2 Samoela 14

1 Ary Joaba, zanak’ i Zeroia, nahalala fa ny fon’ ny mpanjaka nalahelo an’ i Absaloma ihany.

Joab, son of Zeruiah, knew that the king kept on thinking about Absalom.

2 Koa naniraka tany Tekoa nampaka vehivavy hendry tany Joaba ka nanao taminy hoe: Masìna ianao, modia misaona, ka miakanjoa akanjo fisaonana, ary aza mihoso-diloilo ianao, fa manaova tahaka ny vehivavy efa nisaona ela ny maty;

So Joab sent a messenger to Tekoa to bring back a wise woman who lived there. He told her, “Pretend to be a mourner. Put on clothes for mourning, and don't use any scented oils. Be like a woman who has been in mourning for the dead a long time.

3 dia mankanesa ao amin’ ny mpanjaka, ka lazao aminy araka izao. Dia nomen’ i Joaba teny izy.

Then go to the king and tell him this.” Joab told her what to say.

4 Ary nony niteny tamin’ ny mpanjaka ravehivavy avy any Tekoa, dia niankohoka tamin’ ny tany izy ary nitsaoka ka nanao hoe: Vonjeo, ary mpanjaka ô.

When the woman from Tekoa went to see the king, she bowed facedown to the ground in respect, and said, “Please help me, Your Majesty!”

5 Ary hoy ny mpanjaka taminy: Inona no nanjo anao? Dia hoy izy: Vehivavy mpitondra tena tokoa aho, fa maty vady.

“What's the matter?” the king asked her. “Sadly I'm a widow. My husband is dead,” she replied.

6 Ary izaho mpanompovavinao nanan-janaka roa lahy, ary nifanditra tany an-tsaha izy mirahalahy, ka tsy nisy nampisaraka azy, ary ny anankiray namely ny rahalahiny ka nahafaty azy.

“Your Majesty, I had two sons. They had a fight outside, and there was nobody there to stop them. One of them hit the other, and killed him.

7 Ary, indreo, ny mpianakavy rehetra nanangana ady tamiko mpanompovavinao ka nanao hoe: Atolory ilay namely ny rahalahiny, fa hataonay maty izy noho ny ain’ ny rahalahiny izay novonoiny ka dia hovonoinay koa ny mpandova; ka hovonoiny koa ny vainafoko sisa, ka tsy hamelany anarana na zanaka ho an’ ny vadiko etỳ ambonin’ ny tany.

Now the whole family is against me. They're saying, ‘Hand over your son who killed his brother so we can put him to death for murdering his brother. That way he won't inherit anything either!’ By doing this they would snuff out the last ember of hope I have to carry on my husband's name and family in the world.”

8 Ary hoy ny mpanjaka tamin-dravehivavy: Modia ianao; fa izaho no handidy ny amin’ izany.

“Go on home,” the king told the woman, “and I myself will make sure your case is dealt with for you.”

9 Ary hoy ravehivavy avy any Tekoa tamin’ ny mpanjaka: Ry mpanjaka tompoko ô, aoka ho amiko ny heloka sy ho amin’ ny ankohonan’ ny raiko; fa ny mpanjaka sy ny seza fiandrianany dia aoka tsy hanan-tsiny.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” said the woman. “I and my family will take the blame, and may Your Majesty and your family be held to be innocent.”

10 Dia hoy ny mpanjaka: Na zovy na zovy manisy teny anao, ento etỳ amiko, dia tsy haninona anao intsony izy.

“If anyone complains to you about it, bring him here to me, and he won't bother you again!” the king told her.

11 Ary hoy ravehivavy: Trarantitra ianao, ry mpanjaka ô, aoka ianao hahatsiaro an’ i Jehovah Andriamanitrao, ary aoka ny mpamaly ratsy hamono intsony, fandrao mamono ny zanako izy. Dia hoy ny mpanjaka: Raha velona koa Jehovah, tsy hisy ho latsaka amin’ ny tany na dia singam-bolo iray akory aza amin’ ny zanakao.

“Please, Your Majesty,” the woman continued, “swear by the Lord your God that you will stop the person wanting to avenge the murder from making it worse by killing my son!” “As the Lord lives,” he promised, “not a single hair from your son's head will fall to the ground.”

