2 USamuyeli 19
1 Kwasekubikwa kuJowabi kwathiwa: Khangela, inkosi uDavida iyakhala inyembezi, ililela uAbisalomu.
Soon Joab was told, “The king is crying and mourning for Absalom.”
2 Ukunqoba ngalolosuku kwasekusiba yisililo ebantwini bonke, ngoba abantu bezwa ngalolosuku kuthiwa: Inkosi idabukile ngenxa yendodana yayo.
Victory that day was turned into mourning for the whole army, because they were told, “The king is grieving for his son.”
3 Abantu basebengena ngokunyenya emzini ngalolosuku njengabantu benyenya belenhloni bebaleka empini.
They stole back into town that day like defeated people steal in, ashamed of running away from the battle.
4 Kodwa inkosi yagubuzela ubuso bayo, inkosi yakhala ngelizwi elikhulu yathi: Ndodana yami Abisalomu, Abisalomu, ndodana yami, ndodana yami!
The king held his face in his hands and sobbed loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 UJowabi wasengena endlini enkosini wathi: Lamuhla uyangisile ubuso benceku zakho zonke ezisindise impilo yakho lamuhla lempilo yamadodana akho leyamadodakazi akho lempilo yabomkakho lempilo yabafazi bakho abancane.
Then Joab went inside and told the king, “Today you have humiliated all your men who have saved your life, and the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.
6 Uyabathanda abakuzondayo, uzonde abakuthandayo. Ngoba ukuveze obala lamuhla ukuthi izinduna lezinceku kazisilutho kuwe; ngoba ngiyananzelela lamuhla ukuthi uba uAbisalomu ubephila, njalo thina sonke besifile lamuhla, ukuthi bekungabe kulungile emehlweni akho.
You did this by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. Today you have made it plain that the commanders and the men don't mean anything to you. Today I'm sure that you'd be quite happy if Absalom was alive and all of us were dead!
7 Ngakho-ke sukuma, uphume uyekhuluma enhliziyweni yezinceku zakho; ngoba ngifunga ngeNkosi, uba ungaphumi, sibili kakulamuntu ozahlala lawe ngalobubusuku. Lalokhu kuzakuba kubi kuwe kulakho konke okubi okukwehlele kusukela ebutsheni bakho kuze kube khathesi.
So get up, go out, and thank your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don't, you won't have a man left by tonight. That will be far worse for you than all the disasters you've had from your youth until now.”
8 Inkosi yasisukuma, yahlala esangweni. Batshela bonke abantu bathi: Khangela, inkosi ihlezi esangweni; basebesiza abantu bonke phambi kwenkosi. UIsrayeli wayebaleke-ke, ngulowo lalowo waya emathenteni akhe.
So the king got up and went to sit at the town gate. Everybody was told: “Look, the king is sitting at the town gate.” They all came to see the king. In the meantime the Israelites had run away and gone to their homes.
9 Njalo abantu bonke babephikisana ezizweni zonke zakoIsrayeli besithi: Inkosi yasikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, njalo yona yasophula esandleni samaFilisti; kodwa khathesi isibalekile elizweni ngenxa kaAbisalomu.
Everyone among the tribes of Israel were arguing with each other, saying, “The king rescued us from the persecution of our enemies, he saved us from the Philistines, but now he's had to run from the country because of Absalom.
10 Kodwa uAbisalomu esamgcoba ukuthi abe phezu kwethu ufele empini. Pho-ke, lithuleleni ngokubuyisa inkosi?
Now Absalom, the man we chose to be our king by anointing him, he's died in battle. Why don't we do something and invite King David to come back?”
11 Inkosi uDavida yasithuma kuZadoki lakuAbhiyatha abapristi, isithi: Khulumani labadala bakoJuda lithi: Kungani lingabokucina ukubuyisela inkosi endlini yayo? (Ngoba inkulumo kaIsrayeli wonke ifike enkosini endlini yayo.)
King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Tell the elders of Judah, ‘Are you going to be the last people to bring the king back to his palace, since the king has heard that all of Israel wants it?
12 Lingabafowethu, lilithambo lami lenyama yami; ngakho kungani lingabokucina ukubuyisa inkosi?
You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last ones to want to bring the king back?’
13 Lithi-ke kuAmasa: Angithi ulithambo lami lenyama yami? UNkulunkulu kenze njalo kimi engezelele ngokunjalo, uba ungayikuba yinduna yebutho phambi kwami zonke izinsuku esikhundleni sikaJowabi.
Tell Amasa, ‘Aren't you my flesh and blood too? May God punish me very severely if from now on you're not the commander of my army instead of Joab!’”
14 Wasethobisa inhliziyo yabantu bonke bakoJuda, njengamuntu munye; basebethuma enkosini besithi: Buyela wena lazo zonke inceku zakho.
Amasa convinced all the people of Judah to unitedly support David, so they sent a message to the king: “Please come back, you and everyone with you.”
