2 Samũeli 18
1 Na rĩrĩ, Daudi akĩũngania andũ arĩa maarĩ nake, na agĩthuura anene a gwatha thigari ngiri ngiri na a gwatha thigari igana igana.
Then David mustered the people that were with him, —and set over them, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds.
2 Daudi agĩtũma mbũtũ icio cia ita ithiĩ ikarũe, gĩcunjĩ gĩa ithatũ gĩathagwo nĩ Joabu, na gĩcunjĩ gĩa ithatũ gĩathagwo nĩ Abishai mũrũ wa nyina na Joabu, mũrũ wa Zeruia, na gĩcunjĩ kĩngĩ gĩa ithatũ gĩgaathwo nĩ Itai ũrĩa Mũgiiti. Nake mũthamaki akĩĩra mbũtũ icio cia ita atĩrĩ, “Ti-itherũ niĩ mwene nĩngumagarania na inyuĩ.”
And David sent forth the people—a third part, under the hand of Joab, and, a third part, under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and, a third part, under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. Then said the king, unto the people, I myself, will, surely go forth, with you.
3 No andũ acio makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Wee ndũgũthiĩ; tũngĩgaakĩrio hinya tũũre-rĩ, matingĩrũmbũiya ũhoro witũ. O na nuthu iitũ ĩngĩkua-rĩ, matingĩrũmbũiya ũhoro ũcio; no wee ũrĩ bata gũkĩra andũ ngiri ikũmi aitũ. Rĩu nĩ kaba ũtũteithĩrĩrie ũrĩ gũkũ itũũra-inĩ rĩĩrĩ inene.”
But the people said—Thou must not go forth, for, if we, flee, they will not regard us, neither, if half of us die, will they regard us, for, thou, compared with us, [art worth] ten thousand, —now, therefore, it will be better that thou come to us out of the city, with succour.
4 Nake mũthamaki agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ngwĩka ũrĩa wothe mũkuona kwagĩrĩire.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũthamaki akĩrũgama kĩhingo-inĩ rĩrĩa andũ acio othe moimagaraga marĩ ikundi cia andũ igana igana, na cia ngiri ngiri.
And the king said unto them, Whatever is best in your eyes, I will do. And the king stood beside the gate, while, all the people, came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Mũthamaki agĩatha Joabu, na Abishai, na Itai, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Menyererai mwanake ũcio ũgwĩtwo Abisalomu nĩ ũndũ wakwa.” Nacio mbũtũ ciothe cia ita nĩciaiguire mũthamaki akĩheana watho nĩ ũndũ wa Abisalomu kũrĩ o ũmwe wa anene a mbũtũ cia ita.
And the king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently, for my sake, with the young man, even Absolom. And, all the people, heard when the king charged all the captains, for the sake of Absolom.
6 Mbũtũ icio cia ita ikĩerekera werũ-inĩ ikarũe na Isiraeli, nayo mbaara ĩkĩrũĩrwo mũtitũ-inĩ wa Efiraimu.
So the people went forth into the field against Israel, —and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7 Kũu nĩkuo mbũtũ cia ita cia Isiraeli ciatooreirio nĩ andũ a Daudi. Nao arĩa maakuire mũthenya ũcio maarĩ aingĩ mũno, maarĩ andũ ngiri mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ.
Then were the people of Israel defeated there, before he servants of David, —and the slaughter there was great, on that day—twenty thousand.
8 Mbaara ĩkĩhurunjũka bũrũri wothe, naguo mũtitũ ũkĩniina andũ aingĩ mũthenya ũcio gũkĩra arĩa maaniinirwo nĩ rũhiũ rwa njora.
And the battle there was spread out over the face of all the land, —and the forest devoured more of the people than the sword devoured on that day.
9 Nake Abisalomu agĩcemania na andũ a Daudi. Nake aahaicĩte nyũmbũ yake, na rĩrĩa nyũmbũ yathiiagĩra rungu rwa honge ndumanu cia mũgandi mũnene, mũtwe wa Abisalomu ũkĩhata mũtĩ-inĩ. Nake agĩtigwo acunjuurĩte rĩera-inĩ, nayo nyũmbũ ĩrĩa aahaicĩte ĩgĩthiĩ o na mbere.
Now, when Absolom met the servants of David, Absolom, was riding upon a mule, and the mule came under the thick branches of a large oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, the mule that was under him passing on.
10 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa mũndũ ũmwe wao onire ũguo, akĩĩra Joabu atĩrĩ, “Nĩndona Abisalomu acunjuurĩte mũtĩ-inĩ wa mũgandi.”
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, —and said—Lo! I saw Absolom suspended in an oak.
11 Joabu akĩĩra mũndũ ũrĩa wamwĩrire ũguo atĩrĩ, “Atĩ kĩĩ! Nĩwamuona? Nĩ kĩĩ kĩagiria ũmũgũthe agwe thĩ o ro hau? Nĩingĩakũhe cekeri ikũmi cia betha, na mũcibi wa mũndũ njamba.”
Then said Joab to the man that was telling him, Lo! since thou sawest him, why didst thou not smite him there, to the ground? then should I have been bound to give thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle.
