< 2 Samuel 3 >
1 Agha dị nʼetiti ndị ụlọ Sọl na ụlọ Devid dịịrị ruo oge toro ogologo. Ma ka Devid na-aga nʼihu na-esiwanye ike, ụlọ Sọl na-aga azụ na-ada ada.
There was a long war between those on the side of Saul and those on the side of David. David's side grew stronger, while Saul's side grew weaker.
2 A mụtaara ọtụtụ ụmụ ndị ikom nye Devid mgbe ọ nọ na Hebrọn. Ọkpara ya bụ Amnọn nke, Ahinoam bụ nwanyị Jezril mụrụ.
David's sons born at Hebron were: Amnon (firstborn), by Ahinoam from Jezreel;
3 Nke abụọ bụ Kiliab, nke Abigel, nwunye ochie Nebal, onye Kamel mụrụ. Nke atọ bụ Absalọm, nke Maaka nwa nwanyị Talmai, bụ eze Geshua mụrụ.
Chileab (second), by Abigail, Nabal's widow from Carmel; Absalom (third), by Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur:
4 Nke anọ bụ Adonaịja, nwa nwoke Hagit. Nke ise bụ Shefataya nwa Abital;
Adonijah (fourth), by Haggith; Shephatiah (fifth), by Abital;
5 nke isii bụ Itream, nwa nwoke Egla nwunye Devid. Ndị a ka a mụtaara Devid na Hebrọn.
Ithream (sixth), by David's wife Eglah. These were the sons born to David at Hebron.
6 O ruo, mgbe agha na-aga nʼihu nʼetiti ụlọ Sọl na ụlọ Devid, na Abna nọ na-eme ka ọnọdụ ya sie ike nʼụlọ Sọl.
Abner had been strengthening his position among the supporters of Saul's dynasty during the war between those on the side of Saul and those on the side of David.
7 Ma Sọl nwererịị otu iko nwanyị aha ya bụ Rizpa, nwa Aịa. Ishboshet jụrụ Abna ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị mere gị na iko nwanyị nna m ji dinaa?”
Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. One day Ishbosheth accused Abner, saying “Why have you been sleeping with my father's concubine?”
8 Iwe were Abna nke ukwuu nʼihi ihe Ishboshet kwuru. Ya mere, ọ zara, “Ọ bụ isi nkịta nke ụlọ Juda ka m bụ? Taa ka m ji obi m niile na-ejere ụlọ nna gị, bụ Sọl, na ezinaụlọ ya, na ndị enyi ya ozi. Ewerebeghị m gị nyefee nʼaka Devid. Ma lee, ugbu a i na-ebo m ebubo ajọ omume nʼihe metụtara nwanyị a.
Abner got extremely angry at Ishbosheth accusation. “Am I a dog's head siding with Judah?” he replied. “Right up to the present day I have been loyal to your dynasty—to your father Saul, and to his brothers and friends. I haven't betrayed you to David. But now you dare to accuse me of sinning with this woman!
9 Ka Chineke mesoo Abna mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na m emereghị Devid ihe ndị ahụ niile Onyenwe anyị sitere nʼịṅụ iyi kwee nkwa inye ya.
So now may God punish me severely if I don't help David achieve what the Lord has promised him.
10 Ịnapụ ụlọ Sọl alaeze ahụ, na ime ka ocheeze Devid guzosie ike nʼebe Izrel niile na Juda niile nọ, site na Dan ruo Bịasheba.”
I will hand over the kingdom from Saul's dynasty, and help set up David's rule over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11 Ishboshet ekwughị ihe ọbụla nʼihi na ọ na-atụ Abna egwu.
Ishbosheth didn't dare to say anything else to Abner because he was frightened of him.
12 Ngwangwa, Abna zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha jekwuru Devid sị ya, “Onye nwee ala a? Ka mụ na gị gbaa ndụ. Aga m enyere gị aka kpọghachite ndị Izrel ka ha dịnyeere gị.”
Then Abner sent messengers to speak for him to David, saying, “Who does the country belong to anyway? Make an agreement with me, and you can be sure I'll be on your side to have all of Israel follow you.”
13 Devid sịrị, “Ọ dị mma. Mụ na unu ga-agba ndụ. Ma ọ dị otu ihe m chọrọ nʼaka unu. Unu agaghị ahụ ihu m anya ma ọ bụrụ na unu eduteghị Mikal, nwa Sọl, mgbe unu ga-abịa ịhụ m.”
“Fine,” David replied, “I'll make an agreement with you. But I have one condition: I won't see you unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come.”
