1 Amakhosi 2

1 Kwathi isikhathi sokuthi uDavida afe sesisondele, walaya indodana yakhe uSolomoni.

Now the days of David had drawn near, so that he would die, and he instructed his son Solomon, saying:

2 Wathi, “Sengiseduze ukuyiphetha indlela yemhlabeni. Ngakho qina, zitshengisele ubudoda bakho,

“I am entering the way of all the earth. Be strengthened and be a good man.

3 unanzelele lokho okufunwa nguThixo uNkulunkulu wakho: Ukuhamba endleleni yakhe, ugcine imilayo leziqondiso zakhe, imithetho yakhe kanye lezilayezelo zayo: Hamba ezindleleni zakhe, ugcine izimiso zakhe leziqondiso zakhe, imithetho yakhe lokulotshiweyo ngokoMthetho kaMosi, ukuze uphumelele kukho konke okwenzayo kanye lalapho oya khona,

And observe the care of the Lord your God, so that you walk in his ways, so that you care for his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonies, just as it is written in the law of Moses. So may you understand everything that you do, in any direction that you may turn yourself.

4 ngalokho uThixo uzagcina isithembiso sakhe kimi: ‘Nxa isizukulwane sakho sizananzelela izindlela zokuphila kwaso, njalo sizahamba ngobuqotho phambi kwami ngezinhliziyo zaso lasemoyeni waso, awuyikwehluleka uswele indoda ezahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi ko-Israyeli.’

So may the Lord confirm his words, which he has spoken about me, saying: ‘If your sons will guard their ways, and if they will walk before me in truth, with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from you a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 Wena ngokwakho uyakwazi ukuthi uJowabi indodana kaZeruya wenzani kimi lekubulaweni kwabalawuli bamabutho ako-Israyeli, u-Abhineri indodana kaNeri lo-Amasa indodana kaJetha. Wababulala, wachitha igazi ngesikhathi sokuthula kwangathi kusempini, ngalokho igazi langcolisa uzwezwe okhalweni lwakhe lenyathelo ezinyaweni zakhe.

Also, you know what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, has done to me, what he did to the two leaders of the army of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether. He killed them, and so he shed the blood of war in peace time, and he set the bloodshed of battle on his belt, which was around his waist, and in his shoes, which were on his feet.

6 Yenza lokho obona kufanele kuye, kodwa ikhanda lakhe elimpunga ungavumeli lingcwatshwe ngokuthula. (Sheol h7585)

Therefore, act according to your wisdom. And you shall not allow his gray head to be led away to death in peace. (Sheol h7585)

7 Kodwa ube lomusa emadodaneni kaBhazilayi weGiliyadi babengabanye balabo abazakudla kanye lawe ethaleni lakho. Bona bema kanye lami nxa ngangibalekela umfowenu u-Abhisalomu.

Then, too, repay grace to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. And you shall allow them to eat at your table. For they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom, your brother.

8 Njalo ukhumbule ukuthi, wena ulendodana kaGera uShimeyi ongowakoBhenjamini oweBhahurimi owangithuka kabuhlungu mhla ngisiya kuMahanayimi. Wathi lapho ezongihlangabeza eJodani, ngafunga ngoThixo ngathi: ‘Angiyikukubulala ngenkemba.’

Also, you have with you Shimei, the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin, from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went away to the camp. And he descended to meet me when I crossed over the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death by the sword,’

9 Kodwa loba kunjalo ungabonakana ukuthi umsulwa. Uyindoda elengqondo ekhaliphileyo, kumele ukwazi ozakwenza kuye. Yethula ikhanda lakhe elimpunga liye emangcwabeni ligcwele igazi.” (Sheol h7585)

yet do not choose to treat him as if he were innocent. Since you are a wise man, you will know what to do with him. And you shall lead away his grey hair to death with blood.” (Sheol h7585)

10 Kwaba yikwedlula kukaDavida esesiya kubokhokho bakhe abafayo wayangcwatshwa eMzini kaDavida.

And so, David slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David.

