< 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.
It came about after this that Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, with 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.”
Absalom would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. When any man had a dispute to come to the king for judgment, Absalom called to him and said, “From what city have you come?” Then the man would answer, “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.
So Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right, but there is no one empowered by the king to hear your case.”
4 Absalomu uongeza, “Natamani kwamba ningefanywa mwamzi ndani ya nchi ili kwamba kila mtu aliye na shitaka angeweza kuja kwangu nami ningempa haki.
Absalom added, “I wish that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who had any dispute or cause might come to me, and I would bring him justice!”
5 Hivyo ikawa kila mtu aliyekuja kumweshimu Absalomu yeye hunyosha mkono na kumshika na kumbusu.
So it came about that when any man came to Absalom to honor him, Absalom would put out his hand and 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 acted in this way to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom 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.
It came about at the end of four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay a vow that I have made to Yahweh in Hebron.
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 I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying,' If Yahweh will indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.'”
9 Hivyo mfalme akamwambia, “Nenda kwa amani”. Absalomu akainuka na kwenda Hebroni.
So the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So Absalom 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.”
But then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you must say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'”
11 Watu mia mbili waliokuwa wamearikwa kutoka Yerusalemu wakaenda na Absalomu. Wakaenda katika ujinga wao bila kujua Absalomu alichokipanga. Wakati
With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, who were invited. They went in their innocence, not knowing anything that Absalom had planned.
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 offered sacrfices, he sent for Ahithophel from his hometown of Giloh. He was David's counselor. Absalom's conspiracy was strong, for the people following Absalom were constantly increasing.
13 Mjumbe akaja kwa Daudi na kusema, “Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inaambatana na Absalomu.”
A messenger came to David saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are following after 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.”
So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Prepare to leave immediately, or he will quickly overtake us, and he will bring down disaster on us and attack the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 Watumishi wa mfalme wakamwambia, “Tazama, watumishi wako wapo tiyari kufanya lolote bwana wetu mfalme atakaloamua.
The king's servants said to the king, “Look, your servants are ready to do whatever our master the king decides.”
16 Mfalme akaondoka na familia yake yote pamoja naye, lakini mfalme akawaacha wanawake kumi waliokuwa masuria wa mfalme ili walitunze kasri.
The king left and all his family after him, but the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the palace.
17 Baada ya mfalme kwenda na watu wote pamoja naye, wakasimama katika nyumba ya mwisho.
After the king went out and all the people after him, they 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.
All his army marched with him, and before him went all the Kerethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men 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 will you come with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and an exile. Return to your 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.”
Since you just left yesterday, why should I make you wander all over with us? I do not even know where I am going. So return and take your fellow countrymen back. May loyalty and faithfulness go with you.”
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 and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my master the king lives, surely in whatever place where my master the king goes, there also will your servant go, whether that means living or dying.”
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.
So David said to Ittai, “Go ahead and continue with us.” So Ittai the Gittite marched with the king, along with all his men and all the families 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.
All the country wept with a loud voice as all the people passed by over the Kidron Valley, and as the king also himself crossed over. All the people traveled on the road toward 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.
Even Zadok with all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God, were present. They set the ark of God down, and then Abiathar joined them. They waited until all the people had passed by 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.
The king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me back here and show me again the ark and the place where he lives.
26 Lakini ikiwa atasema, sipendezwi nawe,' tazama mimi nipo hapa, na anitendee yaliyo mema machoni pake.”
But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' look, here am I, 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 into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar.
28 Tazama nitasubiri katika vivuko vya Araba mpaka nitakapo pata neno kutoka kwenu kunitaarifu.”
See, I will wait at the fords of the Arabah 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 carried the ark of God back into Jerusalem, and they 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 ascended barefoot and weeping up the Mount of Olives, and he had his head covered. Every man of the people who were with him covered his head, and they went up weeping as they walked.
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.”
Someone told David saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O Yahweh, please turn Ahithophel's advice into foolishness.”
32 Ikawa Daudi alipofika juu njiani mahala Mungu alipokuwa akiabudiwa, Hushai Mwarki akaja kumlaki vazi lake limeraruliwa na mavumbi kichwani pake.
It came about that when David arrived at the top of the road, where God used to be worshiped, Hushai the Arkite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth on his head.
33 Daudi akamwambia, “Ikiwa utaenda nami utakuwa mzigo kwangu.
David said to him, “If you travel with me, then 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 if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, king, as I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant,' then you will confuse Ahithophel's advice for me.
35 Je haunao pamoja nawe Sadoki na Abiathari makuhani? Hivyo chochote ukisikiacho katika kasri, uwaambie Sadoki na Abiathari makuhani.
Will you not have the priests Zadok and Abiathar with you? So whatever you hear in the king's palace, you must tell it to Zadok 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.”
See that they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. You must send to me by their hand everything that you hear.”
37 Hivyo Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akaja mjini wakati Absalomu anafika na kuingia Yerusalemu.
So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city as Absalom arrived and entered into Jerusalem.