2 Samũeli 15
1 Na rĩrĩ, thuutha wa maũndũ macio, Abisalomu agĩĩthondekera ngaari cia ita na mbarathi, na andũ mĩrongo ĩtano a gũthiiaga mbere yake matengʼerete.
Some time later, Absalom acquired a chariot and horses [to pull it]. He [hired] 50 men to run in front of him [to honor him while he was riding around Jerusalem in the chariot].
2 Nake ookĩraga rũciinĩ tene akarũgama mũkĩra-inĩ wa njĩra ĩrĩa yathiiaga kĩhingo-inĩ gĩa itũũra rĩrĩa inene. Na rĩrĩa mũndũ o wothe ooka arĩ na mateta ma gũtwarĩra mũthamaki nĩguo atue itua-rĩ, Abisalomu akamwĩta, akamũũria atĩrĩ, “Uumĩte itũũra rĩrĩkũ?” Nake akamũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Ndungata yaku yumĩte mũhĩrĩga-inĩ ũmwe wa Isiraeli.”
Furthermore, he always rose early [each morning] and stood by the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute/quarrel that he wanted the king to decide, Absalom would call out to him, asking “What city are you from?” When the person told him what [city and] tribe he was from,
3 Ningĩ Abisalomu akamwĩra atĩrĩ, “Atĩrĩrĩ mateta maku nĩ ma kĩhooto na nĩ magĩrĩire, no gũtirĩ mũndũ ũthuurĩtwo wa kũrũgamĩrĩra mũthamaki ũngĩgũthikĩrĩria.”
Absalom would say to him, “Listen, [I am sure that] what you are saying/claiming is right. But there is no one whom the king has appointed/authorized to listen to [people like] you.”
4 Ningĩ Abisalomu akamwĩra atĩrĩ, “Naarĩ korwo ndaatuuo mũciiri wa bũrũri ũyũ! Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũndũ o wothe ũrĩ na mateta kana ciira no ooke kũrĩ niĩ, na niĩ ngatigĩrĩra ciira wake nĩwatuuo na kĩhooto.”
Absalom would then add, “I wish that I were a judge in this land. If I were a judge, anyone who had a dispute could come to me, and I would decide it fairly/justly.”
5 Ningĩ hĩndĩ ciothe rĩrĩa mũndũ wothe amũkuhĩrĩria ainamĩrĩre mbere yake, Abisalomu agatambũrũkia guoko, akamũhĩmbĩria na akamũmumunya.
And whenever anyone came near to Absalom to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and embrace him and kiss him.
6 Abisalomu ekaga ũguo kũrĩ andũ othe a Isiraeli arĩa mookaga kũrĩ mũthamaki gũcaria kĩhooto, na nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩguucĩrĩria ngoro cia andũ a Isiraeli.
Absalom did this to everyone in Israel who came to the king because of having a dispute with someone. In that way, Absalom persuaded all the Israeli people to be more pleased with him [IDM] [than they were pleased with David].
7 Na rĩrĩ, mĩaka ĩna yathira, Abisalomu akĩĩra mũthamaki atĩrĩ, “Njĩtĩkĩria thiĩ Hebironi nĩgeetha ngahingie mwĩhĩtwa ũrĩa ndeehĩtire harĩ Jehova.
Four years later, Absalom [went to] the king and said, “Please allow me to go to Hebron [city], in order that I can do what I promised Yahweh that I would do.
8 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa ndungata yaku yatũũraga Geshuru kũu Suriata, nĩndehĩtire na mwĩhĩtwa ngiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Jehova angĩkanjookia Jerusalemu, nĩngamũhooya ndĩ kũu Hebironi.’”
When I was living in Geshur, in Syria, I promised Yahweh that if he brought me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him [in Hebron].”
9 Nake mũthamaki akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ na thayũ.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Abisalomu agĩthiĩ Hebironi.
The king replied, “You may go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.