11 Wayesebuse okweminyaka engamatshumi amane ko-Israyeli, iminyaka eyisikhombisa eHebhroni kwathi engamatshumi amathathu lemithathu eJerusalema.

Now the days during which David reigned over Israel are forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, thirty-three in Jerusalem.

12 Ngakho uSolomoni wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikayise uDavida, umbuso wakhe wagxila waqina.

Then Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was strengthened exceedingly.

13 Kwathi u-Adonija, indodana kaHagithi, waya kuBhathishebha, unina kaSolomoni. UBhathishebha wambuza wathi, “Kambe uza ngokuthula na?” Yena waphendula wathi, “Ye, ngokuthula.”

And Adonijah, the son of Haggith, entered to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. And she said to him, “Is your entrance peaceful?” He responded, “It is peaceful.”

14 Waqhubekela phambili wathi, “Kukhona engifisa ukukutsho kuwe.” Wathi, “Ungatsho lokho oza ngakho.”

And he added, “My word is for you.” She said to him, “Speak.” And he said:

15 “Njengoba usazi ukuthi ubukhosi bebungobami. U-Israyeli ubekhangele ukuthi yimi inkosi yabo. Kodwa izinto seziguqukile, ubukhosi sebuthethwe ngumfowethu, ngoba yena ubuphiwe nguThixo.

“You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all of Israel had preferred me for themselves as king. But the kingdom was transferred, and has become my brother’s. For it was appointed to him by the Lord.

16 Pho khathesi ngilesicelo engiza ngaso kuwe. Ungabokwala.” Waphendula wathi, “Khuluma isikhalazo sakho.”

Now therefore, I beg of you one petition. May you not confound my face.” And she said to him, “Speak.”

17 Yena waqhubekela phambili wathi, “Ngicelela inkosi uSolomoni anginike u-Abhishagi umShunami ukuze abe ngumkami, ngiyazi ngeke ale kuwe.”

And he said: “I beg that you may speak to king Solomon, for he is not able to refuse anything to you, so that he may give Abishag the Shunammite to me as wife.”

18 UBhathishebha waphendula wathi, “Yebo kambe, ngizakukhulumela ngikubike enkosini.”

And Bathsheba said: “It is well. I will speak to the king on your behalf.”

19 Kwathi uBhathishebha esiyakhulumela u-Adonija enkosini uSolomoni, inkosi yaphakama yamhlangabeza yamkhothamela yasihlala esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi. Yathi kabalethele unina isihlalo sesikhosini, unina wasehlala esandleni sayo sokudla.

Then Bathsheba went to king Solomon, so that she might speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and he reverenced her, and he sat down upon his throne. And a throne was stationed for the mother of the king, and she sat at his right hand.

20 Unina wathi, “Ungabokwala, ngilesicelo esincane engizasethula kuwe.” Inkosi yaphendula yathi, “Cela mama, angiyikukuncitsha, angikwaleli.”

And she said to him: “I petition one small request from you. May you not confound my face.” And the king said to her: “Ask, my mother. For it is not right that I turn away your face.”

21 Unina wasesithi, “Yekela u-Abhishagi umShunami abe ngumfazi womfowenu u-Adonija.”

And she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah, your brother, as wife.”

22 INkosi uSolomoni ephendula unina wathi, “Kungani ucelela u-Adonija u-Abhishagi umShunami? Kuyafanana lokuthi umcelela ubukhosi, kanti njalo yena ngokwakhe umnewethu umdala kulami kanye laku-Abhiyathari umphristi loJowabi indodana kaZeruya!”

And king Solomon responded, and he said to his mother: “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why not request the kingdom for him! For he is my older brother, and he has Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the son of Zeruiah.”

23 Ngakho inkosi uSolomoni yasifunga ngoThixo yathi: “Kungani uNkulunkulu angangijezisa mina, loba kabuhlungu kanganani, nxa u-Adonija engasahlawulanga ngokufela lesisicelo esinje!

And so king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: “May God do these things to me, and may he add these other things! For Adonijah has spoken this word against his own life.

24 Khathesi-ke, ngeqiniso likaThixo ophilayo, yena kanye ongibeke wangizinzisa esihlalweni sobukhosi bukababa uDavida wangidalela indlu yesikhosini njengokuthembisa kwakhe, u-Adonija uzabulawa lamhlanje!”