15 Inkosi yasibuyela yafika eJordani; uJuda wasesiza eGiligali ukuyahlangabeza inkosi, ukuchaphisa inkosi iJordani.
The king began his journey back, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah met him at Gilgal to help him cross the river.
16 UShimeyi indodana kaGera umBhenjamini, owaseBahurimi, wasephangisa wehla labantu bakoJuda ukuhlangabeza inkosi uDavida,
Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17 labantu abayinkulungwane bakoBhenjamini belaye, loZiba inceku yendlu kaSawuli, lamadodana akhe alitshumi lanhlanu, lenceku zakhe ezingamatshumi amabili belaye. Basebephangisa baya eJordani phambi kwenkosi.
With him were one thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin, including Ziba, servant of Saul's family, as well as Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king.
18 Kwasekuchapha isikepe sokuchapha ukuchaphisa abendlu yenkosi lokwenza okulungileyo emehlweni ayo. UShimeyi indodana kaGera wasewela phansi phambi kwenkosi ekuchapheni kwayo iJordani.
They crossed at the ford to bring the king's household over and whatever else he wanted. Shimei crossed the Jordan and fell facedown before the king.
19 Wasesithi enkosini: Inkosi yami ingangibaleli isiphambeko, futhi ungakhumbuli lokho inceku yakho eyaphambeka ngakho mhla inkosi yami, inkosi, iphuma eJerusalema, ukuthi inkosi ikubeke enhliziyweni yayo.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me and disregard the wrong that I, your servant, did when Your Majesty left Jerusalem. Please forget all about it.
20 Ngoba inceku yakho iyazi ukuthi mina ngonile; khangela-ke, ngifikile lamuhla ngingowokuqala wendlu yonke kaJosefa ukwehla ukuhlangabeza inkosi yami, inkosi.
I, your servant, recognize that I have sinned. But look! Today I'm the first from any of the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet Your Majesty.”
21 Kodwa uAbishayi indodana kaZeruya waphendula wathi: UShimeyi kayikubulawa yini ngalokhu, ngoba wathuka ogcotshiweyo weNkosi?
Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said, “Shouldn't Shimei be executed for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed one?”
22 UDavida wasesithi: Ngilani lani, madodana kaZeruya, ukuthi libe yisitha kimi lamuhla? Kuzabulawa umuntu lamuhla koIsrayeli yini? Ngoba kangazi yini ukuthi lamuhla ngiyinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli?
But David replied, “What's that got do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Do you want to be my enemies today? Is this a day to execute anybody in Israel? Aren't I certain that today I'm the king of Israel once more?”
23 Inkosi yasisithi kuShimeyi: Kawuyikufa. Inkosi yasifunga kuye.
David turned to Shimei and swore an oath to him, “You're not going to die.”
24 UMefiboshethi indodana kaSawuli wasesehla ukuhlangabeza inkosi. Wayengalungisanga inyawo zakhe, engalungisanga lendevu zakhe, engawatshanga lezigqoko zakhe, kusukela mhla inkosi ihamba kwaze kwaba mhla ibuya ngokuthula.
Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, went to meet the king. He had refused to look after his feet or trim his mustache or have his clothes washed from the day the king left until the day of his peaceful return.
25 Kwasekusithi esefikile eJerusalema ukuhlangabeza inkosi, inkosi yathi kuye: Kungani ungahambanga lami, Mefiboshethi?
When he arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 Wasesithi: Nkosi yami, nkosi, inceku yami yangikhohlisa; ngoba inceku yakho yathi: Ngizazibophelela isihlalo kubabhemi ukuze ngimgade, ngihambe lenkosi, ngoba inceku yakho iyaqhula.
Mephibosheth answered, “Your Majesty, my servant Ziba tricked me. I told him, ‘Saddle up my donkey so I can ride her and leave with the king,’ because you know that I'm lame.
27 Njalo iyihlebile inceku yakho enkosini yami, inkosi; kodwa inkosi yami, inkosi, injengengilosi kaNkulunkulu; ngakho yenza okulungileyo emehlweni akho.
Ziba has misrepresented me, your servant, to Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty is like an angel of God, so do what you think best.
28 Ngoba yonke indlu kababa ibingesilutho ngaphandle kokuba ngabantu bokufa phambi kwenkosi yami, inkosi; loba kunjalo wayibeka inceku yakho phakathi kwabadla etafuleni lakho. Pho, ngiselalungelo bani ukuthi ngibuye ngikhale enkosini?
All my grandfather's family could only expect death from Your Majesty, but you included me, your servant, among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to ask the king for anything more?”
29 Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Usakhulumelani ngendaba zakho? Ngithe: Wena loZiba lizakwehlukaniselana insimu.
“Why talk any more about these issues of yours?” David responded. “I've decided that you and Ziba should divide the land.”
