1 Amakhosi 1

1 Inkosi uDavida yayisindala ilensuku ezinengi; basebeyembesa ngezembatho, kodwa kayikhudumalanga.

Now king David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was covered with clothes, he was not 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.

His servants therefore said to him: Let us seek for our lord the king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him, and sleep in his bosom, and warm our lord the king.

3 Zasezidinga intombazana enhle emingceleni yonke yakoIsrayeli, zathola uAbishagi umShunami, zamletha enkosini.

So they sought a beautiful young woman in all the coasts of Israel, and they found Abisag a Sunamitess, and brought her to the king.

4 Intombazana yayinhle kakhulu sibili, yaba ngumongi wenkosi, yayisebenzela; kodwa inkosi kayiyazanga.

And the damsel was exceeding beautiful, and she slept with the king: and served him, but the king did not know her.

5 UAdonija indodana kaHagithi waseziphakamisa esithi: Mina ngizakuba yinkosi. Wasezilungisela inqola labagadi bamabhiza, lamadoda angamatshumi amahlanu ukugijima phambi kwakhe.

And Adonias the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: I will be king. And he made himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 Uyise wayengazanga amdanise lakanye esithi: Wenzeleni kanje? Laye futhi wayelesimo esihle kakhulu, lonina wamzala emva kukaAbisalomu.

Neither did his father rebuke him at any time, saying: Why hast thou done this? And he also was very beautiful, the next in birth after Absalom.

7 Lamazwi akhe ayeloJowabi indodana kaZeruya njalo loAbhiyatha umpristi, basebencedisa, bamlandela uAdonija.

And he conferred with Joab the son of Sarvia, and with Abiathar the priest, who furthered Adonias’s side.

8 Kodwa uZadoki umpristi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, loNathani umprofethi, loShimeyi, loReyi, lamaqhawe uDavida ayelawo, babengekho kuAdonija.

But Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of David’s army was not with Adonias.

9 UAdonija wahlaba izimvu lezinkabi lokunonisiweyo elitsheni leZohelethi eliseceleni kweEni-Rogeli, wanxusa bonke abafowabo, amadodana enkosi, lawo wonke amadoda akoJuda, inceku zenkosi;

And Adonias having slain rams and calves, and all fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which was near the fountain Rogel, invited all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Juda, the king’s servants:

10 kodwa oNathani umprofethi loBhenaya lamaqhawe loSolomoni umfowabo kabanxusanga.

But Nathan the prophet, and Banaias, and all the valiant men, and Solomon his brother, he invited not.

11 Ngakho uNathani wakhuluma kuBathisheba unina kaSolomoni esithi: Kawuzwanga yini ukuthi uAdonija indodana kaHagithi uyabusa, lenkosi yethu uDavida kayikwazi?

And Nathan said to Bethsabee the mother of Solomon: Hast thou not heard that Adonias the son of Haggith reigneth, and our lord David knoweth it not?

12 Ngakho-ke woza, ake ngikuphe iseluleko, ukuze usindise impilo yakho lempilo yendodana yakho uSolomoni.

Now then come, take my counsel and save thy life, and the life of thy 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, and get thee in to king David, and say to him: Didst not thou, my lord O king, swear to me thy handmaid, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then doth Adonias reign?

14 Khangela, ulokhu usakhuluma lapho lenkosi, ngingene lami emva kwakho, ngiqinise amazwi akho.

And while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I will come in after thee, and will fill up thy words.

15 UBathisheba wasengena enkosini ekamelweni. Inkosi yayisindala kakhulu, loAbishagi umShunami wayeyisebenzela inkosi.

So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber: now the king was very old, and Abisag the Sunamitess ministered to him.

16 UBathisheba waseguqa wakhothamela inkosi; inkosi yasisithi: Ulani?

Bethsabee bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king said to her: What is thy will?

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.

She answered and said: My lord, thou didst swear to thy handmaid by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

18 Kodwa khathesi khangela, uAdonija uyabusa, khathesi-ke, nkosi yami, nkosi, kawukwazi.

And behold now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king, knowest nothing of it.

