1 Ndị Eze 2

1 Mgbe ụbọchị ọnwụ eze Devid na-abịaru nso, o nyere nwa ya Solomọn iwu sị ya,

When David [knew that he] was about to die, he gave these final instructions to his son Solomon:

2 “Oge ọnwụ m eruola,” ka ọ sịrị, “Ya mere, dị ike, meekwa dịka nwoke.

“I am about to die [EUP], like everyone else on earth does. Be courageous and conduct yourself as an adult should.

3 Debe iwu niile Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke gị nyere, bie ndụ nʼụzọ ya niile. Debekwa ụkpụrụ na ihe niile o nyere nʼiwu, na ntụziaka ya niile dịka e dere ya nʼakwụkwọ iwu Mosis. Mee nke a ka ihe niile ị ga-eme gaara gị nke ọma, nʼihe niile ị na-eme, nʼebe ọbụla ị na-eche ihu gị.

Do what Yahweh our God tells you to do. Conduct yourself as he wants you to do. Obey all of his laws and commands and precepts and instructions that are written in the laws that Moses [gave us]. Do this in order that you will prosper in all that you do and wherever you go.

4 Ka Onyenwe anyị mezuo nkwa o kwere banyere m, sị ‘Ọ bụrụ na ụmụ gị na ụmụ ụmụ ha elezie anya nʼotu ha si ebi ndụ, ọ bụrụ na ha ejegharịa nʼụzọ ikwesi ntụkwasị obi nʼihu m, jiri obi ha niile na mkpụrụobi ha mee nke a, ị gaghị achọ onye ga-anọkwasị nʼoche eze Izrel achọ.’

If you continually do that, Yahweh will do what he promised me: He said, ‘If your descendants do what I tell them to do, and faithfully obey my commands with all their inner beings, they will always be [LIT] the ones who will rule [MTY] Israel.’

5 “Ugbu a, gị onwe gị maara ihe Joab nwa Zeruaya mere m, ya bụ ihe o mere mmadụ abụọ bụ ndịisi agha Izrel, Abna nwa Nea, na Amasa nwa Jeta. O gburu ha, wufuo ọbara ha nʼoge udo, dịka a ga-asị na ọ bụ ihe e mere nʼagha. O jikwa ọbara ahụ merụọ ihe okike o kere nʼukwu na akpụkpọụkwụ o yi nʼụkwụ.

“There is something else [that I want you to do]. You know what Joab did to me. He killed my two army commanders, Abner and Amasa. He murdered them violently [MTY] during a time of peace, pretending that it was a time of war. Those two men (were innocent/had not done what was wrong). But Joab [killed them and] their blood to stain his belt and his sandals.

6 Ị bụ nwoke maara ihe, ị makwaara ihe ị ga-eme. Ekwela ka Joab, nʼagbanyeghị isi awọ ya, nwụọ nʼudo. (Sheol h7585)

Because you are wise, do to him what you think is best [for you to do], but do not allow him to become old [MTY] and then die [IDM] peacefully. (Sheol h7585)

7 “Ma meere ụmụ Bazilai onye Gilead ebere. Meekwa ka ha bụrụ ndị na-eso gị rie ihe na tebul gị nʼihi na ha ji obi ha zute m mgbe m na-agba ọsọ ndụ nʼihi nwanne gị Absalọm.

“But be kind to the sons of Barzillai, the man from [the] Gilead [region], and be sure that they always have enough food to eat [MTY]. Do that because Barzillai helped me when I was running away from your older brother Absalom.

8 “Cheta Shimei, nwa Gera, onye Benjamin ahụ bi nʼobodo Bahurim, onye kọchara m nkọcha jọgburu onwe ya nʼụbọchị ahụ m jere Mahanaim. Mgbe ọ bịara izute m na Jọdan, eji m aha Onyenwe anyị ṅụọrọ ya iyi sị ya, ‘Agaghị m eji mma agha gbuo gị.’

