1 Amakhosi 1
1 Kwathi inkosi uDavida esemdala kakhulu, wayengasafudumali lanxa elele loba bemembathise kakhulu.
Now king David had become elderly, and he had many days in his lifetime. And though he was covered with clothes, he was not warmed.
2 Izinceku zakhe zathi kuye, “Kasidinge intombazana yokunakekela inkosi iyifudumeze. Izalala eceleni kwayo ukuze inkosi yethu ifudumale.”
Therefore, his servants said to him: “Let us seek, for our lord the king, a young virgin. And let her stand before the king, and warm him, and sleep in his bosom, and provide warmth for our lord the king.”
3 Ngakho balibhudula lonke elako-Israyeli bedinga intombi enhle baze bafumana u-Abhishagi, umShunami walethwa enkosini.
And so they sought a beautiful young woman in all the parts of Israel. And they found Abishag, a Shunammite, and they led her to the king.
4 Intombazana leyo yayinhle kakhulu; yayinakekela inkosi yayilondoloza, kodwa inkosi kayiyenzanga umfazi.
Now the girl was exceedingly beautiful. And she slept with the king, and she ministered to him. Yet truly, the king did not know 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, exalted himself, saying, “I shall reign!” And he appointed for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men who would run before him.
6 (Uyise kazange amkhuze ngokumbuza ukuthi, “Ukwenzeleni konke lokhu?” Laye wayemuhle kakhulu, eselama u-Abhisalomu.)
Neither did his father chastise him at any time, saying, “Why have you done this?” Now he, too, was very beautiful, the second in birth, after Absalom.
7 U-Adonija wacebisana loJowabi indodana kaZeruya lo-Abhiyathari umphristi, laba bamsekela.
And he conferred with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar, the priest, who gave assistance to the side of Adonijah.
8 Kodwa uZadokhi umphristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, loNathani umphrofethi, loShimeyi, loReyi kanye labalindi benkosi abamsekelanga u-Adonija.
Yet truly, Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan, the prophet, and Shimei and Rei, and the mature men of the army of David were not with 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, having immolated rams and calves and every kind of fat cattle beside the Stone of the Serpent, which was in the vicinity of the fountain Rogel, summoned all his brothers, the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king.
10 kodwa kamnxusanga uNathani umphrofethi loba uBhenaya loba abalindi benkosi loba umfowabo uSolomoni.
But he did not summon Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, and all the mature men, 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?
And so Nathan said to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon: “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has begun to reign, and that our lord David is ignorant of this?
12 Khathesi-ke lalela ngikweluleke, ukuze uzisindise wena lokuvikela impilo yendodana yakho uSolomoni.
Now then, come, accept my counsel, and save your life 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?’
Go and enter to king David, and say to him: ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to me, your handmaid, saying: “Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he himself shall sit on my throne?” Then why does Adonijah reign?’
14 Uzakuthi usuphakathi ukhuluma layo inkosi, lami ngizangena ngifike ngigcwalisele lokho ozabe ukutshilo.”
And while you are still speaking with the king there, I will enter after you, and I will complete your words.”
15 Ngalokho-ke uBhathishebha wayayibona inkosi eyayivele isiluphele isendlini yayo, lapho u-Abhishagi ongumShunami ayelondoloza khona inkosi.
And so Bathsheba entered to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag, the Shunammite, was ministering to him.
16 UBhathishebha wakhothama wazehlisa waguqa phambi kwenkosi. Inkosi yambuza yathi: “Kuyini okufunayo?”
Bathsheba bowed herself, and she reverenced the king. And the king said to her, “What do you wish?”
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 responding, she said: “My lord, you swore to your handmaid, by the Lord your God: ‘your son Solomon will reign after me, and he himself shall sit upon my throne.’
18 Kodwa khathesi u-Adonija usebe yinkosi, kodwa wena mbusi, nkosi yami awukwazi okwenzakalayo.
And now behold, Adonijah reigns, while you, my lord the king, are ignorant of it.
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.
He has slain oxen, and every kind of fattened cattle, and many rams. And he has summoned all the sons of the king, as well as Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the leader of the military. But Solomon, your servant, he did not summon.
20 Mbusi wami, nkosi, abako-Israyeli bonke bakukhangele, badinga ukwazi ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sakho sobukhosi ngemva kwakho.
Truly now, my lord the king, the eyes of all of Israel look with favor upon you, that you may indicate to them who ought to sit upon your throne, my lord the king, after you.
21 Kungenzeka phela ukuthi inkosi yami ingavele iyephumula kubokhokho, mina lendodana yami uSolomoni sizaphathwa njengezigangi.”
Otherwise, this will be: when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be as sinners.”
22 Kwathi elokhu esakhuluma lenkosi, kwafika uNathani umphrofethi.
And while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan, the prophet, arrived.
23 Bayibikela inkosi bathi, “UNathani umphrofethi ulapha.” Waya phambi kwenkosi wakhothama embele ubuso bakhe phansi.
And they announced to the king, saying, “Nathan, the prophet, is here.” And when he had entered in the sight of the king, and he had reverenced prone on the ground,
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?
Nathan said: “My lord the king, did you say, ‘Let Adonijah reign after me, and let him sit upon my throne?’
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!’
For today, he descended, and he immolated oxen, and fattened cattle, and many rams. And he summoned all the sons of the king, and the leaders of the army, along with Abiathar, the priest. And they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘As king Adonijah lives.’
26 Kodwa mina inceku yakho, loZadokhi umphristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, kanye lenceku yakho uSolomoni kasinxusanga.
But he did not summon me, your servant, and Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Solomon, your lowly servant.
27 Kambe kungaba yikuthi lokhu inkosi yami ikwenze ingatshelanga izinceku zayo ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi benkosi yami ngemva kokuba inkosi ingasekho?”
