2 Samweli 18
1 Daudi akakusanya watu aliokuwa nao na kuweka majemadari wa maelfu na majemadari wa mamia.
And so David, having reviewed his people, appointed over them tribunes and centurions.
2 Daudi akatuma vikosi vya askari: theluthi moja ilikuwa chini ya amri ya Yoabu, theluthi ya pili chini ya Abishai mwana wa Seruya nduguye Yoabu, na theluthi ya tatu chini ya Itai, Mgiti. Mfalme akaviambia vikosi, “Hakika mimi mwenyewe nitakwenda pamoja nanyi.”
And he placed a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Ittai, who was from Gath. And the king said to the people, “I, too, will go forth with you.”
3 Lakini watu wakasema, “Haikupasi kwenda, ikiwa sisi tutalazimika kukimbia, wao hawatatujali. Hata kama nusu yetu tukifa hawatajali, lakini wewe una thamani ya watu kama sisi kumi elfu. Ingekuwa bora zaidi kwako basi kutupatia msaada kutoka mjini.”
And the people responded: “You shall not go out. For if we flee, there will not be great concern in them for us. Or if one half part of us will fall, they will not care much. For you are considered as one for ten thousand. Therefore, it is better that you should be in the city to strengthen us.”
4 Mfalme akajibu, “Nitafanya lolote linaloonekana jema zaidi kwenu.” Kwa hiyo mfalme akasimama kando ya lango wakati watu wote wakitoka nje kwa makundi ya mamia na maelfu.
And the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems good to you.” Therefore, the king stood beside the gate. And the people went out by their troops, by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Mfalme akawaamuru Yoabu, Abishai na Itai, “Kuweni wapole kwa kijana Absalomu kwa ajili yangu.” Vikosi vyote vikasikia mfalme akitoa amri kwa kila jemadari kumhusu Absalomu.
And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Preserve for me the boy Absalom.” And all the people heard the king commanding all the leaders on behalf of Absalom.
6 Jeshi likatoka kwenda kwenye uwanja wa vita kupigana na Israeli, hivyo vita vikapiganwa katika msitu wa Efraimu.
And so, the people departed into the field against Israel. And the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7 Huko jeshi la Israeli likashindwa na watu wa Daudi, siku hiyo majeruhi walikuwa wengi kiasi cha watu ishirini elfu.
And the people of Israel were cut down in that place by the army of David. And a great slaughter occurred on that day: twenty thousand men.
8 Vita vikaenea nchi nzima, watu wengi zaidi wakifia msituni siku hiyo kuliko waliouawa kwa upanga.
Now the battle in that place was dispersed over the face of all the land. And there were many more of the people whom the forest had consumed, than the sword had devoured, on that day.
9 Basi ikawa Absalomu alikutana na watu wa Daudi. Yeye alikuwa amepanda nyumbu wake, naye nyumbu alipopita chini ya matawi yaliyosongana ya mwaloni mkubwa, kichwa cha Absalomu kilinaswa kwenye mti. Akaachwa akiningʼinia hewani, wakati nyumbu aliyekuwa amempanda aliendelea kwenda.
Then it happened that Absalom, riding on a mule, met the servants of David. And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree, his head became trapped in the oak. And while he was suspended between heaven and earth, the mule on which he had been sitting continued on.
10 Mmojawapo wa wale watu alipoona, akamwambia Yoabu, “Nimemwona Absalomu akiningʼinia kwenye mti wa mwaloni.”
Then a certain one saw this and reported it to Joab, saying, “I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”
11 Yoabu akamwambia huyo mtu, “Nini! Ulimwona Absalomu? Kwa nini hukumpiga papo hapo mpaka chini? Ndipo ningekupa shekeli kumi za fedha na mkanda wa askari shujaa.”
And Joab said to the man who had reported it to him, “If you saw him, why did you not stab him to the ground, and I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt?”
12 Lakini huyo mtu akamjibu Yoabu, “Hata kama ningepimiwa shekeli 1,000 mikononi mwangu, nisingeinua mkono wangu dhidi ya mwana wa mfalme. Tukiwa tunasikia, mfalme alikuagiza wewe na Abishai pamoja na Itai, akisema, ‘Mlindeni kijana Absalomu kwa ajili yangu.’
And he said to Joab: “Even if you weighed out to my hands one thousand silver coins, I would never lay my hands on the son of the king. For in our hearing the king ordered you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Keep for me the boy Absalom.’
13 Nami kama ningekuwa nimemtendea kwa hila, na hakuna lolote linalofichika kwa mfalme, wewe mwenyewe ungejitenga nami.”
Then too, if I had acted with such audacity, against my own life, this would never have been able to be hidden from the king. And would you then have stood by my side?”
14 Yoabu akasema, “Mimi sitapoteza muda hapa pamoja nawe.” Hivyo akachukua mikuki mitatu mkononi mwake, akamchoma Absalomu nayo moyoni alipokuwa angali hai akiningʼinia katika ule mwaloni.
And Joab said, “It will not be as you wish. Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight.” Then he took three lances in his hand, and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom. And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak,
15 Nao wabeba silaha kumi wa Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumuua.
ten young men, armor bearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him, they killed him.
16 Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, navyo vikosi vikaacha kuwafuata Israeli, kwa maana Yoabu aliwasimamisha.
Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and he held back the people, lest they pursue Israel in their flight, for he was willing to spare the multitude.
17 Wakamchukua Absalomu, wakamtupa katika shimo kubwa huko msituni na kulundika lundo kubwa la mawe juu yake. Huko nyuma, Waisraeli wote wakakimbilia nyumbani kwao.
And they took Absalom, and they threw him into a great pit in the forest. And they piled an exceedingly great heap of stones over him. But all of Israel fled to their own tents.
