2 Samweli 19

1 Yoabu akaambiwa, “Tazama, mfalme analia na kumwombolea Absalomu.”

And it was told Joab: 'Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.'

2 Hivyo siku ile ushindi uligeuzwa kuwa maombolezo kwa jeshi lote, kwa maana jeshi likasikia ikisemwa siku hiyo, “Mfalme anaomboleza kwa ajili ya mwanaye.”

And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people; for the people heard say that day: 'The king grieveth for his son.'

3 Siku ile askari waliingia mjini kwa kunyemelea kimyakimya kama watu waonao haya baada ya kukimbia vitani.

And the people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4 Mfalme akafunika uso wake na kulia kwa sauti, “Mwanangu Absalomu, Absalomu, mwanangu, mwangangu!”

And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice: 'O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!'

5 Ndipo Yoabu akaingia ndani kwa mfalme na kumwambia, “Leo umeziaibisha nyuso za askari wako, waliookoa maisha yako leo, maisha ya wanao na binti zako, maisha ya wake zako na maisha ya masuria wako,

And Joab came into the house to the king, and said: 'Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, who this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

6 kwa maana wawapenda wakuchukiao na kuwachukia wakupendao. Kwa kuwa leo umeonesha kwamba maakida na askari si chochote kwako. Natambua sasa kwamba kame Absalomu angesalia na sisi sote tungekufa hilo lingekufurahisha.

in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest them that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that princes and servants are nought unto thee; for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

7 Sasa basi, inuka na uende kuongea na askari wako kwa upole, kwani nakuapia kwa Yahwe, ikiwa hutakwenda hakuna mtu hata mmoja atakayesalia nawe usiku huu. Na hii itakuwa vibaya sana kwako kuliko madhara yoyote yaliyowai kukupata tangu ujana wako.”

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak to the heart of thy servants; for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry a man with thee this night; and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.'

8 Hivyo mfalme akainuka na kuketi kati ya lango la mji, watu wote wakaambiwa, “Tazama, mfalme ameketi kati ya lango.” Ndipo watu wote wakaja mbele za mfalme. Walakini, Israeli walikimbia kila mtu nyumbani kwake.

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying: 'Behold, the king doth sit in the gate'; and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.

9 Watu wote wakahojiana wao kwa wao katika jamaa zote za Israeli kusema, “Mfalme alituokoa na mkono wa adui zetu. Alitukomboa na mkono wa Wafilisti lakini sasa ameikimbia nchi mbele ya Absalomu.

And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: 'The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.

10 Na Absalomu tuliyemtia mafuta juu yetu amekufa vitani. Hivyo kwa nini hatuongei juu ya kumrudisha mfalme tena?”

And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?'

11 Mfalme Daudi akatuma kwa Sadoki na kwa Abiathari makuhani kusema, “Ongeeni na wazee wa Yuda kusema, Kwa nini ninyi mmekuwa wa mwisho kumrudisha mfalme kwenye kasri lake tena, kwa vile usemi wa Israeli wote unamtaka mfalme arudi katika kasri lake?

And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying: 'Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying: Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? — For the speech of all Israel was come to the king, to bring him to his house. —

12 Ninyi ni ndugu zangu, mwili na mifupa yangu. Kwa nini basi mmekuwa wa mwisho kumrudisha mfalme?'

Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh; wherefore then should ye be the last to bring back the king?

13 Na mwambieni Amasa, 'Je wewe si mwili na mfupa wangu? Mungu anifanyie hivyo na kuzidi pia ikiwa hautakuwa jamadari wa jeshi langu tangu sasa na baadaye mahali pa Yoabu.

And say ye to Amasa: Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.'

14 Naye akaishinda mioyo ya watu wote wa Yuda kama mtu mmoja, hata wakatuma kwa mfalme kusema, “Rudi sasa na watu wako wote.”

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent unto the king: 'Return thou, and all thy servants.'

