< 1 Wafalme 2 >
1 Siku zilipokaribia za Daudi kufa, akampa mwanawe Solomoni agizo.
The time of David's death was approaching, so he gave his son Solomon these last instructions:
2 Akasema, “Mimi ninakaribia kwenda njia ya dunia yote. Hivyo uwe hodari, jionyeshe kuwa mwanaume,
“I am about to go the way everybody on earth must go. Be brave, and act like a man.
3 shika lile Bwana Mungu wako analokuagiza: Enenda katika njia zake, ushike maagizo na amri zake, sheria zake na kanuni zake, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Sheria ya Mose, ili upate kustawi katika yote ufanyayo na popote uendako,
Do what God orders you to do, follow his ways. Keep his rules, his commands, and his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses, so you may be successful in everything you do, and in everything you give your attention to.
4 ili kwamba Bwana aweze kunitimizia ahadi yake: ‘Kama wazao wako wakiangalia sana wanavyoishi, na kama wakienenda kwa uaminifu mbele zangu kwa mioyo yao yote na kwa roho zao zote, kamwe hutakosa kuwa na mtu kwenye kiti cha ufalme cha Israeli.’
If so, then the Lord will keep his promise to me when he said: ‘If your descendants are to live right before me, faithfully and with complete commitment, then you will always have one of them on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Sasa wewe mwenyewe unafahamu lile Yoabu mwana wa Seruya alilonitendea, lile alilofanya kwa majemadari wawili wa majeshi ya Israeli, Abneri mwana wa Neri, na Amasa mwana wa Yetheri. Aliwaua, akimwaga damu yao wakati wa amani kama vile ni kwenye vita, tena akaipaka damu ile kwenye mkanda uliokuwa kiunoni mwake na viatu alivyovaa miguuni mwake.
In addition, you know what Joab, son of Zeruiah, did to me and what he did to Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether, the two army commanders of Israel. He murdered them, spilling the blood of war during a time of peace. He smeared the blood of war on his belt and on his sandals.
6 Shughulika naye kwa kadiri ya hekima yako, lakini usiache kichwa chake chenye mvi kishukie kaburi kwa amani. (Sheol )
Do what you think is right, but don't let his gray head go down peacefully into the grave. (Sheol )
7 “Lakini uwaonyeshe wema wana wa Barzilai wa Gileadi na uwaruhusu wawe miongoni mwa wale walao mezani pako. Walisimama nami nilipomkimbia ndugu yako Absalomu.
But be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Bring them into your royal court, for they helped me when I ran from your brother Absalom.
8 “Ukumbuke, unaye Shimei mwana wa Gera, Mbenyamini kutoka Bahurimu, ambaye alinilaani kwa laana kali siku niliyokwenda Mahanaimu. Aliposhuka kunilaki huko Yordani, nilimwapia kwa Bwana: ‘Sitakuua kwa upanga!’
Don't you forget Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who cursed me with painful words when I went to Mahanaim. When he met me at the Jordan I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will not kill you with the sword.’
9 Lakini sasa, usidhani kwamba hana hatia. Wewe ni mtu wa hekima, utajua la kumtendea. Zishushe mvi zake kaburini kwa damu.” (Sheol )
So don't leave him unpunished. You're a wise man and you know what you have to do to him—send him down into the grave with blood on his gray head.” (Sheol )
10 Kisha Daudi akapumzika pamoja na baba zake naye akazikwa katika Mji wa Daudi.
Then David died and his was buried in the City of David.
11 Daudi alikuwa ametawala juu ya Israeli miaka arobaini: huko Hebroni alitawala miaka saba, na katika Yerusalemu akatawala miaka thelathini na mitatu.
His reign over Israel lasted forty years; seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
12 Kwa hiyo Solomoni akaketi katika kiti cha ufalme cha baba yake Daudi, nao utawala wake ukaimarika sana.
Solomon took over as king, sitting on the throne of his father David, and his hold on his kingdom was secure.
13 Basi Adoniya, mwana wa Hagithi, akaenda kwa Bathsheba, mama yake Solomoni. Bathsheba akamuuliza, “Je, umekuja kwa amani?” Akajibu, “Ndiyo, kwa amani.”
Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked him, “Have you come here with good intentions?” He replied, “Yes, with good intentions.”
14 Kisha akaongeza, “Ninalo jambo la kukuambia.” Akajibu, “Waweza kulisema.”
“I have something I'd like to ask of you,” he continued. “Go on,” she said.
15 Akasema, “Kama unavyojua, ufalme ulikuwa wangu. Israeli wote waliniangalia mimi kama mfalme wao. Lakini mambo yalibadilika, ufalme umekwenda kwa ndugu yangu, kwa maana umemjia kutoka kwa Bwana.
“You know that the kingdom was mine,” he declared, “and everyone in Israel was looking forward to me being their next king. But everything was turned upside-down, and the kingdom passed to my brother, because that's what the Lord wanted.
