2 Samuele 18
1 Davidi atangaki basoda oyo bazalaki elongo na ye; mpe kati na bango, aponaki bakonzi ya bankoto mpe bakonzi ya bankama.
David arranged his soldiers for the battle. He divided them into groups, and appointed a commander for each 100 soldiers and a commander for each 1,000 soldiers.
2 Davidi apesaki mitindo na mampinga ete bakende. Akabolaki bango na masanga misato: lisanga ya liboso ekambamaki na Joabi; ya mibale, na Abishayi, ndeko mobali ya Joabi, mwana mobali ya Tseruya; mpe ya misato, na Itayi, moto ya Gati. Mokonzi alobaki na masanga ya mampinga ete ye moko akokende solo elongo na bango.
He sent them out in three groups. Joab commanded one group, Joab’s brother Abishai commanded a second group, and Ittai from Gath commanded the third group. David said to them, “I myself will go with you [to the battle].”
3 Kasi basoda balobaki: — Okoki kobima te elongo na biso, pamba te soki ekosenga ete tokima, bakotala biso te. Ezala kati-kati ya bato kati na biso bakufi, bakotala yango te, kasi yo; okokani na bato nkoto zomi kati na biso. Nzokande, ekoleka malamu mpo na yo kosungaka biso tango nyonso wuta na engumba.
But his soldiers said, “No, we will not allow you to go with us. If they force us all to run away, they will not be concerned about that happening. Or if they kill half of us, that will also not be what they want. To them, [killing] you is more important than [killing] 10,000 of us. So it will be better that you [stay here] in the city and send help to us.”
4 Mokonzi azongisaki: — Nakosala makambo nyonso oyo bomoni ete ezali malamu. Boye wana bato bazalaki kobima na masanga ya bankama mpe ya bankoto, mokonzi atelemaki pembeni ya ekuke.
The king replied, “Okay, I will do whatever seems best to you.” So he stood at the gate [and watched] while his soldiers marched out, group by group.
5 Apesaki mitindo oyo epai ya Joabi, Abishayi mpe Itayi: « Na kombo na ngai, bosala malembe na elenge mobali Abisalomi. » Basoda nyonso bayokaki mokonzi kopesa mitindo na mokambi moko na moko, na tina na Abisalomi.
[While they were leaving, ] the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “For my sake, do not harm my son Absalom!” And all the troops heard it when David gave that order about Absalom to those three commanders.
6 Mampinga etambolaki kati na zamba mpo na kobundisa Isalaele, mpe bitumba ezalaki kati na zamba ya Efrayimi.
So the army went out to fight against the Israeli soldiers [who were with Absalom]. They fought the battle in the forest [where people from the tribe] of Ephraim [lived].
7 Kuna, mampinga ya Davidi elongaki mampinga ya Isalaele, mpe basoda nkoto tuku mibale bakufaki mokolo wana kati na mampinga ya Isalaele.
David’s soldiers defeated Absalom’s soldiers. They killed 20,000 of them!
8 Bitumba epanzanaki mboka mobimba; mpe mokolo wana, bato oyo bakufaki kati na zamba bazalaki ebele koleka bato oyo bakufaki na mopanga.
The battle was fought {They fought the battle} all over that area, and the number of men who died because of [dangerous things in] the forest [PRS] was greater than the number of men who were killed (in the battle/by swords).
9 Abisalomi akutanaki na bato ya Davidi na mbalakata. Azalaki kotambola na likolo ya mile na ye. Bongo tango mile ekimaki, ekotaki na se ya nzete ya terebente oyo ezalaki na bitape ekangana-kangana, mpe moto ya Abisalomi ekangamaki na nzete. Abisalomi atikalaki ya kodiembela na likolo, kasi mile oyo azalaki kotambolisa ekobaki kokima mbangu.
During the battle, Absalom suddenly came near [some of] David’s soldiers. Absalom was riding on his mule; and when the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head/hair was caught in the branches. The mule kept going, but Absalom was left dangling in the air.
10 Tango moko kati na basoda amonaki ye, alobaki na Joabi: — Namoni Abisalomi amidiembiki na nzete ya terebente.
One of David’s soldiers saw what happened, and went and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11 Joabi alobaki na moto oyo ayebisaki ye likambo yango: — Boni, omoni ye? Mpo na nini obomaki ye te mbala moko? Soki obomaki ye, nalingaki kopesa yo bagrame pene nkama moko ya palata mpe mokaba.
Joab said to the man, “What? You say that you saw him hanging there, so why did you not kill him immediately [RHQ]? [If you had killed him, ] I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt!”