14 Devid ziri Ishboshet nwa Sọl ozi sị ya, “Dulatara m nwunye m Mikal, nʼihi na ọ bụ narị apị ndị Filistia ka m ji lụtara ya onwe m.”
Then David sent messengers tell Ishbosheth, son of Saul, “Give me back my wife Michal—I paid a dowry for her of one hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 Na-atụfughị oge, Ishboshet nyere iwu ka e site nʼaka di ya bụ Paltiel, nwa Laish, kpọpụta ya.
Ishbosheth sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish.
16 Mgbe ha du ya na-aga, Paltiel sogidere ya nʼazụ na-akwa akwa tutu ha eruo Bahurim. Nʼebe ahụ ka Abna nọ sị ya, “Laghachi ugbu a.” Ọ tụgharịrị laa.
Her husband followed her to the town of Bahurim, crying as he went. Then Abner ordered him, “Go back home!” So he went home.
17 Abna na ndị okenye Izrel kparịtara ụka. Ọ chetaara ha sị ha, “Ọ dịla anya kemgbe unu na-achọ ka Devid bụrụ eze unu.
Abner spoke with the elders of Israel and said, “For a while now you have wanted to have David as your king.
18 Ugbu a meenụ ya, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị kweere Devid nkwa, ‘Site nʼaka ohu m bụ Devid ka m ga-esi zọpụta ndị m bụ Izrel site nʼaka ndị Filistia, nakwa site nʼaka ndị iro ha niile.’”
Now is the time to do it, because the Lord promised David, ‘Through my servant David I am going to save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their enemies.’”
19 Abna gwakwara ndị Benjamin okwu. Emesịa, o jere Hebrọn ịgwa Devid ihe niile ndị Izrel na ndị Benjamin zubere ime.
Abner also talked to the people of Benjamin, and went to Hebron to let David know everything that the Israelites and the whole tribe of Benjamin had decided to do.
20 Abna, ya na iri ndị ikom abụọ so gakwuru Devid na Hebrọn. Mgbe ha ruru, Devid meere ha oke oriri.
Abner came with twenty of his men to see David at Hebron, and David prepared a feast for them.
21 Mgbe ahụ, Abna sịrị Devid, “Ka m gaa ngwangwa ga kpọkọtaa ndị Izrel niile, nye onyenwe m bụ eze, ka gị na ha gbaa ndụ, ka ị bụrụ eze ndị niile mkpụrụobi gị na-achọsi ike.” Ya mere Devid zilara Abna. Ọ laa nʼudo.
Abner told David, “Let me go immediately and summon all of Israel to come together for my lord the king, so they may make an agreement with you, and that you may rule over all you would wish.” Then David sent Abner safely on his way.
22 Nʼotu mgbe ahụ, ndị ikom Devid na Joab si nʼebe ha gara ịpụnara ndị mmadụ ihe lọta, bukọrọ ọtụtụ ihe nkwata. Ma Abna anọghịkwa na Hebrọn ya na Devid, nʼihi na Devid ezipụla ya, ọ pụọla nʼudo.
Soon after Joab and David's men came back from a raid, bringing with them a large amount of plunder. However, Abner wasn't there with David in Hebron because David had already sent him safely on his way in peace.
23 Mgbe Joab na ndị agha ya lọtara, a kọọrọ ya na Abna, nwa Nea, bịara hụ eze, na ọ laakwala nʼudo.
When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, he was told, “Abner, son of Ner, came to see the king, who sent him safely on his way.”
24 Ya mere Joab jekwuuru eze sị ya, “Gịnị ka i mere? Lee, Abna bịakwutere gị. Gịnị mere i ji hapụ ya ka ọ laa? Lee ya ugbu a, ọ laala!
Joab went to the king and asked, “What do you think you're doing? Here's Abner, who came to see you. Why on earth did you send him on his way? Now he's got clean away!
25 Ị maara onye Abna nwa Nea bụ? Ọ bịara ịghọ gị aghụghọ, na inyocha njegharị gị, ịchọpụta ihe niile ị na-eme.”
You do see that Abner, son of Ner, came here to trick you, to spy on the movements of your army, and to find out everything you're doing!”
26 Mgbe Joab si nʼihu Devid pụta, o zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha sochie Abna azụ, gwa ya ka ọ laghachi. Ha hụrụ ya nʼolulu mmiri Sira. O sokwara ha laghachi, ma Devid amaghị ihe banyere nke a.
When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner. They met up with him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, but David didn't know anything about it.
27 Mgbe Abna lọghachiri na Hebrọn, Joab duuru ya gaa nʼakụkụ ọnụ ụzọ ama, dịka ọ chọrọ ka ha kparịtaa ụka. Ngwangwa, ọ mịpụtara nwa mma ya, jiri ya magbuo Abna, nʼihi ịbọ ọbọ ọbara nwanne ya, bụ Asahel.