16 Sasa ninalo ombi moja ninalokuomba. Usinikatalie.” Bathsheba akasema, “Waweza kuliomba.”
Now I've just one request to ask of you—please don't say no.” “Tell me,” she said.
17 Kwa hiyo akaendelea kusema, “Tafadhali mwombe Mfalme Solomoni, anipatie Abishagi, Mshunami, awe mke wangu; hatakukatalia wewe.”
He went on, “Please talk to King Solomon for me because he won't turn you down. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife.”
18 Bathsheba akamjibu, “Vema sana, nitazungumza na mfalme kwa ajili yako.”
“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will talk to the king for you.”
19 Bathsheba alipokwenda kwa Mfalme Solomoni kuzungumza naye kwa ajili ya Adoniya, mfalme alisimama kumlaki mama yake, akamwinamia na kuketi kwenye kiti chake cha ufalme. Akaamuru kiti cha ufalme kuletwa kwa ajili ya mama yake mfalme, naye akaketi mkono wake wa kuume.
So Bathsheba went to talk to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king got up from his throne to meet her, and bowed before her. Then he sat back down and ordered another throne brought in for his mother. She sat to his right.
20 Bathsheba akamwambia mfalme, “Ninalo ombi moja dogo la kukuomba; usinikatalie.” Mfalme akajibu, “Omba, mama yangu; sitakukatalia.”
“I have just one small request to ask of you,” she said. “Please don't say no.” The king replied, “Ask away, dear mother. I won't say no to you.”
21 Akasema, “Mruhusu Abishagi, Mshunami, aolewe na ndugu yako Adoniya.”
“Please give Abishag from Shunem to your brother Adonijah as his wife,” she replied.
22 Mfalme Solomoni akamjibu mama yake, “Kwa nini uombe Abishagi, Mshunami, kwa ajili ya Adoniya? Ungeweza pia kuomba ufalme kwa ajili yake, kwani yeye ni ndugu yangu mkubwa: naam, kwa ajili yake, na kwa kuhani Abiathari na Yoabu mwana wa Seruya!”
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why on earth are you asking me to give Abishag to Adonijah? You might as well ask me to give my brother the kingdom! He is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, son of Zeruiah, are on his side!”
23 Mfalme Solomoni akaapa kwa Bwana, akasema: “Mungu na aniulie mbali, tena bila huruma, ikiwa Adoniya hatalipa kwa uhai wake kwa ajili ya ombi hili!
Then King Solomon vowed before the Lord, “May God punish me, really punish me, if what Adonijah has asked for doesn't cost him his life.
24 Basi sasa, hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, yeye ambaye ameniimarisha salama kwenye kiti cha ufalme cha Daudi baba yangu, naye amenipa ufalme wa kudumu kama alivyoahidi, Adoniya atauawa leo!”
So I vow, as the Lord lives, who affirmed me as king and placed me on the throne of my father David, making me the head of a dynasty as he promised, Adonijah shall be executed today.”
25 Hivyo Mfalme Solomoni akatoa amri kwa Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada, naye akampiga Adoniya akafa.
King Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who carried out the king's orders and executed Adonijah.
26 Mfalme akamwambia kuhani Abiathari, “Nenda huko Anathothi katika mashamba yako. Wewe unastahili kufa, lakini sitakuua sasa, kwa sababu ulilichukua Sanduku la Bwana Mwenyezi mbele ya Daudi baba yangu na ulishiriki taabu zote za baba yangu.”
In the case of Abiathar, the high priest, the king told him, “Go home and take care of your fields. You should be condemned to death, but I will not kill you right now because you carried the Ark of the Lord God ahead of my father David and went through all his hard times with him.”
27 Hivyo Solomoni akamwondoa Abiathari kwenye ukuhani wa Bwana, akilitimiza neno la Bwana alilokuwa amenena huko Shilo kuhusu nyumba ya Eli.
So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, and so fulfilled what the Lord had said at Shiloh regarding the descendants of Eli.
28 Habari zilipomfikia Yoabu, ambaye alikuwa amefanya shauri baya na Adoniya, lakini sio na Absalomu, alikimbilia kwenye hema la Bwana na kushika pembe za madhabahu.
When Joab heard the news he ran to the Lord's Tent and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. (He had not supported Absalom's rebellion but he had supported Adonijah.)
29 Mfalme Solomoni akaambiwa kuwa Yoabu amekimbilia kwenye hema la Bwana naye alikuwa kando ya madhabahu. Basi Solomoni akamwagiza Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada: “Nenda ukamuue!”
When King Solomon was told that Joab was seeking sanctuary by the altar, he sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute him.
30 Ndipo Benaya akaingia kwenye hema la Bwana na kumwambia Yoabu, “Mfalme anasema, ‘Toka nje!’” Lakini akajibu, “La! Nitafia hapa hapa.” Benaya akamwarifu mfalme, “Hivi ndivyo Yoabu alivyonijibu.”
Benaiah went to the Lord's Tent and told called to Joab, “The king orders you to come out!” “No! I'll die here!” Joab replied. Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.
