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!”

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

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 went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even 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.

And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and provided them with sustenance, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 Ndipo mfalme akamwambia Amasa, “Waite watu wa Yuda waje kwangu katika muda wa siku tatu, nawe mwenyewe uwepo hapa.”

Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be thou here present.

5 Lakini Amasa alipokwenda kuwaita Yuda, alichukua muda mrefu zaidi ya ule mfalme aliokuwa amemwekea.

So Amasa went to call [the men of] Judah together: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

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.”

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape out of our sight.

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.

And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the 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.

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

9 Yoabu akamwambia Amasa, “U hali gani, ndugu yangu?” Kisha Yoabu akamshika Amasa ndevu kwa mkono wake wa kuume ili ambusu.

And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with thee, my brother? And Joab took 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.

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the belly, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 Mmoja wa watu wa Yoabu akasimama kando ya Amasa, akasema, “Yeyote ampendaye Yoabu na yeyote aliye upande wa Daudi, na amfuate Yoabu!”

And there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him 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.

And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

13 Baada ya Amasa kuondolewa kutoka barabarani, watu wote walienda pamoja na Yoabu kumfuatia Sheba mwana wa Bikri.

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 Sheba akapita katika makabila yote ya Israeli hadi Abel-Beth-Maaka na kupitia eneo lote la Waberi ambao walijikusanya pamoja na kumfuata.

And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maacah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

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,

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a mount against the city, and it stood against the rampart: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

16 mwanamke mmoja mwenye busara akaita kutoka ndani ya mji, akisema, “Sikilizeni! Sikilizeni! Mwambieni Yoabu aje hapa ili niweze kuzungumza naye.”

Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

17 Yoabu alikwenda mbele yake, akamuuliza, “Wewe ni Yoabu?” Akamjibu, “Ndiye mimi.” Yule mwanamke akamwambia, “Sikiliza kile mtumishi wako atakachokuambia.” Akamwambia, “Ninasikiliza.”

And he came near unto her, and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

18 Huyo mwanamke akaendelea kusema, “Zamani za kale walikuwa wakisema, ‘Wakaulize ushauri huko Abeli,’ hivyo kulimaliza lile shauri.

Then she spake, saying, they were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter].

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 of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

20 Yoabu akajibu, “Hilo liwe mbali nami. Hilo liwe mbali nami kumeza au kuharibu.

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

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.”

The matter is not so: but a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

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.

Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

23 Yoabu alikuwa jemadari wa jeshi lote la Israeli; Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada alikuwa juu ya Wakerethi na Wapelethi;

Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

24 Adoramu alikuwa kiongozi wa wale waliofanya kazi ya kulazimishwa; Yehoshafati mwana wa Ahiludi alikuwa mweka kumbukumbu;

and Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder:

25 Sheva alikuwa mwandishi; Sadoki na Abiathari walikuwa makuhani;

and Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were priests:

26 na Ira, Myairi, alikuwa kuhani wa Daudi.

and Ira also the Jairite was priest unto David.