19 Usehlabe izinkabi lokunonisiweyo lezimvu ezinengi, wanxusa wonke amadodana enkosi loAbhiyatha umpristi loJowabi induna yebutho; kodwa uSolomoni inceku yakho kamnxusanga.

He hath killed oxen, and all fat cattle, and many rams, and invited all the king’s sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the general of the army: but Solomon thy servant he invited not.

20 Wena-ke, nkosi yami, nkosi, amehlo kaIsrayeli wonke aphezu kwakho ukuthi ubatshele ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi, emva kwayo,

And now, my lord O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldst tell them, who shall sit on thy throne, my lord the king, after thee.

21 hlezi kuzakuthi lapho inkosi yami, inkosi, izalala laboyise, mina lendodana yami uSolomoni sizakuba yizoni.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleepeth with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

22 Khangela-ke, elokhu esakhuluma lenkosi, loNathani umprofethi wangena.

As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came.

23 Basebeyibikela inkosi besithi: Khangela uNathani umprofethi. Esengene phambi kwenkosi wakhothama phambi kwenkosi ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini.

And they told the king, saying: Nathan the prophet is here. And when he was come in before the king, and had worshipped, bowing down to the ground,

24 UNathani wasesithi: Nkosi yami, nkosi, wena utshilo yini ukuthi: UAdonija uzabusa emva kwami, njalo yena uzahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi?

Nathan said: My lord O king, hast thou said: Let Adonias reign after me, and let him sit upon 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!

Because he is gone down today, and hath killed oxen, and fatlings, and many rams, and invited all the king’s sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest: and they are eating and drinking before him, and saying: God save king Adonias:

26 Kodwa mina, mina inceku yakho loZadoki umpristi loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada loSolomoni inceku yakho, kasinxusanga.

But me thy servant, and Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and Solomon thy servant he hath not invited.

27 Lindaba yenziwe yinkosi yami, inkosi, yini? Njalo kawazisanga inceku yakho ukuthi ngubani ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi, emva kwayo?

Is this word come out from my lord the king, and hast thou not told me thy servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 Inkosi uDavida yasiphendula yathi: Ngibizelani uBathisheba. Wasengena phambi kobuso benkosi, wema phambi kwenkosi.

And king David answered and said: Call to me Bethsabee. And when she was come in to the king, and stood before him,

29 Inkosi yasifunga yathi: Kuphila kukaJehova ohlenge umphefumulo wami kuzo zonke inhlupheko,

The king swore and said: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of 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.

Even as I swore to thee by the Lord the God of Israel, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day.

31 UBathisheba wasekhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, waguqela inkosi wathi: Kayiphile inkosi yami, inkosi uDavida kuze kube nininini!

And Bethsabee bowing with her face to the earth worshipped the king, saying: May my lord David live for ever.

32 Inkosi uDavida yasisithi: Ngibizelani uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada. Basebengena phambi kwenkosi.

King David also said: Call me Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Joiada. And when they were come in before the king,

33 Inkosi yasisithi kibo: Thathani kanye lani inceku zenkosi yenu, ligadise uSolomoni indodana yami imbongolo engeyami, limehlisele eGihoni.

He said to them: Take with you the servants of your lord, and set my son Solomon upon my mule: and bring him to Gihon.

34 Kakuthi-ke uZadoki umpristi loNathani umprofethi bamgcobe khona abe yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli; beselivuthela uphondo lithi: Kayiphile inkosi uSolomoni!

And let Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and you shall sound the trumpet, and shall say: God save 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.

And you shall come up after him, and he shall come, and shall sit upon my throne, and he shall reign in my stead: and I will appoint him to be ruler over Israel, and over Juda.

36 UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada waseyiphendula inkosi wathi: Ameni. Kayitsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami, inkosi!

And Banaias the son of Joiada answered the king, saying: Amen: so say the Lord the God of my lord the king.

37 Njengoba uJehova ubelenkosi yami, inkosi, kabe njalo loSolomoni, asenze isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi sibe sikhulu kulesihlalo sobukhosi senkosi yami, inkosi uDavida.