15 Hivyo mfalme akarudi naye akaja Yordani. Na watu wa Yuda wakaja Gilgali kwenda kumlaki mfalme ili kumvusha mfalme juu ya Yordani.

So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.

16 Shimei mwana wa Gera, Mbenjamini, kutoka Bahurimu, akaharakisha kushuka pamoja na watu wa Yuda ili kumlaki mfalme Daudi.

And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, made haste and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

17 Kulikuwa na watu elfu moja kutoka Benjamini waliokuwa pamoja naye, na Siba mtumishi wa Sauli na wanawe kumi na watano na watumish wake ishirini walikuwa pamoja naye. Wakavuka Yordani mbele za mfalme.

And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. And they rushed into the Jordan before the king.

18 Wakavuka ili kuivusha familia ya mfalme na kumfanyia lolote aliloona jema. Shimei mwana wa Gera akainama chini mbele za mfalme mara alipoanza kuuvuka Yordani.

And the ferryboat passed to and fro to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he would go over the Jordan.

19 Shimei akamwambia mfalme, “Bwana wangu asinione mwenye hatia au kuyaweka moyoni ambayo mtumishi wake alifanya kwa ukaidi siku bwana wangu mfalme alipoondoka Yerusalemu. Tafadhari, mfalme na asiyaweke moyoni.

And he said unto the king: 'Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did iniquitously the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20 Kwa maana mtumishi wako anatambua kwamba amekosa. Tazama, ndiyo maana nimekuja leo wa kwanza katika nyumba ya Yusufu ili kumlaki bwana wangu mfalme.”

For thy servant doth know that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.'

21 Lakini Abishai mwana wa Seruya akajibu na kusema, “Je Shimei asife kwa hili kwa vile alivyomlaani mtiwa mafuta wa Yahweh?”

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said: 'Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?'

22 Ndipo Daudi akasema, “Nifanye nini nanyi enyi wana wa Seruya, hata leo mkawa adui zangu? Je mtu yeyote atauawa leo katika Israeli? Kwani sijui kama leo mimi ni mfalme juu ya Israeli?

And David said: 'What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?'

23 Hivyo mfalme akamwambia Shimei, “Hautakufa.” Mfalme akamwahidi kwa kiapo.

And the king said unto Shimei: 'Thou shalt not die.' And the king swore unto him.

24 Kisha Mefiboshethi mwana wa Sauli akashuka ili kumlaki mfalme. Hakuwa ameivalisha miguu yake wala kunyoa ndevu zake wala kufua nguo zake tangu siku mfalme alipoondoka hata siku aliporudi kwa amani.

And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.

25 Na hivyo alipotoka Yerusalemu ili kumlaki mfalme, mfalme akamwambia, “Mefiboshethi Kwa nini haukwenda pamoja nami?”

And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him: 'Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?'

26 Akajibu, “Bwana wangu mfalme mtumishi wangu alinidanganya, kwani nilisema, nitapanda juu ya punda ili niende na mfalme, kwa kuwa mtumishi wako ni mlemavu.'

And he answered: 'My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for thy servant said: I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because thy servant is lame.

27 Mtumishi wangu Siba amenisemea uongo, mtumishi wako, kwa bwana wangu mfalme. Lakini bwana wangu mfalme ni kama malaika wa Mungu. Kwa hiyo fanya lililojema machoni pako.

And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

28 Kwa maana nyumba yote ya baba yangu walikuwa maiti mbele ya bwana wangu mfalme, lakini ukamweka mtumishi wako miongoni mwao walao mezani pako. Kwa hiyo nililiye haki gani zaidi kwa mfalme?”

For all my father's house were deserving of death at the hand of my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet? or why should I cry any more unto the king?'

29 “Kisha mfalme akamwambia, “Kwa nini kueleza yote zaidi? Nimekwisha amua kwamba wewe na Siba mtagawana mashamba.”

And the king said unto him: 'Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I say: Thou and Ziba divide the land.'

