2 Samweli 23
1 Haya ni maneno ya mwisho ya Daudi-Daudi mwana wa Yese, mtu aliyeheshimiwa sana, aliyetiwa mafuta na Mungu wa Yakobo, mwandishi mzuri wa zaburi wa Israeli.
David, the son of Jesse, was a man whom [God caused to] become great. He was appointed to become king by the God whom Jacob [worshiped]. He wrote beautiful songs for the Israeli people. This is the last song that he wrote:
2 “Roho ya Yahwe alisema nami, na neno lake lilikuwa ulimini mwangu.
“The Spirit of Yahweh tells me what to say; the message that I speak [MTY] comes from him.
3 Mungu wa Israeli alinena, Mwamba wa Israeli aliniambia, “Atawalaye kwa haki juu yangu, atawalaye katika hofu ya Mungu.
God, the one whom we Israeli [people worship], has spoken; the one who protects us Israeli people said to me, ‘Kings who rule people justly have an awesome respect for me, God.
4 Atakuwa kama nuru ya asubuhi jua linapochomoza, asubuhi isiyo na mawingu, wakati mche mwororo unapochipua kutoka ardhini kupitia mwangaza wa mng'ao wa jua baada ya mvua.
They are like the sun that shines at dawn and causes the grass to [sprout/sparkle] after the rain ends.’
5 Hakika, je familia yangu haiko hivi mbele za Mungu? Je hajafanya nami agano la milele, taratibu la uhakika kwa kila njia? Je yeye haongezi wokovu wangu na kutimiza kila hitaji langu?
And truly, that is how God will surely bless my family [RHQ] because he made an agreement with me that will endure forever, an agreement in which he promises that no part of it will ever be changed. He will surely cause me to prosper [RHQ], and he will always help me, and that is all that I desire.
6 Lakini yasiyofaa yote yatakuwa kama miiba na kutupwa mbali, kwa maana haiwezekani kukusanywa kwa mikono.
But [he will get rid of] godless/evil people like [SIM] people throw away thorns that [injure people if they try to] pick them up with their hands.
7 Ayagusaye ni lazima atumie chombo cha chuma au au fumo la mkuki. Ni lazima yachomwe mahali yalipo.
Someone [who wants to get rid of thornbushes] does not grab them; he uses an iron [shovel] or a spear [to dig them out] and then he burns them completely.
8 Haya ni majina ya askari wa Daudi: Yashobeamu Mhakmoni alikuwa kiongozi wa mashujaa. Aliua watu mia nne wakati mmoja.
These are the names of David’s three greatest warriors. The first was Esh-Baal, [whose other name was Jashobeam], from the Hachmon clan (OR, the son of Hachmon). He was the leader of the three men. One time he fought against 800 enemies and killed them all with his spear.
9 Baada yake alikuwa Elieza mwana wa Dodo, mwana wa mwahohi, mmoja wa mashujaa watatu wa Daudi. Alikuwepo walipowashinda Wafilisti waliokuwa wamekusanyika kwa vita, na wakati watu wa Israeli walipokuwa wamekimbia.
The second/next one of the three greatest warriors was Eleazar, who was the son of Dodo from the clan of Ahoh. One day he was with David when they defied/challenged the soldiers of Philistia who had gathered for the battle. The [other] Israeli soldiers retreated,
10 Elieza akasimama na kuwapiga Wafilisti mpaka mkono wake ukachoka, mpaka mkono wake ukang'ang'ania mpini wa upanga wake. Siku hiyo Yahwe akatoa ushindi mkuu. Jeshi likarejea kwa ajili ya kuteka tu nyara za waliouawa na Elieza.
but Eleazar stood there and fought the soldiers of Philistia until his arm became very tired, with the result that [his hand cramped and] he could not stop gripping his sword. Yahweh won a great victory on that day. And afterwards the [other] Israeli soldiers returned [to where Eleazar was], and stripped off the [armor from the men whom he had] killed.
11 Baada yake alikuwa Shama mwana wa Agee, Mharari. Wafilisti wakajikusanya pamoja palipokuwa na shamba la dengu, na jeshi likawakimbia.
The third one of the greatest warriors was Shammah, the son of Agee from [the clan/town of] Harar. One time the Philistia soldiers gathered at Lehi [town], where there was a field full of lentils/peas [that they wanted to steal]. The other Israeli soldiers ran away from the Philistia troops,
12 Lakini Shama akasimama katikati ya shamba na kulitetea. Aliwauwa Wafilisti, na Yahwe akaleta ushindi mkuu.
but Shammah stood there in the field and did not let the Philistia soldiers [steal the crops], and killed them. Yahweh won a great victory on that day.
13 Watatu kati ya askari thelathini walishuka kwa Daudi nyakati za mavuno, katika pango la Adulamu. Jeshi la Wafilisti lilikuwa limepiga kambi katika bonde la Mrefai.
Altogether there were 30 special warriors among David’s soldiers. Once, when it was almost time to harvest [the crops], three of those 30 men went down to Adullam Cave, where David was [staying]. A group of men from the Philistia army had set up their tents in Rephaim Valley [near Jerusalem].
14 Wakati huo Daudi alikuwa katika ngome yake, pangoni, wakati Wafilisti walikuwa wanaimilk Bethlehemu.
David [and his soldiers] were in the cave [because it was safe there], and [another] group of Philistia soldiers was occupying Bethlehem.
15 Daudi alitamani maji na akasema, “Kama ingekuwa mtu mmoja angenipa maji ya kunywa kutoka kisima kilichopo Bethlehemu, kisima kilichopo langoni!”
[One day] David very much wanted [some water] to drink, and said “I wish that someone would bring me some water from the well near the gate at Bethlehem!”
