1 Amakhosi 1

1 Kwathi inkosi uDavida esemdala kakhulu, wayengasafudumali lanxa elele loba bemembathise kakhulu.

Now King David was old and far on in years; and though they put covers over him, his body was cold.

2 Izinceku zakhe zathi kuye, “Kasidinge intombazana yokunakekela inkosi iyifudumeze. Izalala eceleni kwayo ukuze inkosi yethu ifudumale.”

So his servants said to him, Let search be made for a young virgin for my lord the king, to take care of him and be waiting on him; and you may take her in your arms, and so my lord the king will be warm.

3 Ngakho balibhudula lonke elako-Israyeli bedinga intombi enhle baze bafumana u-Abhishagi, umShunami walethwa enkosini.

So after searching through all the land of Israel for a fair young girl, they saw Abishag the Shunammite, and took her to the king.

4 Intombazana leyo yayinhle kakhulu; yayinakekela inkosi yayilondoloza, kodwa inkosi kayiyenzanga umfazi.

Now she was very beautiful; and she took care of the king, waiting on him at all times; but the king had no connection with her.

5 Kwathi u-Adonija, unina owayenguHagithi, waziveza wathi, “Yimi engizakuba yinkosi.” Waselungisa izinqola lamabhiza kanye lamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ukumandulela.

Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, lifting himself up in pride, said, I will become king; and he made ready his carriages of war and his horsemen, with fifty runners to go before him.

6 (Uyise kazange amkhuze ngokumbuza ukuthi, “Ukwenzeleni konke lokhu?” Laye wayemuhle kakhulu, eselama u-Abhisalomu.)

Now all his life his father had never gone against him or said to him, Why have you done so? and he was a very good-looking man, and younger than Absalom.

7 U-Adonija wacebisana loJowabi indodana kaZeruya lo-Abhiyathari umphristi, laba bamsekela.

And he had talk with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they were on his side and gave him their support.

8 Kodwa uZadokhi umphristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, loNathani umphrofethi, loShimeyi, loReyi kanye labalindi benkosi abamsekelanga u-Adonija.

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei, and David's men of war did not take the side of Adonijah.

9 U-Adonija wasesenza umhlatshelo ngezimvu, ngenkomo langamathole anonileyo eLitsheni laseZohelethi eduze le-Eni Rogeli. Wanxusa abafowabo, lamadodana enkosi lawo wonke amadoda akoJuda ayengawesikhosini,

Then Adonijah put to death sheep and oxen and fat beasts by the stone of Zoheleth, by En-rogel; and he sent for all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants, to come to him:

10 kodwa kamnxusanga uNathani umphrofethi loba uBhenaya loba abalindi benkosi loba umfowabo uSolomoni.

But he did not send for Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the other men of war and Solomon his brother.

11 Ngakho uNathani wabuza uBhathishebha, unina kaSolomoni wathi, “Awukezwa yini ukuthi u-Adonija, indodana kaHagithi, useyinkosi, ezibeka inkosi yethu uDavida ingakakwazi lokho?

Then Nathan said to Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, Has it not come to your ears that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king without the knowledge of David our lord?

12 Khathesi-ke lalela ngikweluleke, ukuze uzisindise wena lokuvikela impilo yendodana yakho uSolomoni.

So now, let me make a suggestion, so that you may keep your life safe and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Ngena lapha okulenkosi uDavida khona ufike uthi kuyo, ‘Wena omkhulu nkosi yami, awufunganga na phambi kwami mina sichaka sakho ukuthi: “Ngoqotho sibili indodana yakho uSolomoni uzakuba yinkosi ngemva kwakho, uzahlala esihlalweni sami”? Kungani pho u-Adonija esebe yinkosi?’

Come now, go to King David and say to him, Did you not, O my lord, take an oath to me, your servant, saying, Truly Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom? why then is Adonijah acting as king?

14 Uzakuthi usuphakathi ukhuluma layo inkosi, lami ngizangena ngifike ngigcwalisele lokho ozabe ukutshilo.”

And while you are still talking there with the king, see, I will come in after you and say that your story is true.

15 Ngalokho-ke uBhathishebha wayayibona inkosi eyayivele isiluphele isendlini yayo, lapho u-Abhishagi ongumShunami ayelondoloza khona inkosi.

Then Bath-sheba went into the king's room; now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was waiting on him.

16 UBhathishebha wakhothama wazehlisa waguqa phambi kwenkosi. Inkosi yambuza yathi: “Kuyini okufunayo?”

And Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour. And he said, What is your desire?

17 Wathi kuyo, “nkosi yami, wena uqobo lwakho wafunga kimi inceku yakho ngoThixo uNkulunkulu wakho wathi: ‘USolomoni indodana yakho uzakuba yinkosi ngemva kwami, njalo uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi.’

And she said to him, My lord, you took an oath by the Lord your God and gave your word to your servant, saying, Truly, Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom.

18 Kodwa khathesi u-Adonija usebe yinkosi, kodwa wena mbusi, nkosi yami awukwazi okwenzakalayo.

And now, see, Adonijah has made himself king without my lord's knowledge;

19 Usenikele ngenkomo ezinengi, amaguqa anonisiweyo, kanye lezimvu, njalo usenxuse wonke amadodana enkosi, u-Abhiyathari umphristi kanye loJowabi umlawuli webutho, kodwa kamnxusanga uSolomoni inceku yakho.