30 Ndipo Mefiboshethi akamjibu mfalme, “Sawa, acha achukue yote kwa vile bwana wangu mfalme amerudi salama nyumbani kwake.”

And Mephibosheth said unto the king: 'Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house.'

31 Kisha Berzilai Mgileadi akashuka kutoka Rogelimu ili avuke Yordani pamoja na mfalme, naye akamsaidia mfalme kuuvuka Yordani.

And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he passed on to Jordan with the king, to bring him on the way over the Jordan.

32 Basi Berzilai alikuwa mzee sana mwenye umri wa miaka themanini. Alikuwa amemsaidia mfalme kwa mahitaji alipokuwako Mahanaimu kwani alikuwa na mali nyingi.

Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old; and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

33 Mfalme akamwambia Berzilai, njoo pamoja nami, nami nitaandaa kwa ajili yako huko Yerusalemu.”

And the king said unto Barzillai: 'Come thou over with me, and I will sustain thee with me in Jerusalem.'

34 Berzilai akamjibu mfalme, “Kwani kuna siku ngapi zilizosalia maishani mwangu, hata niende na mfalme huko Yerusalemu?

And Barzillai said unto the king: 'How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

35 Nina umri wa miaka themanini. Je naweza kutofautisha mema na mabaya? Je mtumishi wako anaweza kuonja ninachokula au kunywa? Je naweza kusikia sauti zaidi za wanaume na wanawake waimbao? Kwa nini basi mtumishi wako awe mzigo kwa bwana wangu mfalme?

I am this day fourscore years old; can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

36 Mtumishi wako angependa tu kuvuka Yordani pamoja na mfalme. Kwa nini mfalme anilipe kwa thawabu kama hiyo?

Thy servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king; and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37 Tafadhari mruhusu mtumishi wako arudi nyumbani, ili kwamba nife katika mji wangu katika kaburi la baba na mama yangu. Lakini tazama, huyu hapa mtumishi wako Kimhamu. Haya yeye na avuke na bwana wangu mfalme na umfanyie lolote lipendezalo kwako.”

Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.'

38 Mfalme akajibu, “Kimhamu atakwenda pamoja nami, nami nitamtendea kila lionekanalo jema kwako, na lolote unalotamani kutoka kwangu nitakutendea.”

And the king answered: 'Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee; and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.'

39 Kisha watu wote wakavuka Yordani, mfalme naye akavuka, kisha mfalme akambusu Berzilai na kumbariki. Kisha Berzilai akarudi nyumbani kwake.

And all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over; and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

40 Hivyo mfalme akavuka kuelekea Gilgali, na Kimhamu akavuka pamoja naye. Jeshi la Yuda lote na nusu ya jeshi la Israeli likamleta mfalme.

So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him; and all the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.

41 Mara watu wa Israeli wote wakaanza kuja kwa mfalme na kumwambia, “Kwa nini ndugu zetu, watu wa Yuda, wamemwiba na kumleta mfalme na familia yake juu ya Yordani na watu wote wa Daudi pamoja naye?

And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king: 'Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?'

42 Hivyo watu wa Yuda wakawajibu watu wa Israeli, “Ni kwa kuwa mfalme anahusiana nasi kwa karibu zaidi. Kwa nini basi mkasirike juu ya hili? Je sisi tumekula chochote ambacho mfalme amekitoa? Je ametupa zawadi yoyote?

And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel: 'Because the king is near of kin to us; wherefore then are ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath any gift been given us?'

43 Watu wa Israeli wakawajibu watu wa Yuda, Sisi tuna kabila kumi zaidi kwa mfalme hivyo tuna sehemu kubwa zaidi kwa Daudi kuliko ninyi. Kwa nini basi mlitudharau? Je hatukuwa wa kwanza kupendekeza kumrudisha mfalme wetu? Lakini maneno ya watu wa Yuda hata yakawa makali kuliko maneno ya watu wa Israeli.

And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said: 'We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye; why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?' And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.