< 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.
Now after these things Absalom made himself chariots, and horsemen, and fifty men to run before 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.”
And Absalom rising up early stood by the entrance of the gate, and when any man had business to come to the king’s judgment, Absalom called him to him, and said: Of what city art thou? He answered, and said: Thy servant is of such a tribe of Israel.
3 Hivyo Absalomu umwambia, “Tazama, shitaka lako ni jema na la haki, lakini hakuna aliyepewa mamlaka na mfalme kusikiliza shitaka lako.
And Absalom answered him: Thy words seem to me good and just. But there is no man appointed by the king to hear thee. And Absalom said:
4 Absalomu uongeza, “Natamani kwamba ningefanywa mwamzi ndani ya nchi ili kwamba kila mtu aliye na shitaka angeweza kuja kwangu nami ningempa haki.
O that they would make me judge over the land, that all that have business might come to me, that I might do them justice.
5 Hivyo ikawa kila mtu aliyekuja kumweshimu Absalomu yeye hunyosha mkono na kumshika na kumbusu.
Moreover when any man came to him to salute him, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 Absalomu alifanya hivi kwa Israeli wote waliokuja kwa mfalme kwa ajili ya hukumu. Hivyo Absalomu akaipotosha mioyo ya watu wa Israeli.
And this he did to all Israel that came for judgment, to be heard by the king, and he enticed 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.
And after forty years, Absalom said to king David: Let me go, and pay my vows which I have vowed to the Lord in Hebron.
8 Kwa maana mtumishi wako aliweka nadhiri alipokuwako Geshuri katika Shamu akisema, 'Ikiwa Yahwe kweli atanirejesha Yerusalemu, ndipo nitamwabudu yeye.”
For thy servant made avow, when he was in Gessur of Syria, saying: If the Lord shall bring me again into Jerusalem I will offer sacrifice to the Lord.
9 Hivyo mfalme akamwambia, “Nenda kwa amani”. Absalomu akainuka na kwenda Hebroni.
And king David said to him: Go in peace. And he arose, 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.”
And Absalom sent spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying: As soon as you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, say ye: Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 Watu mia mbili waliokuwa wamearikwa kutoka Yerusalemu wakaenda na Absalomu. Wakaenda katika ujinga wao bila kujua Absalomu alichokipanga. Wakati
Now there went with Absalom two hundred men out of Jerusalem that were called, going with simplicity of heart, and knowing nothing of the design.
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.
Absalom also sent for Achitophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city Gilo. And while he was offering sacrifices, there was a strong conspiracy, and the people running together increased with Absalom.
13 Mjumbe akaja kwa Daudi na kusema, “Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inaambatana na Absalomu.”
And there came a messenger to David, saying: All Israel with their whole heart followeth 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 his servants, that were with him in Jerusalem: Arise and let us flee: for we shall not escape else from the face of Absalom: make haste to go out, lest he come and overtake us, and bring ruin upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 Watumishi wa mfalme wakamwambia, “Tazama, watumishi wako wapo tiyari kufanya lolote bwana wetu mfalme atakaloamua.
And the king’s servants said to him: Whatsoever our lord the king shall command, we thy servants will willingly execute.
16 Mfalme akaondoka na familia yake yote pamoja naye, lakini mfalme akawaacha wanawake kumi waliokuwa masuria wa mfalme ili walitunze kasri.
And the king went forth, and all his household on foot: and the king left ten women his concubines to keep the house:
17 Baada ya mfalme kwenda na watu wote pamoja naye, wakasimama katika nyumba ya mwisho.
And the king going forth and all Israel on foot, stood afar off from the 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 walked by him, and the bands of the Cerethi, and the Phelethi, and all the Gethites, valiant warriors, six hundred men who had followed him from Geth on foot, went before the king.
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.
And the king said to Ethai the Gethite: Why comest thou with us? return and dwell with the king, for thou art a stranger, and art come out of thy own place.
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.”
Yesterday thou camest, and today shalt thou be forced to go forth with us? but I shall go whither I am going: return thou, and take back thy brethren with thee, and the Lord will shew thee mercy, and truth, because thou hast shewn grace and fidelity.
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.”
And Ethai answered the king, saying: As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth: in what place soever thou shalt be, my lord, O king, either in death, or in life, there will thy 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.
And David said to Ethai: Come, and pass over. And Ethai the Gethite passed, and all the men that were with him, and the rest of the people.
23 Nchi yote ikalia kwa sauti kadili watu walivyokuwa wakivuka Bonde la Kidroni, mfalme naye pia akavuka. Watu wote wakasafiri kuelekea nyikani.
And they all wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself went over the brook Cedron, and all the people marched towards the way that looketh to the desert.
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.
And Sadoc the priest also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God, and they set down the ark of God: and Abiathar went up, till all the people that was come out of the city had done passing.
25 Mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, “Ulirudishe sanduku la Mungu mjini. Ikiwa nitaona neema machoni pa Yahwe atanirudisha na kunionesha tena sanduku na mahali likaapo.
And the king said to Sadoc: Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find grace in the sight of the Lord, he will bring me again, and he will shew me it, and his tabernacle.
26 Lakini ikiwa atasema, sipendezwi nawe,' tazama mimi nipo hapa, na anitendee yaliyo mema machoni pake.”
But if he shall say to me: Thou pleasest me not: I am ready, let him do that which is good before 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.
And the king said to Sadoc the priest: O seer, return into the city in peace: and let Achimaas thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, be with you.
28 Tazama nitasubiri katika vivuko vya Araba mpaka nitakapo pata neno kutoka kwenu kunitaarifu.”
Behold I will lie hid in the plains of the wilderness, till there come word from you to certify me.
29 Hivyo Sadoki na Abiathari wakalirudish sanduku la Mungu Yerusalemu nao wakakaa humo.
So Sadoc and Abiathar carried back the ark of God into Jerusalem: and they tarried 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 went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, going up and weeping, walking barefoot, and with his head covered, and all the people that were with them, went up with their heads covered weeping.
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.”
And it was told David that Achitophel also was in the conspiracy with Absalom, and David said: Infatuate, O Lord, I beseech thee, the counsel of Achitophel.
32 Ikawa Daudi alipofika juu njiani mahala Mungu alipokuwa akiabudiwa, Hushai Mwarki akaja kumlaki vazi lake limeraruliwa na mavumbi kichwani pake.
And when David was come to the top of the mountain, where he was about to adore the Lord, behold Chusai the Arachite, came to meet him with his garment rent and his head covered with earth.
33 Daudi akamwambia, “Ikiwa utaenda nami utakuwa mzigo kwangu.
And David said to him: If thou come with me, thou wilt 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 if thou return into the city, and wilt say to Absalom: I am thy servant, O king: as I have been thy father’s servant, so I will be thy servant: thou shalt defeat the counsel of Achitophel.
35 Je haunao pamoja nawe Sadoki na Abiathari makuhani? Hivyo chochote ukisikiacho katika kasri, uwaambie Sadoki na Abiathari makuhani.
And thou hast with thee Sadoc, and Abiathar the priests: and what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests.
36 Tazama wanao pamoja nao wana wao wawili, Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki, na Yonathani mwana wa Abiathari. Mniletee habari juu ya kila mnachokisikia.”
And there are with them their two sons Achimaas the son of Sadoc, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar: and you shall send by them to me every thing that you shall hear.
37 Hivyo Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akaja mjini wakati Absalomu anafika na kuingia Yerusalemu.
Then Chusai the friend of David went into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.