And now, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and placed me upon the throne of my father David, and who, just as he said, has made a house for me: Adonijah shall be put to death this day.”

25 Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni yakhipha ilizwi yathuma uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lakanye wamlahla phansi u-Adonija kwahle kwaba yikufa kwakhe.

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who put him to death, and so he died.

26 Ku-Abhiyathari umphristi iNkosi yathi, “Buyela emasimini akho e-Anathothi. Kufanele ufe kodwa angiyikukubulala khathesi, ngoba wathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo Wobukhosi phambi kukababa uDavida waba kanye lobaba esebunzimeni.”

Also, the king said to Abiathar, the priest: “Go into Anathoth, to your own land, for you are a man worthy of death. But I will not put you to death this day, since you carried the ark of the Lord God before David, my father, and since you have endured hardship in all the things, for which my father labored.”

27 Ngakho uSolomoni wasusa u-Abhiyathari esihlalweni sobuphristi bukaThixo, kwagcwaliseka lelolizwi likaThixo alikhuluma eShilo ekhuluma ngendlu ka-Eli.

Therefore, Solomon cast out Abiathar, so that he would not be the priest of the Lord, so that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke over the house of Eli at Shiloh.

28 UJowabi ekuzweni lelilizwi, njengoba yena wayekade ebambene lo-Adonija engazange enze lokho lo-Abhisalomu, wabalekela ethenteni likaThixo wafika wadumela impondo ze-alithare.

And the news came to Joab, for Joab had turned aside after Adonijah, and he had not turned aside after Solomon. And so, Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and he took hold of the horn of the altar.

29 Inkosi uSolomoni yatshelwa ukuthi uJowabi ubalekele ethenteni likaThixo lapha afike wazisondeza e-alithareni. Ngalokho uSolomoni wathi kuBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, “Hamba uyemtshaya umbhuqe.”

And it was reported to king Solomon that Joab had fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and that he was beside the altar. And Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, put him to death.”

30 Lakanye uBhenaya wangena ethenteni likaThixo wathi kuJowabi, “Inkosi ithi, ‘Phuma phandle!’” Kodwa yena waphendula wathi, “Angiphumi, ngizafela khonapha.” UBhenaya wayabika enkosini wathi, “Yiyonale indlela angiphendule ngayo uJowabi.”

And Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the Lord, and he said to him: “The king says this: ‘Come out.’” But he said: “I will not come out. Instead, I will die here.” Benaiah sent word back to the king, saying, “Joab said this, and he responded to me in this way.”

31 Ngalokho inkosi yathi kuBhenaya, “Yenza njengokutsho kwakhe. Umtshaye umbhuqe, uhle umngcwabe, ukuze ungigeze mina kanye lendlu kababa kulowomlandu wegazi elingelacala elachithwa nguJowabi.

And the king said to him, “Do just as he has said. And put him to death, and bury him. And so shall you take away the innocent blood, which was shed by Joab, from me and from my father’s house.

32 UThixo uzamjezisa ngegazi alichithayo, ngoba wahlasela wabulala amadoda amabili ngenkemba ubaba inkosi uDavida engakwazi. Bobabili u-Abhineri indodana kaNeri, umlawuli wamabutho ako-Israyeli, kanye lo-Amasa indodana kaJetha, umlawuli wamabutho akoJuda, babengamadoda angcono beqotho kulaye.

And the Lord shall repay his blood upon his own head. For he killed two men, just and better than himself, and he killed them with the sword, while my father, David, did not know it: Abner, the son of Ner, leader of the military of Israel, and Amasa, the son of Jether, leader of the army of Judah.

33 Kungani umlandu waleligazi labo ungahlala phezu kukaJowabi labenzalo yakhe kuze kube nini lanini. Kodwa inkosi uDavida lenzalo yakhe, lendlu yakhe lesihlalo sobukhosi sakhe, angathi ingehlelwa yikuthula okungapheliyo kukaThixo.”