Also, [you remember] Gera’s son Shimei from Bahurim [town] in the area where the descendants of Benjamin live. [You know what he did to me]. He cursed me terribly on the day I [left Jerusalem and] went to Mahanaim [town]. But when he later came down to see me at the Jordan [River], I solemnly promised, while Yahweh listened [MTY], that I would not cause him to be executed.

9 Ma achọghị m ka ị hapụ ya dịka onye ikpe na-amaghị. Ị bụ nwoke maara ihe. Ị makwaara ihe ị ga-eme ya. Mee ka o jiri isi awọ ọbara juru baa nʼili.” (Sheol h7585)

But now you must [LIT] surely punish him. You are a wise man, so you will know what you should do to him. He is an old man [MTY], but be sure that he [loses/sheds] a lot of blood when you kill him [MTY].” (Sheol h7585)

10 Emesịa, Devid sooro ndị nna nna ya ha dina nʼọnwụ. E liri ya na obodo Devid.

Then David died [EUP] and was buried in [that part of Jerusalem which was called] ‘The City of David’.

11 Ma ọ chịrị Izrel iri afọ anọ; ọ chịrị afọ asaa na Hebrọn, chịakwa iri afọ atọ na atọ na Jerusalem.

David had been the king of Israel for 40 years: He ruled for seven years in Hebron and for 33 years in Jerusalem.

12 Solomọn nọdụrụ nʼocheeze nna ya Devid dịka eze. Alaeze ya guzosiri ike nke ukwuu. Ọchịchị ya gakwara nke ọma.

Solomon became the ruler/king [MTY] to take the place of his father David and took control of all of the kingdom.

13 Otu ụbọchị, Adonaịja nwa Hagit, bịakwutere Batsheba, nne Solomọn. Mgbe Batsheba hụrụ ya, ọ jụrụ ya ajụjụ sị, “Ọ bụkwa ọbịbịa udo ka ị bịara?” Adonaịja zara sị ya, “E, abịara m nʼudo.”

[One day] Adonijah came to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba. She said to him, “Have you come because you want things to go well?” He replied, “Yes.”

14 O kwuru sị, “O nwere ihe m nwere ịgwa gị.” Nne Solomọn zara sị ya, “Kwuo.”

But then he said, “I have something to ask you to do.” She said, “Tell me [what you want me to do].”

15 Ọ zara sị, “Dịka ị maara, ọ bụ m nwe alaeze a. Ndị Izrel niile lekwara anya na m ga-abụ eze ha. Ma otu ọ dị, ihe niile adịghịkwa ka ọ dị na mbụ, alaeze a aghọọla nke nwanne m, nʼihi na o si nʼaka Onyenwe anyị rute ya aka.

He said, “You know that all the Israeli people expected me to be their king [because I am David’s oldest surviving son]. But that did not happen. Instead, my [younger] brother became king, because that is what Yahweh wanted.

16 Ugbu a, enwere m otu ihe m na-arịọ nʼaka gị. Biko ajụkwala imere m ya.” Batsheba sịrị ya, “Gịnị bụ arịrịọ gị? Kwuo ihe ọ bụ.”

Now I have one thing that I ask you to do. Please do not refuse to do it.” She replied, “Tell me [what you want me to do].”

17 Ọ zaghachiri ya sị, “Biko rịọrọ m Solomọn eze, nʼihi na amaara m na ọ ga-eme ihe ọbụla ị rịọrọ ya, ka ọ kpọnye m Abishag, nwanyị Shunem ahụ, ka ọ bụrụ nwunye m.”

He said, “Please ask King Solomon to give to me Abishag, the woman from Shunem [town], to be my wife. [I am sure that] he will not refuse.”

18 Batsheba zara sị ya, “Ọ dị mma, aga m agwara gị eze okwu.”

Bathsheba replied, “Okay, I will speak to the king for you.”

19 Emesịa, Batsheba bịakwutere eze Solomọn ịgwa ya okwu banyere Adonaịja. Mgbe ọ na-abata, eze sitere nʼocheeze ya bilie gaa izute ya, kpọkwaa isiala nye ya nọdụ ala nʼocheeze ya. O mere ka e butere nne eze ocheeze, ọ nọdụkwara ala nʼaka nri ya.