12 Kasi moto yango azongiselaki Joabi: — Ezala soki batie mbongo ya bibende ya palata, nkoto moko na maboko na ngai, nakosembola loboko na ngai te mpo na koboma mwana ya mokonzi. Pamba te toyokaki mitindo oyo mokonzi apesaki epai na yo, epai na Abishayi mpe epai na Itayi, tango alobaki: « Na kombo na ngai, bosala mabe te na elenge mobali Abisalomi. »
The man replied to Joab, “Even if you gave me 1,000 pieces of silver, I would not have done anything to harm [IDM] the king’s son. We all heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, do not harm my son Absalom!’
13 Eloko moko te ebombamaka na miso ya mokonzi. Bongo soki natosaki mokonzi te mpe soki nabomaki Abisalomi, yo olingaki na yo kokotela ngai te.
If I had disobeyed the king and killed Absalom, the king would have heard about it, because the king hears about everything, and even you would not have defended me!”
14 Joabi alobaki: — Nakoki te kolekisa tango na ngai elongo na yo. Boye azwaki makonga misato na maboko na ye mpe atubaki yango na motema ya Abisalomi oyo azalaki nanu ya bomoi kati na nzete ya terebente.
Joab said, “I am not going to waste time talking to you!” Then he took three spears [and went to where Absalom was], and thrust them into Absalom’s chest/heart while he was still alive, dangling from the oak tree.
15 Sima, bilenge mibali zomi oyo bamemaki bibundeli ya Joabi, bazingaki Abisalomi, babetaki ye mpe babomaki ye.
Then ten young men who carried weapons for Joab surrounded Absalom and [finished] killing him.
16 Joabi abetaki kelelo, mpe masanga ya mampinga etikaki kolanda Isalaele, pamba te apekisaki bango.
Then Joab blew his trumpet [to signal that they should not fight any more], and his soldiers returned from pursuing those Israeli soldiers.
17 Bazwaki Abisalomi, babwakaki ye na zamba kati na libulu moko ya monene mpe bazipaki ye na se ya mopiku ya mabanga. Na tango wana, basoda nyonso ya Isalaele bakimaki na bandako na bango.
They took Absalom’s body and threw it into a huge pit in the forest, and covered it with a huge pile of stones. Then all the remaining Israeli soldiers [who had been with Absalom] fled to their own towns.
18 Nzokande, wana Abisalomi azalaki nanu na bomoi, azwaki libanga ya ekaniseli mpe atelemisaki yango na lubwaku ya mokonzi lokola ekaniseli mpo na ye, pamba te amilobelaki: « Nazali te na mwana mobali oyo akoki komema kombo na ngai lokola ekaniseli. » Boye apesaki libanga yango kombo na ye, mpe yango wana babengaka yango kino lelo « Ekaniseli ya Abisalomi. »
Absalom had no sons to preserve his [family] name. So, while Absalom was alive, he built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley [near Jerusalem, in order that people would remember him]. He put his name on the monument, and people still call it Absalom’s monument.
19 Ayimaatsi, mwana mobali ya Tsadoki, alobaki na Joabi: — Pesa ngai nzela ya kokima mbangu mpo na kokende koyebisa mokonzi ete Yawe akangoli ye na maboko ya banguna na ye.
[After Absalom had been killed, ] Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said to Joab, “Allow me to run to the king to tell him the good news that Yahweh has rescued him from the power of his enemies!”
20 Joabi alobaki na ye: — Ezali yo te moto osengeli komema sango na mokolo ya lelo; okoki na yo komema sango mokolo mosusu, kasi mpo na lelo, osengeli te kosala yango, pamba te moto oyo akufi azali mwana ya mokonzi.
But Joab said to him, “No, I will not allow you to take news to the king today. Some other day I will allow you to take some news, but not today. [If you took news today it would not be good news for the king, ] because his son is dead.”
21 Bongo Joabi alobaki na moto moko ya Kushi: — Kende koloba na mokonzi makambo oyo omoni. Moto ya Kushi agumbamaki liboso ya Joabi mpe akendeki mbangu.
Then Joab said to David’s servant who was from Ethiopia, “You go and tell the king what you have seen.” So the man from Ethiopia bowed in front of Joab, and started to run.
22 Ayimaatsi, mwana mobali ya Tsadoki, alobaki lisusu na Joabi: — Oyo ekoya eya! Pesa ngai nzela mpo ete nakende mbangu liboso ya moto ya Kushi. Kasi Joabi azongisaki: — Mwana na ngai ya mobali, mpo na nini olingi kaka kokende? Ezali na yango te sango oyo ekopesa yo lifuti.
Then Ahimaaz said again to Joab, “Even though [that man from Ethiopia is running], allow me to run behind him.” Joab replied, “My boy/son, why do you want to do that? You will not receive any reward for your news!”
