2 Samweli 15
1 Baada ya muda, Absalomu akajipatia magari ya vita na farasi pamoja na watu hamsini wa kupiga mbio mbele yake.
Some time later, Absalom acquired a chariot and horses [to pull it]. He [hired] 50 men to run in front of him [to honor him while he was riding around Jerusalem in the chariot].
2 Akawa anaamka asubuhi na mapema na kusimama kando ya barabara inayoelekea kwenye lango la mji. Wakati wowote alipokuja mtu yeyote mwenye mashtaka yanayohitaji kuletwa mbele ya mfalme kwa maamuzi, Absalomu naye angemwita na kumuuliza, “Wewe unatoka mji upi?” Naye angejibu, “Mtumishi wako anatoka katika mojawapo ya makabila ya Israeli.”
Furthermore, he always rose early [each morning] and stood by the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute/quarrel that he wanted the king to decide, Absalom would call out to him, asking “What city are you from?” When the person told him what [city and] tribe he was from,
3 Kisha Absalomu angemwambia, “Tazama, malalamiko yako ni ya haki na sawasawa, lakini hakuna mwakilishi wa mfalme wa kukusikiliza.”
Absalom would say to him, “Listen, [I am sure that] what you are saying/claiming is right. But there is no one whom the king has appointed/authorized to listen to [people like] you.”
4 Absalomu aliongeza, “Laiti tu ningeteuliwa kuwa mwamuzi katika nchi. Ndipo kila mmoja mwenye mashtaka au shauri angekuja kwangu nami ningeona kwamba anapata haki.”
Absalom would then add, “I wish that I were a judge in this land. If I were a judge, anyone who had a dispute could come to me, and I would decide it fairly/justly.”
5 Pia, wakati mtu yeyote alipomkaribia ili kusujudu mbele yake, Absalomu alinyoosha mkono wake na kumshika pia kumbusu.
And whenever anyone came near to Absalom to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and embrace him and kiss him.
6 Absalomu akaendelea na tabia hii mbele ya Waisraeli wote waliomjia mfalme kumwomba awape haki; kwa hiyo Absalomu akaiba mioyo ya watu wa Israeli.
Absalom did this to everyone in Israel who came to the king because of having a dispute with someone. In that way, Absalom persuaded all the Israeli people to be more pleased with him [IDM] [than they were pleased with David].
7 Mnamo mwisho wa mwaka wa nne, Absalomu akamwambia mfalme, “Naomba unipe ruhusa niende Hebroni nikatimize nadhiri niliyomwekea Bwana.
Four years later, Absalom [went to] the king and said, “Please allow me to go to Hebron [city], in order that I can do what I promised Yahweh that I would do.
8 Wakati mtumishi wako alipokuwa huko Geshuri katika nchi ya Aramu, niliweka nadhiri hii, ‘Ikiwa Bwana atanirudisha Yerusalemu, nitamwabudu Bwana huko Hebroni.’”
When I was living in Geshur, in Syria, I promised Yahweh that if he brought me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him [in Hebron].”
9 Mfalme akamwambia, “Enenda kwa amani.” Hivyo akaenda Hebroni.
The king replied, “You may go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.
10 Kisha Absalomu akatuma wajumbe kwa siri katika makabila yote ya Israeli, kusema, “Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya tarumbeta basi semeni, ‘Absalomu ni mfalme huko Hebroni.’”
But [while he was there, ] he secretly sent messengers to all the tribes in Israel, to tell them, “When you hear the sound of the trumpets [being blown], shout ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”
11 Watu mia mbili kutoka Yerusalemu walikuwa wamefuatana na Absalomu. Walikuwa wamealikwa kama wageni nao walikwenda kwa nia njema, pasipo kujua lolote.
Absalom had taken with him to Hebron 200 men from Jerusalem, but they did not know [what Absalom was planning to do].
12 Wakati Absalomu alipokuwa anatoa dhabihu, pia akatuma aitwe Ahithofeli, Mgiloni, mshauri wa Daudi, aje kutoka Gilo, ambao ndio mji wake wa nyumbani. Kwa hiyo mpango wa hila ukapata nguvu, na idadi ya waliofuatana na Absalomu ikaongezeka.