16 Hivyo mashujaa hawa watatu wakapita kati ya jeshi la Wafilisti na kuchota maji katika kisima cha Bethlehemu, kilichopo langoni. Wakachukua maji na kuyaleta kwa Daudi, lakini yeye akakataa kuyanywa. Badala yake akayamwaga mbele za Yahwe.
So his three greatest warriors forced their way through the camp of Philistia soldiers and drew some water from the well, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out [on the ground] as an offering to Yahweh.
17 Kisha akasema, “Iwe mbali nami, Yahwe, kwamba niyanywe haya. Je ninywe damu ya watu waliohatarisha maisha yao?” Hivyo akakataa kuyanywa. Haya ni mambo yaliyofanywa na mashujaa watatu.
He said, “Yahweh, it would certainly not be right for me to drink this water! That would be like [RHQ] drinking the blood of these men who were willing/ready to die for me!” So he refused to drink it. That was one of the things that those three great warriors did.
18 Abishai, nduguye Yoabu na mwana wa Seruya, alikuwa akida wa watatu. Alipigana kwa mkuki wake na watu mia tatu na akawauwa wote mara. Mara kwa mara alitajwa kati ya mashujaa watatu.
Abishai, Joab’s [younger] brother, was the leader of the 30 [greatest warriors]. [One day] he fought against 300 men and killed them all with his spear. As a result, he also became famous.
19 Hakuwa maarufu kuliko wale watatu? Alifanywa akida wao. Lakini, umaarufu wake haukulingana na umaarufu wa wale mashujaa watatu.
He was the most famous of the thirty greatest warriors, and he became their leader/commander, but he was not one of the three greatest warriors.
20 Benaya kutoka Kabseeli mwana wa Yehoyada; alikuwa mtu hodari aliyefanya matendo makuu. Aliwauwa wana wawili wa Arieli wa Moabu. Pia alishuka shimoni na kuuwa simba wakati wa theruji.
Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, from Kabzeel [town], also did great deeds. He killed two of the best warriors from the Moab people-group. Also, he went down into a pit on a day when snow was falling, and killed a lion there.
21 Na alimwua Mmisri aliyekuwa mtu mnene sana. Mmisri alikuwa na mkuki mkononi, lakini Benaya alipigana naye kwa fimbo tu. Aliuchukua mkuki mkononi mwa Mmisri na kisha kumwua nao.
He also killed a huge soldier from Egypt who carried a spear. Benaiah [had only] his club, but he attacked the giant with it. Then he snatched the spear from the man’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
22 Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada alifanya matendo haya, naye alitajwa kati ya mashujaa watatu.
Those are [some of] the things that Benaiah did. As a result, he became famous, like the three greatest warriors were.
23 Alikuwa na heshima kuliko mashujaa thelathini kwa ujumla wao, lakini hakuwa na heshima kama wale mashujaa watatu. Hata hivyo Daudi alimweka kuwa mlinzi wake.
He was more honored than the other members of the group of thirty great warriors, but not as famous as the three greatest warriors. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.
24 Wafuatao ni wale watu thelathini: Asaheli nduguye Yoabu, Elhanani mwana wa Dodo kutoka Bethlehemu,
[These are the names of the great warriors]: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
25 Shama Mharodi, Elika Mharodi,
Shammah and Elika, from [the] Harod [clan];
26 Helesi Mpeloni, Ira mwana wa Ikeshi Mtekoi,
Helez, from Pelet [city]; Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa [town];
27 Abi Ezeri Mwanathothi, Mebunai Mhushathi,
Abiezer, from Anathoth [city]; Mebunnai [whose other name was Sibbecai], from Hushah’s [clan];
28 Salmoni Mhahoi, Maharai Mnetofathi;
Zalmon [whose other name was Ilai], from Ahoh’s [clan]; Maharai, from Netophah [town];
29 Helebu mwana wa Baana, Mnetofathi, Itai mwana wa Rabai kutoka Gibea ya Wabenjamini,
Heleb, the son of Baanah, also from Netophah [town]; Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah [town] in [the land that belonged to] the tribe of Benjamin;
30 Benaya Mpirathoni, Hidai wa mabonde ya Gaashi.
Benaiah, from Pirathon [town]; Hiddai, from the valleys near Gaash [Mountain];
31 Abieliboni Mwarbathi, Azmawethi Mbarhumi,
Abi-Albon, from the clan of Arabah; Azmaveth, from Bahurim [town];
32 Eliaba Mshalboni, wana wa Yasheni, Yonathani mwana wa Shama Mharari;
Eliahba, from Shaalbon [town]; The sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
33 Ahiamu mwana wa Sharari Mharari,
Shammah, from Harar [town/clan]; Ahiam the son of Sharar, from Harar [town/clan];
34 Elifeleti mwana wa Ahasbai Mmaakathi, Eliamu mwana wa Ahithofeli Mgiloni,
Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, from Maacah [town]; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Gilo [town];
35 Hezro Mkarmeli, Parai Mwarbi,
Hezro, from Carmel [city]; Paarai, from Arba [city];
36 Igali mwana wa Nathani kutoka Soba, Bani kutoka kabila la Gadi,
Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah [city]; Bani, from the tribe of Gad;
37 Zeleki Mwamoni, Naharai Mbeerothi, mbeba silaha wa Yoabu mwana wa Seruya,
Zelek, from the Ammon people-group; Naharai, the man who carried Joab’s weapons, from Beeroth [town];
38 Ira Mwithri, Garebu Mwithri,
Ira and Gareb, from Jattir [town];
39 Uria Mhiti - jumla yao thelathini na wanane.
Uriah, [Bathsheba’s husband], from the Heth people-group. Altogether, there were 37 famous soldiers, [but some of them had died and their names were not included].
