2 Samweli 3

1 Vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi vilidumu kwa muda mrefu. Daudi akaendelea kuwa imara zaidi na zaidi, wakati nyumba ya Sauli iliendelea kudhoofika zaidi na zaidi.

Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Wana walizaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni: Mzaliwa wake wa kwanza alikuwa Amnoni mwana wa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli;

And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 mzaliwa wake wa pili alikuwa Danieli mwana wa Abigaili, mjane wa Nabali wa Karmeli; wa tatu, Absalomu mwana wa Maaka, binti Talmai mfalme wa Geshuri;

his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

4 wa nne, Adoniya mwana wa Hagithi; wa tano, Shefatia mwana wa Abitali;

his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

5 wa sita, Ithreamu mwana wa Egla, mkewe Daudi. Hawa ndio waliozaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni.

and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6 Wakati wa vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi, Abneri alikuwa anajiimarisha katika nafasi yake kwenye nyumba ya Sauli.

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.

7 Basi Sauli alikuwa amekuwa na suria, jina lake Rispa binti wa Aiya. Naye Ish-Boshethi akamwambia Abneri, “Kwa nini umekutana kimwili na suria wa baba yangu?”

Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abneri akakasirika sana kwa sababu ya kile Ish-Boshethi alichosema, naye akamjibu, “Je, mimi ni kichwa cha mbwa, kwa upande wa Yuda? Siku hii ya leo mimi ni mtiifu kwa nyumba ya baba yako Sauli, kwa jamaa yake na rafiki zake. Sijakukabidhi kwa Daudi, lakini bado unanilaumu kwa kosa la kuhusika na huyu mwanamke!

Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!

9 Mungu na amshughulikie Abneri, tena kwa ukali, ikiwa sitafanya kwa ajili ya Daudi kile Bwana alichomwahidi kwa kiapo,

May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:

10 na kuuhamisha ufalme kutoka kwenye nyumba ya Sauli na kuimarisha kiti cha ufalme cha Daudi juu ya Israeli na Yuda kuanzia Dani mpaka Beer-Sheba.”

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11 Ish-Boshethi hakuthubutu kusema neno jingine kwa Abneri, kwa sababu alimwogopa Abneri.

And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

12 Ndipo Abneri akatuma wajumbe kwa niaba yake kwa Daudi, kumwambia, “Nchi hii ni ya nani? Fanya mapatano na mimi, nami nitakusaidia kuiweka Israeli yote juu yako.”

Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

13 Daudi akasema, “Vyema, nitafanya mapatano nawe. Lakini nahitaji jambo moja kwako: Usije mbele yangu mpaka umemleta Mikali binti Sauli wakati utakapokuja kuniona.”

“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”

14 Kisha Daudi akapeleka wajumbe kwa Ish-Boshethi mwana wa Sauli, kudai, “Nipe Mikali mke wangu, ambaye nilimposa mwenyewe kwa mahari ya magovi 100 ya Wafilisti.”

Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 Kwa hiyo Ish-Boshethi akatoa amri kwamba Mikali achukuliwe kutoka kwa Paltieli mumewe, mwana wa Laishi.

So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

16 Hata hivyo, mumewe alikwenda pamoja naye, akilia nyuma ya mkewe njia yote hadi Bahurimu. Ndipo Abneri akamwambia Paltieli, “Rudi nyumbani!” Kwa hiyo akarudi.

Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

17 Abneri akafanya shauri pamoja na wazee wa Israeli, akasema, “Muda mrefu mmetaka kumfanya Daudi mfalme wenu.

Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.

18 Sasa fanyeni hivyo! Kwa maana Bwana alimwahidi Daudi akisema, ‘Kwa kupitia Daudi mtumishi wangu nitawaokoa watu wangu Israeli kutoka mikononi mwa Wafilisti na kutoka mikononi mwa adui zako wote.’”

Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”

19 Pia Abneri mwenyewe akazungumza na kabila la Benyamini. Kisha akaenda mpaka Hebroni kumwambia Daudi kila kitu ambacho Israeli na nyumba yote ya Benyamini walichotaka kufanya.

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 Wakati Abneri aliyekuwa na watu ishirini pamoja naye, alipokuja kwa Daudi huko Hebroni, Daudi akamwandalia karamu pamoja na watu wake.

