2 USamuyeli 15
1 Ngokuqhubeka kwesikhathi u-Abhisalomu wazidingela inqola yempi lamabhiza kanye labantu abangamatshumi amahlanu ukuba ngabagijima phambi kwakhe.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Wayevuka ekuseni kakhulu ame eceleni komgwaqo oya esangweni ledolobho. Kwakusithi loba ngubani ofikayo ukuyamangala icala enkosini ukuba liqunywe, u-Abhisalomu wayembiza athi, “Wena uvela kuliphi idolobho?” Wayephendula athi, “Inceku yakho ivela kwesinye sezizwana zako-Israyeli.”
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 Lapho-ke u-Abhisalomu wayesithi kuye, “Khangela, okufunayo kuqondile njalo kufanele, kodwa akulammeli wenkosi ukuba akuzwe.”
And Absalom said to him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear you.
4 U-Abhisalomu wayeqhubeka athi, “Sekuze kungathi ngabe ngabekwa ukuba ngumahluleli elizweni! Loba ngubani olensolo kumbe icala wayezakuza kimi ngibone ukuthi wahlulelwa kuhle.”
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
5 Njalo kwakusithi umuntu angafika kuye akhothamele phansi phambi kwakhe, u-Abhisalomu wayeselula isandla sakhe ambambe amange.
And it was so, that when any man came near to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 U-Abhisalomu waziphatha ngale indlela kubo bonke abako-Israyeli abaya enkosini ukuyacela ukwahlulelwa kuhle, ngalokho wakhanga inhliziyo zabantu abanengi ko-Israyeli.
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Ekupheleni kweminyaka emine, u-Abhisalomu wathi enkosini, “Ngisake ngiye eHebhroni ukuyagcwalisa isifungo engasenzayo kuThixo.
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.
8 Inceku yakho isahlala eGeshuri e-Aramu, yenza isifungo lesi: ‘Nxa uThixo engangibuyisela eJerusalema ngizamkhonza uThixo eHebhroni.’”
For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9 Inkosi yathi kuye, “Hamba ngokuthula.” Ngakho waya eHebhroni.
And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 Emva kwalokho u-Abhisalomu wathuma izithunywa ezifihlakeleyo kuzozonke izizwana zako-Israyeli ukuba zithi, “Lingezwa nje ukukhala kwecilongo, tshonini lithi, ‘U-Abhisalomu uyinkosi eHebhroni!’”
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.
11 Abantu abangamakhulu amabili baseJerusalema babehambe lo-Abhisalomu. Babenxuswe njengezethekeli njalo behambe bekhululekile, bengazi lutho ngendaba leyo.
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 U-Abhisalomu esanikela imihlatshelo, wabiza u-Ahithofeli umGiloni, umeluleki kaDavida, ukuba eze evela eGilo, umuzi wakibo. Ngalokho icebo lomvukela laqina, labalandeli baka-Abhisalomu baqhubeka besanda.
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 Kwafika isithunywa kuDavida sathi, “Inhliziyo zabantu bako-Israyeli ziku-Abhisalomu.”
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 UDavida wasesithi kuzozonke izikhulu zakhe ezazilaye eJerusalema, “Wozani! Kumele sibaleke, hlezi kungabi lamunye wethu ozaphepha ku-Abhisalomu. Kumele sisuke masinyane hlezi asixhume alethe incithakalo kithi njalo ahlasele idolobho ngenkemba.”
And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil on us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 Izikhulu zenkosi zaphendula zathi, “Izinceku zakho zilungele ukwenza loba yini umhlekazi wethu inkosi akukhethayo.”
And the king’s servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 Inkosi yaphuma labendlu yayo bonke beyilandela; kodwa yatshiya abafazi beceleni abalitshumi ukuba bagcine isigodlo.
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17 Ngakho inkosi yasuka, labantu bonke beyilandela, basebesima endaweni elibanga elithize.
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 Bonke abantu bayo bayedlula, ndawonye lawo wonke amaKherethi lamaPhelethi, kanye lawo wonke amaGithi angamakhulu ayisithupha ayehambe layo kusukela eGathi ahamba phambi kwenkosi.
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Inkosi yasisithi ku-Ithayi umGithi, “Kungani uhamba lathi na? Buyela emuva uyehlala lenkosi u-Abhisalomu. Wena ungumuntu wezizweni, owaxotshwayo elizweni lakini.
