2 Samweli 23
1 Haya ni maneno ya mwisho ya Daudi: “Neno la Daudi mwana wa Yese, neno la mtu aliyeinuliwa na Aliye Juu Sana, mtu aliyepakwa mafuta na Mungu wa Yakobo, mwimbaji wa nyimbo wa Israeli:
David, the son of Jesse, was a man whom [God caused to] become great. He was appointed to become king by the God whom Jacob [worshiped]. He wrote beautiful songs for the Israeli people. This is the last song that he wrote:
2 “Roho wa Bwana alinena kupitia kwangu, neno lake lilikuwa ulimini mwangu.
“The Spirit of Yahweh tells me what to say; the message that I speak [MTY] comes from him.
3 Mungu wa Israeli alinena, mwamba wa Israeli akaniambia: ‘Mtu anatawala watu kwa haki, wakati anapotawala akiwa na hofu ya Mungu,
God, the one whom we Israeli [people worship], has spoken; the one who protects us Israeli people said to me, ‘Kings who rule people justly have an awesome respect for me, God.
4 yeye ni kama mwanga wa asubuhi jua lichomozapo asubuhi isiyo na mawingu, kama mwanga baada ya mvua uchipuzao majani kutoka ardhini.’
They are like the sun that shines at dawn and causes the grass to [sprout/sparkle] after the rain ends.’
5 “Je, si hivyo ilivyo nyumba yangu mbele za Mungu? Je, hajafanya Agano la milele nami, lililopangwa na kuimarishwa kila sehemu? Je, hatanifanya niufurahie wokovu wangu na kunijalia matakwa yangu yote?
And truly, that is how God will surely bless my family [RHQ] because he made an agreement with me that will endure forever, an agreement in which he promises that no part of it will ever be changed. He will surely cause me to prosper [RHQ], and he will always help me, and that is all that I desire.
6 Lakini watu waovu wote watatupwa kando kama miiba, ambayo haikusanywi kwa mkono.
But [he will get rid of] godless/evil people like [SIM] people throw away thorns that [injure people if they try to] pick them up with their hands.
7 Yeyote agusaye miiba hutumia chombo cha chuma au mpini wa mkuki, nayo huchomwa pale ilipo.”
Someone [who wants to get rid of thornbushes] does not grab them; he uses an iron [shovel] or a spear [to dig them out] and then he burns them completely.
8 Haya ndiyo majina ya mashujaa wa Daudi: Yosheb-Bashebethi, Mtahkemoni, alikuwa kiongozi wa wale Watatu; yeye aliinua mkuki wake dhidi ya watu 800, ambao aliwaua katika pambano moja.
These are the names of David’s three greatest warriors. The first was Esh-Baal, [whose other name was Jashobeam], from the Hachmon clan (OR, the son of Hachmon). He was the leader of the three men. One time he fought against 800 enemies and killed them all with his spear.
9 Wa pili wake alikuwa Eleazari mwana wa Dodai, Mwahohi. Akiwa mmojawapo wa wale mashujaa watatu, alikuwa pamoja na Daudi wakati waliwadhihaki Wafilisti waliokuwa wamekusanyika huko Pas-Damimu kwa ajili ya vita. Kisha watu wa Israeli wakarudi nyuma,
The second/next one of the three greatest warriors was Eleazar, who was the son of Dodo from the clan of Ahoh. One day he was with David when they defied/challenged the soldiers of Philistia who had gathered for the battle. The [other] Israeli soldiers retreated,
10 lakini yeye alisimama imara akawaua Wafilisti hadi mkono wake ukachoka na ukagandamana na upanga. Bwana akawapa ushindi mkubwa siku ile. Vikosi vikarudi kwa Eleazari, kuteka tu nyara za waliokufa.
but Eleazar stood there and fought the soldiers of Philistia until his arm became very tired, with the result that [his hand cramped and] he could not stop gripping his sword. Yahweh won a great victory on that day. And afterwards the [other] Israeli soldiers returned [to where Eleazar was], and stripped off the [armor from the men whom he had] killed.