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to tell him what Adonijah wanted. The king got up [from his throne] and went to greet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne again and asked someone to bring a chair for her. So she sat down at the king’s right side.

20 Ọ sịrị, “Enwere m arịrịọ nta m chọrọ ịrịọ gị. Ajụkwala i mere m ya.” Eze zaghachiri, “Rịọọ ya nne m. Agaghị m ajụ i mere gị ya.”

Then she said, “I have one small thing which I want you to do; please do not say that you will not do it.” The king replied, “Mother, what do you want? I will not refuse you.”

21 Ya mere ọ sịrị, “Biko, kwere ka enye nwanne gị nwoke Adonaịja Abishag nwanyị Shunem, ka ọ bụrụ nwunye ya.”

She said, “Allow Abishag to be given to your [older] brother Adonijah to be his wife.”

22 Eze Solomọn zara nne ya sị, “Gịnị mere i ji rịọọ m ka m nye Adonaịja naanị Abishag nwanyị Shunem ka ọ bụrụ nwunye ya? Ị gaara arịọkwa m sị m nye ya alaeze m. Nʼihi na ọ bụ ya tọrọ m” Ị gaara arịọkwa nʼihi Abịata onye nchụaja ma Joab nwa Zeruaya.

The king replied [angrily], “What? Are you requesting me to give Abishag to Adonijah? [Does he want me] to allow him to rule the kingdom, too? Because he is my older brother, [does he think that he should be the king]? Does he think that Abiathar should be the priest [instead of Zadok], and that Joab [should be the army commander instead of Benaiah] because they supported him [when he tried to become the king]?”

23 Mgbe ahụ, eze Solomọn ji Onyenwe anyị ṅụọ iyi sị, “Ka Chineke mesoo m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na Adonaịja ejighị ndụ ya kwụọ ụgwọ nʼihi arịrịọ a.

Then Solomon solemnly promised, requesting Yahweh to listen, “I wish God would strike me and kill me if I do not cause Adonijah to be executed for requesting this!

24 Ugbu a, dịka Onyenwe anyị na-adị ndụ, bụ onye ahụ mere ka m nọgidesie ike nʼocheeze nna m Devid, onye mere ka ọchịchị eze m malite dịka o kwere na nkwa, a ga-eme ka Adonaịja nwụọ taa.”

Yahweh has appointed me to be the king and placed me here to rule [MTY] as my father David did. He has promised that my descendants [MTY] will be the kings of Israel. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, I solemnly promise that Adonijah will be executed today!”

25 Eze Solomọn zigara Benaya nwa Jehoiada ka ọ gaa gbuo Adonaịja. Benaya gakwara tigbuo Adonaịja.

So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah to [go and] kill Adonijah, and Benaiah did that.

26 Eze kpọkwara Abịata onye nchụaja sị ya, “Laghachi azụ nʼubi gị nʼAnatot. I kwesiri ịnwụ ọnwụ ma ọ bụghị ugbu a ka a ga-egbu gị nʼihi na i buru igbe ọgbụgba ndụ Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị nʼoge nna m Devid dị ndụ. I sokwa ya hụọ ahụhụ nʼoge ahụ niile o nwere nsogbu.”

Then Solomon said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to Anathoth [town], to your land there. You deserve to be killed, but I will not execute you now, because you were the one who [supervised the men who] carried Yahweh’s Sacred Chest for David my father, and you endured all the troubles that my father endured.”

27 Ya mere, Solomọn chụpụrụ Abịata ka ọ ghara ịbụ onye nchụaja Onyenwe anyị ọzọ. Otu a ka o si mezuo bụ okwu ahụ Onyenwe anyị kwuru banyere ezinaụlọ Elayị na Shaịlo.

So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being the priest of Yahweh. By doing that he caused to happen what Yahweh had said [many years previously] at Shiloh, [that some day he would get rid] of the descendants [MTY] of Eli.

