2 USamuyeli 13

1 Ngokuqhubeka kwesikhathi, u-Amnoni indodana kaDavida wathanda uThamari, owayemuhle, engudadewabo ka-Abhisalomu indodana kaDavida.

And it came to pass after this, that Amnon the son of David loved the sister of Absalom the son of David, who was very beautiful, and her name was Thamar.

2 U-Amnoni wabindeka waze wagula ngenxa kadadewabo uThamari, ngoba wayeyintombi egcweleyo, njalo kwakukhanya kungeke kwenzeke ukuthi enze loba yini kuye.

And he was exceedingly fond of her, so that he fell sick for the love of her: for as she was a virgin, he thought it hard to do any thing dishonestly with her.

3 U-Amnoni wayelomngane wakhe owayethiwa nguJehonadabi indodana kaShimeya, umfowabo kaDavida. UJehonadabi wayeliqili lendoda.

Now Amnon had a friend, named Jonadab the son of Semmaa the brother of David, a very wise man:

4 Wabuza u-Amnoni wathi, “Kungani wena, ndodana yenkosi, ukhanya uhlobile nsuku zonke ekuseni? Awungeke ungitshele na?” U-Amnoni wathi kuye, “Ngiyamthanda uThamari, udadewabo ka-Abhisalomu umfowethu.”

And he said to him: Why dost thou grow so lean from day to day, O son of the king? why dost thou not tell me the reason of it? And Amnon said to him: I am in love with Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom.

5 UJehonadabi wathi, “Hamba uyelala uzenze ogulayo. Lapho uyihlo ezekubona, wothi kuye, ‘Ngifuna udadewethu uThamari azenginika ulutho lokudla. Ukudla lokho kazekulungisela emehlweni ami, ukuze ngimkhangele ngikudle kuvela esandleni sakhe.’”

And Jonadab said to him: Lie down upon thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to visit thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray thee, come to me, to give me to eat, and to make me a mess, that I may eat it at her hand.

6 Ngakho u-Amnoni walala phansi wazenza ogulayo. Kwathi inkosi isifikile ukuzambona, u-Amnoni wathi kuyo, “Ngicela udadewethu uThamari azengenzela isinkwa khonapha ukuze ngidle ngisamukela esandleni sakhe.”

So Amnon lay down, and made as if he were sick: and when the king came to visit him, Amnon said to the king: I pray thee let my sister Thamar come, and make in my sight two little messes, that I may eat at her hand.

7 UDavida wathumela ilizwi kuThamari endlini yobukhosi esithi: “Hamba endlini yomnewenu u-Amnoni umlungisele ukudla.”

Then David sent home to Thamar, saying: Come to the house of thy brother Amnon, and make him a mess.

8 Ngakho uThamari waya endlini kamnewabo u-Amnoni owayelele phansi. Wathatha inhlama wayivuba, wenza isinkwa khonapho.

And Thamar came to the house of Amnon her brother: but he was laid down: and she took meal and tempered it: and dissolving it in his sight she made little messes.

9 Wasethatha ipane wamnika isinkwa, kodwa wala ukudla. U-Amnoni wasesithi, “Batshele baphume bonke abalapha.” Ngakho bonke baphuma bamtshiya.

And taking what she had boiled, she poured it out, and set it before him, but he would not eat: and Amnon said: Put out all persons from me. And when they had put all persons out,

10 U-Amnoni wasesithi kuThamari, “Letha ukudla lapha endlini yami yokulala ukuze ungifunze ngesandla sakho.” UThamari wathatha isinkwa ayesilungisile wasisa kumnewabo u-Amnoni endlini yakhe yokulala.

Amnon said to Thamar: Bring the mess into the chamber, that I may eat at thy hand. And Thamar took the little messes which she had made, and brought them in to her brother Amnon in the chamber.

11 Kodwa esefike laso kuye ukuba adle, wamxhakala wathi, “Woza ulale lami, dadewethu.”

And when she had presented him the meat, he took hold of her, and said: Come lie with me, my sister.

12 Yena wathi kuye, “Ungaqali, mnewethu! Ungangigebengi. Into enje akumelanga yenziwe ko-Israyeli! Ungenzi into le embi.

She answered him: Do not so, my brother, do not force me: for no such thing must be done in Israel. Do not thou this folly.

