1 Amakhosi 1
1 Inkosi uDavida yayisindala ilensuku ezinengi; basebeyembesa ngezembatho, kodwa kayikhudumalanga.
Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.
2 Inceku zayo zasezisithi kuyo: Inkosi yami, inkosi, kayidingelwe intombazana emsulwa, ukuthi ime phambi kwenkosi, iyonge, ilale esifubeni sakho, ukuze inkosi yami, inkosi, ikhudumale.
So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”
3 Zasezidinga intombazana enhle emingceleni yonke yakoIsrayeli, zathola uAbishagi umShunami, zamletha enkosini.
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4 Intombazana yayinhle kakhulu sibili, yaba ngumongi wenkosi, yayisebenzela; kodwa inkosi kayiyazanga.
The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.
5 UAdonija indodana kaHagithi waseziphakamisa esithi: Mina ngizakuba yinkosi. Wasezilungisela inqola labagadi bamabhiza, lamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ukugijima phambi kwakhe.
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
6 Uyise wayengazanga amdanise lakanye esithi: Wenzeleni kanje? Laye futhi wayelesimo esihle kakhulu, lonina wamzala emva kukaAbisalomu.
(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)
7 Lamazwi akhe ayeloJowabi indodana kaZeruya njalo loAbhiyatha umpristi, basebencedisa, bamlandela uAdonija.
So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
8 Kodwa uZadoki umpristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, loNathani umprofethi, loShimeyi, loReyi, lamaqhawe uDavida ayelawo, babengekho kuAdonija.
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.
9 UAdonija wahlaba izimvu lezinkabi lokunonisiweyo elitsheni leZohelethi eliseceleni kweEni-Rogeli, wanxusa bonke abafowabo, amadodana enkosi, lawo wonke amadoda akoJuda, inceku zenkosi;
And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.
10 kodwa oNathani umprofethi loBhenaya lamaqhawe loSolomoni umfowabo kabanxusanga.
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11 Ngakho uNathani wakhuluma kuBathisheba unina kaSolomoni esithi: Kawuzwanga yini ukuthi uAdonija indodana kaHagithi uyabusa, lenkosi yethu uDavida kayikwazi?
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
12 Ngakho-ke woza, ake ngikuphe iseluleko, ukuze usindise impilo yakho lempilo yendodana yakho uSolomoni.
Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13 Hamba ungene enkosini uDavida uthi kuyo: Wena nkosi yami, nkosi, kawufunganga yini kuncekukazi yakho usithi: Qotho, uSolomoni indodana yami uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi? Pho, kungani kubusa uAdonija?
Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
14 Khangela, ulokhu usakhuluma lapho lenkosi, ngingene lami emva kwakho, ngiqinise amazwi akho.
Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 UBathisheba wasengena enkosini ekamelweni. Inkosi yayisindala kakhulu, loAbishagi umShunami wayeyisebenzela inkosi.
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.
16 UBathisheba waseguqa wakhothamela inkosi; inkosi yasisithi: Ulani?
And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17 Wasesithi kuyo: Nkosi yami, wena wafunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wakho kuncekukazi yakho usithi: Qotho uSolomoni indodana yakho uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi.
“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
18 Kodwa khathesi khangela, uAdonija uyabusa, khathesi-ke, nkosi yami, nkosi, kawukwazi.
But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it.
19 Usehlabe izinkabi lokunonisiweyo lezimvu ezinengi, wanxusa wonke amadodana enkosi loAbhiyatha umpristi loJowabi induna yebutho; kodwa uSolomoni inceku yakho kamnxusanga.
And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.
20 Wena-ke, nkosi yami, nkosi, amehlo kaIsrayeli wonke aphezu kwakho ukuthi ubatshele ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi, emva kwayo,
And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21 hlezi kuzakuthi lapho inkosi yami, inkosi, izalala laboyise, mina lendodana yami uSolomoni sizakuba yizoni.
Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
22 Khangela-ke, elokhu esakhuluma lenkosi, loNathani umprofethi wangena.
And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23 Basebeyibikela inkosi besithi: Khangela uNathani umprofethi. Esengene phambi kwenkosi wakhothama phambi kwenkosi ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini.
So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
24 UNathani wasesithi: Nkosi yami, nkosi, wena utshilo yini ukuthi: UAdonija uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi?
“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
25 Ngoba wehlile lamuhla, uhlabile izinkabi lokunonisiweyo lezimvu ezinengi, wanxusa wonke amadodana enkosi, lenduna zebutho, loAbhiyatha umpristi; khangela-ke, bayadla bayanatha phambi kwakhe, njalo bathi: Kayiphile inkosi uAdonija!
For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26 Kodwa mina, mina inceku yakho loZadoki umpristi loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada loSolomoni inceku yakho, kasinxusanga.
But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27 Lindaba yenziwe yinkosi yami, inkosi, yini? Njalo kawazisanga inceku yakho ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi, emva kwayo?
Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”
28 Inkosi uDavida yasiphendula yathi: Ngibizelani uBathisheba. Wasengena phambi kobuso benkosi, wema phambi kwenkosi.
Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 Inkosi yasifunga yathi: Kuphila kukaJehova ohlenge umphefumulo wami kuzo zonke inhlupheko,
And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
30 ngitsho, njengoba ngafunga kuwe ngeNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngisithi: Qotho, uSolomoni indodana yakho uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi esikhundleni sami; qotho ngizakwenza njalo lamuhla.
I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 UBathisheba wasekhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, waguqela inkosi wathi: Kayiphile inkosi yami, inkosi uDavida kuze kube nininini!
Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 Inkosi uDavida yasisithi: Ngibizelani uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada. Basebengena phambi kwenkosi.
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
33 Inkosi yasisithi kibo: Thathani kanye lani inceku zenkosi yenu, ligadise uSolomoni indodana yami imbongolo engeyami, limehlisele eGihoni.
“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
34 Kakuthi-ke uZadoki umpristi loNathani umprofethi bamgcobe khona abe yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli; beselivuthela uphondo lithi: Kayiphile inkosi uSolomoni!
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35 Beselisenyuka emva kwakhe, njalo uzakuza ahlale esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, ngoba uzakuba yinkosi esikhundleni sami, njalo yena ngimbekile ukuthi abe ngumbusi phezu kukaIsrayeli laphezu kukaJuda.
Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada waseyiphendula inkosi wathi: Ameni. Kayitsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami, inkosi!
“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37 Njengoba uJehova ubelenkosi yami, inkosi, kabe njalo loSolomoni, asenze isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi sibe sikhulu kulesihlalo sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi uDavida.
Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”
38 Ngakho uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKerethi, lamaPelethi behla bamgadisa uSolomoni imbongolo yenkosi uDavida, bamusa eGihoni.
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
39 UZadoki umpristi wasethatha uphondo lwamafutha ethenteni, wamgcoba uSolomoni. Basebevuthela uphondo, bonke abantu bathi: Kayiphile inkosi uSolomoni!
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
40 Bonke abantu basebesenyuka emva kwakhe, bonke abantu basebevuthela imihlanga bethokoza ngentokozo enkulu, waze waqhekezeka umhlaba ngomsindo wabo.
All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.
41 UAdonija labo bonke abanxusiweyo ababelaye basebewuzwa sebeqede ukudla. Lapho uJowabi esizwa ukukhala kophondo wathi: Ngowani umsindo womuzi oxokozelayo?
Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.
42 Lapho esakhuluma, khangela, kwafika uJonathani indodana kaAbhiyatha umpristi; uAdonija wathi: Ngena, ngoba uliqhawe, uletha imibiko emihle.
As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”
43 UJonathani wasephendula wathi kuAdonija: Qotho, inkosi yethu, inkosi uDavida, imbekile uSolomoni waba yinkosi;
“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 njalo inkosi ithume kanye laye uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKerethi, lamaPelethi, bamgadisa imbongolo yenkosi.
And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.
45 Njalo uZadoki umpristi loNathani umprofethi bamgcobile waba yinkosi eGihoni, benyuka khona bethokoza; yikho umuzi uxokozela. Yiwo lowomsindo eliwuzwileyo.
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
46 Futhi uSolomoni usehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso.
Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 Futhi lenceku zenkosi zifikile ukubusisa inkosi yethu, inkosi uDavida, zisithi: UNkulunkulu wakho kalenze ibizo likaSolomoni libe ngcono kulebizo lakho, enze isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi sibe sikhulu kulesihlalo sakho sobukhosi. Inkosi yasikhothama embhedeni.
The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,
48 Futhi-ke yatsho njalo inkosi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, enike lamuhla ohlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, amehlo ami ekubona.
saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
49 Bonke abanxusiweyo ababeloAdonija basebethuthumela, basukuma, bahamba ngulowo lalowo ngendlela yakhe.
At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
50 UAdonija wasesesaba ngenxa kaSolomoni, wasukuma wahamba, wabamba impondo zelathi.
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
51 Wasebikelwa uSolomoni ukuthi: Khangela, uAdonija uyayesaba inkosi uSolomoni; ngoba khangela, usebambe impondo zelathi esithi: Inkosi uSolomoni kayifunge kimi lamuhla ukuthi kayiyikuyibulala inceku yayo ngenkemba.
It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”
52 USolomoni wasesithi: Uba eyindoda uqobo, kakuyikuwa okonwele lwakhe emhlabathini. Kodwa uba ububi butholakala kuye, uzakufa.
And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
53 Inkosi uSolomoni yasithuma, bamehlisa elathini. Wasesiza wakhothama enkosini uSolomoni; uSolomoni wasesithi kuye: Yana endlini yakho.
So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”
