2 Samweli 15
1 Ikawa baada ya haya Absalomu akaandaa gari la farasi na farasi kwa ajili yake pamoja na watu hamsini wa kwenda mbele zake.
Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
2 Absalomu alikuwa akiamka mapema na kusimama kando ya njia iliyoelekea katika lango la mji. Mtu yeyote aliyekuwa na shauri la kuja kwa mfalme kwa ajili ya hukumu, Absalomu alimwita na kumwuliza, “Unatoka mji upi?” Na mtu yule hujibu, Mtumishi wako anatoka mojawapo ya kabila za Israeli.”
He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
3 Hivyo Absalomu umwambia, “Tazama, shitaka lako ni jema na la haki, lakini hakuna aliyepewa mamlaka na mfalme kusikiliza shitaka lako.
Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”
4 Absalomu uongeza, “Natamani kwamba ningefanywa mwamzi ndani ya nchi ili kwamba kila mtu aliye na shitaka angeweza kuja kwangu nami ningempa haki.
And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5 Hivyo ikawa kila mtu aliyekuja kumweshimu Absalomu yeye hunyosha mkono na kumshika na kumbusu.
Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
6 Absalomu alifanya hivi kwa Israeli wote waliokuja kwa mfalme kwa ajili ya hukumu. Hivyo Absalomu akaipotosha mioyo ya watu wa Israeli.
Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Ikawa mwishoni mwa miaka minne Absalomu akamwambia mfalme, “Tafadhari niruhusu niende ili nitimize nadhiri niliyoiweka kwa Yahwe huko Hebroni.
After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
8 Kwa maana mtumishi wako aliweka nadhiri alipokuwako Geshuri katika Shamu akisema, 'Ikiwa Yahwe kweli atanirejesha Yerusalemu, ndipo nitamwabudu yeye.”
For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”
9 Hivyo mfalme akamwambia, “Nenda kwa amani”. Absalomu akainuka na kwenda Hebroni.
“Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.
10 Kisha Absalomu akatuma wapelelezi katika jamaa zote za Israeli, kusema, “Mara msikiapo sauti ya tarumbeta semeni, 'Absalomu anatawala katika Hebroni.”
Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
11 Watu mia mbili waliokuwa wamearikwa kutoka Yerusalemu wakaenda na Absalomu. Wakaenda katika ujinga wao bila kujua Absalomu alichokipanga. Wakati
Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.
12 Absalomu akitoa dhabihu, alituma watu kwa Ahithofeli katika mji wake huko Gilo. Yeye alikuwa mshauri wa Daudi. Uaini wa Absalomu ukawa na nguvu kwa kuwa watu waliomfuata waliendelea kuongezeka.
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.
13 Mjumbe akaja kwa Daudi na kusema, “Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inaambatana na Absalomu.”
Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14 Hivyo Daudi akawambia watumishi wake waliokuwa pamoja naye huko Yerusalemu, “Haya na tuinuke na kukimbia kwani hakuna hata mmoja atakayesalimika kwa Absalomu. Jiandaeni kuondoka mara moja asije akatupata mara hata akasababisha madhara juu yetu na kuushambulia mji kwa makali ya upanga.”
And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
15 Watumishi wa mfalme wakamwambia, “Tazama, watumishi wako wapo tiyari kufanya lolote bwana wetu mfalme atakaloamua.
The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
16 Mfalme akaondoka na familia yake yote pamoja naye, lakini mfalme akawaacha wanawake kumi waliokuwa masuria wa mfalme ili walitunze kasri.
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
17 Baada ya mfalme kwenda na watu wote pamoja naye, wakasimama katika nyumba ya mwisho.
So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,
18 Jeshi lake lote likaenda pamoja naye na mbele yake wakaenda Wakerethi na Wapelethi, na Wagiti mia sita wote waliokuwa wamemfuata kutoka Gathi.
