ọ sịrị, “Dịka Onyenwe anyị na-adị ndụ, otu agịrị isi agaghị esi nʼisi nwa gị dapụ nʼala.”
12 Then the woman said, “Your Majesty, please allow me to say one more thing to you.” He replied, “Speak!”
Mgbe ahụ, nwanyị ahụ sịrị, “Biko kwere ka ohu gị nwanyị gwa onyenwe m eze otu mkpụrụ okwu ọzọ.” Ọ sịrị, “Gaa nʼihu kwuo.”
13 The woman said, “Why have you done this bad thing to God’s people? You have not allowed your son Absalom to return home. By saying what you have just said, you have certainly declared [RHQ] that what you have done is wrong.
Nwanyị ahụ sịrị, “Ọ bụ nʼihi gịnị ka ị chere ihe dị otu a megide ndị nke Chineke? Mgbe eze na-ekwu otu a, ọ bụ na ọ dịghị ama onwe ya ikpe, nʼihi na eze a jụla ịkpọghachi nwa ya a chụpụrụ achụpụ?
14 We all die; we are like [SIM] water that cannot be picked up after it is spilled on the ground. But God does not just cause us to die; he creates ways to bring us back when we become separated from him.
Anyị niile ga-anwụ. Anyị dịkwa ka mmiri a wụsara nʼala, nke a na-apụghị ịchịkọtakwa ọzọ. Ma Chineke adịghị anapụ mmadụ ndụ ya, ma ọ na-emeghepụ ụzọ ga-eme ka onye ọ chụpụrụ achụpụ lọghachikwutekwa ya.
15 “Now, Your Majesty, I have come to you because others have threatened me. So I said to myself, ‘I will go and talk to the king, and perhaps he will do what I request him to do.
“Ma ugbu a, ebe m bịara ịgwa onyenwe m bụ eze, okwu a, nʼihi na ndị mmadụ emenyela m egwu. Ohu gị chere nʼobi ya, ‘Aga m agwa eze okwu; ma eleghị anya, ọ ga-emezuru ohu ya nwanyị ihe ọ rịọrọ.
16 Perhaps he will listen to me, and save me from the man who is trying to kill my son. If my son is killed, it would result in us disappearing from the land that God gave to us.’
Ma eleghị anya eze ga-anapụta ohu ya nwanyị site nʼaka nwoke ahụ na-agbalị ibipụ mụ na nwa m nwoke site nʼihe nketa nke Chineke.’
17 “And I thought, ‘What the king says will comfort/encourage me, because the king is like [SIM] an angel of God. He knows what is good and what is evil.’ I pray/desire that Yahweh our God will (be with/direct) you.”
“Ugbu a, ohu gị nwanyị na-asị, ‘Ka okwu onyenwe m eze kwuru wetara m izuike, nʼihi onyenwe m eze na-enyochapụta ihe ọma maọbụ ihe ọjọọ dịka mmụọ ozi Chineke. Ka Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị nọnyere gị.’”
18 Then the king said to the woman, “I will now ask you a question. Answer it, and tell me the truth. [LIT]” The woman replied, “Your majesty, ask your question.”
Mgbe ahụ, eze gwara nwanyị ahụ okwu sị, “Achọrọ m ka ị gwa m eziokwu nʼajụjụ a m na-aga ịjụ gị.” Nwanyị ahụ zara sị, “Ka onyenwe m, bụ eze kwuo ihe dị ya nʼobi.”
19 The king said, “Was Joab the one who told you to do this?” She replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, as surely as you live, I cannot avoid telling you what is true. Yes, indeed, it was Joab who told me to come here, and who told me what to say.
Devid jụrụ ya sị, “Aka Joab ọ dị nʼokwu ndị a niile?” Nwanyị ahụ zara sị ya, “Dịka ị na-adị ndụ, onyenwe m, bụ eze, ọ dịghị onye ọbụla ga-esi nʼihe onyenwe m bụ eze kwuru, chee ihu nʼaka nri maọbụ nʼaka ekpe. E, ọ bụ ohu gị Joab nyere m iwu ime nke a, ya gwakwara ohu gị nwanyị okwu niile ndị a.
20 He did it in order to cause you to think differently about this matter. Your Majesty, you are as wise as God’s angels, and [it seems that] you know everything [that happens] on the earth, [so you know why Joab sent me here].”
Ohu gị bụ Joab mere ihe a ka ọ gbanwee otu ọnọdụ ihe dị ugbu a. Onyenwe m nwere amamihe dịka ndị mmụọ ozi Chineke. Ọ maakwara ihe niile na-eme nʼala.”
21 Then the king [summoned] Joab [and] said to him, “Listen! I have decided to do [what you want]. So go and get that young man Absalom and bring him back [to Jerusalem].”
Eze sịrị Joab, “Ọ dị mma, aga m eme ya. Gaa kpọghachite nwokorobịa ahụ bụ Absalọm.”
22 Joab prostrated himself on the ground, and then he bowed down before the king, and [asked God to] bless him. Then Joab said, “Your Majesty, today I know that you are pleased with me, because you have agreed to do what I requested.”
