2 Samweli 18
1 Daudi akawahesabu askari waliokuwa pamoja naye na akaweka akida wa elfu na akida wa mia juu yao.
And David inspecteth the people who [are] with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,
2 Kisha Daudi akalipeleka jeshi, thelusi moja chini ya Yoabu, thelusi nyingine chini ya Abishai mwana wa Seruya, ndugu wa Yoabu, na thelusi nyingine tena chini ya Itai Mgiti. Mfalme akaliambia jeshi, “kwa hakika mimi mwenyewe pia nitakwenda pamoja nanyi.
and David sendeth the third of the people by the hand of Joab, and the third by the hand of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and the third by the hand of Ittai the Gittite, and the king saith unto the people, 'I certainly go out — I also — with you.'
3 Lakini watu wakasema, “Wewe usiende vitani, kwani ikiwa tutakimbia hawatatujari sisi, ama nusu yetu wakifa hawatajari. Lakini wewe ni zaidi ya elfu kumi yetu sisi! Kwa hiyo ni afadhari zaidi ukitusaidia ukiwa mjini.”
And the people say, 'Thou dost not go out, for if we utterly flee, they do not set [their] heart upon us; and if half of us die, they do not set [their] heart unto us — for now like us [are] ten thousand; and now, better that thou be to us from the city for an helper.'
4 Hivyo mfalme akawajibu, “Nitafanya lolote lionekanalo jema machoni penu.” Mfalme akasimama kati ya lango la mji wakati jeshi lilipoondoka katika mamia na katika maelfu.
And the king saith unto them, 'That which is good in your eyes I do;' and the king standeth at the side of the gate, and all the people have gone out by hundreds and by thousands,
5 Mfalme akawaagiza Yoabu, Abishai, na Itai kusema, “Mmtendee huyo kijana, Absalomu, kwa upole kwa ajili yangu.” Watu wote wakasikia jinsi mfalme alivyowaagiza maakida kuhusu Absalomu.
and the king chargeth Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'Gently — for me, for the youth, for Absalom;' and all the people heard in the king's charging all the heads concerning Absalom.
6 Hivyo jeshi likaenda nyikani dhidi ya Israeli; vita ikaenea katika msitu wa Efraimu.
And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;
7 Jeshi la Israeli likashindwa mbele ya askari wa Daudi; kulikuwa na machinjo makuu kwa watu elfu ishirini siku hiyo.
and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day — twenty thousand;
8 Vita ikaenea katika eneo lote na watu wengi wakaangamizwa na msitu kuliko upanga.
and the battle is there scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplieth to devour among the people more than those whom the sword hath devoured in that day.
9 Ikatukia kwamba Absalomu akakutana na askari wa Daudi. Absalomu alikuwa amepanda juu ya nyumbu wake na nyumbu akapita chini ya matawi manene ya mti wa mwaloni, na kichwa chake kikanaswa katika matawi ya mti. Akaachwa akining'inia kati ya nchi na anga wakati nyumbu alipoendelea mbele.
And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that [is] under him hath passed on.
10 Mtu mmoja akaona lililotukia na akamwambia Yoabu, “Tazama, nilimwona Absalomu akining'inia katika mwaloni!”
And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, 'Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.'
11 Yoabu akamwambia aliyemwambia kuhusu Absalomu, “Tazama! Ulimwona! Kwa nini haukumpiga hata chini. Ningekupa shekeli kumi za fedha na mkanda.”
And Joab saith to the man who is declaring [it] to him, 'And lo, thou hast seen — and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth — and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?'
12 Yule mtu akamjibu Yoabu, “Hata kama ningepewa shekeli elfu za fedha hata hivyo nisingeinua mkono wangu juu ya mwana wa mfalme, kwa maana sisi sote tulimsikia mfalme akiwaagiza wewe, Abishai na Itai kusema, mtu asimguse huyo kijana Absalomu.'
And the man saith unto Joab, 'Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who [is] against the youth — against Absalom;
13 Ikiwa ningehatarisha maisha yangu kwa uongo(na hakuna jambo linalofichika kwa mfalme), ungejitenga nami.”
or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou — thou dost station thyself over-against.'
14 Ndipo Yoabu aliposema, “sitakusubiri.” Kisha akachukua mishale mitatu mkononi mwake na akairusha katika moyo wa Absalomu wakati yu ngali hai na amening'inia katika mwaloni.
And Joab saith, 'Not right — I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he [is] alive, in the midst of the oak.
15 Kisha vijana kumi waliochukua slaha za Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumwua.
And they go round — ten youths bearing weapons of Joab — and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
16 Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta na jeshi likarudi kutoka kuwafuatia Israeli, hivyo Yoabu akalirudisha jeshi.
And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept back the people;
17 Wakamchukua Absalomu na kumtupa katika shimo kubwa msituni; wakaufukia mwili wake chini ya rundo kubwa la mawe, wakati Israeli wote walipokimbia kila mtu nyumbani kwake.
and they take Absalom and cast him in the forest unto the great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones, and all Israel have fled — each to his tent.
18 Wakati Absalomu alipokuwa yu ngali hai alijijengea nguzo kubwa ya jiwe katika Bonde la Mfalme, kwani alisema, “Sina mwana wa kuchukua kumbukumbu ya jina langu.” Akaiita nguzo kwa jina lake, hivyo inaitwa Mnara wa Absalomu hata leo.