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
19 Kisha mfalme akamwambia Itai Mgiti, “Kwa nini wewe pia uende nasi? Rudi na ukae na mfalme Absalomu kwa kuwa wewe ni mgeni tena mfungwa. Rudi mahali pako mwenyewe.
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
20 Kwani ni jana tu umeondoka, kwa nini nikufanye uzunguke nasi popote? Hata sijui niendako. Hivyo rudi pamoja na wenzako. Utiifu na uaminifu viambatane nawe.”
In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”
21 Lakini Itai akamjibu mfalme na kusema, “Kama Yahwe aishivyo na kama bwana wangu mfalme aishivyo, kwa hakika mahali popote bwana wangu mfalme aendako, mtumishi wako pia ndipo atakapokwenda, kwamba ni maisha au kifo.”
But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”
22 Hivyo Daudi akamwambia Itai, haya tangulia uende pamoja nasi.” Hivyo Itai Mgiti akaenda pamoja na mfalme, pamoja na watu wake wote na familia zao zote.
“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
23 Nchi yote ikalia kwa sauti kadili watu walivyokuwa wakivuka Bonde la Kidroni, mfalme naye pia akavuka. Watu wote wakasafiri kuelekea nyikani.
Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.
24 Walikuwepo pia Sadoki pamoja na Walawi wote wamebeba sanduku la Mungu la agano. Wakaliweka sanduku la Mungu chini na kisha Abiathari akaungana nao. Wakasubiri mpaka watu wote walioondoka mjini walipokwisha kupita.
Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had passed out of the city.
25 Mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, “Ulirudishe sanduku la Mungu mjini. Ikiwa nitaona neema machoni pa Yahwe atanirudisha na kunionesha tena sanduku na mahali likaapo.
Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.
26 Lakini ikiwa atasema, sipendezwi nawe,' tazama mimi nipo hapa, na anitendee yaliyo mema machoni pake.”
But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
27 Pia mfalme akamwambia Sadoki kuhani, “Je wewe siyo mwonaji? Rudi mjini kwa amani na wanao wawili, Ahimaazi mwanao na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari.
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.
28 Tazama nitasubiri katika vivuko vya Araba mpaka nitakapo pata neno kutoka kwenu kunitaarifu.”
See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29 Hivyo Sadoki na Abiathari wakalirudish sanduku la Mungu Yerusalemu nao wakakaa humo.
So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.
30 Lakini Daudi akaenda bila viatu huku akilia hata Mlima wa Mizeituni, naye alikuwa amefunika kichwa chake. Kila mtu miongoni mwao waliokuwa pamoja naye akafunika kichwa chake, nao wakaenda huku wakilia.
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
31 Mtu mmoja akamwambia Daudi kusema, Ahithofeli ni miongoni mwa waaini walio pamoja na Absalomu.” Hivyo Daudi akaomba, “Ee Yahwe, tafadhari badili ushauri wa Ahithofeli kuwa upumbavu.”
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
32 Ikawa Daudi alipofika juu njiani mahala Mungu alipokuwa akiabudiwa, Hushai Mwarki akaja kumlaki vazi lake limeraruliwa na mavumbi kichwani pake.
When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
33 Daudi akamwambia, “Ikiwa utaenda nami utakuwa mzigo kwangu.
David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
34 Lakini ukirudi mjini na kumwambia Absalomu, 'Nitakuwa mtumishi wa mfalme kama nilivokuwa mtumishi wa baba yako, ndivyo nitakavyokuwa mtumishi wako,' ndipo utayageuza mashauri ya Ahithofeli kwa ajili yangu.
But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’
35 Je haunao pamoja nawe Sadoki na Abiathari makuhani? Hivyo chochote ukisikiacho katika kasri, uwaambie Sadoki na Abiathari makuhani.
Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.
36 Tazama wanao pamoja nao wana wao wawili, Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki, na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari. Mniletee habari juu ya kila mnachokisikia.”
Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”
37 Hivyo Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akaja mjini wakati Absalomu anafika na kuingia Yerusalemu.
So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.