And has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the captain of the army; but he has not sent for Solomon your servant.

20 Mbusi wami, nkosi, abako-Israyeli bonke bakukhangele, badinga ukwazi ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sakho sobukhosi ngemva kwakho.

And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to say who is to take the place of my lord the king after him.

21 Kungenzeka phela ukuthi inkosi yami ingavele iyephumula kubokhokho, mina lendodana yami uSolomoni sizaphathwa njengezigangi.”

For as things are, it will come about, when my lord the king is sleeping with his fathers, that I and Solomon my son will be made outlaws.

22 Kwathi elokhu esakhuluma lenkosi, kwafika uNathani umphrofethi.

And while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 Bayibikela inkosi bathi, “UNathani umphrofethi ulapha.” Waya phambi kwenkosi wakhothama embele ubuso bakhe phansi.

And they said to the king, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he went down on his face on the earth.

24 UNathani wabuza wathi, “Kambe, nkosi yami, nguwe na othe u-Adonija uzamele athathe ubukhosi bakho ungasekho wena, utshilo na ukuthi uzahlala esihlalweni sakho sobukhosi?

And Nathan said, O my lord king, have you said, Adonijah is to be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom?

25 Lamuhla lokhu wehlile wayakwenza umhlatshelo wenkomo ezinengi, amaguqa anonisiweyo, lezimvu. Unxuse wonke amadodana enkosi, abalawuli bamabutho enkosi kanye lo-Abhiyathari umphristi. Khona khathesi nje bayadla benatha kanye laye besitsho besithi, ‘Mpilonde nkosi Adonija!’

Because today he has gone down and has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the king's sons to come to him, with the captains of the army and Abiathar the priest; and they are feasting before him and crying, Long life to King Adonijah!

26 Kodwa mina inceku yakho, loZadokhi umphristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, kanye lenceku yakho uSolomoni kasinxusanga.

But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not sent for.

27 Kambe kungaba yikuthi lokhu inkosi yami ikwenze ingatshelanga izinceku zayo ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi benkosi yami ngemva kokuba inkosi ingasekho?”

Has this thing been done by my lord the king, without giving word to your servants who was to be placed on my lord the king's seat after him?

28 Ngalokho iNkosi uDavida yathi, “Mbize, angene uBhathishebha.” Ngakho weza enkosini wema phambi kwayo.

Then King David in answer said, Send for Bath-sheba to come to me. And she came in and took her place before the king.

29 Inkosi yasifunga yathi: “Ngeqiniso lokuthi uThixo wami ngophilayo, lowo owangikhipha ezinhluphekweni zami zonke,

And the king took an oath, and said, By the living Lord, who has been my saviour from all my troubles,

30 ngempela khona lamuhla lokhu ngizagcwalisa lokho engakufunga ngoThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: uSolomoni indodana yakho uzakuba yinkosi ngemva kwami, njalo uzahlala esihlalweni sami esikhundleni sami.”

As I took an oath to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Certainly Solomon your son will become king after me, seated on my seat in my place; so will I do this day.

31 Ngalokho uBhathishebha wakhothamisa ikhanda ekhangele phansi, kwathi eseguqe phambi kwenkosi, wathi. “Umbusi wami inkosi uDavida kaphile kuze kube nini lanini!”

Then Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour, and said, May my lord King David go on living for ever.

32 INkosi uDavida yathi, “Ngibizela uZadokhi umphristi, uNathani umphrofethi kanye loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada.” Bathe sebephambi kwenkosi,

And King David said, Send for Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 yathi kubo: “Thathani izinceku zenkosi yenu lihambe lazo liyekhweza uSolomoni indodana yami phezu kwembongolo yami lehle laye liye eGihoni.

And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and put Solomon my son on my beast, yes, mine, and take him down to Gihon;

34 Khonale uZadokhi umphristi loNathani umphrofethi kuzamele bamgcobe ubukhosi phezu kuka-Israyeli wonke. Livuthele icilongo limemeze lithi, ‘Kayiphile okulaphakade iNkosi uSolomoni!’

And there let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him to make him king over Israel; and sounding the horn say, Long life to King Solomon!

35 Lizakhwela laye, abuye azohlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi aze abuse esikhundleni sami. Sengimkhethile ukuthi abuse phezu kuka-Israyeli lakoJuda.”

Then come up after him and he will come in and take his place on the seat of my kingdom; for he is to be king in my place, and I have given orders that he is to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada waphendula inkosi wathi, “Akube njalo! Kungathi uThixo, uNkulunkulu wombusi lenkosi yami, angakumisa kube njalo.

And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answering the king, said, So be it: and may the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so.

37 Njengoba uThixo elondoloze umbusi wami oyinkosi, akube njalo lakuSolomoni ukuze enze ubukhosi bakhe bube ngaphezu kwalobo obenkosi yami iNkosi uDavida!”

As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon and make the seat of his authority greater than that of my lord King David.