13 Mina-ke? Ngingalisusela ngaphi ihlazo lami? Wena-ke? Angithi ungafana lesinye seziphukuphuku ezixhwalileyo ko-Israyeli. Ake ukhulume lenkosi, kayisoze ingalele ukwendela kuwe.”

For I shall not be able to bear my shame, and thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel: but rather speak to the king, and he will not deny me to thee.

14 Kodwa u-Amnoni wala ukumlalela, kwathi njengoba wayelamandla kulaye, wamgebenga.

But he would not hearken to her prayers, but being stronger overpowered her and lay with her.

15 Emva kwalokho u-Amnoni wamzonda ngenzondo ebuhlungu kakhulu. Ngeqiniso wamzonda okudlula ukumthanda kwakhe. U-Amnoni wathi kuye, “Vuka uphume!”

Then Amnon hated her with an exceeding great hatred: so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her before, And Amnon said to her: Arise, and get thee gone.

16 Yena wathi, “Hatshi! Ukungixotsha kungaba yibubi obudlula lokhu osukwenze kimi.” Kodwa wala ukumlalela.

She answered him: This evil which now thou dost against me, in driving me away, is greater than that which thou didst before. And he would not hearken to her:

17 Wabiza inceku eyayiqondane laye wathi, “Susa umfazi lo lapha, ukhiye umnyango ngemva kwakhe.”

But calling the servants that ministered to him, he said: Thrust this woman out from me: and shut the door after her.

18 Ngakho inceku yakhe yamkhuphela phandle yakhiya umnyango. Wayegqoke isigqoko esasiceciswe kakuhle, ngoba lolu yilo uhlobo lwesigqoko esasigqokwa ngamadodakazi enkosi ayezintombi ezigcweleyo.

And she was clothed with along robe: for the king’s daughters that were virgins, used such kind of garments. Then his servant thrust her out: and shut the door after her.

19 UThamari wazithela ngomlotha ekhanda wadabula isigqoko esicecisiweyo ayesigqokile. Wathwala imikhono ekhanda wasuka, wahamba ekhala kakhulu.

And she put ashes on her head, and rent her long robe and laid her hands upon her head, and went on crying.

20 Umnewabo u-Abhisalomu wathi kuye, “U-Amnoni lowo, umnewenu, kade elawe na? Zithulele dadewethu; ungumnewenu. Ungayibeki enhliziyweni yakho into le.” UThamari wahlala endlini kamnewabo u-Abhisalomu, engowesifazane ohlulukelweyo.

And Absalom her brother said to her: Hath thy brother Amnon lain with thee? but now, sister, hold thy peace, he is thy brother: and afflict not thy heart for this thing. So Thamar remained pining away in the house of Absalom her brother.

21 Inkosi uDavida esekuzwile konke lokhu wathukuthela kakhulu.

And when king David heard of these things he was exceedingly grieved: and he would not afflict the spirit of his son Amnon, for he loved him, because he was his firstborn.

22 U-Abhisalomu kazange atsho lizwi ku-Amnoni, elihle loba elibi; wamzonda u-Amnoni ngoba wayehlazise udadewabo uThamari.

But Absalom spoke not to Amnon neither good nor evil: for Absalom hated Amnon because he had ravished his sister Thamar.

23 Emva kweminyaka emibili, lapho abagundi bezimvu zika-Abhisalomu babeseBhali Hazori phansi komngcele wako-Efrayimi, wanxusa wonke amadodana enkosi ukuba aye khonale.

And it came to pass after two years, that the sheep of Absalom were shorn in Baalhasor, which is near Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons:

24 U-Abhisalomu waya enkosini wathi, “Inceku yakho abagundi bayo bafikile. Kambe inkosi lezikhulu zayo ingahamba lami na?”

And he came to the king, and said to him: Behold thy servant’s sheep are shorn. Let the king, I pray, with his servants come to his servant.

25 Inkosi yaphendula yathi, “Hatshi, ndodana yami. Akumelanga sonke sihambe; singaba ngumthwalo onzima kuwe.” Lanxa u-Abhisalomu wayincenga, yala ukuhamba, kodwa yena yamvumela.

And the king said to Absalom: Nay, my son, do not ask that we should all come, and be chargeable to thee. And when he pressed him, and he would not go, he blessed him.

26 U-Abhisalomu wasesithi, “Nxa kungenjalo, ake uvumele umfowethu u-Amnoni ahambe lathi.” Inkosi yambuza yathi, “Kungani kumele ahambe lani?”