And their blood shall be turned back upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his offspring forever. But as for David, and his offspring and house, and his throne, may there be peace from the Lord, even unto eternity.”

34 UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada wakhwela wafika wamtshaya uJowabi wambulala wayangcwatshwa esiqintini sakhe enkangala.

And so Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went up and, attacking him, put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the desert.

35 Inkosi yabeka uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada ukuba abe ngumlawuli webutho esikhundleni sikaJowabi kwathi esikhundleni sika-Abhiyathari yabeka uZadokhi umphristi.

And the king appointed Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, in his place over the army. And he appointed Zadok, the priest, in place of Abiathar.

36 Ngakho inkosi yathi kayibizelwe uShimeyi yasisithi kuye. “Zakhele indlu eJerusalema uhlale khonale, kodwa ungayi ndawo.

Also, the king sent for and summoned Shimei, and he said to him: “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem, and live there. And do not depart from that place to here or to there.

37 Mhla uzake usuke uchaphe uye eziHotsheni zeKhidironi, uhle wazi ngeqiniso ukuthi uzakufa, igazi lakho lizabizwa phezu kwakho.”

For on whatever day you will have departed and crossed the torrent Kidron, know that you shall be put to death. Your blood will be upon your own head.”

38 UShimeyi wayiphendula inkosi wathi, “Lokho okutshoyo kuqondile. Inceku yakho izakwenza njengoba inkosi yayo itshilo.” Ngakho uShimeyi wahlala eJerusalema isikhathi eside.

And Shimei said to the king: “The word is good. Just as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” And so Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days.

39 Kodwa kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka emithathu, izigqili zikaShimeyi ezimbili zabalekela ku-Akhishi indodana kaMahakha, inkosi yeGathi, njalo uShimeyi watshelwa ukuthi, “Izigqili zakho ziseGathi.”

But it happened that, after three years, the servants of Shimei fled to Achish, the son of Maacah, the king of Gath. And it was reported to Shimei that his servants had gone away to Gath.

40 Ekuzwa lokhu, wethesa ubabhemi wakhe waya ku-Akhishi eGathi esiyadinga izigqili zakhe. Ngakho uShimeyi wabuya lazo izigqili zakhe evela eGathi.

And Shimei rose up, and he saddled his donkey. And went away to Achish in Gath, in order to seek his servants. And he led them away from Gath.

41 USolomoni esetsheliwe ukuthi uShimeyi wayesuke eJerusalema waya eGathi waze waphenduka,

And it was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone away from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned.

42 inkosi yambiza uShimeyi yathi kuye, “Angizange ngikufungise ngoThixo njalo ngakuqonqonsela ukuthi, ‘Mhla uzake usuke uye kwenye indawo uhle wazi ukuthi ngempela uzakufa na?’ Ngalesosikhathi wathi kimi, ‘Okutshoyo kuqotho. Ngizalalela.’

And sending, he summoned him, and he said to him: “Did I not testify to you by the Lord, and warn you in advance, ‘On whatever day, having departed, you go forth to here or to there, know that you shall die?’ And you responded to me, ‘The word that I have heard is good.’

43 Pho kungani ungagcinanga isifungo sakho kuThixo ulalele isiqondiso engakunika sona?”

Then why have you not kept the oath to the Lord, and the commandment which I instructed to you?”

44 Inkosi njalo yathi kuShimeyi, “Uyakwazi enhliziyweni yakho konke ukona owakwenza kubaba uDavida. Khathesi uThixo uzakujezisa ngokona kwakho.

And the king said to Shimei: “You know all the evil, of which your heart is conscious, which you did to David, my father. The Lord has repaid your wickedness upon your own head.”

45 Kodwa iNkosi uSolomoni izabusiswa, isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavida sizahlala siqinile ngokuzinza phambi kukaThixo kuze kube nini lanini.”

And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord, even forever.

46 Ngakho yakhupha isiqondiso kuBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, yena waphuma wafika wamnqonda uShimeyi wamlahla phansi wahle wambulala. Ngalokho ubukhosi basebusezandleni zikaSolomoni ngokugcweleyo.

And so the king commanded Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And going out, he struck him down, and he died.