While Absalom was offering sacrifices [at Hebron], he sent a message to Ahithophel, from Giloh [town], requesting him to come. Ahithophel was one of the king’s advisors. So the number of people who joined Absalom and who were ready to rebel [against David] became larger.
13 Mjumbe akaja na kumwambia Daudi, “Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inaambatana na Absalomu.”
Soon a messenger came to David and said to him, “All [HYP] the Israeli people [SYN] are joining Absalom to rebel against you!”
14 Ndipo Daudi akawaambia maafisa wake wote waliokuwa pamoja naye huko Yerusalemu, “Njooni! Ni lazima tukimbie, la sivyo hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayeokoka kutoka mkononi mwa Absalomu. Ni lazima tuondoke kwa haraka, la sivyo atakuja mbio na kutupata, atatuangamiza na kuupiga mji kwa upanga.”
So David said to all his officials, “We must leave immediately if we want to escape from Absalom! We must go quickly, before he [and his men] arrive. If we do not do that, they will kill us and everyone else in the city!”
15 Maafisa wa mfalme wakamjibu, “Watumishi wako tu tayari kufanya lolote mfalme bwana wetu analochagua.”
The king’s officials said, “Okay, your majesty, we are ready to do whatever you decide.”
16 Mfalme akatoka, pamoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake wakimfuata; lakini akawaacha masuria kumi ili kuangalia jumba la kifalme.
So the king left ten of his slave wives there to take care of the palace, but all the other people in his palace went with him.
17 Hivyo mfalme akaondoka, pamoja na watu wote wakimfuata, wakatua mahali mbali kiasi.
When they all were leaving [the city], they stopped at the last house.
18 Watu wake wote wakatembea, wakampita wakiwa wamefuatana na Wakerethi na Wapelethi wote; pia Wagiti wote mia sita waliokuwa wamefuatana naye kutoka Gathi wakapita mbele ya mfalme.
The king and his officials stood there while his bodyguards went by in front of him. 600 soldiers from Gath [city] also walked by in front of him.
19 Mfalme akamwambia Itai, Mgiti, “Kwa nini ufuatane na sisi? Rudi ukakae pamoja na Mfalme Absalomu. Wewe ni mgeni, mkimbizi kutoka nchini mwako.
Then David said to Ittai, [the leader of the soldiers] from Gath, “(Why are you going with us?/You should not be going with us.) [RHQ] Go back and stay with [Absalom] the [new] king. You are not an Israeli; you are living away from your own land.
20 Ulikuja jana tu. Nami leo nikufanye utangetange pamoja nasi, wakati sijui niendako? Rudi, nawe ukawachukue watu wa kwenu. Wema na uaminifu na viwe pamoja nawe.”
You have lived here [in Israel] for only a short time [HYP]. And we do not even know where we will be going. So it is not right [RHQ] for me to force you to wander around with us. And take your troops with you. And I hope/wish that Yahweh will faithfully love and be loyal to you.”
21 Lakini Itai akamjibu mfalme, “Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo na kama mfalme bwana wangu aishivyo, popote mfalme bwana wangu atakapokuwa, ikiwa ni kuishi au kufa, hapo ndipo mtumishi wako atakapokuwa.”
But Ittai replied, “Your Majesty, as surely as you live, wherever you go, I will go; I will stay with you, whether they kill me or allow me to live.”
22 Daudi akamwambia Itai, “Songa mbele, endelea.” Kwa hiyo Itai, Mgiti, akaendelea pamoja na watu wake wote, pia jamaa zote waliokuwa pamoja naye.
David replied to Ittai, “Okay, march with us!” So Ittai and all his troops and their families went [with David].
23 Watu wote wa nje ya mji wakalia kwa sauti wakati watu wote walipokuwa wakipita. Mfalme naye akavuka Bonde la Kidroni, nao watu wote wakaelekea jangwani.
All the people [along the road] cried when they saw them walking by. The king and all the others crossed the Kidron Valley and then they all went [up the hill] toward the desert.
24 Sadoki pia alikuwako, kadhalika Walawi wote waliokuwa pamoja naye walikuwa wamechukua Sanduku la Agano la Mungu. Wakaweka chini Sanduku la Mungu, naye Abiathari akatoa dhabihu mpaka watu wote walipokuwa wameondoka mjini.
