2 USamuyeli 16
1 Kwathi uDavida esedlule kancinyane engqongeni, khangela, uZiba inceku kaMefiboshethi wamhlangabeza elabobabhemi ababili belezihlalo, bethwele izinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili, lamahlukuzo alikhulu ezithelo ezonyisiweyo zevini, lezithelo zehlobo ezilikhulu, lomgodla wewayini.
When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 Inkosi yasisithi kuZiba: Uthini ngalezizinto? UZiba wasesithi: Obabhemi ngabendlu yenkosi ukuthi bagade, lezinkwa lezithelo zehlobo ngezamajaha ukuthi adle, lewayini ngelabaphelelwa ngamandla enkangala ukuthi banathe.
“Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
3 Inkosi yasisithi: Pho, ingaphi indodana yenkosi yakho? UZiba wasesithi enkosini: Khangela, uhlezi eJerusalema, ngoba uthe: Lamuhla uIsrayeli uzabuyisela kimi umbuso kababa.
“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”
4 Inkosi yasisithi kuZiba: Khangela, ngokwakho konke okukaMefiboshethi. UZiba wasesithi: Ngiyakhothama; kangithole umusa emehlweni akho, nkosi yami, nkosi.
So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
5 Kwathi inkosi uDavida ifika eBahurimi, khangela, kwaphuma khona umuntu wosendo lwendlu kaSawuli, obizo lakhe linguShimeyi indodana kaGera; waphuma, ehamba ethuka.
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
6 Wasejikijela uDavida ngamatshe kanye lenceku zonke zenkosi uDavida, labo bonke abantu lamaqhawe wonke ngakwesokunene sakhe langakwesokhohlo sakhe.
He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.
7 Wasesitsho njalo uShimeyi ekuthukeni kwakhe: Phuma, phuma, muntu wegazi, muntu kaBheliyali!
And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
8 INkosi ibuyisele phezu kwakho lonke igazi lendlu kaSawuli obubusa esikhundleni sakhe; iNkosi inikele umbuso esandleni sikaAbisalomu indodana yakho. Khangela, usebubini bakho, ngoba ungumuntu omele igazi.
The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 UAbishayi indodana kaZeruya wasesithi enkosini: Linja efileyo iyithukelani inkosi yami, inkosi? Ake ngedlule ngisuse ikhanda layo.
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
10 Kodwa inkosi yathi: Ngilani lani, madodana kaZeruya? Ngakho kathuke, ngoba iNkosi ithe kuye: Thuka uDavida; pho, ngubani ozakuthi: Wenzeleni njalo?
But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
11 UDavida wasesithi kuAbishayi lakuzo zonke inceku zakhe: Khangela, indodana yami, ephume emibilini yami, idinga impilo yami; kangakanani-ke lumBhenjamini? Myekeleni, athuke, ngoba iNkosi ikhulumile kuye.
Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
12 Mhlawumbe iNkosi izabona usizi lwami, iNkosi ingibuyisele okuhle esikhundleni sokuthuka kwakhe lamuhla.
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
13 UDavida labantu bakhe basebehamba ngendlela; loShimeyi ehamba eceleni kwentaba maqondana laye, ehamba ethuka, emjikijela ngamatshe, emthela ngothuli.
So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.
14 Inkosi labo bonke abantu ababelayo bafika sebekhathele; yasihlumelela khona.
Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
15 UAbisalomu labantu bonke, amadoda akoIsrayeli, basebefika eJerusalema, loAhithofeli elaye.
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16 Kwasekusithi lapho uHushayi umArki, umngane kaDavida, esefike kuAbisalomu, uHushayi wathi kuAbisalomu: Kayiphile inkosi! Kayiphile inkosi!
And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 UAbisalomu wasesithi kuHushayi: Yiwo umusa wakho kumngane wakho yini? Kungani ungahambanga lomngane wakho?
“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”
18 UHushayi wasesithi kuAbisalomu: Hatshi, kodwa lowo emkhethayo iNkosi, lalababantu, lawo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli, ngizakuba ngowakhe, njalo ngihlale laye.
“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 Ngokwesibili, mina ngizakhonza bani? Kungabi phambi kobuso bendodana yakhe na? Njengoba ngakhonza phambi kukayihlo, ngokunjalo ngizakuba phambi kwakho.
Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”
20 UAbisalomu wasesithi kuAhithofeli: Phanini iseluleko senu ukuthi sizakwenza njani?
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
21 UAhithofeli wasesithi kuAbisalomu: Ngena kubafazi abancane bakayihlo abatshiye ukulinda indlu; loIsrayeli wonke uzakuzwa ukuthi ulevumba kuyihlo; khona izandla zabo bonke abalawe zizaqina.
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
22 Basebemendlalela uAbisalomu ithente phezu kophahla; uAbisalomu wasengena kubafazi abancane bakayise phambi kwamehlo kaIsrayeli wonke.
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 Iseluleko sikaAhithofeli aseluleka ngalezonsuku sasinjengomuntu ebuza ilizwi likaNkulunkulu; sasinjalo sonke iseluleko sikaAhithofeli kubo bobabili uDavida loAbisalomu.
Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
