< 2 Samwiri 3 >
1 Awo ne wabangawo entalo wakati w’ennyumba ya Sawulo n’ennyumba ya Dawudi okumala ebbanga ddene. Dawudi n’akulaakulana, n’aba w’amaanyi, naye ennyumba ya Sawulo ne yeeyongeranga okunafuwa.
There was a long war between those who wanted Saul’s son to be their king and those who wanted David to be their king. But more and more people began to want David to be the king, while the number of people who wanted Saul’s son to be the king continued to become smaller.
2 Dawudi n’azaalirwa abaana aboobulenzi e Kebbulooni. Omuggulanda yali Amunoni eyazaalibwa Akinoamu Omuyezuleeri,
David’s wives gave birth to six sons at Hebron. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel [city].
3 owookubiri yali Kireyaabu eyazaalibwa Abbigayiri nnamwandu wa Nabali Omukalumeeri, n’owookusatu yali Abusaalomu eyazaalibwa Maaka muwala wa Talumaayi kabaka w’e Gesuli;
The next one was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel [city]. The next one was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of [the] Geshur [region].
4 n’owookuna yali Adoniya eyazaalibwa Kaggisi, n’owokutaano yali Sefatiya eyazaalibwa Abitali;
The next one was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next one was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
5 n’ow’omukaaga yali Isuleyamu, eyazaalibwa Egula mukyala wa Dawudi. Abo be baazaalirwa Dawudi mu Kebbulooni.
The youngest one was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, [another one of] David’s wives. Those sons of David were all born in Hebron.
6 Entalo n’enkaayana nga zikyagenda mu maaso wakati w’ennyumba ya Sawulo n’ennyumba ya Dawudi, Abuneeri n’anyweza ekifo kye mu nnyumba ya Sawulo.
While those who wanted Saul’s son to rule over them and those who wanted David to rule over them continued to fight against each other, Abner was becoming more influential among those who wanted Saul’s son to be the king.
7 Sawulo yalina omuzaana erinnya lye Lizupa muwala wa Aya. Isubosesi n’abuuza Abuneeri nti, “Lwaki weetaba n’omuzaana wa kitange?”
When Saul was alive, he had as one of his wives a slave woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. [But one day Abner had sexual relations with her]. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you had sexual relations with [EUP] my father’s slave wife?”
8 Awo Abuneeri n’asunguwala nnyo olw’ekigambo Isubosesi kye yamugamba, n’amuddamu nti, “Nze mutwe gw’embwa ya Yuda? Mbadde wa kisa eri ennyumba ya kitaawo Sawulo, n’eri baganda be, ne mikwano gye, ne sibawaayo mu mukono gwa Dawudi. Kaakano onteekako omusango olw’omukazi oyo.
Abner became very angry about what Ishbosheth said to him. He said to Ishbosheth, “(Do you think that I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah?/You are treating me as though I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah.) [RHQ] From the beginning, I have been loyal to Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends. And I have prevented you from being defeated by David’s army. So now (why are you criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman?/you should not be criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman.) [RHQ]
9 Katonda akole Abuneeri bw’atyo n’okukirawo, bwe siituukirize ekyo Mukama kye yalayirira Dawudi,
Yahweh solemnly promised that he would not allow Saul and his descendants to continue to rule. He promised that he would cause David to rule over all the tribes of Israel and Judah, from Dan [city] far in the north to Beersheba [city] far in the south. So I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I do not enable that to happen!”
10 okuggya obwakabaka ku nnyumba ya Sawulo, n’okunyweza entebe ey’obwakabaka eya Dawudi okufuga Isirayiri ne Yuda okuva ku Ddaani okutuuka e Beeruseba.”
11 Isubosesi n’ataŋŋaanga kwanukula Abuneeri kigambo kirala, olw’okumutya.
Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner, so he did not say anything in reply to Abner.
12 Awo Abuneeri n’atumira Dawudi ababaka okumugamba nti, “Ensi y’ani? Kola endagaano nange, laba nnaafuula Isirayiri yonna okuba eyiyo.”
Then Abner sent messengers to David [when he was at Hebron], to say to him, “[Either you or I] should be [RHQ] the ruler of this entire nation, [but not Isbosheth. However, ] if you make an agreement with me, I will help you by encouraging all the people of Israel to (be want you to be their king/start to support) you.”
13 Dawudi n’ayogera nti, “Kirungi. Nzija okukola endagaano naawe. Naye ekintu kimu kye nkusaba. Tojja mu maaso gange okuggyako ng’ojja ne Mikali muwala wa Sawulo, ng’ojja okundaba.”