Abiathar and Zadok, [the priests, ] were walking with them. The descendants of Levi [who helped the priests] also went with them, carrying the sacred chest that contained the Ten Commandments. But they set it on the ground until all the others had left the city.
25 Kisha mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, “Rudisha Sanduku la Mungu mjini. Ikiwa nitapata kibali mbele za Bwana, atanirudisha, nami nitaliona Sanduku hili tena pamoja na Maskani yake.
Then the king said to Zadok, “You and Abiathar take the sacred chest back into the city. If Yahweh is pleased with me, he will some day allow me to return to see it and the place where it is kept.
26 Lakini kama yeye atasema, ‘Mimi sipendezwi nawe,’ basi mimi niko tayari; yeye na anifanye chochote aonacho chema kwake.”
But if he says that he is not pleased with me, then I am willing for him to do to me whatever he thinks is good.”
27 Pia mfalme alimwambia kuhani Sadoki, “Je, wewe si mwonaji? Rudi mjini kwa amani pamoja na mwanao Ahimaasi na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari. Wewe na Abiathari wachukueni wana wenu wawili.
He also said to Zadok, “Listen [to what I suggest]. You and Abiathar return to the city peacefully/safely, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.
28 Nitasubiri kwenye vivuko katika jangwa mpaka neno litakapotoka kwenu kuniarifu.”
I will wait in the desert at the place where people can walk across the river, until you send a message to me.”
29 Kwa hiyo Sadoki na Abiathari wakarudisha Sanduku la Mungu mpaka Yerusalemu na kukaa huko.
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
30 Bali Daudi akaendelea, akapanda Mlima wa Mizeituni, akaenda huku analia, akiwa amefunika kichwa chake na bila viatu miguuni. Watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye nao wakafunika vichwa vyao, wakawa wanapanda mlima huku wanalia.
David [and those with him] went up Olive [Tree] Hill. David was crying while he walked. He was walking barefoot and had something covering his head [to show that he was sorrowful]. All those who were going with him also covered their heads and were crying while they walked.
31 Basi Daudi alikuwa ameambiwa, “Ahithofeli alikuwa miongoni mwa washiriki wa shauri baya la Absalomu.” Ndipo Daudi akaomba, akisema, “Ee Bwana, geuza shauri la Ahithofeli kuwa ujinga.”
Someone told David that Ahithophel had joined with those who were rebelling against David. So David prayed, “Yahweh, cause whatever Ahithophel suggests to Absalom [that he should do to be considered] to be foolish!”
32 Daudi alipofika kwenye kilele cha mlima, mahali ambapo watu walikuwa wamezoea kumwabudu Mungu, Hushai, Mwariki, alikuwako huko kumlaki, joho lake likiwa limeraruka na mavumbi kichwani mwake.
When they arrived at the top of the hill, where there was a place where the people worshiped [God], suddenly Hushai, from the Arki people-group, met David. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head [to show that he was very sad].
33 Daudi akamwambia, “Kama ukienda pamoja nami, utakuwa mzigo kwangu.
David said to him, “If you go with me, you will not be able to help me.
34 Lakini ikiwa utarudi mjini na kumwambia Absalomu, ‘Nitakuwa mtumishi wako, ee mfalme; nilikuwa mtumishi wa baba yako wakati uliopita, lakini sasa nitakuwa mtumishi wako,’ basi utaweza kunisaidia kwa kupinga shauri la Ahithofeli.
But if you return to the city, [you can help me by] saying to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will serve you as faithfully as I served your father.’ If you do that [and stay near Absalom], you will be able to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives to Absalom.
35 Je, makuhani Sadoki na Abiathari hawatakuwa pamoja nawe? Waambie lolote utakalosikia katika jumba la mfalme.
Zadok and Abiathar the priests are already there [RHQ]. Whatever you hear people say in the king’s palace, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar.
36 Wana wao wawili, Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari, wako pamoja nao huko. Watume kwangu na lolote utakalosikia.”
Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are also there. You can tell them whatever you find out, and send them to report it to me.”
37 Kwa hiyo Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akafika Yerusalemu wakati Absalomu alipokuwa anaingia mjini.
So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city, at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