31 Kisha mfalme akamwamuru Benaya, “Fanya kama asemavyo. Muue na kumzika, ili uniondolee mimi na nyumba ya baba yangu dhambi ya damu isiyokuwa na hatia ile Yoabu aliyoimwaga.
“Do as he says,” the king told Benaiah. “Strike him down and bury him. In that way you will remove from me and my family the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed.
32 Bwana atamlipiza kwa ajili ya damu aliyoimwaga, kwa sababu pasipo Daudi baba yangu kujua, aliwashambulia watu wawili na kuwaua kwa upanga. Wote wawili, Abneri mwana wa Neri, jemadari wa jeshi la Israeli, na Amasa mwana wa Yetheri, jemadari wa jeshi la Yuda, walikuwa watu wazuri na wanyofu kuliko yeye.
The Lord will pay him back for the blood he shed, for without my father David's knowledge, he killed two good men who were better than he was. With his sword he killed Abner, son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa, son of Jether, commander of Judah's army.
33 Hatia ya damu yao na iwe juu ya kichwa cha Yoabu na wazao wake milele. Lakini kwa Daudi na uzao wake, nyumba yake na kiti chake cha ufalme, iwepo amani ya Bwana milele.”
May the responsibility for shedding their blood come back on Joab and his descendants forever; but may the Lord give peace and prosperity to David, his descendants, his family, and his dynasty forever.”
34 Basi Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada akakwea, akampiga na kumuua Yoabu, naye akazikwa katika nchi yake mwenyewe katika jangwa.
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness.
35 Mfalme akamweka Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada juu ya jeshi kwenye nafasi ya Yoabu na kumweka kuhani Sadoki badala ya Abiathari.
The king appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to take over Joab's role as army commander, and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
36 Kisha mfalme akatuma ujumbe kwa Shimei na kumwambia, “Ujijengee nyumba huko Yerusalemu uishi huko, lakini usiende mahali pengine popote.
Then the king summoned Shimei and told him, “Go and build yourself a house in Jerusalem and stay there, but don't leave and go anywhere else.
37 Siku utakayoondoka kuvuka Bonde la Kidroni, uwe na hakika utakufa; damu yako itakuwa juu ya kichwa chako mwenyewe.”
You should know for certain that the day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley you will die. Your death will be your own responsibility.”
38 Shimei akamjibu mfalme, “Ulilolisema ni jema. Mtumishi wako atatenda kama bwana wangu mfalme alivyosema.” Naye Shimei akakaa Yerusalemu kwa muda mrefu.
“What Your Majesty says is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has ordered.” Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.
39 Lakini baada ya miaka mitatu, watumwa wawili wa Shimei wakatoroka kwenda kwa Akishi mwana wa Maaka, mfalme wa Gathi, naye Shimei akaambiwa, “Watumwa wako wako Gathi.”
But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves escaped to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”
40 Kwa ajili ya hili, Shimei akatandika punda wake, akaenda kwa Akishi huko Gathi kuwatafuta watumwa wake. Basi Shimei akaondoka na kuwarudisha watumwa wake kutoka Gathi.
So Shimei saddled up his donkey and went to Achish in Gath to look for his slaves. He found them and brought them back from Gath.
41 Solomoni alipoambiwa kuwa Shimei ametoka Yerusalemu na kwenda Gathi na amekwisha kurudi,
Solomon was informed that Shimei had left Jerusalem to go to Gath, and had then returned.
42 mfalme akamwita Shimei na kumwambia, “Je, sikukuapiza kwa Bwana na kukuonya kuwa, ‘Siku utakayoondoka kwenda mahali pengine popote, uwe na hakika utakufa?’ Wakati ule uliniambia, ‘Ulilolisema ni jema. Nitatii!’
The king summoned Shimei and asked him, “Didn't I vow to you by the Lord, didn't I warn you that the day you left and went somewhere else that you should know for certain that you would die? Didn't you reply to me, ‘What Your Majesty says is fair; I'll do as you ordered’?
43 Kwa nini basi hukutunza kiapo chako kwa Bwana na kutii amri niliyokupa?”
So why haven't you kept your vow to the Lord, and obeyed my orders?”
44 Pia mfalme akamwambia Shimei, “Unajua katika moyo wako makosa uliyomtendea baba yangu Daudi. Sasa Bwana atakulipiza kwa ajili ya mabaya yako uliyotenda.
The king also told Shimei, “Deep down you know all the evil things you did to my father David. That's why the Lord will repay you for your evil.
45 Lakini Mfalme Solomoni atabarikiwa, na kiti cha ufalme cha Daudi kitakuwa imara mbele za Bwana milele.”
But I, King Solomon, will be blessed and David's dynasty will be kept safe in the presence of the Lord forever.”
46 Kisha mfalme akatoa amri kwa Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada, naye akatoka nje, akampiga Shimei na kumuua. Sasa ufalme ukawa umeimarika kikamilifu mikononi mwa Solomoni.
The king ordered Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute Shimei, so he went and killed Shimei. In this way Solomon's hold on the kingdom was made secure.