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.
David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
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.”
David sent the people out, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”
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, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
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.
The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went 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.
The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
6 Mbũtũ icio cia ita ikĩerekera werũ-inĩ ikarũe na Isiraeli, nayo mbaara ĩkĩrũĩrwo mũtitũ-inĩ wa Efiraimu.
So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was 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.
The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
8 Mbaara ĩkĩhurunjũka bũrũri wothe, naguo mũtitũ ũkĩniina andũ aingĩ mũthenya ũcio gũkĩra arĩa maaniinirwo nĩ rũhiũ rwa njora.
For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
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.
Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
10 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa mũndũ ũmwe wao onire ũguo, akĩĩra Joabu atĩrĩ, “Nĩndona Abisalomu acunjuurĩte mũtĩ-inĩ wa mũgandi.”
A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging 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.”
Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”
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.’
The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
13 Na ingĩtwarĩrĩirie muoyo wakwa thĩĩna-inĩ, na tondũ gũtirĩ ũndũ ũhithagwo mũthamaki, no wĩeherie ũndiganĩrie.”
Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
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.
Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the middle of the oak.
15 Nao andũ ikũmi arĩa maakuuagĩra Joabu indo cia mbaara makĩrigiicĩria Abisalomu, makĩmũhũũra, makĩmũũraga.
Ten young men who bore Joab’s armour surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
16 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Joabu akĩhuha karumbeta, nacio mbũtũ cia ita igĩtiga gũtengʼeria andũ a Isiraeli, tondũ Joabu nĩacirũgamirie.
Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
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.
They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
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.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to 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 the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how the LORD has avenged him 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.”
Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because 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 Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself 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 Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?”
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 come what may,” he said, “I will run.” He said to him, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran 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 up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, 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.
The watchman shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.
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.”
The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”
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.”
The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
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.”
Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted 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.”
The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.”
30 Nake mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “Rũgama haha mwena-inĩ weterere.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩthiĩ mwena-inĩ, akĩrũgama ho.
The king said, “Come and stand here.” He came and stood still.
31 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Mũkushi agĩkinya, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki mwathi wakwa, ta igua ũhoro ũyũ mwega! Jehova nĩakũhonoketie ũmũthĩ kuuma kũrĩ arĩa maragũũkĩrĩire.”
Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.”
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.”
The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”
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!”
The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