David sent back this reply: “Good! I am willing to make an agreement with you. But before that happens, there is one thing that you must do. When you come to see me, you must bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter.”
14 Awo Dawudi n’atumira Isubosesi mutabani wa Sawulo ababaka ng’agamba nti, “Mpa mukyala wange Mikali gwe nayogereza n’ebikuta ekikumi eby’Abafirisuuti.”
Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, to say to him, “I [had to kill] 100 men from Philistia [and cut off] their foreskins to give to Saul to pay for Michal [to be my wife]. So now give her back to me!”
15 Amangwago Isubosesi n’alagira, bamuggye ku bba Palutiyeri mutabani wa Layisi.
So Ishbosheth sent some men to take Michal from her husband Palti. But [when they took her, ] her husband followed them all the way to Bahurim [town], crying as he went.
16 Naye bba we n’abagoberera, nga bw’akaaba okutuukira ddala, e Bakulimu. Abuneeri n’amugamba nti, “Ddayo eka. N’addayo.”
Then Abner [turned and] said to him, “Go back [home]!”, so he did.
17 Abuneeri n’ateesa n’abakadde ba Isirayiri, n’abagamba nti, “Mumaze ebbanga nga mwagala okufuula Dawudi kabaka wammwe.
Abner went to the Israeli leaders and talked with them. He said, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
18 Kaakano mukituukirize, kubanga Mukama yasuubiza Dawudi nti, ‘Ndirokola abantu bange Isirayiri okuva mu mukono gw’Abafirisuuti ne mu mukono gw’abalabe baabwe bonna, nga nkozesa omuddu wange Dawudi.’”
So now you have an opportunity to do that. Keep in mind that Yahweh promised this: ‘With the help of David, who serves me [well], I will rescue my people from the people of Philistia, and from the power [MTY] of all their other enemies’.”
19 Abuneeri n’agenda n’eri Ababenyamini n’ayogera nabo, n’oluvannyuma n’agenda n’ategeeza Dawudi e Kebbulooni, ebyo byonna Isirayiri n’ennyumba ya Benyamini bye baasalawo okukola.
Abner also spoke to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron, to tell David what all the people of Israel and the people of the tribe of Benjamin had agreed to do.
20 Awo Abuneeri n’agenda n’abasajja amakumi abiri ewa Dawudi e Kebbulooni, Dawudi n’abategekera embaga nnene.
When Abner came with 20 of his soldiers to see David at Hebron, David made a feast for all of them.
21 Abuneeri n’agamba Dawudi nti, “Ka ŋŋenderewo mukama wange Kabaka, nkuŋŋaanye Isirayiri yenna, bakole endagaano naawe, obafuge ng’omutima gwo bwe gunaasiima.” Awo Dawudi n’asindika Abuneeri agende, n’agenda mirembe.
Afterwards, Abner said to David, “Sir/Your majesty, I will now go and encourage all the people of Israel to accept you to be their king, as you have desired.” Then Abner left, peacefully.
22 Awo abasajja ba Dawudi ne bakomawo ne Yowaabu, nga baleese omunyago munene ddala. Naye we baakomerawo nga Abuneeri takyali ne Dawudi e Kebbulooni, kubanga yali amusiibudde agende mirembe.
Soon after that, Joab and some of David’s other soldiers returned [to Hebron] after raiding [one of their enemies’ villages], bringing with them a lot of things that they had captured. But Abner was not there at Hebron, because David had sent him safely home.
23 Yowaabu n’eggye lyonna bwe baatuuka, Yowaabu n’ategeezebwa nga Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri bwe yazze eri kabaka, naye kabaka n’amusiibula, n’agenda mirembe.
When Joab and the soldiers who were with him arrived, someone told him that Abner had come there and talked with the king, and that the king allowed to go home safely.
24 Awo Yowaabu n’agenda eri kabaka n’amugamba nti, “Wakoze ki ekyo, okuleka Abuneeri n’agenda?
So Joab went to the king and said, “Why have you done that? Listen to me! Abner [is your enemy, but] when he came to you, you allowed him [RHQ] to leave!
25 Okimanyi nga Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri, yazze okukubuzaabuza, n’okuketta ennyingira yo n’enfuluma yo, ne byonna by’okola?”
Do you not know that he came to you to deceive you and to find out everything that you are doing, and all the places that you go to?”
26 Yowaabu n’ava mu maaso ga Dawudi, n’atuma ababaka okugoberera Abuneeri, era ne bamukomyawo okuva ku luzzi lwa Siira, naye Dawudi n’atakimanya.
After Joab left David, he sent some messengers to get Abner. They found him at Sirah Well, and brought him back to Hebron, but David did not know that they had done that.
