2 Samweli 18
1 Daudi akakusanya watu aliokuwa nao na kuweka majemadari wa maelfu na majemadari wa mamia.
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.
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 David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself 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 go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou shouldest help us out of the city.
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, What seemeth to you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out 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 commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains 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 field against Israel: and the battle was 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.
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 Vita vikaenea nchi nzima, watu wengi zaidi wakifia msituni siku hiyo kuliko waliouawa kwa upanga.
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
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.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 Mmojawapo wa wale watu alipoona, akamwambia Yoabu, “Nimemwona Absalomu akiningʼinia kwenye mti wa mwaloni.”
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in 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 that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee 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 the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Nami kama ningekuwa nimemtendea kwa hila, na hakuna lolote linalofichika kwa mfalme, wewe mwenyewe ungejitenga nami.”
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself 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 said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 Nao wabeba silaha kumi wa Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumuua.
And ten young men that bore Joab’s armour surrounded and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, navyo vikosi vikaacha kuwafuata Israeli, kwa maana Yoabu aliwasimamisha.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel: for Joab restrained 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 took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every 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.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and built for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called to this day, Absalom’s 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 son of Zadok, Let me now run, and inform the king, how the LORD hath avenged himself 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, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21 Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia mtu mmoja Mkushi, “Nenda, ukamwambie mfalme kile ulichoona.” Mkushi akasujudu mbele ya Yoabu akaondoka mbio.
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, 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 said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But however, let me also, I pray thee, run after Cushi. And Joab said, Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
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.
But however, said he, let me run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran 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.
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold 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 the watchman called, and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
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 to the porter, and said, Behold another man running 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, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with 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.”
And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, who hath delivered up the men that raised their hand 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 the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 Mfalme akasema, “Simama kando na usubiri hapa.” Basi akasogea kando na kusimama hapo.
And the king said to him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, 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.”
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up 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.”
And the king said to Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, May the enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee harm, be as that young 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 much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