28 Ma mgbe Joab nụrụ na Adonaịja anwụọla, ọ gbaara ọsọ gaa nʼụlọ nzute Onyenwe anyị jigide mpi dị nʼakụkụ ebe ịchụ aja aka. Ọ bụ ezie na Joab so Adonaịja gbaa izu imegide Solomọn, ma o soghị Absalọm gbaa izu imegide Devid.

Joab had not supported Absalom [when he tried to become the king], but he had supported Adonijah. So when Joab heard what had happened, he ran to the Sacred Tent, and he grasped the projections on the corners of the altar, [because he knew that no one would kill him there].

29 Mgbe a gwara eze Solomọn, na Joab a gbabala nʼụlọ ikwu Onyenwe anyị, nọdụ nʼakụkụ ebe ịchụ aja. Solomọn nyere Benaya, nwa Jehoiada iwu sị, “Gaa, tituo ya nʼala.”

When someone told Solomon that Joab had run to the Sacred Tent and was standing alongside the altar, Solomon told Benaiah, “Go and execute Joab.”

30 Benaya banyere nʼime ụlọ nzute Onyenwe anyị, sị Joab, “Eze sị gị, ‘pụta ezi!’” Ma ọ zara, “Mba, aga m anwụ nʼebe a.” Nʼihi nke a, Benaya jekwuru eze gwa ya ihe Joab kwuru.

So Benaiah went to the Sacred Tent and said to Joab, “The king commands you to come out!” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah went back to the king and reported [what he had said to Joab, and] what Joab had replied.

31 Mgbe ahụ, eze nyere Benaya iwu sị ya, “Gaa mee dịka o kwuru. Gbuo ya, liekwa ya. Nke a ga-eme ka ikpe ọmụma ghara ịdịrị mụ na ezinaụlọ nna m Devid nʼihi ikpe ọmụma dịrị Joab maka ọbara ndị aka ha dị ọcha ọ wụsiri.

The king replied to him, “Do what he has requested. Kill him and bury his body. If you do that, my descendants [MTY] and I will no longer be punished for what Joab did when he killed [MTY] two men who (were innocent/had not done anything that is wrong).

32 Onyenwe anyị ga-emekwa ka ọbara ọ wụsiri laa ya nʼisi, nʼihi na o ji mma agha gbuo ndị ikom abụọ, ma nna m Devid amaghị maka ya. Ha abụọ, ya bụ Abna nwa Nea, ọchịagha ndị Izrel, na Amasa nwa Jeta, ọchịagha ndị Juda, ndị dị mma ma bụrụkwa ndị ezi omume karịa ya.

But Yahweh will punish [MTY] Joab for attacking and killing Abner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, the commander of the army of Judah, two men who were more righteous and better [DOU] men than he is. My father David did not even know that Joab [was planning to murder them].

33 Ka ikpe ọmụma dị nʼihi igbu ọchụ ndị a dịkwasị Joab na ụmụ ụmụ ya nʼisi ruo mgbe ebighị ebi. Ma nʼebe Devid na ụmụ ụmụ ya, na ụlọ ya, na ocheeze ya dị, ka udo Onyenwe anyị dịkwasị ha ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.”

Joab and his descendants will be punished [IDM] forever for his murdering Abner and Amasa. But things will forever go well for David’s descendants [MTY] who rule [MTY] as King David did.”

34 Benaya nwa Jehoiada gara gbuo Joab. E liri ya nʼala nke ya dị nʼọzara.

So Benaiah went [into the Sacred Tent] and killed Joab. Joab was buried on his property in the desert [part of Judah].

35 Mgbe ahụ, eze họpụtara Benaya, nwa Jehoiada ka ọ bụrụ onyeisi ndị agha ya niile, ma mee Zadọk onye nchụaja nʼọnọdụ Abịata.

Then the king appointed Benaiah to be the commander of the army instead of Joab, and he appointed Zadok to be the priest instead of Abiathar.

36 Emesịa, eze ziri Shimei ozi sị ya, “wuoro onwe gị ụlọ na Jerusalem, biri nʼebe ahụ, esitekwala nʼebe ahụ pụọ jee ebe ọbụla.

