2 Samweli 14
1 Yoabu mwana wa Seruya akafahamu kuwa moyo wa mfalme ulikuwa na shauku ya kumwona Absalomu.
Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart desired to see Absalom.
2 Kwa hiyo Yoabu akamtuma mtu fulani kwenda Tekoa na kumleta mwanamke mwenye hekima kutoka huko. Akamwambia huyo mwanamke, “Jifanye uko katika maombolezo. Vaa nguo za kuomboleza, nawe usitumie mafuta yoyote ya uzuri, jifanye kama mwanamke ambaye amekuwa na huzuni kwa siku nyingi kwa ajili ya kufiwa.
So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought to him. He said to her, “Please pretend you are a mourner and put on mourning clothes. Please do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
3 Kisha nenda kwa mfalme ukazungumze maneno haya.” Naye Yoabu akaweka maneno kinywani mwa yule mwanamke.
Then go to the king and speak to him about what I will describe.” So Joab told her the words she was to say to the king.
4 Huyo huyo mwanamke kutoka Tekoa alipofika kwa mfalme, akaanguka kifudifudi kumpa mfalme heshima, akasema, “Ee mfalme, nisaidie!”
When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she lay facedown on the ground and said, “Help me, king.”
5 Mfalme akamuuliza, “Una shida gani?” Akamwambia, “Mimi ni mjane hasa, mume wangu amekufa.
The king said to her, “What is wrong?” She answered, “The truth is that I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
6 Mimi mtumishi wako nilikuwa na wana wawili. Wakapigana wao kwa wao huko shambani wala huko hapakuwa na mtu hata mmoja wa kuwaamua. Mmoja akampiga mwenzake na kumuua.
I, your servant, had two sons, and they fought together in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One struck the other and killed him.
7 Sasa ukoo wote umeinuka dhidi ya mtumishi wako, wakisema, ‘Utukabidhi huyo aliyemuua ndugu yake, ili tumuue kwa ajili ya uhai wa ndugu yake ambaye alimuua, nasi hapo tutakuwa tumekatilia mbali na mrithi pia.’ Wakifanya hivyo, watakuwa wamezima tumaini langu lililobaki, mume wangu hataachiwa jina wala mzao katika uso wa dunia.”
Now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, 'Give into our hand the man who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death, to pay for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So they would also destroy the heir. Thus they will put out the burning coal that I have left, and they will leave for my husband neither name nor descendant on the surface of the earth.”
8 Mfalme akamwambia huyo mwanamke, “Nenda nyumbani, nami nitatoa agizo kwa ajili yako.”
So the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will command something to be done for you.”
9 Lakini huyo mwanamke kutoka Tekoa akamwambia, “Mfalme bwana wangu, lawama na iwe juu yangu na juu ya nyumba ya baba yangu, naye mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi na asiwe na hatia.”
The woman of Tekoa replied to the king, “My master, king, may the guilt be on me and on my father's family. The king and his throne are guiltless.”
10 Mfalme akajibu, “Ikiwa mtu yeyote atakusemesha lolote, mlete kwangu, naye hatakusumbua tena.”
The king replied, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.”
11 Huyo mwanamke akasema, “Basi mfalme na amwombe Bwana Mungu wake ili kuzuia mlipiza kisasi cha damu kuongeza juu ya uharibifu, ili kwamba mwanangu asije akaangamizwa.” Mfalme akasema, “Hakika kama aishivyo Bwana, hakuna unywele mmoja wa kichwa cha mwanao utakaoanguka chini.”
Then she said, “Please, may the king call to mind Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not destroy anyone further, so that they will not destroy my son.” The king replied, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground.”
12 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akasema, “Mruhusu mtumishi wako aseme neno kwa mfalme bwana wangu.” Mfalme akajibu, “Sema.”
Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a further word to my master the king.” He said, “Speak on.”
13 Huyo mwanamke akasema, “Mbona basi wewe umewaza jambo kama hili dhidi ya watu wa Mungu? Je, mfalme asemapo hili, hajitii hatiani mwenyewe, kwa maana mfalme hajamrudisha mwanawe aliyefukuziwa mbali?
So the woman said, “Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in saying this thing, the king is like someone who is guilty, because the king has not brought back home again his banished son.
14 Kama vile maji yaliyomwagika ardhini, yasivyoweza kuzoleka tena, hivyo sisi kufa ni lazima. Lakini Mungu haondoi uhai, badala yake, yeye hufanya njia ili kwamba aliyefukuzwa asibaki akiwa amefarikishwa naye.
For we all must die, and we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life; instead, he finds a way for those who were driven away to be restored.
15 “Nami sasa nimekuja kusema hili kwa bwana wangu mfalme kwa sababu watu wameniogopesha. Mtumishi wako alifikiri, ‘Nitanena na mfalme, labda mfalme atamfanyia mtumishi wake kile anachoomba.
Now then, seeing that I have come to speak this thing to my master the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. So your servant said to herself, 'I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.
16 Labda mfalme atakubali kumwokoa mtumishi wake kutoka mkononi mwa mtu anayejaribu kunikatilia mbali, mimi na mwanangu, kutoka kwenye urithi Mungu aliotupatia.’
Perhaps the king will listen to me and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together, out of the inheritance God gave us.'