12 Ary hoy ravehivavy: Trarantitra ianao, aoka kely ny mpanompovavinao hanao teny indraim-bava monja amin’ ny mpanjaka tompoko. Ary hoy izy: Lazao ary.

“Could I please ask for one other thing, Your Majesty?” the woman asked. “Go ahead,” he replied.

13 Dia hoy ravehivavy: Nahoana ianao no nihevitra toy izany hamely ny olon’ Andriamanitra? Fa amin’ ny, itenenan’ ny mpanjaka izany zavatra izany, dia toa mahavoa ny tenany ihany izy noho ny tsi-fampodian’ ny mpanjaka ilay noroahiny.

“So why have you schemed in a similar way against the people of God?” the woman asked. “Since Your Majesty just decided my case by what you said, haven't you convicted yourself because you refuse to bring back the son you banished?

14 Fa tsy maintsy maty isika ka ho tahaka ny rano raraka amin’ ny tany, izay tsy azo raofina intsony; ary Andriamanitra tsy manala ain’ olona, fa mihevitra izay tsy hanariany ilay noroahiny.

Yes, we all have to die. We're like water spilled on the ground that can't be collected again. But that's not what God does. Instead he works out ways for anyone who is banished to come back home to him.

15 Fa izaho no tonga hilaza izany zavatra izany amin’ ny mpanjaka tompoko, ny olona no nampitahotra ahy: ary hoy izaho mpanompovavinao: mba holazaiko amin’ ny mpanjaka izany; fa angamba ny mpanjaka hanao izay angatahin’ ny mpanompovaviny.

That's why I've come to explain this to Your Majesty, because someone has frightened me. So I thought to myself, I will go and speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant my request.

16 Eny, ny mpanjaka hihaino ka hamonjy ny mpanompovaviny ho afaka amin’ ny tanan’ ny lehilahy izay ta-hamongotra ahy mbamin’ ny zanako hiala amin’ ny lova nomen’ Andriamanitra.

Perhaps the king will listen and save me from the man who would cut off both me and my son from God's chosen people.

17 Dia hoy ny mpanompovavinao: Hahazoako fiononana anie ny tenin’ ny mpanjaka tompoko; fa ta-haka Ilay Anjelin’ Andriamanitra ny mpanjaka tompoko ka mandinika izay soa sy ratsy; koa Jehovah Andriamanitrao anie ho aminao.

I thought: May what Your Majesty says bring me peace, for Your Majesty is able to tell the difference between good and evil, just like an angel of God. May the Lord your God be with you!”

18 Ary ny mpanjaka namaly an-dravehivavy hoe: Aza dia afenina ahy izay zavatra hanontaniako anao. Dia hoy ravehivavy: Aoka hiteny ny mpanjaka tompoko.

“Please don't refuse to answer the question I'm about to ask,” the king said to the woman. “Please ask your question, Your Majesty,” she replied.

19 Ary hoy ny mpanjaka: Moa saina nomen’ i Joaba va izany rehetra lazainao izany? Dia hoy ny navalin-dravehivavy: Raha velona koa ny ainao, ry mpanjaka tompoko, tsy misy mivily izay rehetra nolazain’ ny mpanjaka tompoko na ho amin’ ny ankavanana na ho amin’ ny ankavia; fa Joaba mpanomponao tokoa no nandidy ahy sy nanome izany teny rehetra izany ny mpanompovavinao.

“Is all this Joab's doing?” the king asked. The woman replied, “As you live, Your Majesty, no one can hide anything from you. Yes, it was Joab, your officer, who ordered me to do this—he told me exactly what to say.

20 Ny hampiova tarehy ny raharaha no nanaovan’ i Joaba mpanomponao izany zavatra izany; fa hendry tahaka Ilay Anjelin’ Andriamanitra tompoko ka mahalala ny zavatra rehetra etỳ ambonin’ ny tany.

He did so to show the other side of the situation, but Your Majesty is as wise as an angel of God, and you know everything that happens in this country.”

21 Ary hoy ny mpanjaka tamin’ i Joaba: Indro fa efa nekeko izany zavatra izany: koa andeha, alao hody Absaloma zatovo.

The king said to Joab, “Fine, I'll do it. Go and bring young Absalom back.”