12 No mũndũ ũcio agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “O na ingĩthimĩrwo cekeri ngiri ĩmwe njĩkĩrĩrwo guoko, ndingĩtambũrũkĩria mũrũ wa mũthamaki guoko ndĩmwĩke ũũru. Mũthamaki aagwathire wee, na Abishai, na Itai tũkĩiguaga, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Menyererai mwanake ũcio ũgwĩtwo Abisalomu nĩ ũndũ wakwa.’
And the man said unto Joab, Though I were weighing upon my palm a thousand pieces of silver, yet would I not put forth my hand against the son of the king, —for, in our hearing, the king Charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Watch any man who [would touch] the young man Absolom.
13 Na ingĩtwarĩrĩirie muoyo wakwa thĩĩna-inĩ, na tondũ gũtirĩ ũndũ ũhithagwo mũthamaki, no wĩeherie ũndiganĩrie.”
Otherwise, had I dealt with my life falsely (and nothing can be hid from the king), then, thou thyself, wouldst have stood aloof.
14 Joabu akiuga atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndigũte mahinda nĩ ũndũ waku.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩoya matimũ matatũ, agĩthiĩ, akĩmũtheeca namo ngoro Abisalomu arĩ o muoyo hau mũtĩ-inĩ wa mũgandi-inĩ ũcio.
And Joab said, Not thus, may I tarry before thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absolom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 Nao andũ ikũmi arĩa maakuuagĩra Joabu indo cia mbaara makĩrigiicĩria Abisalomu, makĩmũhũũra, makĩmũũraga.
Then came round ten young men who bare Joab’s armour, —and smote Absolom, and slew him.
16 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Joabu akĩhuha karumbeta, nacio mbũtũ cia ita igĩtiga gũtengʼeria andũ a Isiraeli, tondũ Joabu nĩacirũgamirie.
Then Joab blew with a horn, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, —for Joab had restrained the people.
17 Nao makĩoya Abisalomu, makĩmũikia irima inene kũu mũtitũ, na makĩũmba hĩba nene ya mahiga igũrũ rĩake. Hĩndĩ ĩyo andũ othe a Isiraeli makĩũrĩra kwao mĩciĩ.
And they took Absolom, and cast him, in the forest, into a large pit, and raised up over him a very great heap of stones, —and, all Israel, fled, every man to his home.
18 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa aarĩ muoyo, Abisalomu nĩeyakĩire gĩtugĩ agĩkĩhaanda Gĩtuamba-inĩ kĩa Mũthamaki kĩrĩ gĩa kĩririkano gĩake, tondũ eeciirĩtie atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndirĩ na kahĩĩ kangĩtũũria rĩĩtwa rĩakwa.” Agĩĩta gĩtugĩ kĩu rĩĩtwa rĩake, nakĩo gĩĩtagwo Gĩtugĩ kĩa Abisalomu nginya ũmũthĩ.
But, Absolom, had taken, and raised up for himself, in his lifetime, the pillar that is in the king’s vale, for he said, I have no son, to keep in remembrance my name, so he called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absolom’s monument unto this day.
19 Na rĩrĩ, Ahimaazu mũrũ wa Zadoku akiuga atĩrĩ, “Reke hanyũke ngatwarĩre mũthamaki ũhoro atĩ Jehova nĩamũhonoketie kuuma guoko-inĩ gwa thũ ciake.”
Then, Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, said, Let me run, I pray thee, and carry tidings unto the king, —how that Yahweh hath vindicated him, at the hand of his enemies.
20 Joabu akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Wee tiwe wagĩrĩirwo nĩ gũtwara ũhoro ũcio ũmũthĩ. Reke ũgaatwara ũhoro ihinda rĩngĩ, no ndũgwĩka ũguo ũmũthĩ, tondũ mũrũ wa mũthamaki nĩakuĩte.”
And Joab said to him—Not a man to bear tidings, art thou this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day, —but, this day, shalt thou not bear tidings, for this cause, that, the king’s son, is dead.
21 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Joabu akĩĩra Mũkushi ũmwe atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ ũkeere mũthamaki ũrĩa wonete.” Mũkushi ũcio akĩinamĩrĩra mbere ya Joabu na akĩhanyũka agĩthiĩ.
Then said Joab to a Cushite, Go tell the king, what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself down to Joab, and ran.
22 Ahimaazu mũrũ wa Zadoku akĩĩra Joabu rĩngĩ atĩrĩ, “O ũrĩa kũrĩtuĩka, reke nũmĩrĩre Mũkushi ũcio.” No Joabu agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Mũrũ wakwa, ũkwenda gũthiĩ nĩkĩ? Wee ndũrĩ na ũhoro ũrĩa ũngĩheerwo kĩheo.”
Then, yet again, said Ahimaaz son of Zadok unto Joab. But, be what may, do, I pray thee, let, me also, run, after the Cushite. And Joab said—Wherefore is it that, thou, wouldst run, my son, when, thou, hast no tidings of, any profit?