Could this word have gone out from my lord the king, and could you not have revealed it to me, your servant, as to who would be seated upon the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28 Ngalokho iNkosi uDavida yathi, “Mbize, angene uBhathishebha.” Ngakho weza enkosini wema phambi kwayo.
And king David responded, saying, “Summon to me Bathsheba.” And when she had entered before the king, and she had stood before him,
29 Inkosi yasifunga yathi: “Ngeqiniso lokuthi uThixo wami ngophilayo, lowo owangikhipha ezinhluphekweni zami zonke,
the king swore and said: “As the Lord lives, who has rescued my soul from all distress,
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.”
just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he himself shall sit upon my throne in my place,’ so shall 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!”
And Bathsheba, having lowered her face to the ground, reverenced the king, saying, “May my lord David live forever.”
32 INkosi uDavida yathi, “Ngibizela uZadokhi umphristi, uNathani umphrofethi kanye loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada.” Bathe sebephambi kwenkosi,
And king David said, “Summon to me Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada.” And when they had entered before the king,
33 yathi kubo: “Thathani izinceku zenkosi yenu lihambe lazo liyekhweza uSolomoni indodana yami phezu kwembongolo yami lehle laye liye eGihoni.
he said to them: “Take with you the servants of your lord, and place my son Solomon upon my mule. And lead him to Gihon.
34 Khonale uZadokhi umphristi loNathani umphrofethi kuzamele bamgcobe ubukhosi phezu kuka-Israyeli wonke. Livuthele icilongo limemeze lithi, ‘Kayiphile okulaphakade iNkosi uSolomoni!’
And let Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, anoint him in that place as the king over Israel. And you shall sound the trumpet, and you shall say, ‘As king Solomon lives.’
35 Lizakhwela laye, abuye azohlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi aze abuse esikhundleni sami. Sengimkhethile ukuthi abuse phezu kuka-Israyeli lakoJuda.”
And you shall ascend after him, and he shall arrive and shall sit upon my throne. And he himself shall reign in my place. And I will command that he be the 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, responded to the king, saying: “Amen. So says the Lord, the God of my lord the king.
37 Njengoba uThixo elondoloze umbusi wami oyinkosi, akube njalo lakuSolomoni ukuze enze ubukhosi bakhe bube ngaphezu kwalobo obenkosi yami iNkosi uDavida!”
In the same way that the Lord has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon. And may he make his throne more sublime than the throne 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.
Then Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, descended, with Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites. And they placed Solomon on the mule of king David, and they led 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 horn of oil from the tabernacle, and he anointed Solomon. And they sounded the trumpet. And all the people said, “As king Solomon lives.”
40 Bonke bamlandela, bavuthela imihubhe bejabula kakhulu, kwaze kwanyikinyeka umhlaba.
And the entire multitude ascended after him. And the people were playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy. And the earth resounded before the noise of them.
41 U-Adonija kanye lezethekeli ezazilaye zawuzwa lumkhosi njengoba bona basebeqedisa ukudla. UJowabi wathi esizwa icilongo wabuza wathi, “Utshoni umsindo wonke lo edolobheni?”
Then Adonijah, and all who had been summoned by him, heard it. And now the feast had ended. Then, too, Joab, hearing the voice of the trumpet, said, “What is the meaning of this clamor from the tumultuous city?”
42 Kwathi elokhu esakhuluma kwafika uJonathani indodana ka-Abhiyathari umphristi. U-Adonija wathi, “Ngena phakathi. Indoda eqakathekileyo njengawe kufanele ukuthi isiphathele izindaba ezimnandi.”
While he was still speaking, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. And Adonijah said to him, “Enter, for you are a valiant man, and you report good news.”
43 UJonathani waphendula wathi, “Akulalutho. Inkosi uDavida uMbusi wethu usegcobe uSolomoni ubukhosi.
And Jonathan answered Adonijah: “By no means. For our lord king David has appointed Solomon as king.
44 Inkosi isimthumele kanye loZadokhi umphristi, loNathani umphrofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKherethi lamaPhelethi, njalo sebehle bamkhweza embongolweni yenkosi.
And he has sent with him Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites. And they have placed him on the mule of the king.
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, have anointed him king, at Gihon. And they are ascending from there, rejoicing, and so the city resounds. This is the noise that you have heard.
46 Kunjalo-nje uSolomoni usehle wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi.
But also, Solomon sits upon the throne 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 servants of the king, entering, have blessed our lord king David, saying: ‘May God amplify the name of Solomon above your name, and may he magnify his throne above your throne.’ And the king reverenced from his bed.
48 yathi, ‘Udumo alube kuye uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena ovumele ukuthi ngizibonele ngawami amehlo lowo ozathatha isihlalo sami sobukhosi lamuhla.’”
And he said: ‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has bestowed someone to sit upon my throne, while my eyes may see it.’”
49 Ngenxa yalokhu, izethekeli zika-Adonija zathi lothu zaphakama ngokwethuka zachitheka.
Therefore, all those who had been summoned by Adonijah were terrified. And they all rose up, and each one went his own way.
50 Kodwa u-Adonija, ngokwesaba uSolomoni, wahamba wayabamba impondo ze-alithare.
Then Adonijah, fearing Solomon, rose up and went away. And he took hold of the horn of the altar.
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 reported to Solomon, saying: “Behold, Adonijah, fearing king Solomon, has taken hold of the horn of the altar, saying: ‘May king Solomon swear to me this day that he will not put to death his servant 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 a good man, not so much as one hair of his head shall fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he shall die.”
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.”
Therefore, king Solomon sent and brought him from the altar. And entering, he reverenced king Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your own house.”