22 Dia niankohoka tamin’ ny tany Joaba ka nitsaoka sy nisaotra ny mpanjaka; ary hoy Joaba: Anio no ahafantaran’ ny mpanomponao fa efa mahita fitia eo imasonao aho, ry mpanjaka tompoko, amin’ ny nanaovan’ ny mpanjaka araka ny nangatahin’ ny mpanompony.

Joab bowed down with his face to the ground in respect, and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “I, your servant, know that you approve of me, Your Majesty, because you have granted my request.”

23 Dia niainga Joaba nankany Gesora, ka nentiny nankany Jerosalema Absaloma.

Joab went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

24 Ary hoy ny mpanjaka: Aoka hody any an-tranony izy, fa aza avela hahita ny tavako. Ary Absaloma nankany an-tranony, ka dia tsy nahita ny tavan’ ny mpanjaka.

But the king gave this order, “He may return to his home, but he's not to come and see me.” So Absalom returned to his own home, but he didn't go and see the king.

25 Ary tsy nisy lehilahy tsara tarehy noderaina fatratra tahaka an’ i Absaloma teo amin’ ny Isiraely rehetra, fa hatrany am-paladiany ka hatrany an-tampon-dohany dia tsy nisy tsiny izy.

Absalom was admired as the most handsome man in the whole of Israel. He didn't have a single blemish from head to toe.

26 Ary raha nanaratra ny lohany izy (fa isaky ny fitsingerenan’ ny taona no nanaratany azy; fa nanavesatra azy ka noharatany), dia nolanjainy ny volon-dohany, ka sekely roan-jato no lanjany, araka ny fandanjan’ ny mpanjaka.

He cut his hair every year because it got so heavy—it weighed two hundred royal shekels.

27 Ary Absaloma niteraka zanaka telo mirahalahy sy vavy iray, atao hoe Tamara, ary vehivavy tsara tarehy izy.

He had three sons, and a daughter named Tamar—a very beautiful woman.

28 Ary Absaloma nitoetra roa taona ngarangidina tany Jerosalema, nefa tsy mbola nahita ny tavan’ ny mpanjaka ihany izy.

Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years but was not permitted to see the king.

29 Ary Absaloma dia naniraka tany amin’ i Joaba, mba hanirahany azy ho any amin’ ny mpanjaka, fa tsy nety nankany aminy izy; ary mbola naniraka fanindroany indray Absaloma, fa mbola tsy nety nankany ihany Joaba.

Absalom called Joab to arrange for him to see the king, for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come. Absalom called Joab again, but Joab still wouldn't come.

30 Koa dia hoy izy tamin’ ny mpanompony: Indro, ny tanimbarin’ i Joaba mifanolotra amin’ ny ahy, ary manana vary hordea ao izy; andeha, dory amin’ ny afo izany. Ary ny mpanompon’ i Absaloma dia nandoro ny tanimbary.

So Absalom told his servants, “Look, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley growing there. Go and set it on fire!” Absalom's servants went and set the field on fire.

31 Ary Joaba niainga nankany amin’ i Absaloma tao an-tranony ka nanao taminy hoe: Nahoana ny mpanomponao no nandoro ny tanimbariko tamin’ ny afo?

Joab went to Absalom's house and asked “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

32 Fa hoy Absaloma tamin’ i Joaba: Indro, naniraka tany aminao aho ka nanao hoe: Mankanesa atỳ hirahiko ho any amin’ ny mpanjaka hanao hoe: Nahoana no niala tany Gesora aho? Tsara amiko raha nitoetra tany ihany mandraka ankehitriny. Koa ankehitriny, aoka re mba hahita ny tavan’ ny mpanjaka aho, ka raha manan-keloka aho, dia aoka hovonoiny.

“Look here,” said Absalom, “I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here. I want you to go to the king and ask: Why did I bother coming back from Geshur? It would have been better for me to stay there.’ So go and arrange for me to see the king, and if I'm guilty of anything, he can kill me.”

33 Ary Joaba nankany amin’ ny mpanjaka ka nanambara izany taminy: ary dia nampanalain’ ny mpanjaka Absaloma, dia nankao aminy izy ka niondrika tamin’ ny tany teo anatrehan’ ny mpanjaka; ary dia nanoroka an’ i Absaloma ny mpanjaka.

So Joab went and told the king what Absalom had said. Then David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed down with his face to the ground before him in respect. Then the king kissed Absalom.