10 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Abisalomu agĩtũma andũ na hitho mĩhĩrĩga-inĩ yothe ya Isiraeli makoige atĩrĩ, “Rĩrĩa mũrĩigua tũrumbeta twahuhwo, hĩndĩ ĩyo muuge atĩrĩ, ‘Abisalomu nĩwe mũthamaki wa Hebironi.’”
But [while he was there, ] he secretly sent messengers to all the tribes in Israel, to tell them, “When you hear the sound of the trumpets [being blown], shout ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”
11 Andũ magana meerĩ kuuma Jerusalemu nĩo maathiĩte hamwe na Abisalomu. Meetĩtwo marĩ ageni, na magĩthiĩ matekũmenya nĩ ũũru meekaga, matirĩ ũndũ maamenyaga ũhoro-inĩ ũcio.
Absalom had taken with him to Hebron 200 men from Jerusalem, but they did not know [what Absalom was planning to do].
12 Na hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Abisalomu aarutaga magongona-rĩ, agĩtũmanĩra Ahithofeli ũrĩa Mũgiloni, o ũrĩa waheaga Daudi kĩrĩra, oke kuuma itũũra rĩao rĩa Gilo. Na nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndundu ya gũũkĩrĩra mũthamaki ĩkĩgĩa na hinya, nao arũmĩrĩri a Abisalomu magĩkĩrĩrĩria kũingĩha.
While Absalom was offering sacrifices [at Hebron], he sent a message to Ahithophel, from Giloh [town], requesting him to come. Ahithophel was one of the king’s advisors. So the number of people who joined Absalom and who were ready to rebel [against David] became larger.
13 Na rĩrĩ, hagĩũka mũndũ ũmwe watũmĩtwo kũrĩ Daudi, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ngoro cia andũ othe a Isiraeli irũmĩrĩire Abisalomu.”
Soon a messenger came to David and said to him, “All [HYP] the Israeli people [SYN] are joining Absalom to rebel against you!”
14 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Daudi akĩĩra anene ake othe arĩa aarĩ nao Jerusalemu atĩrĩ, “Ũkai! No nginya tũũre; kwaga ũguo gũtirĩ o na ũmwe witũ ũkũhonoka kũũragwo nĩ Abisalomu. No nginya tũthiĩ o ro rĩu, kana Abisalomu oke narua atũkorerere, atũhubanĩrie na atwanange, na ahũũre itũũra rĩĩrĩ inene na rũhiũ rwa njora.”
So David said to all his officials, “We must leave immediately if we want to escape from Absalom! We must go quickly, before he [and his men] arrive. If we do not do that, they will kill us and everyone else in the city!”
15 Nao anene a mũthamaki makĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Ndungata ciaku nĩciĩhaarĩirie gwĩka ũndũ o wothe ũrĩa mũthamaki mwathi witũ angĩthuura wĩkwo.”
The king’s officials said, “Okay, your majesty, we are ready to do whatever you decide.”
16 Nake mũthamaki akiumagara, arũmĩrĩirwo nĩ andũ a nyũmba yake yothe; no agĩtiga thuriya ikũmi cia kũmenyerera nyũmba ya mũthamaki.
So the king left ten of his slave wives there to take care of the palace, but all the other people in his palace went with him.
17 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũthamaki akiumagara, arũmĩrĩirwo nĩ andũ acio othe, magĩthiĩ handũ haraaya, makĩrũgama ho.
When they all were leaving [the city], they stopped at the last house.
18 Nao andũ ake othe makĩmũhĩtũka, hamwe na Akerethi othe, na Apelethi, na Agiti othe magana matandatũ arĩa maatwaranĩte hamwe nake kuuma Gathu, makĩhĩtũka magĩthiĩ mbere ya mũthamaki.
The king and his officials stood there while his bodyguards went by in front of him. 600 soldiers from Gath [city] also walked by in front of him.
19 Mũthamaki akĩũria Itai ũrĩa Mũgiiti atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma ũthiĩ hamwe na ithuĩ? Cooka ũgaikare hamwe na Mũthamaki Abisalomu. Wee ũrĩ mũndũ wa kũngĩ, mũndũ ũthaamĩte akoima bũrũri wake.