18 Wakati wa uhai wa Absalomu alikuwa amechukua nguzo na kuisimamisha katika Bonde la Mfalme, kwa maana alifikiri, “Sina mwana atakayeendeleza kumbukumbu ya jina langu.” Akaita nguzo hiyo kwa jina lake mwenyewe. Nayo inaitwa Mnara wa Ukumbusho wa Absalomu mpaka leo.
Now Absalom had raised up for himself, when he was still alive, a monument, which is in the Valley of the King. For he said, “I have no son, and so this shall be the memorial to my name.” And he called the monument by his own name. And it is called the Hand of Absalom, even to this day.
19 Basi Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akasema, “Niruhusu mimi nikimbie na kumpelekea mfalme habari kwamba Bwana amemwokoa mfalme kutoka mikononi mwa adui zake.”
Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, “I will run and report to the king that the Lord has accomplished judgment for him, from the hand of his enemies.”
20 Yoabu akamwambia Ahimaasi, “Leo si wewe utakayepeleka habari. Unaweza kupeleka habari wakati mwingine, lakini leo haikupasi kupeleka, kwa sababu mwana wa mfalme amekufa.”
And Joab said to him: “You shall not be the messenger on this day. Instead, you shall report on another day. I am not willing for you to give the report today, because the son of the king is dead.”
21 Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia mtu mmoja Mkushi, “Nenda, ukamwambie mfalme kile ulichoona.” Mkushi akasujudu mbele ya Yoabu akaondoka mbio.
Then Joab said to Hushai, “Go, and report to the king what you have seen.” Hushai reverenced Joab, and he ran.
22 Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akamwambia tena Yoabu, “Liwalo na liwe, tafadhali niruhusu nikimbie nyuma ya huyo Mkushi.” Lakini Yoabu akajibu, “Mwanangu, mbona wataka kwenda? Wewe huna habari yoyote itakayokupa tuzo.”
And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab again, “What prevents me from running after Hushai also?” And Joab said to him: “Why do you want to run, my son? You would not be the bearer of good news.”
23 Ahimaasi akasema, “Liwalo na liwe, nataka kukimbia.” Kwa hiyo Yoabu akamwambia, “Haya, kimbia!” Ndipo Ahimaasi akakimbia kufuata njia ya kupitia tambarare, akafika kabla ya huyo Mkushi.
And he responded, “But what if I do run?” And he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz, running along a shorter way, passed Hushai.
24 Wakati Daudi alipokuwa ameketi kati ya lango la ndani na la nje, mlinzi akapanda juu ya paa la lango kupitia ukutani. Alipotazama nje, akaona mtu mmoja akikimbia peke yake.
Now David was sitting between the two gates. Truly, the watchman, who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.
25 Mlinzi akampazia mfalme sauti na kumpa taarifa. Mfalme akasema, “Ikiwa yuko peke yake, lazima atakuwa na habari njema.” Naye yule mtu akazidi kusogea karibu.
And crying out, he told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.” But as he was advancing and drawing nearer,
26 Kisha mlinzi akaona mtu mwingine anakuja akikimbia, akamwita bawabu, “Tazama, mtu mwingine anakuja akikimbia peke yake!” Mfalme akasema, “Lazima atakuwa analeta habari njema pia.”
the watchman saw another man running. And so, crying out from the height, he said: “Another man has appeared, running alone.” And the king said, “This one also is a good messenger.”
27 Mlinzi akasema, “Ninaona kuwa yule wa kwanza anakimbia kama Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye ni mtu mwema. Analeta habari njema.”
Then the watchman said, “The running of the closest one seems like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and he arrives bearing good news.”
28 Ndipo Ahimaasi akamwita mfalme, akasema, “Mambo yote ni mema!” Akasujudu mbele ya mfalme uso wake mpaka ardhini, akasema, “Ahimidiwe Bwana Mungu wako! Yeye aliyewatoa watu wale walioinua mikono yao dhidi ya mfalme bwana wangu.”
Then, Ahimaaz, crying out, said to the king, “Be well, O king.” And reverencing the king prone on the ground before him, he said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has enclosed the men who had lifted up their hands against my lord the king.”
29 Mfalme akauliza, “Je, huyo kijana Absalomu yuko salama?” Ahimaasi akajibu, “Kulikuwa na machafuko mengi mara tu Yoabu alipokuwa anataka kumtuma mtumishi wa mfalme pamoja nami mtumishi wako, lakini sijui ilikuwa nini?”
And the king said, “Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said: “I saw a great tumult, O king, when your servant Joab sent me, your servant. I know nothing else.”
30 Mfalme akasema, “Simama kando na usubiri hapa.” Basi akasogea kando na kusimama hapo.
And the king said to him, “Pass, and stand here.” And when he had passed and stood still,
31 Ndipo huyo Mkushi akawasili na kusema, “Mfalme bwana wangu, sikia habari njema! Leo Bwana amekuokoa kutoka kwa wale wote walioinuka dhidi yako.”
Hushai appeared. And approaching, he said: “I bear good news, my lord the king. For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.”
32 Mfalme akamuuliza huyo Mkushi, “Je, kijana Absalomu yuko salama?” Huyo Mkushi akajibu, “Adui wa mfalme bwana wangu na wote wale walioinuka kukudhuru na wawe kama huyo kijana.”
But the king said to Hushai, “Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And responding, Hushai said to him, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.”
33 Mfalme akatetemeka. Akapanda chumbani juu kupitia langoni akilia. Alipokuwa akienda, akasema, “Ee mwanangu Absalomu! Mwanangu, mwanangu Absalomu! Laiti ningekufa badala yako: Ee Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu!”
And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!”