And Absalom hath taken, and setteth up for himself in his life, the standing-pillar that [is] in the king's valley, for he said, 'I have no son to cause my name to be remembered;' and he calleth the standing-pillar by his own name, and it is called 'The monument of Absalom' unto this day.
19 Kisha Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akasema, “Niruhusu niende kwa mfalme na habari njema, jinsi Yahwe alivyomwokoa kutoka mkono wa adui zake.”
And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, 'Let me run, I pray thee, and I bear the king tidings, for Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of his enemies;'
20 Yoabu akamjibu, “Wewe hautakuwa mchukua habari leo; utafanya hivyo siku nyingine. Leo hautachukua habari yoyote kwa maana mwana wa mfalme ameuawa.”
and Joab saith to him, 'Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king's son [is] dead.'
21 Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia Mkushi, “Nenda umwambia mfalme ulichokiona.” Mkushi akamwinamia Yoabu, na kisha akakimbia.
And Joab saith to Cushi, 'Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
22 Kisha tena, Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akamwambia Yoabu, “Pamoja na yote yanayoweza kutokea, tafadhari niruhusu nami pia niende nimfuate Mkushi.” Yoabu akajibu, “Mwanangu kwa nini unataka kwenda, hautapata thawabu yoyote kwa ajili ya habari hii?”
And Ahimaaz son of Zadok addeth again, and saith unto Joab, 'And whatever it be, let me run, I pray thee, I also, after the Cushite.' And Joab saith, 'Why [is] this — thou art running, my son, and for thee there are no tidings found?' —
23 “Vyovyote itakavyokuwa niache niende,” Ahimaasi alijibu. Hivyo Yoabu akamjibu, “Nenda.” Ndipo Ahimaasi akakimbia kwa njia ya tambarare na akampita Mkushi.
'And, whatever it be, [said he, ] let me run.' And he saith to him, 'Run;' and Ahimaaz runneth the way of the circuit, and passeth by the Cushite.
24 Basi Daudi alikuwa amekaa kati ya lango la ndani na lango la nje. Na mlinzi alikuwa juu ya lango ukutani naye akainua macho yake. Alipokuwa akiangalia, akamwona mtu anakaribia huku akikimbia peke yake.
And David is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.
25 Mlinzi akaita kwa sauti na kumwambia mfalme. Ndipo mfalme akasema, “Ikiwa yupo peke yake ana habari katika kinywa chake.” Mkimbiaji akasogea na kuukaribia mji.
And the watchman calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, 'If by himself, tidings [are] in his mouth;' and he cometh, coming on and drawing near.
26 Kisha mlinzi akaona mtu mwingine aliyekuwa anakimbia, naye akamwambia bawabu; kusema, “Tazama, kuna mtu mwingine anakimbia peke yake.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye pia analeta habari.”
And the watchman seeth another man running, and the watchman calleth unto the gatekeeper, and saith, 'Lo, a man running by himself;' and the king saith, 'Also this one is bearing tidings.'
27 Ndipo mlinzi akasema, Nadhani kukimbia kwake mtu aliye mbele ni kama kukimbia kwake Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye ni mtu mwema naye anakuja na habari njema.”
And the watchman saith, 'I see the running of the first as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' And the king saith, 'This [is] a good man, and with good tidings he cometh.'
28 Ndipo Ahimaasi akaita na kumwambia mfalme, “Yote ni mema.” Kisha akainama yeye mwenyewe uso wake chini mbele ya mfalme na kusema, Atukuzwe Yahwe Mungu wako, aliyewatoa watu walioinua mkono wao kinyume cha bwana wangu mfalme.”
And Ahimaaz calleth and saith unto the king, 'Peace;' and he boweth himself to the king, on his face, to the earth, and saith, 'Blessed [is] Jehovah thy God who hath shut up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.'
29 Hivyo mfalme akauliza, “Je huyo kijana Absalomu hajambo?” Ahimaasi akajibu, “Wakati Yoabu ananituma kwako mfalme, mimi mtumishi wa mfalme, niliona fujo kubwa sana lakini sikutambua ilihusu nini.”
And the king saith, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And Ahimaaz saith, 'I saw the great multitude, at the sending away of the servant of the king, even thy servant [by] Joab, and I have not known what [it is].'
30 Mfalme akamwambia, “Geuka usimame kando.” Hivyo Ahimaasi akageuka na kusimama.
And the king saith, 'Turn round, station thyself here;' and he turneth round and standeth still.
31 Mara Mkushi akafika na kusema, “Kuna habari njema kwa bwana wangu mfalme kwa kuwa leo Yahwe amekulipia kisasi kwa wale wote walioinuka kinyume chako.”
And lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, 'Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising up against thee.'
32 Ndipo mfalme akamwuliza, “Je huyo kijana Absalomu ni mzima?” Mkushi akajibu, “Adui wa bwana wangu mfalme na wote wainukao kukudhuru na wawe kama huyo kijana.”
And the king saith unto the Cushite, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And the Cushite saith, 'Let them be — as the youth — the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee for evil.'
33 Ndipo mfalme alipohuzunishwa sana naye akaenda chumbani juu ya lango na kulia. Kadili alivyokwenda aliomboleza, mwanangu Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu Absalomu! afadhari ningekufa badala yako, Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu!”
And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'
