1 Amakhosi 1

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

NOW KING David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he could get no heat.

2 Inceku zayo zasezisithi kuyo: Inkosi yami, inkosi, kayidingelwe intombazana emsulwa, ukuthi ime phambi kwenkosi, iyonge, ilale esifubeni sakho, ukuze inkosi yami, inkosi, ikhudumale.

Wherefore his servants said unto him: 'Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and be a companion unto him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.'

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

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

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

And the damsel was very fair; and she became a companion unto the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

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

Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: 'I will be king'; and he prepared him 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.

And his father had not grieved him all his life in saying: 'Why hast thou done so?' and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.

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

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they following Adonijah helped him.

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

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were not with 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 slew sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants;

10 kodwa oNathani umprofethi loBhenaya lamaqhawe loSolomoni umfowabo kabanxusanga.

but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

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

Then Nathan spoke unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying: 'Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

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

Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own 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 unto king David, and say unto him: Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying: Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

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

Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.'

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

And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber. — Now the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. —

16 UBathisheba waseguqa wakhothamela inkosi; inkosi yasisithi: Ulani?

And Bath-sheba bowed, and prostrated herself unto the king. And the king said: 'What wouldest thou?'

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.

And she said unto him: 'My lord, thou didst swear by the LORD thy God unto thy handmaid: Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

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

And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and thou, my lord the king, knowest it not.

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

And he hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar, the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

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

And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall 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 it will come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.'

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

And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

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

And they told the king, saying: 'Behold Nathan the prophet.' And when he was come in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

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

And Nathan said: 'My lord, O king, hast thou said: Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall 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!

For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say: Long live king Adonijah.

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

But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon hath he not called.

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

Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not declared unto 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.

Then king David answered and said: 'Call me Bath-sheba.' And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

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

And the king swore and said: 'As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

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.

verily as I swore unto thee by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying: Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; verily so will I do this day.'

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

Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and prostrated herself to the king, and said: 'Let my lord king David live for ever.'

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

And king David said: 'Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.' And they came before the king.

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

And the king said unto them: 'Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

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

And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye with the horn, and say: 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 ye shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.'

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

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said: '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, even so be He with Solomon, and make his throne greater 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 Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

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

And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the ram's horn; and all the people said: 'Long live king Solomon.'

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

And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

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

And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said: 'Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?'

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

While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said: 'Come in; for thou art a worthy man, and bringest good tidings.'

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

And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah: 'Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

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

And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride 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 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that ye have heard.

46 Futhi uSolomoni usehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso.

And also Solomon sitteth on 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 moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying: God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne; and the king bowed down upon the bed.

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

And also thus said the king: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.'

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

And all the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

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

And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on 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.

And it was told Solomon, saying: 'Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon; for, lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear unto me first of all that he will not slay 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 shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.'

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

So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before king Solomon; and Solomon said unto him: 'Go to thy house.'