Then the king sent [a messenger] to summon Shimei, and the king said to him, “Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Remain there and do not leave the city to go anywhere.

37 Nʼihi na ụbọchị ị ga-apụ gafee iyi dị na Ndagwurugwu Kidrọn, mara nke ọma na ị ghaghị ịnwụ. Ọbara gị ga-adịkwa gị nʼisi.”

Be sure that the day that you leave Jerusalem and go across the Kidron Brook, you will be executed, and it will be (your own fault/what you deserve).”

38 Shimei zara eze, “Okwu gị dị mma. Ohu gị ga-eme dịka onyenwe m bụ eze kwuru.” Shimei biiri nʼime Jerusalem, nọọkwa ọtụtụ ụbọchị.

Shimei replied, “Your Majesty, what you say is good. I will do what you have said.” So Shimei remained in Jerusalem for several years.

39 Ma nʼọgwụgwụ afọ atọ, ndị ohu abụọ Shimei nwere gbapụrụ ọsọ gbakwuru Akish, nwa Maaka, eze Gat. Ndị mmadụ bịara gwa Shimei sị ya, “Lee, ndị ohu gị nọ na Gat.”

But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away. They went to stay with Maacah’s son Achish, the king of Gath [city]. When someone told Shimei that they were in Gath,

40 Nke a mere ka o bilie, rịkwasị nʼelu ịnyịnya ibu ya, gaa Gat, jekwuru Akish nʼihi ịchọ ndị ohu ya. Shimei gara mee ka ndị ohu ya soro ya laghachite azụ.

he put a saddle on his donkey and [got on it and] went to Gath. He found his slaves staying with King Achish and brought them back home.

41 Mgbe a gwara Solomọn na Shimei hapụrụ Jerusalem gaa Gat ma lọghachikwa azụ,

But someone told King Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned.

42 eze ziri ozi kpọọ Shimei sị ya, “Ọ bụ na m adọghị gị aka na ntị, jiri aha Onyenwe anyị ṅụọ iyi sị, ‘Mara nke ọma nʼụbọchị ọbụla ị ga-esi nʼebe a pụọ gaa nʼebe ọbụla ọzọ, na ị ga-anwụ?’ Nʼoge ahụ, ị zara m sị m, ‘Okwu gị dị mma. Aga m emekwa ya.’

So the king sent [a soldier] to summon Shimei and said to him, “I told you to solemnly promise, knowing that Yahweh [MTY] was listening, that you must not leave Jerusalem. I told you [RHQ], ‘Be sure that if you ever leave Jerusalem, you will be executed.’ And you replied [RHQ] to me, ‘What you have said is good; I will do what you have said.’

43 Ọ bụ gịnị mere i ji mebie iyi ị ṅụrụ nye Onyenwe anyị, jụkwa idebe ihe m nyere gị nʼiwu?”

So why did you not do what you solemnly promised to Yahweh? Why did you disobey what I commanded you?”

44 Eze gwakwara Shimei okwu sị ya, “I maara ihe ọjọọ niile i mere megide nna m Devid. Ugbu a Onyenwe anyị ga-akwụghachi gị ụgwọ nʼihi omume ọjọọ gị.

The king also said to Shimei, “You know all the evil things that you did to my father David. So Yahweh will now punish you for the evil things that you did.

45 Ma eze Solomọn ga-abụ onye a gọziri agọzi. Ocheeze Devid ga-eguzosikwa ike nʼihu Onyenwe anyị ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.”

But Yahweh will bless me, and he will enable David’s descendants [MTY] to rule forever.”

46 Mgbe ahụ, eze nyere Benaya, nwa Jehoiada iwu ka o gbuo Shimei. Ọ pụkwara tituo ya, ọ nwụọ. Sitekwa nʼoge ahụ, alaeze Solomọn guzosiri ike nʼaka ya.

Then the king gave an order to Benaiah, and he went and killed Shimei. So Solomon was completely in control of the kingdom.