23 Nake akiuga atĩrĩ, “O ũrĩa kũrĩtuĩka, nĩngwenda kũhanyũka.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Joabu akiuga atĩrĩ, “Kĩhanyũke!” Hĩndĩ ĩyo Ahimaazu akĩhanyũka agereire werũ-inĩ, akĩhĩtũka Mũkushi.
But, be what may, I will run. So he said to him—Run. Then ran Ahimaaz by the way of the plain, and got beyond the Cushite.
24 Daudi aaikairĩte thĩ gatagatĩ ga kĩhingo kĩa na thĩinĩ na kĩa nja-rĩ, mũrangĩri agĩthiĩ kĩhingo-igũrũ agereire rũthingo-inĩ. Na rĩrĩa aacũthĩrĩirie nja, akĩona mũndũ ahanyũkĩte arĩ o wiki.
Now, David, was sitting between the two gates, —and the watchman went on to the top of the gate-house, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, running alone.
25 Nake mũrangĩri agĩĩta mũthamaki na akĩmũmenyithia ũhoro ũcio. Nake mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “Akorwo arĩ wiki, akĩrĩ na ũhoro mwega.” Nake mũndũ ũcio agĩkuhĩrĩria o gũkuhĩrĩria.
So the watchman called out, and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth. And he came on nearer and nearer.
26 Ningĩ mũrangĩri akĩona mũndũ ũngĩ ahanyũkĩte, agĩĩta mũrangĩri wa kĩhingo, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Atĩrĩrĩ, mũndũ ũngĩ ahanyũkĩte arĩ o wiki!” Nake mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “No nginya o nake akorwo ararehe ũhoro mwega.”
Then saw the watchman another man, running, so he called out unto the porter, Lo! a man, running alone. And the king said. This one also, beareth tidings.
27 Mũrangĩri akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ndĩrona mũndũ ũcio wa mbere akĩhanyũka ta Ahimaazu mũrũ wa Zadoku.” Mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũcio nĩ mũndũ mwega, arooka arĩ na ũhoro mwega.”
Then said the watchman, It seemeth, to me, that, the running of the foremost, is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok. And the king said, A good man, is he, and, with good tidings, he cometh.
28 Ningĩ Ahimaazu agĩĩta mũthamaki, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gũtirĩ na ũũru!” Akĩinamĩrĩra mbere ya mũthamaki aturumithĩtie ũthiũ thĩ, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Jehova Ngai waku arogoocwo! Nĩaneanĩte andũ arĩa maatambũrũkĩtie moko mookĩrĩre mũthamaki mwathi wakwa.”
Then called out Ahimaaz, and said unto the king, Peace! And he bowed himself down to the king, with his face to the earth, —and said—Blessed, be Yahweh thy God, who hath surrendered the men who were lifting up their hand, against my lord the king.
29 Nake mũthamaki akĩũria atĩrĩ, “Mwanake ũcio ti Abisalomu arĩ o thayũ?” Nake Ahimaazu agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Nĩnyonire kĩrigiicano kĩnene rĩrĩa Joabu ekwendaga gũtũma ndungata ya mũthamaki o na niĩ, ndungata yaku, no ndinamenya kiuma gĩa kĩĩ.”
And the king said, Is it, well, with the young man—Absolom? Then said Ahimaaz—I saw a great crowd, when Joab sent the king’s servant and [me] thy servant, but I knew not what [it meant].
30 Nake mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “Rũgama haha mwena-inĩ weterere.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩthiĩ mwena-inĩ, akĩrũgama ho.
And the king said, Aside! stand, here. So he turned aside, and stood.
31 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Mũkushi agĩkinya, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki mwathi wakwa, ta igua ũhoro ũyũ mwega! Jehova nĩakũhonoketie ũmũthĩ kuuma kũrĩ arĩa maragũũkĩrĩire.”
Then lo! the Cushite, coming in, —and the Cushite said—Tidings, getteth my lord the king, how that Yahweh hath vindicated thee to-day, at the hand of all them who had risen up against thee.
32 Mũthamaki akĩũria Mũkushi atĩrĩ, “Mwanake ũrĩa ti Abisalomu arĩ o thayũ?” Mũkushi akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Thũ ciothe cia mũthamaki mwathi wakwa, na andũ arĩa othe mangĩũkĩra makũgere ngero marotũĩka ta mwanake ũcio.”
And the king said unto the Cushite—Is it, well, with the young man—Absolom? Then said the Cushite—Be, like the young man, the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee, for harm.
33 Mũthamaki akĩinaina. Akĩhaica, agĩthiĩ nyũmba ya igũrũ ya kĩhingo-inĩ, akĩrĩra. Agĩthiĩ akiugaga atĩrĩ, “Ũũi mũrũ wakwa Abisalomu! Mũrũ wakwa, mũrũ wakwa Abisalomu! Naarĩ korwo nĩ niĩ ndĩrakuire handũ haku, ũũi mũrũ wakwa, mũrũ wakwa!”
Then was the king deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept, —and, thus, he said as he went—O my son Absolom, my son—my son—Absolom! could, I, but have died in thy stead, O Absolom, my son—my son!