Then David said to Ittai, [the leader of the soldiers] from Gath, “(Why are you going with us?/You should not be going with us.) [RHQ] Go back and stay with [Absalom] the [new] king. You are not an Israeli; you are living away from your own land.
20 Ũrookire o ira. Ingĩgwĩtĩkĩria atĩa wambĩrĩrie kũũrũũra na ithuĩ, o rĩrĩa itaramenya kũrĩa ndĩrathiĩ? Hũndũka, woe andũ a bũrũri wanyu ũcooke nao. Naguo ũtugi na wĩhokeku iroikara hamwe nawe.”
You have lived here [in Israel] for only a short time [HYP]. And we do not even know where we will be going. So it is not right [RHQ] for me to force you to wander around with us. And take your troops with you. And I hope/wish that Yahweh will faithfully love and be loyal to you.”
21 No Itai agĩcookeria mũthamaki atĩrĩ, “Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa Jehova atũũraga muoyo, na o ta ũrĩa wee mũthamaki mwathi wakwa ũtũũraga muoyo-rĩ, harĩa hothe mũthamaki mwathi wakwa angĩkorwo arĩ, o na kũngĩkorwo nĩ gũtũũra muoyo kana gũkua, hau no ho ndungata yaku ĩgaakorwo ĩrĩ.”
But Ittai replied, “Your Majesty, as surely as you live, wherever you go, I will go; I will stay with you, whether they kill me or allow me to live.”
22 Nake Daudi akĩĩra Itai atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ na mbere, ũthiĩ ũhĩtũkĩte.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Itai ũrĩa Mũgiiti agĩthiĩ ahĩtũkĩte hamwe na andũ ake othe, na andũ a nyũmba yake arĩa maarĩ hamwe nake.
David replied to Ittai, “Okay, march with us!” So Ittai and all his troops and their families went [with David].
23 Nao andũ othe a bũrũri ũcio makĩrĩra na mũgambo mũnene rĩrĩa andũ acio othe maahĩtũkaga. Mũthamaki o nake akĩringa mũrĩmo ũrĩa ũngĩ wa karũũĩ ga Kidironi, nao andũ othe magĩthiĩ merekeire werũ-inĩ.
All the people [along the road] cried when they saw them walking by. The king and all the others crossed the Kidron Valley and then they all went [up the hill] toward the desert.
24 Zadoku o nake aarĩ ho, na Alawii othe arĩa maarĩ hamwe nake nĩo maakuuĩte ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Ngai. Nao makĩiga ithandũkũ rĩa kĩrĩkanĩro kĩa Ngai thĩ, nake Abiatharu akĩruta magongona nginya rĩrĩa andũ othe maarĩkirie kuuma itũũra rĩu inene.
Abiathar and Zadok, [the priests, ] were walking with them. The descendants of Levi [who helped the priests] also went with them, carrying the sacred chest that contained the Ten Commandments. But they set it on the ground until all the others had left the city.
25 Ningĩ mũthamaki akĩĩra Zadoku atĩrĩ, “Oya ithandũkũ rĩa Ngai ũrĩcookie itũũra-inĩ rĩu inene. Ingĩĩtĩkĩrĩka maitho-inĩ ma Jehova-rĩ, nĩakanjookia na atũme ndĩrĩone na nyone gĩikaro gĩake rĩngĩ.
Then the king said to Zadok, “You and Abiathar take the sacred chest back into the city. If Yahweh is pleased with me, he will some day allow me to return to see it and the place where it is kept.
26 No angĩkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ndikenetio nĩwe,’ hĩndĩ ĩyo niĩ nĩndĩhaarĩirie; nĩanjĩke o ũrĩa wothe angĩona kwagĩrĩire.”
But if he says that he is not pleased with me, then I am willing for him to do to me whatever he thinks is good.”
27 Ningĩ mũthamaki akĩĩra Zadoku ũrĩa mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai atĩrĩ, “Githĩ wee ndũrĩ muoni-maũndũ? Cooka ũthiĩ itũũra-inĩ rĩu inene na thayũ, mũrĩ na mũrũguo Ahimaazu, na Jonathani mũriũ wa Abiatharu. Wee na Abiatharu mũthiĩ na ariũ acio anyu eerĩ.