As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon, and make his throne higher than the throne of my lord king David.

38 Ngakho uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKerethi, lamaPelethi behla bamgadisa uSolomoni imbongolo yenkosi uDavida, bamusa eGihoni.

So Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet went down, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and Phelethi: and they set Solomon upon the mule of king David, and brought him to Gihon.

39 UZadoki umpristi wasethatha uphondo lwamafutha ethenteni, wamgcoba uSolomoni. Basebevuthela uphondo, bonke abantu bathi: Kayiphile inkosi uSolomoni!

And Sadoc the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon: and they sounded the trumpet, and all the people said: God save king Solomon.

40 Bonke abantu basebesenyuka emva kwakhe, bonke abantu basebevuthela imihlanga bethokoza ngentokozo enkulu, waze waqhekezeka umhlaba ngomsindo wabo.

And all the multitude went up after him, and the people played with pipes, and rejoiced with a great joy, and the earth rang with the noise of their cry.

41 UAdonija labo bonke abanxusiweyo ababelaye basebewuzwa sebeqede ukudla. Lapho uJowabi esizwa ukukhala kophondo wathi: Ngowani umsindo womuzi oxokozelayo?

And Adonias, and all that were invited by him, heard it, and now the feast was at an end: Joab also hearing the sound of the trumpet, said: What meaneth this noise of the city in an uproar?

42 Lapho esakhuluma, khangela, kwafika uJonathani indodana kaAbhiyatha umpristi; uAdonija wathi: Ngena, ngoba uliqhawe, uletha imibiko emihle.

While he yet spoke, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonias said to him: Come in, because thou art a valiant man, and bringest good news.

43 UJonathani wasephendula wathi kuAdonija: Qotho, inkosi yethu, inkosi uDavida, imbekile uSolomoni waba yinkosi;

And Jonathan answered Adonias: Not so: for our lord king David hath appointed Solomon king.

44 njalo inkosi ithume kanye laye uZadoki umpristi, loNathani umprofethi, loBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lamaKerethi, lamaPelethi, bamgadisa imbongolo yenkosi.

And hath sent with him Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and Phelethi, and they have set him upon the king’s mule.

45 Njalo uZadoki umpristi loNathani umprofethi bamgcobile waba yinkosi eGihoni, benyuka khona bethokoza; yikho umuzi uxokozela. Yiwo lowomsindo eliwuzwileyo.

And Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are gone up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again: this is the noise that you have heard.

46 Futhi uSolomoni usehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso.

Moreover Solomon sitteth upon the throne of the kingdom,

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.

And the king’s servants going in have blessed our lord king David, saying: May God make the name of Solomon greater than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king adored in his bed:

48 Futhi-ke yatsho njalo inkosi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, enike lamuhla ohlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, amehlo ami ekubona.

And he said: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath given this day one to sit on my throne, my eyes seeing it.

49 Bonke abanxusiweyo ababeloAdonija basebethuthumela, basukuma, bahamba ngulowo lalowo ngendlela yakhe.

Then all the guests of Adonias were afraid, and they all arose and every man went his way.

50 UAdonija wasesesaba ngenxa kaSolomoni, wasukuma wahamba, wabamba impondo zelathi.

And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose, and went, and took hold on the horn 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.

And they told Solomon, saying: Behold Adonias, fearing king Solomon, hath taken hold of the horn of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with the sword.

52 USolomoni wasesithi: Uba eyindoda uqobo, kakuyikuwa okonwele lwakhe emhlabathini. Kodwa uba ububi butholakala kuye, uzakufa.

And Solomon said: If he be a good man, there shall not so much as one hair of his head fall to the ground: but if evil be found in him, he shall die.

53 Inkosi uSolomoni yasithuma, bamehlisa elathini. Wasesiza wakhothama enkosini uSolomoni; uSolomoni wasesithi kuye: Yana endlini yakho.

Then king Solomon sent, and brought him out from the altar: and going in he worshipped king Solomon: and Solomon said to him: Go to thy house.