Joab dara nʼala kpuo ihu ya nʼala, kpọọ isiala, gọzie eze. Joab sịrị, “Taa ka ohu gị maara na ahụtala m amara nʼihu gị, onyenwe m bụ eze, nʼihi na eze e merela ohu ya ihe ọ rịọrọ.”
23 Then Joab got up and went to Geshur, and got Absalom and brought him back to Jerusalem.
Joab biliri gaa Geshua, kpọlata Absalọm na Jerusalem.
24 But the king said/commanded that Absalom would not be permitted to live in the palace. He said, “I do not want him to come to see me.” So Absalom lived in his own house, and did not go to [talk to] the king.
Mgbe ha bịaruru, eze gwara Joab okwu sị, “Gwa ya ka ọ laa nʼụlọ ya. Ọ gaghị abịa nʼihu m, nʼihi na-achọghị m ịhụ ya anya.” Ya mere, Absalọm lara nʼụlọ ya. Ọ hụkwaghị eze anya.
25 Absalom was very handsome. He looked perfect, from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. In all of Israel there was no one whom people admired more than Absalom.
Ọ dịghị nwoke mara mma dịka Absalọm nʼala Izrel niile. Ọ dịkwaghị onye na-adịghị ekwu okwu banyere ịma mma ya. Nʼihi na ntụpọ ọbụla adịghị ya nʼahụ site nʼopi isi ya ruo nʼọbọ ụkwụ ya.
26 His hair was very thick, and he cut it only once each year, when it became too heavy for him. Using the standard weights, he would weigh the hair [that he cut off], and it always weighed about five pounds.
Mgbe ọbụla ọ kpụchara ntutu isi ya, nʼihi na ọ bụ otu ugboro nʼafọ ka ọ na-akpụcha agịrị isi mgbe o bidoro ịnyị ya arọ. Ọ na-atụ agịrị isi a na-akpụchapụta ya nʼisi, ịdị arọ ya na-eru narị shekel abụọ ma a tụọ ya nʼihe ọtụtụ eze.
27 Absalom had three sons and one daughter named Tamar. She was a very beautiful woman.
Absalọm mụtara ụmụ ndị ikom atọ, na otu nwanyị, aha ya bụ Tama. Nwaagbọghọ a mara mma nke ukwuu.
28 [After] Absalom [returned to] Jerusalem, he lived there two years, and during that time he never [was allowed to] see the king.
Mgbe Absalọm nọrọ afọ abụọ na Jerusalem na-ahụghị eze anya,
29 So he sent [a messenger] to Joab to ask him to come [and talk to him], but Joab refused to come. So Absalom sent [a message to him] a second time, but he still would not come.
o ziri ozi ka Joab bịa, ka ọ gaa ziere ya eze ozi, ma Joab abịaghị. Absalọm zigakwara ozi ọzọ ka ọ bịa ma Joab ekweghị ịbịa.
30 Then Absalom said to his servants, “You know that Joab’s field is next to mine, and that he has barley [growing] there. Go and light a fire there [to burn his barley].” So Absalom’s servants [went there and] lit a fire, [and all his barley burned].
Nʼikpeazụ, Absalọm gwara ndị na-ejere ya ozi okwu sị ha, “Gaanụ sunye ubi ọka balị Joab dị nʼakụkụ nke m ọkụ.” Ha mekwara dịka a gwara ha.
31 Joab [knew who had done it, so he] went to Absalom’s house and said to him, “Why have your servants burned [the barley in] my field?”
Mgbe ahụ, Joab biliri jee nʼụlọ Absalọm, ma sị ya, “Gịnị mere ndị na-ejere gị ozi ji gbaa ubi m ọkụ?”
32 Absalom replied, “Because [you did not come to me when] I sent messages to you [requesting that you come]. I wanted to request that you go to the king to say to him, ‘Absalom (wants to know what good it did/says that is was useless) [RHQ] for him [RHQ] to leave Geshur and come here. [He thinks that] it would have been better for him to have stayed there. [He wants you to] allow him to talk to you. And if you think that he has done something that is wrong, you can [command that] he be executed.’”
Absalọm sịrị ya, “Lee ezitere m gị ozi, sị, ‘Bịa nʼebe a ka m ziga gị na nke eze ka ị jụta, “Nʼihi gịnị ka m ji site na Geshua lọghachita? Ọ gara a kara m mma ma a sị na m nọ nʼebe ahụ ruo ugbu a.”’ Ugbu a, achọrọ m ka mụ hụ ihu eze, ọ bụrụ na onwe ajọ omume dị nʼime m, ya mee ka m nwụọ.”
33 So Joab went to the king, and told him [what Absalom had said]. Then the king [summoned Absalom], and he came to the king and knelt down in front of him with his face touching the ground. Then the king kissed Absalom [to show that he was pleased to see him].
Joab gakwuru eze, gwa ya ihe Absalọm kwuru. Mgbe ahụ, eze kpọrọ Absalọm, onye batara ma kpọọ isiala nʼihu eze. Eze sutukwara ya ọnụ.