2 Samweli 19

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

Joab was told, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning 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.”

So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the army, for the army heard it said that day, “The king is mourning for his son.”

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

The soldiers had to sneak quietly into the city that day, like people who are ashamed sneak away when they run from battle.

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

The king covered his face and cried in a loud voice, “My son Absalom, 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,

Then Joab entered into the house to the king and said to him, “You have shamed the faces of all your soldiers today, who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your slave wives,

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.

because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. For today you have shown that commanders and soldiers are nothing to you. Today I believe that if Absalom had lived, and we all had died, then that would have pleased you.

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 get up and go out and speak kindly to your soldiers, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go, not one man will remain with you tonight. That would be worse for you than all the disasters that have ever happened to you from your 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.

So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told, “Look, the king is sitting in the gate,” and all the people came before the king. So Israel fled, every man to his home.

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.

All the people were arguing with each other throughout all the tribes of Israel saying, “The king rescued us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines, but now he has run out of the land because of Absalom.

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

Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about 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?

King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, since the talk of all Israel favors the king, to bring him back to his palace?

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

You are my brothers, my flesh and bone. Why then are you 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.

Then say to Amasa, 'Are you not my flesh and my bone? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not captain of my army from now on in the place 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.”

So he won the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man. They sent to the king saying, “Return, you and all your men.”

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. Now the men of Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king and then to bring the king across the Jordan.

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

Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried 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.

There were one thousand men from Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They crossed through the Jordan in the presence of 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.

They crossed to bring over the king's family and to do whatever he thought good. Shimei son of Gera bowed down before the king just before he began to cross 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.

Shimei said to the king, “Do not, my master, find me guilty or call to mind the wrong your servant did the day my master the king left Jerusalem. Please, may the king not take it to 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 your servant knows that I have sinned. See, that is why I have come today as the first from all the family of Joseph to come down to meet my master 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 son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh'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?

Then David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should today be adversaries to me? Will any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”

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

So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” So the king promised him with an oath.

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.

Then Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had not dressed his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came home in peace.

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

So when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go 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.'

He answered, “My master the king, my servant deceived me, for I said, 'I will saddle a donkey so I may ride on it and go with the king, because your 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.

My servant Ziba has slandered me, your servant, to my master the king. But my master the king is like an angel of God. Therefore, do what is good in your 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 dead men before my master the king, but you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I that I should still cry any more to the king?”

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

Then the king said to him, “Why explain anything further? I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the fields.”

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

So Mephibosheth replied to the king, “Yes, let him take it all, since my master the king has come safely to his own home.”

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

Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim to cross over the Jordan with the king, and he accompanied the king 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 old man, eighty years old. He had furnished the king with provisions while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

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

The king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you to stay with me in Jerusalem.”

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

Barzillai replied to the king, “How many days are left in the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to 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 eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a burden to my master the king?

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

Your servant would like to just go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay 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.”

Please let your servant return back home, so I may die in my own city by the grave of my father and my mother. But see, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my master the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

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

The king answered, “Kimham will go over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me, I do that for you.”

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

Then all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over, and the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned to his own home.

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 crossed over to Gilgal, and Kimham crossed over with him. All the army of Judah brought the king over, and also half the army 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?

Soon all the men of Israel began to come to the king and say to the king, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his family 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?

So the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “It is because the king is more closely related to us. Why then are you angry about this? Have we eaten anything that the king had to pay for? Has he given us any gifts?”

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.

The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten tribes related to the king, so we have even more right to David than you. Why then did you despise us? Was not our proposal to bring back our king the first to be heard?” But the words of the men of Judah were even more harsh than the words of the men of Israel.