< 2 Samweli 3 >

1 Kulikuwa na vita ya mda mrefu kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi. Daudi akaendelea kupata nguvu zaidi, lakini nyumba ya Sauli iliendelea kudhoofika na kuthoofika.
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2 Wana wakazaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebron. Mzaliwa wake wa kwanza alikuwa Amnoni, kwa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli.
And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 Mwanawe wa pili, Kileabu, alizaliwa kwa Abigaili, mjane wa Nabali wa Karmeli. Wa tatu, Absalomu, alikuwa mwana wa Maaka, binti Talmai, mfalme wa Geshuri.
his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
4 Mwana wa nne wa Daudi, Adoniya, alikuwa mwana wa Hagithi. Mwanawe wa tano alikuwa Shefatia mwana wa Abitali,
his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
5 na wa sita, Ithreamu, alikuwa mwana wa Egla mkewe Daudi. Hawa wote walizaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni.
and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
6 Ikawa wakati wa vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi Abneri akajifanya mwenye nguvu katika nyumba ya Sauli.
During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.
7 Sauli alikuwa na suria jina lake Rispa, binti Aiya. Ishboshethi akamuuliza Abneri, “Kwa nini umelala na suria wa baba yangu?”
Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8 Hata ikawa Abneri akakasirika sana kutokana na maneno ya Ishboshethi naye akasema, “Je mimi ni kichwa cha mbwa wa Yuda? Ninaonesha uaminifu kwa nyumba ya Sauli, baba yako, kwa jamaa yake, na rafiki zake, kwa kutokukuweka katika mkono wa Daudi. Na bado leo unanishutumu kuhusu mwanamke.
Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
9 Mungu na anifanyie hivyo, Abneri, na kuzidi, ikiwa sitafanya kwa Daudi kama Yahwe alivyomwapia,
May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
10 kuuhamisha ufalme kutoka nyumba ya Sauli na kukisimika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi juu ya Israeli na juu ya Yuda, kutoka Dani hadi Beersheba.”
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11 Ishboshethi hakuweza kumjibu Abneri neno tena, kwani alimuogopa.
And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
12 Kisha Abneri akatuma wajumbe kwa Daudi kusema, “Nchi hii ni ya nani? Fanya agano nami, nawe utaona kwamba mkono wangu uko nawe, kuiIeta Israeli yote kwako.”
Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
13 Daudi akajibu, “Vema, nitafanya agano nawe. Lakini neno moja ninalolitaka kutoka kwako ni kwamba hautauona uso wangu usipomuleta kwanza Mikali, binti Sauli, unapokuja kuonana nami.”
“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
14 Kisha Daudi akatuma wajumbe kwa Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, kusema, “Nipe Mikali, mke wangu niliyetoa kwa ajili yake govi mia moja za Wafilisti.”
Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 Hivyo Ishboshethi akatuma kwa Mikali na kumchukua kutoka kwa mme wake, Paltieli mwana wa Laishi.
So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16 Mme wake akafuatana naye, huku akilia, akaendelea hadi Bahurimu. Kisha Abneri akamwambia, “basi sasa rudi nyumbani.” Hivyo akarudi.
Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
17 Abneri akaongea na wazee wa Israeli kusema, “Zamani mlitaka Daudi awe mfalme wenu.
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.
18 Basi sasa fanyeni hivyo. Kwa maana Yahwe alisema kuhusu Daudi kusema, “Kwa mkono wa Daudi mtumishi wangu nitawaokoa watu wangu Israeli kutoka katika mkono wa Wafilisti na kutoka katika mkono wa adui zao wote.”
Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
19 Pia Abneri akasema na watu wa Benjamini ana kwa ana. Kisha Abneri akaenda kuongea na Daudi huko Hebroni akaeleza kila jambo ambalo Israeli na nyumba yote ya Benjamini walitamani kulitimiza.
Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20 Wakati Abneri na watu ishirini kati ya watu wake walifika Hebroni kumuona Daudi, Daudi akaandaa sherehe kwa ajili yao.