17 “Basi sasa mtumishi wako anasema, ‘Neno la bwana wangu mfalme na linipatie pumziko, kwa maana bwana wangu mfalme ni kama malaika wa Mungu katika kutambua jema na baya. Bwana Mungu wako na awe pamoja nawe.’”
Then your servant prayed, 'Yahweh, please let the word of my master the king give me relief, for as an angel of God, so is my master the king in telling good from evil.' May Yahweh your God be with you.”
18 Basi mfalme akamwambia huyo mwanamke, “Usinifiche jibu kuhusu hilo nitakalokuuliza.” Huyo mwanamke akasema, “Mfalme bwana wangu na aseme.”
Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I will ask you.” The woman replied, “Let my master the king now speak.”
19 Mfalme akauliza, “Je, mkono wa Yoabu haupo pamoja nawe katika jambo hilo lote?” Huyo mwanamke akajibu, “Hakika kama uishivyo, bwana wangu mfalme, hakuna yeyote anayeweza kugeuka kulia wala kushoto kutokana na chochote anachosema bwana wangu mfalme. Naam, ni mtumishi wako Yoabu ndiye alinifundisha kufanya hivi, naye ndiye aliweka maneno haya yote kinywani mwa mtumishi wako.
The king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As you live, my master the king, no one can escape to the right hand or to the left from anything that my master the king has spoken. It was your servant Joab who commanded me and told me to say these things that your servant has spoken.
20 Mtumishi wako Yoabu amefanya hivi ili kubadili hali iliyopo. Bwana wangu ana hekima kama ile ya malaika wa Mungu, hufahamu kila kitu kinachotokea katika nchi.”
Your servant Joab has done this to change the course of what is happening. My master is wise, like the wisdom of an angel of God, and he knows everything that is happening in the land.”
21 Mfalme akamwambia Yoabu, “Vyema sana, nitalifanya jambo hili. Nenda, ukamlete kijana Absalomu.”
So the king said to Joab, “Look now, I will do this thing. Go then, and bring the young man Absalom back.”
22 Yoabu akaanguka kifudifudi mpaka ardhini kumpa mfalme heshima, naye akambariki mfalme. Yoabu akasema, “Leo mtumishi wako anajua kuwa amepata kibali machoni pako, bwana wangu mfalme, kwa sababu mfalme amemjalia mtumishi wake ombi lake.”
So Joab lay facedown on the ground in honor and gratitude to the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my master, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.”
23 Ndipo Yoabu akaenda hadi Geshuri akamrudisha Absalomu Yerusalemu.
So Joab arose, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24 Lakini mfalme akasema, “Lazima Absalomu aende kwenye nyumba yake mwenyewe; kamwe asiuone uso wangu.” Kwa hiyo Absalomu akaenda kwenye nyumba yake na hakuuona uso wa mfalme.
The king said, “He may return to his own house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.
25 Katika Israeli yote hakuna mtu yeyote aliyesifiwa kwa uzuri wa sura kama Absalomu. Kuanzia utosi wa kichwa chake hadi wayo wa mguu wake hapakuwa na kasoro.
Now in all Israel there was no one praised for his handsomeness more than Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish in him.
26 Kila mara aliponyoa nywele za kichwa chake, kwa kuwa alikuwa akinyoa mara kwa mara zilipokuwa zinamwia nzito, alizipima uzito wake ulikuwa shekeli mia mbili kwa kipimo cha kifalme.
When he cut the hair of his head at the end of every year, because it was heavy on him, he weighed his hair; it would weigh about two hundred shekels, which is measured by the weight of the king's standard.
27 Walizaliwa wana watatu na binti mmoja kwa Absalomu. Jina la binti yake aliitwa Tamari, naye akawa mwanamke mzuri wa sura.
To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
28 Absalomu akaishi miaka miwili huko Yerusalemu pasipo kuuona uso wa mfalme.
Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king's face.
29 Basi Absalomu akamwita Yoabu kwa kusudi la kumtuma kwa mfalme, lakini Yoabu akakataa kuja kwa Absalomu. Ndipo akamwita tena mara ya pili, lakini pia akakataa kuja.
Then Absalom sent word for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. So Absalom sent word a second time, but Joab still did not come.
30 Ndipo akawaambia watumishi wake, “Tazama, shamba la Yoabu liko jirani na langu, naye ana shayiri humo. Nendeni mkalitie moto.” Kisha watumishi wa Absalomu wakalitia moto shamba hilo.
So Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
31 Basi Yoabu akaenda nyumbani kwa Absalomu, akamwambia, “Kwa nini watumishi wako wametia moto shamba langu?”
Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
32 Absalomu akamwambia Yoabu, “Tazama, nilikutumia ujumbe na kusema, ‘Njoo ili niweze kukutuma kwa mfalme kuuliza, “Kwa nini nimekuja kutoka Geshuri? Ingekuwa bora zaidi kwangu kama ningebaki huko!”’ Sasa basi, nataka kuuona uso wa mfalme, na ikiwa nina hatia ya jambo lolote, basi na aniue.”
Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent word to you saying, 'Come here so I may send you to the king to say, “Why did I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there. Now therefore let me see the king's face, and if I am guilty, let him kill me.”'”
33 Basi Yoabu akaenda kwa mfalme na kumwambia jambo hili. Kisha mfalme akamwita Absalomu, naye akaingia ndani akasujudu uso wake mpaka ardhini mbele ya mfalme. Naye mfalme akambusu Absalomu.
So Joab went to the king and told him. When the king called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed low to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