11 Aliyefuata alikuwa Shama mwana wa Agee, Mharari. Wafilisti walipokusanyika pamoja mahali palipokuwa shamba lililojaa dengu, vikosi vya Israeli viliwakimbia.
The third one of the greatest warriors was Shammah, the son of Agee from [the clan/town of] Harar. One time the Philistia soldiers gathered at Lehi [town], where there was a field full of lentils/peas [that they wanted to steal]. The other Israeli soldiers ran away from the Philistia troops,
12 Lakini Shama akasimama imara katikati ya lile shamba. Akalitetea na kuwaua Wafilisti, naye Bwana akawapa ushindi mkubwa.
but Shammah stood there in the field and did not let the Philistia soldiers [steal the crops], and killed them. Yahweh won a great victory on that day.
13 Wakati wa mavuno, viongozi watatu kati ya viongozi thelathini walishuka, wakamwendea Daudi katika pango la Adulamu, wakati kikundi cha Wafilisti kilikuwa kimepiga kambi katika Bonde la Warefai.
Altogether there were 30 special warriors among David’s soldiers. Once, when it was almost time to harvest [the crops], three of those 30 men went down to Adullam Cave, where David was [staying]. A group of men from the Philistia army had set up their tents in Rephaim Valley [near Jerusalem].
14 Wakati huo Daudi alikuwa katika ngome, na kambi ya Wafilisti ilikuwa huko Bethlehemu.
David [and his soldiers] were in the cave [because it was safe there], and [another] group of Philistia soldiers was occupying Bethlehem.
15 Daudi akatamani maji, akasema, “Laiti mtu angenipatia maji ya kunywa kutoka kisima kilicho karibu na lango la Bethlehemu!”
[One day] David very much wanted [some water] to drink, and said “I wish that someone would bring me some water from the well near the gate at Bethlehem!”
16 Basi mashujaa hao watatu wakapenya katikati ya Wafilisti, wakaenda kuchota maji kutoka kwa kisima kilicho karibu na lango la Bethlehemu, wakamletea Daudi. Lakini Daudi akakataa kuyanywa. Badala yake, aliyamimina mbele za Bwana.
So his three greatest warriors forced their way through the camp of Philistia soldiers and drew some water from the well, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out [on the ground] as an offering to Yahweh.
17 Akasema, “Iwe mbali nami, Ee Bwana, kufanya kitu hiki. Je, hii si damu ya watu ambao walikwenda kwa kuhatarisha maisha yao?” Naye Daudi hakuyanywa. Haya yalifanywa na hao mashujaa watatu.
He said, “Yahweh, it would certainly not be right for me to drink this water! That would be like [RHQ] drinking the blood of these men who were willing/ready to die for me!” So he refused to drink it. That was one of the things that those three great warriors did.
18 Abishai ndugu yake Yoabu mwana wa Seruya ndiye alikuwa kiongozi wa hao Watatu. Aliinua mkuki wake dhidi ya watu 300 ambao aliwaua, kwa hiyo naye akawa na sifa kama hao Watatu.
Abishai, Joab’s [younger] brother, was the leader of the 30 [greatest warriors]. [One day] he fought against 300 men and killed them all with his spear. As a result, he also became famous.
19 Je, hakupata heshima kubwa zaidi kuliko hao Watatu? Alikuwa jemadari wao, ingawa hakuhesabiwa miongoni mwao.
He was the most famous of the thirty greatest warriors, and he became their leader/commander, but he was not one of the three greatest warriors.
20 Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada alikuwa mpiganaji hodari kutoka Kabseeli ambaye alifanya mambo makubwa ya ujasiri. Aliwaua mashujaa wawili waliokuwa hodari kuliko wote wa Moabu. Pia alishuka shimoni kulipokuwa na theluji na kumuua simba.
Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, from Kabzeel [town], also did great deeds. He killed two of the best warriors from the Moab people-group. Also, he went down into a pit on a day when snow was falling, and killed a lion there.
21 Pia alimuua Mmisri mrefu mkubwa. Ingawa Mmisri alikuwa na mkuki mkononi mwake, Benaya alimwendea akiwa na rungu. Alipokonya mkuki kutoka mkononi mwa Mmisri na kumuua kwa mkuki wake mwenyewe.
He also killed a huge soldier from Egypt who carried a spear. Benaiah [had only] his club, but he attacked the giant with it. Then he snatched the spear from the man’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
22 Haya yalikuwa mambo ya ushujaa ya Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada; naye pia alikuwa maarufu kama wale mashujaa watatu.
Those are [some of] the things that Benaiah did. As a result, he became famous, like the three greatest warriors were.
23 Yeye aliheshimiwa zaidi ya wale Thelathini, lakini hakujumuishwa miongoni mwa wale Watatu. Daudi akamweka kuwa kiongozi wa walinzi wake.
He was more honored than the other members of the group of thirty great warriors, but not as famous as the three greatest warriors. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.
24 Miongoni mwa wale Thelathini walikuwepo: Asaheli ndugu wa Yoabu; Elhanani mwana wa Dodo kutoka Bethlehemu;
[These are the names of the great warriors]: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
25 Shama, Mharodi; Elika, Mharodi;
Shammah and Elika, from [the] Harod [clan];
26 Helesi, Mpalti; Ira mwana wa Ikeshi kutoka Tekoa;
Helez, from Pelet [city]; Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa [town];
27 Abiezeri kutoka Anathothi; Mebunai, Mhushathi;
Abiezer, from Anathoth [city]; Mebunnai [whose other name was Sibbecai], from Hushah’s [clan];
28 Salmoni, Mwahohi; Maharai, Mnetofathi;
Zalmon [whose other name was Ilai], from Ahoh’s [clan]; Maharai, from Netophah [town];
29 Heledi mwana wa Baana, Mnetofathi; Itai mwana wa Ribai kutoka Gibea ya Benyamini;
Heleb, the son of Baanah, also from Netophah [town]; Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah [town] in [the land that belonged to] the tribe of Benjamin;
30 Benaya Mpirathoni; Hidai kutoka mabonde ya Gaashi;
Benaiah, from Pirathon [town]; Hiddai, from the valleys near Gaash [Mountain];
31 Abi-Alboni, Mwaribathi; Azmawethi, Mbarhumi;
Abi-Albon, from the clan of Arabah; Azmaveth, from Bahurim [town];
32 Eliaba, Mshaalboni; wana wa Yasheni; Yonathani
Eliahba, from Shaalbon [town]; The sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
33 mwana wa Shama, Mharari; Ahiamu mwana wa Sharari, Mharari;
Shammah, from Harar [town/clan]; Ahiam the son of Sharar, from Harar [town/clan];
34 Elifeleti mwana wa Ahasbai, Mmaakathi; Eliamu mwana wa Ahithofeli, Mgiloni;
Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, from Maacah [town]; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Gilo [town];
35 Hezro, Mkarmeli; Paarai, Mwarbi;
Hezro, from Carmel [city]; Paarai, from Arba [city];
36 Igali mwana wa Nathani kutoka Soba; Bani, Mgadi;
Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah [city]; Bani, from the tribe of Gad;
37 Seleki, Mwamoni; Naharai, Mbeerothi, aliyekuwa mbeba silaha za Yoabu mwana wa Seruya;
Zelek, from the Ammon people-group; Naharai, the man who carried Joab’s weapons, from Beeroth [town];
38 Ira, Mwithiri; Garebu, Mwithiri;
Ira and Gareb, from Jattir [town];
39 na Uria, Mhiti. Jumla yao wote walikuwa watu thelathini na saba.
Uriah, [Bathsheba’s husband], from the Heth people-group. Altogether, there were 37 famous soldiers, [but some of them had died and their names were not included].
