2 USamuyeli 18
1 UDavida wabutha bonke abantu ababelaye wababekela abalawuli bezinkulungwane labalawuli bamakhulu.
And David marshalled the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 UDavida wahlukanisa amabutho akhe, ingxenye eyodwa kokuthathu ilawulwa nguJowabi, ingxenye eyodwa ingaphansi komfowabo kaJowabi u-Abhishayi indodana kaZeruya, lengxenye eyodwa kokuthathu ingaphansi kuka-Ithayi umGithi. Inkosi yatshela amabutho yathi, “Mina ngokwami impela ngizaphuma lani.”
And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 Kodwa abantu bathi, “Akumelanga uphume; nxa sizancindezeleka ukuba sibaleke, kabayikuzihlupha ngathi. Lanxa kungaze kufe ingxenye yethu, kabayikuzihlupha; kodwa wena ulingana labethu abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi. Kungabangcono khathesi ukuba usisekele usedolobheni.”
But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth, for if we should in any case flee, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; for thou art worth ten thousand of us; and now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 Inkosi yaphendula yathi, “Ngizakwenza loba kuyini lokho okukhanya kungcono kini.” Ngakho inkosi yema eceleni kwesango abantu sebephuma ngamaviyo amakhulu lawezinkulungwane.
And the king said to them, I will do what is good in your sight. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Inkosi yalaya uJowabi, lo-Abhishayi kanye lo-Ithayi yathi, “Libe lesisa ejaheni u-Abhisalomu ngenxa yami.” Amabutho wonke ayizwa inkosi ilaya umlawuli ngamunye ngo-Abhisalomu.
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 Ibutho lahamba lisiya egangeni ukuyakulwa lo-Israyeli, njalo ukulwa kwenzakala eguswini lako-Efrayimi.
And the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
7 Khonapho ibutho lako-Israyeli lehlulwa ngabantu bakaDavida, njalo ukubulalana kwaba kukhulu ngalelolanga, abantu abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili.
And the people of Israel were routed before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day: twenty thousand men.
8 Impi yaqhela yagcwala ilizwe lonke, njalo igusu laqeda abantu abanengi kulenkemba ngalolosuku.
And the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Kwenzakala nje ukuthi u-Abhisalomu ahlangane labantu bakaDavida. Wayegade imbongolo yakhe, kwasekusithi imbongolo idlula ngaphansi kwezingatsha ezenileyo zesihlahla esikhulu somʼOkhi, ikhanda lika-Abhisalomu labanjwa esihlahleni. Wasala elenga emoyeni, imbongolo ayeyigadile ilokhu ihamba.
And Absalom found himself in the presence of David's servants. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of the great terebinth, and his head caught in the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 Kwathi omunye wabantu esebone lokhu, watshela uJowabi wathi, “Ngibone u-Abhisalomu elenga esihlahleni somʼOkhi.”
And a man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.
11 UJowabi wasesithi emuntwini owayemtshele lokhu, “Ini? Umbonile? Pho kungani ungamcakazelanga phansi khonapho na? Kade ngizakupha amashekeli esiliva alitshumi kanye lebhanti lobuqhawe.”
And Joab said to the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten silver pieces and a girdle.
12 Kodwa umuntu lowo waphendula wathi, “Lanxa amashekeli ayinkulungwane engalinganiselwa ezandleni zami, ngingeke ngiphakamise isandla sami ngihlasele indodana yenkosi. Sizizwele inkosi ilaya wena lo-Abhishayi kanye lo-Ithayi yathi, ‘Vikelani ijaha u-Abhisalomu ngenxa yami.’
And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silver pieces in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take care, whoever it be [of you], of the young man Absalom.
13 Aluba ngibeke ukuphila kwami engozini njalo akulanto efihlakeleyo enkosini, ubungayikuba lobuzalwane lami.”
Or I should have acted falsely against mine own life, for there is no matter concealed from the king, and thou wouldest have set thyself against [me].
14 UJowabi wathi, “Mina angiyikulindela wena kanje.” Ngakho wathatha imikhonto emithathu wayitikitela enhliziyweni ka-Abhisalomu, u-Abhisalomu elokhu esaphila esesihlahleni somʼOkhi.
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's body, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.
15 Njalo abathwali bezikhali zikaJowabi bamhanqa u-Abhisalomu, bamtshaya bambulala.
And ten young men that bore Joab's armour surrounded and smote Absalom, and killed him.
16 Emva kwalokho uJowabi wakhalisa icilongo, amabutho aseyekela ukuxotshana lo-Israyeli, ngoba uJowabi wawamisa.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab kept back the people.
17 Bamthatha u-Abhisalomu bamphosela egodini elikhulu eguswini babuthelela inqwaba enkulu yamatshe phezu kwakhe. Ngalesosikhathi wonke u-Israyeli wabalekela ekhaya lakhe.