When Abner arrived back in Hebron, Joab took him aside into the town gatehouse as if he was going to talk with him in private. But Joab stabbed him in the belly, killing him in revenge for killing Joab's brother Asahel.
28 Mgbe emesịrị, Devid nụrụ banyere ya, ọ sịrị, “Aka m dị ọcha, ya na nke alaeze m nʼihu Onyenwe anyị banyere ọbara Abna, nwa Nea.
When David heard about this later he said, “I and my kingdom are totally innocent before the Lord regarding the death of Abner, son of Ner!
29 Ka ikpe ọmụma a dakwasị Joab nʼisi, nakwa ezinaụlọ nna ya niile, ka a gharakwa ịhụ nʼụlọ Joab onye na-adịghị arịa ọrịa ahụ ihe ntokasị, maọbụ ọrịa ekpenta, maọbụ onye ji mkpara eji akpa akwa, maọbụ onye ga-anwụ site na mma agha, maọbụ onye ụkọ nri adịghị akọ.”
May the guilt for his death fall on Joab and his family! May Joab's descendants always have someone who has running sores or leprosy or is crippled or who is killed by the sword or who is starving.”
30 Ya mere, Joab na Abishai nwanne ya gburu Abna, nʼihi na Abna gburu nwanne ha Asahel nʼagha Gibiọn.
(This is why Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel during the battle at Gibeon.)
31 Emesịa, Devid kpọrọ Joab na ndị niile so ya sị ha, “Dọwaanụ uwe unu, yikwasị onwe unu akwa mkpe, jegharịakwanụ nʼọnọdụ iru ụjụ nʼihi Abna.” Eze, bụ Devid nʼonwe ya so ndị bu ozu Abna nʼazụ.
Then David ordered Joab and everyone who was there, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” King David himself followed the body as it was carried to the grave.
32 Ha liri Abna na Hebrọn. Eze na ndị Izrel niile kwara akwa nʼakụkụ ili ahụ nʼihi Abna.
They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king cried loudly at the grave, along with all the people.
33 Eze bụrụ abụ akwa nʼihi Abna, sị, “O kwesiri ka Abna nwụọ dịka onye nzuzu?
The king sang this lament for Abner: “Did Abner deserve to die like a criminal?
34 E kekwaghị aka gị abụọ ihe. E kekwaghị ụkwụ gị abụọ agbụ. Ị nwụrụ dịka onye ndị ajọ omume gburu.” Mmadụ niile bekwara akwa ọzọ nʼihi ya.
Your hands were not tied together, your feet were not in shackles. But just like a murderer's victim, you too were killed.” All the people cried for him even more.
35 Mgbe ahụ, ndị mmadụ bịakwutere Devid rịọọ ka o ritụ ihe, mgbe ìhè ụbọchị ka dị, ma Devid ṅụrụ iyi sị, “Ka Chineke mesoo m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na m edetụ achịcha maọbụ ihe ọbụla ọzọ ọnụ tutu ruo mgbe anyanwụ dara.”
Then people came to David and tried to persuade him to have something to eat during the day. But David swore an oath, saying, “May God punish me severely if I eat bread or anything else before sunset!”
36 Ndị mmadụ nụrụ ihe o kwuru, okwu ahụ tọkwara ha ụtọ. Nʼezie, ihe niile eze mere tọrọ ha ụtọ.
Everyone saw this and thought it was the right thing to do, in the same way that they thought everything the king did was the right thing to do.
37 Nʼụbọchị ndị mmadụ niile nọ ebe ahụ ka Izrel niile matara na eze amaghị ihe banyere ọnwụ Abna, nwa Nea.
That day everyone in Judah and throughout Israel realized that David had not ordered Abner's murder.
38 Devid jụrụ ndị ikom ya ajụjụ sị, “Unu ghọtakwara na onye a dara nʼIzrel taa bụ nwa eze na onye dị mkpa?
Then the king said to his officers, “Don't you recognize that a commander and a truly great man has fallen in Israel today?
39 Ọ bụ ezie na m bụ onye Onyenwe anyị tere mmanụ ịbụ eze, ma o nweghị ihe m pụrụ ime ụmụ ndị ikom Zeruaya ndị a, nʼihi na ha dị ike karịa m. Ka Onyenwe anyị kwụghachi onye ọjọọ ihe ọjọọ ọ mere.”
I am weak right now, even though I'm anointed as king and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too powerful for me. But may the Lord repay the evil man according to the evil he has done.”