And Absalom said: If thou wilt not come, at least let my brother Amnon, I beseech thee, come with us. And the king said to him: It is not necessary that he should go with thee.

27 Kodwa u-Abhisalomu wayincenga, ngakho yavuma ukuba u-Amnoni ahambe laye kanye lamanye amadodana enkosi.

But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. And Absalom made a feast as it were the feast of a king.

28 U-Abhisalomu walaya abantu bakhe wathi, “Lalelani! Nxa u-Amnoni esethabe kakhulu ngenxa yokunatha iwayini ngingathi kini, ‘Mbulaleni u-Amnoni!’ limbulale. Lingesabi. Kangiliphanga umlayo lo na? Qinani libe lesibindi.”

And Absalom had commanded his servants, saying: Take notice when Amnon shall be drunk with wine, and when I shall say to you: Strike him, and kill him, fear not: for it is I that command you: take courage, and be valiant men.

29 Ngakho abantu baka-Abhisalomu benza ku-Amnoni lokho u-Abhisalomu ayebalaye khona. Lapho-ke wonke amadodana enkosi asuka, agada imbongolo zawo abaleka.

And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded them. And all the king’s sons arose and got up every man upon his mule, and fled.

30 Esesendleleni umbiko wafika kuDavida usithi, “U-Abhisalomu usewabulele wonke amadodana enkosi, akukho leyodwa eseleyo.”

And while they were yet in the way, a rumour came to David, saying: Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.

31 Inkosi yasukuma, yadabula izigqoko zayo yalala phansi emhlabathini; izinceku zayo zonke zema khonapho iziqgoko zazo sezizidabulile.

Then the king rose up, and rent his garments: and fell upon the ground, and all his servants, that stood about him, rent their garments.

32 Kodwa uJehonadabi indodana kaShimeya, umfowabo kaDavida, wathi, “Inkosi yami kayingacabangi ukuthi babulele wonke amakhosana, ngu-Amnoni kuphela ofileyo. Le yinhloso ka-Abhisalomu ebivele ikhona kusukela mhla u-Amnoni egebenga udadewabo uThamari.

But Jonadab the son of Semmaa David’s brother answering, said: Let not my lord the king think that all the king’s sons are slain: Amnon only is dead, for he was appointed by the mouth of Absalom from the day that he ravished his sister Thamar.

33 Umhlekazi wami inkosi kayinganqineki ngombiko othi wonke amadodana enkosi afile. Ngu-Amnoni kuphela ofileyo.”

Now therefore let not my lord the king take this thing into his heart, saying: All the king’s sons are slain: for Amnon only is dead.

34 Ngalesosikhathi u-Abhisalomu wayesebalekile. Kwathi umuntu owayelinda wabona abantu abanengi emgwaqweni ngasentshonalanga, besehla eceleni lentaba. Umlindi lowo wahamba wayabikela inkosi wathi, “Ngibona abantu ngokuya eHoronayimi, eceleni kwentaba.”

But Absalom fled away: and the young man that kept the watch, lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there came much people by a by-way on the side of the mountain.

35 UJehonadabi wasesithi enkosini, “Khangela, amadodana enkosi asefikile; kwenzakale njengoba inceku yakho itshilo.”

And Jonadab said to the king: Behold the king’s sons are come: as thy servant said, so it is.

36 Wathi eqeda ukukhuluma, amadodana enkosi angena ekhala kakhulu. Layo inkosi, kanye lezinceku zayo zonke bakhala kabuhlungu.

And when he made an end of speaking, the king’s sons also appeared: and coming in they lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very much.

37 U-Abhisalomu wabaleka waya kuThalimayi indodana ka-Amihudi inkosi yaseGeshuri. Kodwa Inkosi uDavida walilela indodana yakhe insuku zonke.

But Absalom fled, and went to Tholomai the son of Ammiud the king of Gessur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 Emva kokuba u-Abhisalomu esebaleke waya eGeshuri, wahlala khonale iminyaka emithathu.

And Absalom after he was fled, and come into Gessur, was there three years.

39 Umoya wenkosi wafisa ukuya ku-Abhisalomu, ngoba yayisiduduzekile ngokufa kuka-Amnoni.

And king David ceased to pursue after Absalom, because he was comforted concerning the death of Amnon.