He also said to Zadok, “Listen [to what I suggest]. You and Abiathar return to the city peacefully/safely, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.
28 Na niĩ ngũikara njetereire mariũko-inĩ kũu werũ-inĩ, o nginya hĩndĩ ĩrĩa ũkaandehithĩria ũhoro ũnjĩĩre ũrĩa maũndũ matariĩ.”
I will wait in the desert at the place where people can walk across the river, until you send a message to me.”
29 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Zadoku na Abiatharu magĩkuua ithandũkũ rĩa Ngai, makĩrĩcookia Jerusalemu na magĩikara kuo.
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
30 No Daudi agĩthiĩ na mbere kwambata kĩrĩma kĩa mĩtamaiyũ, o akĩrĩraga; nĩehumbĩrĩte mũtwe, na aarĩ magũrũ matheri. Andũ othe arĩa aarĩ nao-rĩ, o nao nĩmehumbĩrĩte mĩtwe, nao maambatire o makĩrĩraga.
David [and those with him] went up Olive [Tree] Hill. David was crying while he walked. He was walking barefoot and had something covering his head [to show that he was sorrowful]. All those who were going with him also covered their heads and were crying while they walked.
31 Na rĩrĩ, Daudi nĩamenyithĩtio atĩrĩ, “Ahithofeli aarĩ hamwe na arĩa maarĩ ndundu na Abisalomu.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Daudi akĩhooya atĩrĩ, “Wee Jehova, garũra kĩrĩra kĩa Ahithofeli, ũgĩtue ũrimũ.”
Someone told David that Ahithophel had joined with those who were rebelling against David. So David prayed, “Yahweh, cause whatever Ahithophel suggests to Absalom [that he should do to be considered] to be foolish!”
32 Na rĩrĩa Daudi aakinyire gacũmbĩrĩ ga kĩrĩma, harĩa andũ maahooyagĩra Ngai-rĩ, Hushai ũrĩa Mũariki aarĩ hau kũmũtũnga, atembũrangĩte nguo yake ndaaya, na akeitĩrĩria tĩĩri mũtwe.
When they arrived at the top of the hill, where there was a place where the people worshiped [God], suddenly Hushai, from the Arki people-group, met David. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head [to show that he was very sad].
33 Nake Daudi akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũngĩkorwo nĩũgũthiĩ na niĩ, ũgũtuĩka mũrigo harĩ niĩ.
David said to him, “If you go with me, you will not be able to help me.
34 No ũngĩcooka itũũra-inĩ rĩu inene na wĩre Abisalomu atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩngũtuĩka ndungata yaku wee mũthamaki; ndĩratũire ndĩ ndungata ya thoguo mbere ĩyo, no rĩu ngũtuĩka ndungata yaku,’ hĩndĩ ĩyo no ũndeithie gũthũkia mataaro ma Ahithofeli.
But if you return to the city, [you can help me by] saying to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will serve you as faithfully as I served your father.’ If you do that [and stay near Absalom], you will be able to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives to Absalom.
35 Githĩ Zadoku na Abiatharu arĩa athĩnjĩri-Ngai matiigũkorwo kũu hamwe nawe? Meerage ũndũ o wothe ũngĩigua nyũmba-inĩ ya mũthamaki.
Zadok and Abiathar the priests are already there [RHQ]. Whatever you hear people say in the king’s palace, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar.
36 Ariũ ao eerĩ, Ahimaazu mũrũ wa Zadoku, na Jonathani mũrũ wa Abiatharu marĩ kũu hamwe nao. Matũmage kũrĩ niĩ na ũndũ o wothe ũngĩigua.”
Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are also there. You can tell them whatever you find out, and send them to report it to me.”
37 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Hushai mũrata wa Daudi agĩcooka, na agĩkinya Jerusalemu o rĩrĩa Abisalomu aatoonyaga itũũra rĩu inene.
So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city, at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
