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.
There was a long war between those who wanted Saul’s son to be their king and those who wanted David to be their king. But more and more people began to want David to be the king, while the number of people who wanted Saul’s son to be the king continued to become smaller.
2 Wana wakazaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebron. Mzaliwa wake wa kwanza alikuwa Amnoni, kwa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli.
David’s wives gave birth to six sons at Hebron. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel [city].
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.
The next one was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel [city]. The next one was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of [the] Geshur [region].
4 Mwana wa nne wa Daudi, Adoniya, alikuwa mwana wa Hagithi. Mwanawe wa tano alikuwa Shefatia mwana wa Abitali,
The next one was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next one was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
5 na wa sita, Ithreamu, alikuwa mwana wa Egla mkewe Daudi. Hawa wote walizaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni.
The youngest one was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, [another one of] David’s wives. Those sons of David were all born in Hebron.
6 Ikawa wakati wa vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi Abneri akajifanya mwenye nguvu katika nyumba ya Sauli.
While those who wanted Saul’s son to rule over them and those who wanted David to rule over them continued to fight against each other, Abner was becoming more influential among those who wanted Saul’s son to be the king.
7 Sauli alikuwa na suria jina lake Rispa, binti Aiya. Ishboshethi akamuuliza Abneri, “Kwa nini umelala na suria wa baba yangu?”
When Saul was alive, he had as one of his wives a slave woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. [But one day Abner had sexual relations with her]. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you had sexual relations with [EUP] my father’s slave wife?”
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 became very angry about what Ishbosheth said to him. He said to Ishbosheth, “(Do you think that I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah?/You are treating me as though I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah.) [RHQ] From the beginning, I have been loyal to Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends. And I have prevented you from being defeated by David’s army. So now (why are you criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman?/you should not be criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman.) [RHQ]
9 Mungu na anifanyie hivyo, Abneri, na kuzidi, ikiwa sitafanya kwa Daudi kama Yahwe alivyomwapia,
Yahweh solemnly promised that he would not allow Saul and his descendants to continue to rule. He promised that he would cause David to rule over all the tribes of Israel and Judah, from Dan [city] far in the north to Beersheba [city] far in the south. So I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I do not enable that to happen!”
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.”
11 Ishboshethi hakuweza kumjibu Abneri neno tena, kwani alimuogopa.
Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner, so he did not say anything in reply to Abner.
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 to David [when he was at Hebron], to say to him, “[Either you or I] should be [RHQ] the ruler of this entire nation, [but not Isbosheth. However, ] if you make an agreement with me, I will help you by encouraging all the people of Israel to (be want you to be their king/start to support) 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.”
David sent back this reply: “Good! I am willing to make an agreement with you. But before that happens, there is one thing that you must do. When you come to see me, you must bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter.”
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 Ishbosheth, to say to him, “I [had to kill] 100 men from Philistia [and cut off] their foreskins to give to Saul to pay for Michal [to be my wife]. So now give her back to me!”
15 Hivyo Ishboshethi akatuma kwa Mikali na kumchukua kutoka kwa mme wake, Paltieli mwana wa Laishi.
So Ishbosheth sent some men to take Michal from her husband Palti. But [when they took her, ] her husband followed them all the way to Bahurim [town], crying as he went.
16 Mme wake akafuatana naye, huku akilia, akaendelea hadi Bahurimu. Kisha Abneri akamwambia, “basi sasa rudi nyumbani.” Hivyo akarudi.
Then Abner [turned and] said to him, “Go back [home]!”, so he did.
17 Abneri akaongea na wazee wa Israeli kusema, “Zamani mlitaka Daudi awe mfalme wenu.
Abner went to the Israeli leaders and talked with them. He said, “For a long time you have wanted David to be 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.”
So now you have an opportunity to do that. Keep in mind that Yahweh promised this: ‘With the help of David, who serves me [well], I will rescue my people from the people of Philistia, and from the power [MTY] of all their other 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 people of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron, to tell David what all the people of Israel and the people of the tribe of Benjamin had agreed to do.