When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

21 Ndipo Abneri akamwambia Daudi, “Niache niende mara moja nikakusanye Israeli yote kwa ajili ya mfalme bwana wangu, ili waweze kufanya mapatano na wewe, ili kwamba uweze kutawala juu ya yote yale ambayo moyo wako unaonea shauku.” Basi Daudi akamuaga Abneri, naye akaenda kwa amani.

Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

22 Wakati huo huo, watu wa Daudi na Yoabu walirudi kutoka kwenye kushambulia, nao wakarudi na nyara nyingi mno. Lakini Abneri hakuwa tena pamoja na Daudi huko Hebroni, kwa sababu Daudi alikuwa amemruhusu aende zake, naye akaenda kwa amani.

Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace.

23 Yoabu na askari wote aliokuwa nao walipowasili, aliambiwa kwamba Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuwa amekuja kwa mfalme na kwamba mfalme alikuwa amemruhusu aende zake, na kwamba alikwisha ondoka kwa amani.

When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”

24 Basi Yoabu alikwenda kwa mfalme na kumwambia, “Ni nini hiki ulichofanya? Tazama, Abneri alikuja kwako. Kwa nini ukamwacha aende? Sasa amekwenda!

So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!

25 Wajua Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kukudanganya na kuchunguza nyendo zako na kupata kila kitu unachokifanya.”

Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

26 Ndipo Yoabu akamwacha Daudi na kutuma wajumbe wamfuate Abneri, nao wakamrudisha kutoka kisima cha Sira. Lakini Daudi hakufahamu jambo hili.

As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.

27 Basi Abneri aliporudi Hebroni, Yoabu akamchukua kando ndani ya lango, kama vile kuzungumza naye faraghani. Ili kulipiza kisasi damu ya nduguye Asaheli, Yoabu akamchoma mkuki tumboni palepale, naye akafa.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

28 Baadaye, Daudi aliposikia kuhusu jambo hili, akasema, “Mimi na ufalme wangu kamwe hatuna hatia mbele za Bwana kuhusu damu ya Abneri mwana wa Neri.

Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 Damu yake na iwe juu ya kichwa cha Yoabu na juu ya nyumba yote ya baba yake! Kamwe asikosekane yeyote katika nyumba ya Yoabu mwenye kidonda chenye usaha, au ukoma au mwenye kuegemea fimbo au aangukaye kwa upanga au kupungukiwa na chakula.”

May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

30 (Yoabu na Abishai ndugu yake walimuua Abneri kwa sababu alikuwa amemuua Asaheli ndugu yao katika vita huko Gibeoni.)

(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Kisha Daudi akamwambia Yoabu na watu wote aliokuwa pamoja nao, “Rarueni nguo zenu na mvae nguo za gunia na mtembee mkiomboleza mbele ya Abneri.” Mfalme Daudi mwenyewe akatembea nyuma ya jeneza.

Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

32 Wakamzika Abneri huko Hebroni, naye mfalme akalia kwa sauti kwenye kaburi la Abneri. Pia watu wote wakalia.

When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.

33 Mfalme akaimba ombolezo hili kwa ajili ya Abneri: “Je, ilipasa Abneri afe kama afavyo mpumbavu?

And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?

34 Mikono yako haikufungwa, miguu yako haikufungwa pingu. Ulianguka kama yeye aangukaye mbele ya watu waovu.” Nao watu wote wakamlilia tena.

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.

35 Kisha watu wote wakaja kumsihi Daudi ale chochote kulipokuwa kungali bado mchana; lakini Daudi akaapa, akisema, “Mungu na anishughulikie, tena kwa ukali, kama nikionja mkate au kitu kingine chochote kabla ya jua kutua!”

Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 Watu wote wakaona hilo nao ikawapendeza; naam, kila kitu mfalme alichofanya kiliwapendeza.

All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.

37 Kwa hiyo siku ile watu wote na Israeli yote wakajua kwamba mfalme hakushiriki katika mauaji ya Abneri mwana wa Neri.

So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Kisha mfalme akawaambia watu wake, “Je, hamfahamu kwamba mkuu na mtu mashuhuri ameanguka katika Israeli leo?

Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?

39 Nami leo ingawa ni mfalme mpakwa mafuta, mimi ni dhaifu, nao hawa wana wa Seruya wananizidi nguvu. Bwana na amlipize mtenda maovu sawasawa na matendo yake maovu!”

And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”