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return to your place, and abide with the king: for you are a stranger, and also an exile.
20 Ufike izolo nje. Kambe sekungathi lamhla lokhu ngikwenze uzulazule lathi, mina ngingakwazi lalapho engingaya khona? Buyela emuva uthathe abantu bakini. Sengathi uThixo angakwenzela umusa lokuhle.”
Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? seeing I go where I may, return you, and take back your brothers: mercy and truth be with you.
21 Kodwa u-Ithayi wayiphendula inkosi wathi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ekhona, njalo njengoba umhlekazi wami inkosi, ephila, loba kungaphi lapho umhlekazi wami inkosi ezakuba ikhona, loba kusitsho ukuphila kumbe ukufa, inceku yakho izakuba khonapho.”
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.
22 UDavida wasesithi ku-Ithayi, “Qhubeka, hamba.” Ngakho u-Ithayi umGithi wahamba labantu bakhe bonke kanye lezimuli ezazilaye.
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 Ilizwe lonke lakhala kakhulu lapho abantu bonke besedlula. Inkosi yachapha isiHotsha saseKhidironi, abantu bonke bahamba beqonde enkangala.
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 UZadokhi laye wayekhona, labaLevi bonke ababelaye babethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, njalo u-Abhiyathari wanikela imihlatshelo abantu bonke baze baphela ukusuka edolobheni.
And see Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 Inkosi yasisithi kuZadokhi, “Buyisela ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu edolobheni. Ngingathola umusa emehlweni kaThixo, uzangibuyisela emuva enze ukuba ngilibone futhi kanye lendawo yakhe yokuhlala.
And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
26 Kodwa angathi, ‘Kangithokozi ngawe,’ lapho-ke ngizilungisele; kenze kimi loba kuyini okukhanya kulungile kuye.”
But if he thus say, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him.
27 Inkosi yabuya yathi kuZadokhi umphristi, “Uyazwisisa na? Buyela emuva edolobheni ngokuthula, lendodana yakho u-Ahimazi loJonathani indodana ka-Abhiyathari. Wena lo-Abhiyathari hambani lamadodana enu.
The king said also to Zadok the priest, Are not you a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 Mina ngizakuma emazibukweni enkangala kuze kufike ilizwi elivela kini lingazisa.”
See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Ngakho uZadokhi lo-Abhiyathari balibuyisela eJerusalema ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu lahlala khona.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30 Kodwa uDavida waqhubeka ekhwela iNtaba yama-Oliva, ehamba ekhala; ikhanda lakhe lalimboziwe njalo ebhadula ngezinyawo. Bonke abantu ababelaye labo bamboza amakhanda abo njalo bakhwela bekhala.
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 UDavida wayetshelwe ukuthi, “U-Ahithofeli uphakathi kwabahlamuki lo-Abhisalomu.” Ngakho uDavida wakhuleka wathi, “Oh, Thixo phendula ukululeka kuka-Ahithofeli kube yibuthutha.”
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 Kwathi uDavida esefikile engqongeni, lapho abantu ababejayele ukukhonzela khona uNkulunkulu, uHushayi umʼArikhi wayekhonapho ukuba amhlangabeze, isembatho sakhe sidabukile njalo elothuli ekhanda.
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth on his head:
33 UDavida wathi kuye, “Ungahamba lami, uzakuba ngumthwalo onzima kimi.
To whom David said, If you pass on with me, then you shall be a burden to me:
34 Kodwa nxa ubuyela edolobheni uyekuthi ku-Abhisalomu, ‘Ngizakuba yinceku yakho, awu nkosi, ngangiyinceku kayihlo kudala, kodwa khathesi ngizakuba yinceku yakho,’ lapho-ke ungangisiza ngokufubisa izeluleko zika-Ahithofeli.
But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant till now, so will I now also be your servant: then may you for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 Abaphristi uZadokhi lo-Abhiyathari kabayikuba khonale lawe na? Batshele konke okuzwayo esigodlweni senkosi.
And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Amadodana abo amabili, u-Ahimazi indodana kaZadokhi loJonathani indodana ka-Abhiyathari, akhonale kanye labo. Bathumele kimi ngakho konke okuzwayo.”
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me every thing that you can hear.
37 Ngakho umngane kaDavida uHushayi wafika eJerusalema khonapho u-Abhisalomu laye engena edolobheni.
So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
