2 Samweli 18
1 Daudi akakusanya watu aliokuwa nao na kuweka majemadari wa maelfu na majemadari wa mamia.
And David inspecteth the people who [are] with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads 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 sendeth the third of the people by the hand of Joab, and the third by the hand of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and the third by the hand of Ittai the Gittite, and the king saith unto the people, 'I certainly go out — I also — 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 say, 'Thou dost not go out, for if we utterly flee, they do not set [their] heart upon us; and if half of us die, they do not set [their] heart unto us — for now like us [are] ten thousand; and now, better that thou be to us from the city for an helper.'
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 saith unto them, 'That which is good in your eyes I do;' and the king standeth at the side of the gate, and all the people have gone 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 chargeth Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'Gently — for me, for the youth, for Absalom;' and all the people heard in the king's charging all the heads concerning Absalom.
6 Jeshi likatoka kwenda kwenye uwanja wa vita kupigana na Israeli, hivyo vita vikapiganwa katika msitu wa Efraimu.
And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;
7 Huko jeshi la Israeli likashindwa na watu wa Daudi, siku hiyo majeruhi walikuwa wengi kiasi cha watu ishirini elfu.
and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day — twenty thousand;
8 Vita vikaenea nchi nzima, watu wengi zaidi wakifia msituni siku hiyo kuliko waliouawa kwa upanga.
and the battle is there scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplieth to devour among the people more than those whom the sword hath devoured in 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.
And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that [is] under him hath passed on.
10 Mmojawapo wa wale watu alipoona, akamwambia Yoabu, “Nimemwona Absalomu akiningʼinia kwenye mti wa mwaloni.”
And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, 'Lo, I saw Absalom hanged 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 saith to the man who is declaring [it] to him, 'And lo, thou hast seen — and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth — and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one 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.’
And the man saith unto Joab, 'Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who [is] against the youth — against Absalom;
13 Nami kama ningekuwa nimemtendea kwa hila, na hakuna lolote linalofichika kwa mfalme, wewe mwenyewe ungejitenga nami.”
or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou — thou dost station thyself over-against.'
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 saith, 'Not right — I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he [is] alive, in the midst of the oak.
15 Nao wabeba silaha kumi wa Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumuua.
And they go round — ten youths bearing weapons of Joab — and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
16 Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, navyo vikosi vikaacha kuwafuata Israeli, kwa maana Yoabu aliwasimamisha.
And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept back 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 take Absalom and cast him in the forest unto the great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones, and all Israel have fled — each 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.
And Absalom hath taken, and setteth up for himself in his life, the standing-pillar that [is] in the king's valley, for he said, 'I have no son to cause my name to be remembered;' and he calleth the standing-pillar by his own name, and it is called 'The monument of Absalom' unto 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.”
And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, 'Let me run, I pray thee, and I bear the king tidings, for Jehovah hath delivered him out of 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 saith to him, 'Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear 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.
And Joab saith to Cushi, 'Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
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 son of Zadok addeth again, and saith unto Joab, 'And whatever it be, let me run, I pray thee, I also, after the Cushite.' And Joab saith, 'Why [is] this — thou art running, my son, and for thee there are no tidings found?' —
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, whatever it be, [said he, ] let me run.' And he saith to him, 'Run;' and Ahimaaz runneth the way of the circuit, and passeth by the Cushite.
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 is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.
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 calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, 'If by himself, tidings [are] in his mouth;' and he cometh, coming on and drawing 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 seeth another man running, and the watchman calleth unto the gatekeeper, and saith, 'Lo, a man running by himself;' and the king saith, 'Also this one is bearing 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 saith, 'I see the running of the first as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' And the king saith, 'This [is] a good man, and with good tidings he cometh.'
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 calleth and saith unto the king, 'Peace;' and he boweth himself to the king, on his face, to the earth, and saith, 'Blessed [is] Jehovah thy God who hath shut up the men who lifted up 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 saith, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And Ahimaaz saith, 'I saw the great multitude, at the sending away of the servant of the king, even thy servant [by] Joab, and I have not known what [it is].'
30 Mfalme akasema, “Simama kando na usubiri hapa.” Basi akasogea kando na kusimama hapo.
And the king saith, 'Turn round, station thyself here;' and he turneth round and standeth 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 lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, 'Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising 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 saith unto the Cushite, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And the Cushite saith, 'Let them be — as the youth — the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee for evil.'
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 trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'