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and raised a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 U-Abhisalomu esaphila wayethethe insika wayimisa eSigodini seNkosi njengesikhumbuzo sakhe, ngoba wacabanga wathi, “Angilandodana yokuqhuba ukukhunjulwa kwebizo lami.” Insika wayibiza ngaye, njalo ithiwa Isikhumbuzo sika-Abhisalomu kuze kube lamhla.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a monument, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the monument after his own name; and it is called unto this day, Absalom's memorial.
19 Ngalesosikhathi u-Ahimazi indodana kaZadokhi wathi, “Kuhle ngigijime ngihambise umbiko enkosini ukuthi uThixo useyihlengile esandleni sezitha zayo.”
And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me run, I pray, and carry the king the news that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.
20 UJowabi wathi kuye, “Kawusuwe omele ahambise imibiko lamhla. Ungayihambisa imibiko ngesinye isikhathi, kodwa akumelanga wenzenjalo lamhla, ngoba indodana yenkosi ifile.”
And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not be a bearer of news to-day, but thou shalt carry the news another day; but to-day thou shalt carry no news, because the king's son is dead.
21 UJowabi wasesithi kumKhushi, “Hamba uyetshela inkosi lokho okubonileyo.” UmKhushi wakhothama phambi kukaJowabi wasesuka egijima.
Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
22 U-Ahimazi indodana kaZadokhi waphinda wathi kuJowabi, “Loba kunjani, ake ungivumele ngigijime ngilandele umKhushi.” Kodwa uJowabi waphendula wathi, “Ndodana yami, kungani ufuna ukuhamba? Kawulambiko ozakulethela umvuzo.”
And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, Come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that there is no news suited [to thee]?
23 Yena wathi, “Loba kunjani, mina ngifuna ukugijima.” Ngakho uJowabi wathi, “Gijima!” U-Ahimazi wagijima ngendlela yasemagcekeni, wamdlula umKhushi.
— But, come what may, let me run. And he said to him, Run. And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outstripped the Cushite.
24 Kwathi uDavida ehlezi phakathi kwesango langaphakathi lelangaphandle, umlindi wakhwela waya phezulu ephahleni lwesango, phansi komduli. Kwathi lapho ekhangela, wabona umuntu egijima eyedwa.
And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, on to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.
25 Umlindi wamemeza inkosi wayibikela lokho. Inkosi yathi, “Nxa eyedwa, uzakuba lezindaba ezinhle.” Umuntu waqhubeka elokhu esondela eduze.
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came on and drew near.
26 Umlindi wabona omunye umuntu egijima, wasebiza umlindi wesango ngaphansi, wathi, “Khangela, omunye umuntu ugijima eyedwa!” Inkosi yathi, “Laye uzakuba ngoletha izindaba ezinhle.”
And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter and said, Behold a man running alone. And the king said, He also is a bearer of news.
27 Umlindi wasesithi, “Ngibona angathi owakuqala ugijima njengo-Ahimazi indodana kaZadokhi.” Inkosi yathi, “Ungumuntu olungileyo. Uza lezindaba ezinhle.”
And the watchman said, I see the running of the foremost like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man; and comes with good news.
28 Lapho-ke u-Ahimazi wamemeza enkosini wasesithi, “Konke kulungile.” Wakhothama phambi kwenkosi wathi mbo phansi ngobuso, wathi, “Kadunyiswe uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho. Usebanikele abantu abaphakamisa izandla zabo ukuhlasela inkosi yami.”
And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, Peace! And he fell down to the earth on his face before the king, and said, Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 Inkosi yasibuza isithi, “Ijaha u-Abhisalomu usindile na?” U-Ahimazi waphendula wathi, “Ngibone ukuphithizela okukhulu uJowabi esezathuma inceku yenkosi lami, inceku yakho, kodwa kangazi ukuthi kade kuyini.”
And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said, I saw a great tumult when Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant; but I knew not what it was.
30 Inkosi yasisithi, “Buyela eceleni ume khona.” Ngakho wabuyela eceleni wama khona.
And the king said, Turn aside [and] stand here. And he turned aside and stood still.
31 Lapho-ke umKhushi wafika wathi, “Mhlekazi wami, nkosi, zwana izindaba ezinhle! UThixo lamhla usekukhulule kubo bonke abakuhlamukelayo.”
And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Let my lord the king receive good tidings, for Jehovah has avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 Inkosi yambuza yathi, “Ijaha u-Abhisalomu usindile na?” UmKhushi waphendula wathi, “Sengathi izitha zomhlekazi inkosi yami labo bonke abayihlamukelayo ukuba bayilimaze bangaba njengejaha leliyana.”
And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite said, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee for evil, be as that young man.
33 Inkosi yadabuka kakhulu. Yakhwela yaya ekamelweni elingaphezu kwesango yakhala. Yahamba ikhala isithi, “Oh, ndodana yami Abhisalomu! Ndodana yami, ndodana yami Abhisalomu! Aluba kufe mina esikhundleni sakho, Oh Abhisalomu, ndodana yami, ndodana yami!”
And the king was much moved, and went up to the upper chamber of the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said thus: O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died in thy stead, O Absalom, my son, my son!