30 UMefiboshethi wasesithi enkosini: Yebo, kayithathe yonke, lokhu inkosi yami, inkosi, isibuyile endlini yayo ngokuthula.
Mephibosheth replied to the king, “Let him have it all! I'm just happy that Your Majesty has returned home in peace.”
31 UBarizilayi umGileyadi wasesehla evela eRogelimi, wachapha iJordani kanye lenkosi ukuyiphelekezela phetsheya kweJordani.
Barzillai the Gileadite had also came down from Rogelim to help the king cross the Jordan and to make his way onwards from there.
32 UBarizilayi wayesemdala kakhulu, eleminyaka engamatshumi ayisificaminwembili; yena wayisekela inkosi ekuhlaleni kwayo eMahanayimi, ngoba wayengumuntu omkhulu kakhulu.
Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age, and because he was a very wealthy man, he had provided the king with food while he was staying in Mahanaim.
33 Inkosi yasisithi kuBarizilayi: Chapha kanye lami wena, ngizakusekela lami eJerusalema.
The king said to Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan with me, and I will provide for you while you stay with me in Jerusalem.”
34 Kodwa uBarizilayi wasesithi enkosini: Zingaki insuku zeminyaka yempilo yami ukuthi ngenyukele eJerusalema lenkosi?
“How much longer do you think I have to live so I could go to Jerusalem and stay there with the king?” Barzillai replied.
35 Lamuhla ngileminyaka engamatshumi ayisificaminwembili; ngingehlukanisa phakathi kokuhle lokubi yini? Inceku yakho inganambitha engikudlayo lengikunathayo yini? Ngingabe ngisawezwa yini amazwi amadoda ahlabelayo lawabesifazana abahlabelayo? Kungani-ke inceku yakho isizakuba ngumthwalo enkosini yami, inkosi?
“I'm already eighty. I don't enjoy anything anymore. I can't taste what I eat or drink. I can't hear when people sing. There's no point for me, your servant, to be another burden to Your Majesty!
36 Inceku yakho izake ichaphe iJordani ingcosana nje kanye lenkosi; kungani-ke inkosi izangenanisa ngomvuzo ongaka?
For your servant to cross the Jordan River with the king is enough reward for me!
37 Ngiyakuncenga, yekela inceku yakho ibuyele, ukuze ngifele emzini wami eduze lengcwaba likababa lelikamama. Kodwa khangela, inceku yakho uKhimihamu, kayichaphe lenkosi yami, inkosi, uyenzele okulungileyo emehlweni akho.
Then let your servant go back home, that I may die in my home town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant, my son Chimham. Let him cross over with Your Majesty, and treat him as you think best.”
38 Inkosi yasisithi: UKhimihamu uzachapha lami; njalo mina ngizamenzela okulungileyo emehlweni ami, lakho konke okufunayo kimi ngizakwenzela khona.
The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will treat him as you think best, and I will do for you whatever you want.”
39 Bonke abantu basebechapha iJordani, lenkosi yachapha, inkosi yamanga uBarizilayi, yambusisa, wasebuyela endaweni yakhe.
So everybody crossed the Jordan first, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and then Barzillai went back home.
40 Inkosi yasisedlulela eGiligali, loKhimihamu wedlula layo; labo bonke abantu bakoJuda bayidlulisela phambili inkosi, futhi lengxenye yesizwe sakoIsrayeli.
Then the king carried on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. The whole army of Judah and half the army of Israel accompanied the king.
41 Khangela-ke, bonke abantu bakoIsrayeli beza enkosini bathi enkosini: Abafowethu, abantu bakoJuda, bakuntshontsheleni, bachaphisa inkosi lendlu yayo iJordani labo bonke abantu bakaDavida belaye?
But soon the men of Israel who were there came to the king and asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, secretly take Your Majesty away and bring you and your household across the Jordan, together with all your men?”
42 Bonke abantu bakoJuda basebephendula amadoda akoIsrayeli bathi: Ngoba inkosi iyisihlobo sethu; pho-ke, lithukuthelelani ngalindaba? Sike sadlani okwenkosi? Kumbe isinike isipho yini?
The men of Judah explained to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is one of our relatives. Why are you getting upset about this? When did we ever eat the king's food? When did we ever get anything for yourselves?”
43 Njalo amadoda akoIsrayeli aphendula amadoda akoJuda, athi: Silengxenye ezilitshumi enkosini, futhi lakuDavida silelungelo okwedlula lina. Pho, lasidelelelani ukuthi ilizwi lethu lingabi ngelokuqala ukubuyisa inkosi yethu? Kodwa ilizwi lamadoda akoJuda lalilukhuni kulelizwi lamadoda akoIsrayeli.
“We've got ten shares in the king,” the men of Israel replied, “so we have a greater claim on David than you do. So why do you look down us? Weren't we the first ones to talk about bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah argued even more strongly than the men of Israel.
