2 Samweli 20
1 Basi, kulikuwa na mtu mbaya sana aliyeitwa Sheba mwana wa Bikri, Mbenyamini, aliyekuwako huko. Akapiga tarumbeta na kupaza sauti, “Hatuna fungu katika Daudi, wala hatuna sehemu katika mwana wa Yese! Kila mtu aende hemani mwake, enyi Israeli!”
A rabble-rouser called Sheba, son of Bichri, from the tribe of Benjamin, happened to be there. He blew the ram's horn and shouted: “We have no interest in David, no commitment to Jesse's son. Israelites, let's all go home!”
2 Kwa hiyo watu wote wa Israeli wakamwacha Daudi na kumfuata Sheba mwana Bikri. Lakini watu wa Yuda wakawa karibu na mfalme wao katika safari yote kutoka Yordani mpaka Yerusalemu.
So all the men of Israel abandoned David to follow Sheba, son of Bichri. But the men of Judah accompanied their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
3 Daudi aliporudi katika jumba lake la kifalme huko Yerusalemu, aliwachukua wale masuria kumi aliokuwa amewaacha ili kuangalia jumba la kifalme na kuwaweka ndani ya nyumba chini ya ulinzi. Akawapa mahitaji yao lakini hakukutana nao kimwili. Waliwekwa kifungoni wakaishi kama wajane mpaka kifo chao.
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace and put them in a house under guard. He took care of their needs but he didn't sleep with them. They were imprisoned until they died, living like widows.
4 Ndipo mfalme akamwambia Amasa, “Waite watu wa Yuda waje kwangu katika muda wa siku tatu, nawe mwenyewe uwepo hapa.”
Then the king ordered Amasa, “Call up the army of Judah. Have them come to me within three days, and you come too.”
5 Lakini Amasa alipokwenda kuwaita Yuda, alichukua muda mrefu zaidi ya ule mfalme aliokuwa amemwekea.
Amasa called up the army of Judah, but he took longer than the time he was given.
6 Daudi akamwambia Abishai, “Sasa Sheba mwana wa Bikri atatuletea madhara zaidi kuliko alivyofanya Absalomu. Wachukue watu wa bwana wako na umfuatie, la sivyo atapata mji wenye ngome na kututoroka.”
David then spoke to Abishai, saying, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri is going to cause us more trouble than Absalom did. Take the king's men and chase him down, or he will take over fortified towns and get away from us.”
7 Hivyo watu wa Yoabu, na Wakerethi na Wapelethi, pamoja na wapiganaji mashujaa wote wakaondoka chini ya uongozi wa Abishai. Wakatoka Yerusalemu ili kumfuata Sheba mwana wa Bikri.
So Joab's men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the experienced fighters, marched out of Jerusalem to chase down Sheba, son of Bichri.
8 Wakati walikuwa kwenye mwamba mkubwa huko Gibeoni, Amasa alikuja kuwalaki. Yoabu alikuwa amevaa mavazi yake ya kijeshi; juu yake alifunga mkanda kwenye kiuno wenye upanga ndani ya ala. Alipokuwa akienda mbele, ule upanga ukaanguka kutoka kwenye ala.
While they were at the large rock in Gibeon, Amasa caught up with them. Joab was dressed for battle. Over his clothes was a belt around his waist with a dagger in its sheath. As he moved forward, it fell out.
9 Yoabu akamwambia Amasa, “U hali gani, ndugu yangu?” Kisha Yoabu akamshika Amasa ndevu kwa mkono wake wa kuume ili ambusu.
“How are you doing, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. Joab held Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10 Amasa hakuona upanga uliokuwa mkononi mwa Yoabu, naye Yoabu akamchoma nao tumboni, nayo matumbo yake yakamwagika chini. Pasipo kuchomwa mara ya pili, Amasa akafa. Basi Yoabu na Abishai nduguye wakamfuatia Sheba mwana wa Bikri.
Amasa wasn't prepared for the dagger in Joab's left hand. Joab stabbed him in the belly and his intestines poured out onto the ground. Joab didn't need to stab him twice, because Amasa was already dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai set off in pursuit of Sheba.
11 Mmoja wa watu wa Yoabu akasimama kando ya Amasa, akasema, “Yeyote ampendaye Yoabu na yeyote aliye upande wa Daudi, na amfuate Yoabu!”
One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and called out, “If you're on Joab's side, and if you are on David's side, then follow Joab!”
12 Amasa alikuwa akigaagaa katika damu yake katikati ya barabara; mtu mmoja akaona kwamba vikosi vyote vilikuwa vinasimama pale. Huyo mtu alipotambua kwamba kila aliyefika pale Amasa alipokuwa alisimama, alimburuta Amasa kutoka barabarani mpaka kwenye shamba na kutupia nguo juu yake.