27 Awo Abuneeri bwe yakomawo e Kebbulooni, Yowaabu n’amutwala ku bbali w’omulyango, ne yeefuula ng’ayogera naye mu kyama, n’amufumita mu lubuto n’afa. Ekyo Yowaabu y’akikola okumusasula olw’omusaayi gwa Asakeri muganda we.
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city gate, and took him aside as though he wanted to speak with him privately. Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach [with his knife/sword]. In that way he murdered Abner because Abner had killed [MTY] Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 Oluvannyuma Dawudi bwe yakiwulira, n’ayogera nti, “Nze n’obwakabaka bwange tetulivunaanibwa ennaku zonna mu maaso ga Mukama olw’omusaayi gwa Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri.
Later, after David heard what had happened, he said, “Yahweh knows that I and the people of my kingdom are not at all (responsible for/guilty of) murdering [MTY] Abner.
29 Omusaayi gwe gubeerenga ku mutwe gwa Yowaabu ne ku nnyumba ya kitaawe, era mu nnyumba ya Yowaabu mulemenga okubulamu omuziku newaakubadde omugenge, newaakubadde omulema newaakubadde alifa n’ekitala, newaakubadde alibulwa emmere.”
I hope/desire that Joab and all his family will be punished [MTY] for doing that! I hope/desire that there will always be someone in his family who has sores, or someone who is a leper, or some man who is forced to do women’s work, or someone who is killed in a battle, or someone who does not have enough food to eat!”
30 Yowaabu ne Abisaayi muganda we ne batta Abuneeri kubanga yatta muganda waabwe Asakeri mu lutalo e Gibyoni.
That is how Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 Awo Dawudi n’agamba Yowaabu n’abantu bonna abaali naye nti, “Mwambale ebibukutu, mukungubagire mu maaso ga Abuneeri.” Kabaka Dawudi yennyini n’atambulira emabega w’essanduuko omwali omulambo.
Then David said to Joab and to all Joab’s soldiers, “Tear your clothes and put on coarse cloth [to show that you are sad], and mourn for Abner!” And [at the funeral], King David walked behind [the men who were carrying] the coffin.
32 Abuneeri n’aziikibwa e Kebbulooni, kabaka n’akaaba n’eddoboozi ddene awamu n’abantu bonna ku ntaana ya Abuneeri.
They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. And at the grave, the king cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
33 Kabaka n’akungubagira Abuneeri, ng’agamba nti, “Abuneeri teyandifudde ng’omusirusiru bw’afa.
David sang this sad song to lament for Abner: “It is not right that [RHQ] Abner died like outlaws die!
34 Emikono gyo tegyasibibwa, so n’ebigere byo tebyateekebwa mu masamba. Ng’omuntu bw’agwa mu maaso g’abo abatali batuukirivu, bwe wagwa bw’otyo.” Abantu bonna ne bamukungubagira.
No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, [like they do to criminals]. No, he was murdered by wicked men!”
35 Oluvannyuma bonna ne bagezaako okuwaliriza Dawudi alye ku mmere ng’obudde bukyalaba, naye n’alayira ng’agamba nti, “Katonda ankole bw’atyo n’okukirawo, bwe nnaakomba ku mmere oba ku kintu kyonna, okutuusa enjuba ng’emaze okugwa.”
Then many [HYP] people came to David to tell him to eat some food before sunset, but David refused. He said, “I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I eat any food before the sun goes down!”
36 Awo abantu bonna ne bakitegeera era ne kibasanyusa. Byonna kabaka bye yakolanga ne bisiimibwanga abantu.
All the people saw what David did, and they were pleased. Truly, everything that the king did pleased the people.
37 Era ku lunaku olwo abantu bonna ne Isirayiri yenna ne bategeera nga kabaka teyasiima kuttibwa kwa Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri.
So all the people realized that the king had not wanted Abner to be killed.
38 Awo kabaka n’agamba abantu be nti, “Temumanyi nga leero mu Isirayiri mufuddemu omukungu era omusajja omuzira?
The king said to his officials, “(Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel?/You should realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel.) [RHQ]
39 Era leero, newaakubadde nga nze kabaka eyafukibwako amafuta, ndimunafu olw’abaana ba Zeruyiya abampitiriddeko obukakanyavu. Mukama asasule bw’atyo omukozi w’ebibi olw’ebikolwa bye!”
Even though Yahweh appointed me to be the king, today I feel weak. These two sons of Zeruiah, [Joab and Abishai], are very violent; I cannot control them. So I hope/desire that Yahweh will punish them severely in return for this wicked thing that they have done!”