When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
21 Abneri akamweleza Daudi, “Nitainuka na kukukusanyia Israeli wote, bwana wangu mfalme, ili kwamba wafanye agano nawe, kwamba utawale juu ya yote unayotaka.” Hivyo Daudi akamruhusu Abneri kuondoka, Abneri akaondoka kwa amani.
Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
22 Kisha askari wa Daudi na Yoabu wakarudi kutoka katika kuteka nyara na wakaja na nyara nyingi. Lakini Abneri hakuwepo Hebroni pamoja na Daudi. Daudi alikuwa amemruhusu kuondoka, na alikuwa ameondoka kwa amani.
Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace.
23 Wakati Yoabu na Jeshi lote walipofika, Yoabu aliambiwa, “Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kwa mfalme, na mfalme amemruhusu kuondoka, naye Abneri ameondoka kwa amani.”
When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
24 Kisha Yoabu akaja kwa mfalme na kusema, “Umefanya nini? Tazama, Abneri alikuja kwako! Kwa nini umemruhusu kuondoka, naye amenda?
So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
25 Haujui kwamba Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kukudanganya na kupeleleza hali yako na kuangalia kila unalofanya?”
Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”
26 Yoabu alipoondoka kwa Daudi, alituma wajumbe kumfuatia Abneri, nao wakamrudisha kutoka katika kisima cha Sirah, lakini Daudi hakulijua hili.
As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.
27 Abneri aliporudi Hebroni, Yoabu alimchukua kando kati ya lango ili aongee naye faraghani. Hapohapo Yoabu alimchoka tumboni na kumuua. Hivyo, akalipa kisasi cha damu ya Asaheli nduguye.
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 Daudi alipolisikia jambo hili akasema, “Mimi na ufalme wangu hatuna hatia mbele za Yahwe daima, kuhusiana na damu ya Abneri mwana wa Neri.
Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29 Hatia ya damu ya Abneri na iwe juu ya Yoabu na nyumba yote ya baba yake. Na asikosekane katika familia ya Yoabu mtu mwenye vidonda, au mwenye ukoma, au kirema atembeaye kwa fimbo au aliyeuawa kwa upanga au mwenye kukosa chakula.”
May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
30 Hivyo Yoabu na Abishai nduguye wakamwua Abneri, kwa sababu alimwua Asaheli ndugu yao vitani huko Gibeoni.
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
31 Daudi akamwambia Yoabu na wote waliokuwa pamoja naye, “Rarueni mavazi yenu, jivikeni nguo za magunia, na muomboleze mbele ya mwili wa Abneri.” Na mfalme Daudi akaufuata mwili wa Abneri wakati wa mazishi.
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
32 Wakamzika Abneri huko Hebroni. Mfalme akalia kwa sauti katika kaburi la Abneri, na watu wote pia wakalia.
When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.
33 Mfalme akamwombolea Abneri naye akaimbo, “Je ilipasa Abneri afe kama afavyo mpumbavu?
And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?
34 Mikono yako haikufungwa. Miguu yako hakuwa imefungwa minyororo. Kama mtu aangukavyo mbele ya wana wa uovu, ndivyo ulivyoanguka.” Watu wote wakamlilia zaidi.
Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.
35 Watu wote wakaja kumtaka Daudi ale wakati kungali mchana, lakini Daudi akaapa, “Mungu na anifanyie hivyo, na kuzidi, ikiwa nitaonja mkate au chochote kabla jua halijazama.”
Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
36 Watu wote wakaiona huzuni ya Daudi, na ikawapendeza, hivyo kila alichokifanya mfalme kikawapendeza.
All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37 Hivyo watu wote na Israeli wote wakatambua siku hiyo kwamba haikuwa nia ya mfalme Abneri mwana wa Neri afe.
So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
38 Mfalme akawaambia watumishi wake, “je hamjui kuwa mtu mkuu ameanguka leo hii katika Israeli?
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?
39 Nami leo nimedhoofika, japokuwa nimetiwa mafuta kuwa mfalme. Watu hawa, wana wa Seruya ni hatari sana kwangu. Yahwe na amrudishie mwovu kwa kumlipa kwa ajili ya uovu wake kama anavyostahili.
And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

< 2 Samweli 3 >