20 Wakati Abneri na watu ishirini kati ya watu wake walifika Hebroni kumuona Daudi, Daudi akaandaa sherehe kwa ajili yao.
When Abner came with 20 of his soldiers to see David at Hebron, David made a feast for all of 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.
Afterwards, Abner said to David, “Sir/Your majesty, I will now go and encourage all the people of Israel to accept you to be their king, as you have desired.” Then Abner left, peacefully.
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.
Soon after that, Joab and some of David’s other soldiers returned [to Hebron] after raiding [one of their enemies’ villages], bringing with them a lot of things that they had captured. But Abner was not there at Hebron, because David had sent him safely home.
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 the soldiers who were with him arrived, someone told him that Abner had come there and talked with the king, and that the king allowed to go home safely.
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, “Why have you done that? Listen to me! Abner [is your enemy, but] when he came to you, you allowed him [RHQ] to leave!
25 Haujui kwamba Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kukudanganya na kupeleleza hali yako na kuangalia kila unalofanya?”
Do you not know that he came to you to deceive you and to find out everything that you are doing, and all the places that you go to?”
26 Yoabu alipoondoka kwa Daudi, alituma wajumbe kumfuatia Abneri, nao wakamrudisha kutoka katika kisima cha Sirah, lakini Daudi hakulijua hili.
After Joab left David, he sent some messengers to get Abner. They found him at Sirah Well, and brought him back to Hebron, but David did not know that they had done that.
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.
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city gate, and took him aside as though he wanted to speak with him privately. Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach [with his knife/sword]. In that way he murdered Abner because Abner had killed [MTY] 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.
Later, after David heard what had happened, he said, “Yahweh knows that I and the people of my kingdom are not at all (responsible for/guilty of) murdering [MTY] Abner.
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.”
I hope/desire that Joab and all his family will be punished [MTY] for doing that! I hope/desire that there will always be someone in his family who has sores, or someone who is a leper, or some man who is forced to do women’s work, or someone who is killed in a battle, or someone who does not have enough food to eat!”
30 Hivyo Yoabu na Abishai nduguye wakamwua Abneri, kwa sababu alimwua Asaheli ndugu yao vitani huko Gibeoni.
That is how 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 said to Joab and to all Joab’s soldiers, “Tear your clothes and put on coarse cloth [to show that you are sad], and mourn for Abner!” And [at the funeral], King David walked behind [the men who were carrying] the coffin.
32 Wakamzika Abneri huko Hebroni. Mfalme akalia kwa sauti katika kaburi la Abneri, na watu wote pia wakalia.
They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. And at the grave, the king cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
33 Mfalme akamwombolea Abneri naye akaimbo, “Je ilipasa Abneri afe kama afavyo mpumbavu?
David sang this sad song to lament for Abner: “It is not right that [RHQ] Abner died like outlaws die!
34 Mikono yako haikufungwa. Miguu yako hakuwa imefungwa minyororo. Kama mtu aangukavyo mbele ya wana wa uovu, ndivyo ulivyoanguka.” Watu wote wakamlilia zaidi.
No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, [like they do to criminals]. No, he was murdered by wicked men!”
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 many [HYP] people came to David to tell him to eat some food before sunset, but David refused. He said, “I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I eat any food before the sun goes down!”
36 Watu wote wakaiona huzuni ya Daudi, na ikawapendeza, hivyo kila alichokifanya mfalme kikawapendeza.
All the people saw what David did, and they were pleased. Truly, everything that the king did pleased the people.
37 Hivyo watu wote na Israeli wote wakatambua siku hiyo kwamba haikuwa nia ya mfalme Abneri mwana wa Neri afe.
So all the people realized that the king had not wanted Abner to be killed.
38 Mfalme akawaambia watumishi wake, “je hamjui kuwa mtu mkuu ameanguka leo hii katika Israeli?
The king said to his officials, “(Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel?/You should realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel.) [RHQ]
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.
Even though Yahweh appointed me to be the king, today I feel weak. These two sons of Zeruiah, [Joab and Abishai], are very violent; I cannot control them. So I hope/desire that Yahweh will punish them severely in return for this wicked thing that they have done!”