But Amasa was there, lying in his blood in the middle of the main road. When the man saw that everybody was stopping to look, he pulled the body off the road into a field and threw a cloth over it.
13 Baada ya Amasa kuondolewa kutoka barabarani, watu wote walienda pamoja na Yoabu kumfuatia Sheba mwana wa Bikri.
Once Amasa's body was off the road, all the men followed Joab in pursuit of Sheba.
14 Sheba akapita katika makabila yote ya Israeli hadi Abel-Beth-Maaka na kupitia eneo lote la Waberi ambao walijikusanya pamoja na kumfuata.
In the meantime Sheba had gone around all the tribes of Israel and eventually ended up the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the Bichrites gathered for battle and followed him into the town.
15 Vikosi vyote vya Yoabu vikaja na kumhusuru Sheba mwana wa Bikri huko Abel-Beth-Maaka. Wakauzingira mji kwa kuweka vikosi vya askari, ili kukabiliana na ngome ya mji. Walipokuwa wanagongagonga ukuta ili kuubomoa na kuuangusha chini,
Joab's army came and besieged Sheba in Abel-Beth-Maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town's outer wall. While all of Joab's army was battering the wall to knock it down,
16 mwanamke mmoja mwenye busara akaita kutoka ndani ya mji, akisema, “Sikilizeni! Sikilizeni! Mwambieni Yoabu aje hapa ili niweze kuzungumza naye.”
a wise woman from the town called out, “Listen! Please listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come over here so I can speak to you.’”
17 Yoabu alikwenda mbele yake, akamuuliza, “Wewe ni Yoabu?” Akamjibu, “Ndiye mimi.” Yule mwanamke akamwambia, “Sikiliza kile mtumishi wako atakachokuambia.” Akamwambia, “Ninasikiliza.”
He went over to her, and the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “Yes, that's me,” he replied. “Please listen to what I, your servant, have to say,” she said. “I'm listening,” he replied.
18 Huyo mwanamke akaendelea kusema, “Zamani za kale walikuwa wakisema, ‘Wakaulize ushauri huko Abeli,’ hivyo kulimaliza lile shauri.
Then the woman said, “In times gone by people used to say, ‘If you want advice, go to Abel,’ and that's how arguments were settled.
19 Sisi ni watu wa amani na waaminifu katika Israeli. Wewe unajaribu kuharibu mji ambao ni mama katika Israeli. Kwa nini unataka kumeza urithi wa Bwana?”
I am one of the peaceful and faithful people of Israel. You're trying to destroy a town that's like a mother in Israel. Why do you want to tear down the Lord's possession?”
20 Yoabu akajibu, “Hilo liwe mbali nami. Hilo liwe mbali nami kumeza au kuharibu.
“Certainly not!” Joab answered. “It's not what I want—to destroy or tear down this town!
21 Hivyo sivyo ilivyo. Mtu mmoja jina lake Sheba mwana wa Bikri, kutoka nchi ya vilima vya Efraimu, ameinua mkono wake dhidi ya mfalme, dhidi ya Daudi. Nikabidhini mtu huyu mmoja, nami nitajiondoa katika mji huu.” Huyu mwanamke akamwambia Yoabu, “Kichwa chake mtatupiwa kupitia juu ya ukuta.”
That's not the intention. But a man called Sheba, son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has rebelled against the king, against David. Just hand over this one man and I will withdraw from the town.” “Fine,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown over the wall to you.”
22 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akaenda kwa watu wote akiwa na ushauri wake wa busara, nao wakakata kichwa cha Sheba mwana wa Bikri na kumtupia Yoabu. Kwa hiyo Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, na watu wake wakatawanyika kutoka mjini, kila mmoja akirejea nyumbani kwake. Naye Yoabu akarudi kwa mfalme huko Yerusalemu.
The woman went and talked with everyone about her wise plan. So they cut off the head of Sheba and threw it to Joab. Then Joab blew the ram's horn to sound the retreat, and all his men left the town and went home. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
23 Yoabu alikuwa jemadari wa jeshi lote la Israeli; Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada alikuwa juu ya Wakerethi na Wapelethi;
Joab commanded the whole army of Israel. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites.
24 Adoramu alikuwa kiongozi wa wale waliofanya kazi ya kulazimishwa; Yehoshafati mwana wa Ahiludi alikuwa mweka kumbukumbu;
Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, kept the official records.
25 Sheva alikuwa mwandishi; Sadoki na Abiathari walikuwa makuhani;
Sheva was the secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests,
26 na Ira, Myairi, alikuwa kuhani wa Daudi.
and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.