38 Ngakho uZadokhi umphristi, loNathani umphrofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada lamaKherethi lamaPhelethi behla bafika bakhweza uSolomoni embongolweni yeNkosi uDavida bamqhuba bamusa eGihoni.

So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and put Solomon on King David's beast and took him to Gihon.

39 UZadokhi umphristi wathatha uphondo lwamafutha ethenteni elingcwele wagcoba uSolomoni. Ngakho bahle bavuthela icilongo, abantu bonke bahlaba umkhosi behaya besithi, “Mpilonde Nkosi Solomoni!”

And Zadok the priest took the vessel of oil out of the Tent, and put the holy oil on Solomon. And when the horn was sounded, all the people said, Long life to King Solomon!

40 Bonke bamlandela, bavuthela imihubhe bejabula kakhulu, kwaze kwanyikinyeka umhlaba.

And all the people came up after him, piping with pipes, and they were glad with great joy, so that the earth was shaking with the sound.

41 U-Adonija kanye lezethekeli ezazilaye zawuzwa lumkhosi njengoba bona basebeqedisa ukudla. UJowabi wathi esizwa icilongo wabuza wathi, “Utshoni umsindo wonke lo edolobheni?”

And it came to the ears of Adonijah and all the guests who were with him, when their meal was ended. And Joab, hearing the sound of the horn, said, What is the reason of this noise as if the town was worked up?

42 Kwathi elokhu esakhuluma kwafika uJonathani indodana ka-Abhiyathari umphristi. U-Adonija wathi, “Ngena phakathi. Indoda eqakathekileyo njengawe kufanele ukuthi isiphathele izindaba ezimnandi.”

And while the words were on his lips, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, came; and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a man of good faith and the news which you have for us will be good.

43 UJonathani waphendula wathi, “Akulalutho. Inkosi uDavida uMbusi wethu usegcobe uSolomoni ubukhosi.

And Jonathan, answering, said to Adonijah, Not so, but our lord King David has made Solomon king:

44 Inkosi isimthumele kanye loZadokhi umphristi, loNathani umphrofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKherethi lamaPhelethi, njalo sebehle bamkhweza embongolweni yenkosi.

And he sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they put him on the king's beast:

45 Njalo uZadokhi umphristi loNathani umphrofethi sebehle bamgcobela ubukhosi eGihoni. Besuka lapho bahle bahaya bembuka, kanti ledolobho lonke lihlokoma ngenjabulo. Yiwo lo umkhosi eliwuzwayo.

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him and made him king in Gihon; and they came back from there with joy, and the town was all worked up. This is the noise which has come to your ears.

46 Kunjalo-nje uSolomoni usehle wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi.

And now Solomon is seated on the seat of the kingdom.

47 Phezu kwalokho izikhulu zesikhosini sezifikile ukuthi zizokwenzela iNkosi uDavida amhlophe zisithi, ‘Sengathi uNkulunkulu wakho angenza ibizo likaSolomoni lidume kulelakho kuthi lesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi sibe lodumo ukwedlula esakho!’ Ngalokho inkosi yakhothama yakhonza isembhedeni wayo

And the king's servants came to our lord King David, blessing him and saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and the seat of his authority greater than your seat; and the king was bent low in worship on his bed.

48 yathi, ‘Udumo alube kuye uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena ovumele ukuthi ngizibonele ngawami amehlo lowo ozathatha isihlalo sami sobukhosi lamuhla.’”

Then the king said, May the God of Israel be praised, who has given one of my seed to be king in my place this day and has let my eyes see it.

49 Ngenxa yalokhu, izethekeli zika-Adonija zathi lothu zaphakama ngokwethuka zachitheka.

And all the guests of Adonijah got up in fear and went away, every man to his place.

50 Kodwa u-Adonija, ngokwesaba uSolomoni, wahamba wayabamba impondo ze-alithare.

And Adonijah himself was full of fear because of Solomon; and he got up and went to the altar, and put his hands on its horns.

51 USolomoni wasetshelwa ukuthi, “U-Adonija uyayesaba iNkosi uSolomoni ngakho usegagadlele impondo ze-alithare. Uthi yena, ‘INkosi uSolomoni kayifunge kimi lamuhla ithi kayiyikubulala isichaka sayo ngenkemba.’”

And they gave Solomon word of it, saying, See, Adonijah goes in such fear of King Solomon, that he has put his hands on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon first give me his oath that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.

52 USolomoni waphendula wathi, “Nxa angatshengisela ukuthi uyindoda uqobo lwayo akulanwele lolulodwa lwekhanda lakhe oluzawela emhlabathini; kodwa nxa ebanjwe yikona, uzakufa.”

And Solomon said, If he is seen to be a man of good faith, not a hair of him will be touched; but if any wrongdoing is seen in him, he is to be put to death.

53 Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni yathumela amadoda, ayamethula e-alithareni abuya laye. Ngalokho u-Adonija weza wafika wazehlisa wakhothama enkosini uSolomoni, yena uSolomoni wathi. “Hamba, yana emzini wakho.”

So King Solomon sent, and they took him down from the altar. And he came and gave honour to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.