23 Ayimaatsi alobaki: — Oyo ekoya eya! Nandimi kokima mbangu. Joabi alobaki: — Kima mbangu! Boye Ayimaatsi akimaki mbangu na nzela ya etando ya Yordani mpe alekaki moto ya Kushi.
But Ahimaaz replied, “That does not matter, I want to go.” So Joab said, “Okay, go.” So Ahimaaz ran along [another] road through the Jordan Valley and arrived [where David was] before the man from Ethiopia arrived.
24 Na tango yango, Davidi avandaki kati ya ekuke ya kati mpe ekuke ya libanda, mpe mokengeli amataki na likolo ya ndako ya ekuke, pembeni ya mir. Tango atombolaki miso, amonaki mwana mobali moko kokima mbangu ye moko.
David was sitting between the outer gate and the inner gate [of the city]. The watchman/lookout went up on top of the city wall and stood on the roof over the gates. He looked out and saw one man running alone.
25 Mokengeli agangaki epai ya mokonzi mpe ayebisaki ye. Mokonzi alobaki: « Soki azali ye moko, wana azali na basango malamu. » Moto azalaki kaka kopusana.
The watchman called down and reported it to the king. The king said, “If he is alone, [that indicates/means that] he is bringing [good] news.” The man who was running continued to come closer.
26 Bongo mokengeli amonaki moto mosusu kokima mbangu, mpe abelelaki mokengeli ekuke: — Tala, moto mosusu azali kokima mbangu ye moko. Mokonzi alobaki: — Ye mpe amemi basango malamu.
Then the watchman saw another man running. So he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look! There is another man running!” And the king said, “He also is bringing [some good] news.”
27 Mokengeli alobaki: — Namoni moto ya liboso kokima mbangu lokola Ayimaatsi, mwana mobali ya Tsadoki. Mokonzi alobaki: — Azali moto malamu, azali koya na basango malamu.
The watchman said, “I think the first man [must be Ahimaaz, because he] is running like Ahimaaz runs.” The king said, “He is a good man, and [I am sure] he is coming with good news.”
28 Bongo Ayimaatsi abelelaki mokonzi: — Makambo nyonso ezali malamu! Agumbamaki liboso ya mokonzi elongi kino na mabele mpe alobaki: — Tika ete Yawe, Nzambe na yo, apambolama! Akabi bato oyo batombolaki maboko na bango mpo na kobundisa mokonzi, nkolo na ngai.
[When] Ahimaaz [reached the king, he] called out “I hope/desire that things will go well with you!” Then he prostrated himself on the ground in front of the king and said, “Your Majesty, praise Yahweh our God, who has rescued you from the men who were rebelling against you!”
29 Mokonzi atunaki: — Boni elenge mobali Abisalomi, azali malamu? Ayimaatsi azongisaki: — Namonaki mobulu makasi kaka tango Joabi alingaki kotinda mosali ya mokonzi mpe ngai, mosali na yo, kasi nayebaki te soki ezalaki likambo nini.
The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe/all right?” Ahimaaz [did not want to answer that question, so he] replied, “When Joab sent me, I saw that there was a lot of confusion, but I do not know what it was about.”
30 Mokonzi alobaki: — Telema pembeni mpe zela ngai wana. Boye akendeki mpe atelemaki wana.
Then the king said, “Stand aside.” So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood there.
31 Bongo moto ya Kushi akomaki mpe alobaki: — Mokonzi, nkolo na ngai, yoka basango malamu! Yawe akangoli yo lelo na maboko ya bato oyo babundisaki yo.
Suddenly the man from Ethiopia arrived, and said, “Your Majesty, I have good news for you! Yahweh has enabled your soldiers to defeat all those who rebelled against you!”
32 Mokonzi atunaki na moto ya Kushi: — Boni elenge mobali Abisalomi, azali malamu? Moto ya Kushi azongisaki: — Tika ete banguna ya mokonzi, nkolo na ngai, mpe bato nyonso oyo bazali kotelema mpo na kosala yo mabe bazala lokola elenge mobali wana.
The king said to him, “Is the young man Absalom safe/all right?” And the man from Ethiopia replied, “Sir, I wish/desire that what happened to him would happen to all of your enemies and to all those who rebel against you!”
33 Mokonzi ayokaki pasi na motema, amataki na shambre oyo ezalaki na likolo ya ekuke mpe alelaki. Tango azalaki kokende, alobaki: « Ah Abisalomi, mwana na ngai ya mobali! Mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana na ngai ya mobali Abisalomi! Ebongaki ete nakufa na esika na yo! Oh Abisalomi, mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana na ngai ya mobali! »
The king [realized that he meant that Absalom was dead, so he] became (extremely distressed/overcome with grief), and he went up to the room above the gateway and cried. While he was going up, he kept crying out, “O, my son Absalom! My son! O, my son Absalom, I desire/wish that I had died instead of you!”
