2 Samweli 18
1 Daudi akakusanya watu aliokuwa nao na kuweka majemadari wa maelfu na majemadari wa mamia.
Then Dauid numbred the people that were with him, and set ouer them captaines of thousands and captaines of hundreths.
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 Dauid sent foorth the third part of the people vnder the hand of Ioab, and the thirde part vnder the hand of Abishai Ioabs brother the sonne of Zeruiah: and the other third part vnder the hand of Ittai the Gittite. and the King said vnto the people, I will go with you my selfe also.
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.”
But the people answered, Thou shalt not goe foorth: for if we flee away, they will not regarde vs, neither will they passe for vs, though halfe of vs were slaine: but thou art now worth ten thousande of vs: therefore nowe it is better that thou succour vs out of the citie.
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.
Then the King said vnto them, What seemeth you best, that I will doe. So the King stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreths 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 commanded Ioab and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Entreate the yong man Absalom gently for my sake. and all the people heard whe the King gaue al the captaines charge concerning Absalom.
6 Jeshi likatoka kwenda kwenye uwanja wa vita kupigana na Israeli, hivyo vita vikapiganwa katika msitu wa Efraimu.
So the people went out into the fielde to meete Israel, and the battell was in the wood of Ephraim:
7 Huko jeshi la Israeli likashindwa na watu wa Daudi, siku hiyo majeruhi walikuwa wengi kiasi cha watu ishirini elfu.
Where the people of Israel were slaine before the seruants of Dauid: so there was a great slaughter that day, euen of twentie thousande.
8 Vita vikaenea nchi nzima, watu wengi zaidi wakifia msituni siku hiyo kuliko waliouawa kwa upanga.
For the battel was skattered ouer all the countrey: and the wood deuoured much more people that day, then did the sworde.
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.
Nowe Absalom met the seruants of Dauid, and Absalom rode vpon a mule, and the mule came vnder a great thicke oke: and his head caught holde of the oke, and he was taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth: and the mule that was vnder him went away.
10 Mmojawapo wa wale watu alipoona, akamwambia Yoabu, “Nimemwona Absalomu akiningʼinia kwenye mti wa mwaloni.”
And one that sawe it, tolde Ioab, saying, Beholde, I sawe Absalom hanged in an oke.
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.”
Then Ioab saide vnto the man that tolde him, And hast thou in deede seene? why then diddest thou not there smite him to the grounde, and I woulde haue giuen thee ten shekels of siluer, and a girdle?
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.’
Then the man saide vnto Ioab, Though I should receiue a thousande shekels of siluer in mine hande, yet woulde I not lay mine hande vpon the Kings sonne: for in our hearing the King charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Beware, least any touche the yong man Absalom.
13 Nami kama ningekuwa nimemtendea kwa hila, na hakuna lolote linalofichika kwa mfalme, wewe mwenyewe ungejitenga nami.”
If I had done it, it had bene the danger of my life: for nothing can be hid from the King: yea, thou thy selfe wouldest haue bin against me.
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.
Then saide Ioab, I will not thus tary with thee. And he tooke three dartes in his hande, and thrust them through Absalom, while he was yet aliue in the middes of the oke.
15 Nao wabeba silaha kumi wa Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumuua.
And tenne seruants that bare Ioabs armour, compassed about and smote Absalom, and slewe him.
16 Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, navyo vikosi vikaacha kuwafuata Israeli, kwa maana Yoabu aliwasimamisha.
Then Ioab blewe the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Ioab helde backe the people.
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 tooke Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and layed a mightie great heape of stones vpon him: and all Israel fled euery one to his tent.
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.
Nowe Absalom in his life time had taken and reared him vp a pillar, which is in the kings dale: for he saide, I haue no sonne to keepe my name in remembrance. and he called the pillar after his owne name, and it is called vnto this day, Absaloms place.
19 Basi Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akasema, “Niruhusu mimi nikimbie na kumpelekea mfalme habari kwamba Bwana amemwokoa mfalme kutoka mikononi mwa adui zake.”
Then said Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok, I pray thee, let me runne, and beare the King tidings that the Lord hath deliuered him out of the hande 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 Ioab said vnto him, Thou shalt not be the messenger to day, but thou shalt beare tidings another time, but to day thou shalt beare none: for the Kings sonne is dead.
21 Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia mtu mmoja Mkushi, “Nenda, ukamwambie mfalme kile ulichoona.” Mkushi akasujudu mbele ya Yoabu akaondoka mbio.
Then said Ioab to Cushi, Goe, tel the king, what thou hast seene. And Cushi bowed himselfe vnto Ioab, and 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.”
Then saide Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok againe to Ioab, What, I pray thee, if I also runne after Cushi? And Ioab said, Wherefore now wilt thou runne, my sonne, seeing that thou hast no tidings to bring?
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.
Yet what if I runne? Then he saide vnto him, Runne. So Ahimaaz ranne by the way of the plaine, and ouerwent Cushi.
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 Dauid sate betweene the two gates. And the watchman went to the top of the gate vpon the wall, and lift vp his eyes, and sawe, and beholde, a man came 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 the watchman cryed, and tolde ye king. And the King said, If he be alone, he bringeth tidings. And he came apace, and drew neere.
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.”
And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called vnto the porter, and said, Behold, another man runneth alone. And the King said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 Mlinzi akasema, “Ninaona kuwa yule wa kwanza anakimbia kama Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye ni mtu mwema. Analeta habari njema.”
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the formost is like the running of Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok. Then the King said, He is a good man, and commeth with good tidings.
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.”
And Ahimaaz called, and sayde vnto the King, Peace be with thee: and he fell downe to the earth vpon his face before the King, and saide, Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath shut vp the men that lift vp their handes against my lorde 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 saide, Is the yong man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Ioab sent the Kings seruant, and me thy seruant, I sawe a great tumult, but I knewe not what.
30 Mfalme akasema, “Simama kando na usubiri hapa.” Basi akasogea kando na kusimama hapo.
And the King said vnto him, Turne aside, and stand here. so he turned aside and stoode still.
31 Ndipo huyo Mkushi akawasili na kusema, “Mfalme bwana wangu, sikia habari njema! Leo Bwana amekuokoa kutoka kwa wale wote walioinuka dhidi yako.”
And beholde, Cushi came, and Cushi saide, Tidings, my lorde the King: for the Lord hath deliuered thee this day out of the hande of all that rose against thee.
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.”
Then the King saide vnto Cushi, Is the yong man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lorde the King, and all that rise against thee to doe thee hurt, be as that yong man 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 the King was mooued, and went vp to the chamber ouer the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my sonne Absalom, my sonne, my sonne Absalom: woulde God I had dyed for thee, O Absalom, my sonne, my sonne.
