2 Samuel 14
1 Joab, nwa Zeruaya matara na obi eze dị nʼebe Absalọm nọ.
And Joab, son of Zeruiah, perceived that the heart of the king was towards Absolom.
2 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.
So Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched from thence, a wise woman, —and said unto her—I pray thee, feign thyself a mourner, and put on, I pray thee, mourning apparel, and do not anoint thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath, these many days, been mourning for the dead;
3 Emesịa, jekwuru eze, gwa ya okwu ndị a m na-agwa gị.” Joab tinyere okwu ndị ahụ nʼọnụ ya.
so shalt thou come in unto the king, and speak unto him, after this manner. And Joab put the words in her mouth.
4 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!”
And, when the woman of Tekoa came in unto the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did homage, —and said—Save, O king!
5 Eze jụrụ ya ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị bụ mkpa gị?” Ọ zara sị, “Abụ m nwanyị isi mkpe, di m anwụọla.
And the king said to her—What aileth thee? And she said—Of a truth, a widow woman, am I, for my husband is dead.
6 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.
Now, thy maidservant, had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, with none to tear them apart, —so the one smote the other, and slew him.
7 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.”
Lo! therefore, all the family hath risen up against thy maidservant, and have said: Give up him that hath smitten his brother, that we may put him to death, for the life of his brother, whom he hath slain, that we may destroy, the heir also. So will they quench my ember that is left, and make my husband without name or remainder, on the face of the ground.
8 Eze sịrị nwanyị ahụ, “Laa nʼụlọ gị, aga m ahụ na o nweghị onye metụrụ ya aka.”
And the king said unto the woman—Go to thy house, and, I, will give command concerning thee.
9 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.”
Then said the woman of Tekoa unto the king, Upon me, my lord, O king, be the iniquity, and upon the house of my father, —but, the king and his throne, be guiltless.
10 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.”
And the king said, —He that speaketh unto thee, bring him in unto me, and he shall, no more, annoy thee.
11 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.”
Then said she: Let the king, I pray thee, remember Yahweh thy God; so that the blood-redeemer may not make utter ruin, and that they destroy not my son. And he said—By the life of Yahweh, not one hair of thy son shall fall to the earth.
12 Mgbe ahụ, nwanyị ahụ sịrị, “Biko kwere ka ohu gị nwanyị gwa onyenwe m eze otu mkpụrụ okwu ọzọ.” Ọ sịrị, “Gaa nʼihu kwuo.”
Then said the woman, Pray let thy maidservant speak unto my lord the king, a word. And he said—Speak.
13 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?
And the woman said, Wherefore, then, hast thou devised the like of this, for the people of God; and yet the king, in speaking this word, is verily guilty, unless the king, bring back his fugitive?
14 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.
For, when we, die, we become as water poured on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, —therefore doth God not take away the life, but deviseth plans so as not to thrust out from him, a fugitive.
15 “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.
Now, therefore, [is it] that I have come to speak unto the king my lord this word, because the people kept putting me in fear, —so thy maidservant said—Do let me, I pray you, speak unto the king! peradventure the king will fulfil the request of his handmaid.
16 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.’
For the king can hearken, to rescue his handmaid out of the power of the man who would seek to destroy both me and my son together, out of the inheritance of God.
17 “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.’”
So thy maidservant said, Pray let the word of my lord the king be comforting, —for, as the messenger of God, so is my lord the king, in hearing the good and the bad, Yahweh thy God, then, be with thee.
18 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.”
Then responded the king, and said unto the woman, Nay, now! do not hide from me, the thing which I am about to ask thee. And the woman said, Pray let my lord the king speak.
19 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.
Then said the king, Is, the hand of Joab, with thee, in all this? And the woman answered and said—By the life of thy soul, my lord, O king, there is no way to the right or to the left, of anything that my lord the king hath spoken, for, thy servant Joab himself, charged me, and, himself, put, in the mouth of thy maidservant, all these words:
20 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.”
for the purpose of turning round the face of the matter, hath thy servant Joab done this thing, —my lord being wise, as with the wisdom of a messenger of God, in knowing all that is [done] in the land.
21 Eze sịrị Joab, “Ọ dị mma, aga m eme ya. Gaa kpọghachite nwokorobịa ahụ bụ Absalọm.”
Then said the king unto Joab, See, I pray thee, I a have done this thing, —go then—bring back the young man, Absolom.
22 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.”
So Joab fell with his face to the earth, and did homage, and blessed the king, —and Joab said—To-day, doth thy servant know, that I have found favour in thine eyes, my lord O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of thy servant.
23 Joab biliri gaa Geshua, kpọlata Absalọm na Jerusalem.
And Joab arose, and went to Geshur, —and brought Absolom to Jerusalem.
24 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.
And the king said—Let him go round to his own house, and, my face, let him not see. So Absolom went round, unto his own house, and, the face of the king, saw he not.
25 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.
Now, like unto Absolom, was there no man handsome in all Israel, to be greatly praised, —from the sole of his foot, even unto the crown of his head, there was not, in him, a blemish.
26 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.
And when he polled his head—and it was at every year’s end that he used to poll it, because it was heavy upon him, therefore he used to poll it—he would weigh the hair of his head, two hundred shekels, by the royal standard.
27 Absalọm mụtara ụmụ ndị ikom atọ, na otu nwanyị, aha ya bụ Tama. Nwaagbọghọ a mara mma nke ukwuu.
And there were born to Absolom three sons, and one daughter, whose name, was Tamar, —she, was a woman beautiful to look upon.
28 Mgbe Absalọm nọrọ afọ abụọ na Jerusalem na-ahụghị eze anya,
So Absolom dwelt in Jerusalem two years of days, —and, the face of the king, had he not seen.
29 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.
Then sent Absolom unto Joab, to send him unto the king, but he would not come to him, —so he sent yet a second time, but he would not come.
30 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.
Then said he unto his servants—See, the allotted portion of Joab, adjoineth me, and, he, hath barley there, go, and set it on fire. So the servants of Absolom set the portion on fire.
31 Mgbe ahụ, Joab biliri jee nʼụlọ Absalọm, ma sị ya, “Gịnị mere ndị na-ejere gị ozi ji gbaa ubi m ọkụ?”
Then rose Joab, and went unto Absolom, in his house, —and said unto him, Wherefore, have thy servants set the portion that pertaineth to me, on fire?
32 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.”
And Absolom said unto Joab—Lo! I sent unto thee, saying—Come hither, that I may send thee unto the king, saying—Wherefore, am I come from Geshur? I, might as well have yet been there. Now, therefore, let me see the face of the king, and, if there is in me iniquity, then let him put me to death.
33 Joab gakwuru eze, gwa ya ihe Absalọm kwuru. Mgbe ahụ, eze kpọrọ Absalọm, onye batara ma kpọọ isiala nʼihu eze. Eze sutukwara ya ọnụ.
So Joab came unto the king, and told him, and the king called for Absolom, and he came in unto the king, and bowed himself down with his face to the ground, before the king, —and the king kissed Absolom.
