2 Samuela 14

1 Pea ko eni, naʻe mamata ʻe Soape, ko e tama ʻo Selaia, kuo ngaue ʻae loto ʻoe tuʻi kia ʻApisalomi.

Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart desired to see Absalom.

2 Pea naʻe ʻalu ʻae fekau ʻa Soape ki Tikoa, ʻo ne ʻomi mei ai ʻae fefine poto, pea ne ne pehē kiate ia, “ʻOku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke fai ʻe koe ʻo hangē ko ha fefine tangi, pea ke ʻai eni ʻae kofu fakatauangaʻa, pea ʻoua naʻa ke tākai ʻaki koe ha lolo, ka ke hangē ko ha fefine kuo mamahi fuoloa koeʻuhi ko e pekia:

So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought to him. He said to her, “Please pretend you are a mourner and put on mourning clothes. Please do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.

3 pea ke haʻu ki he tuʻi, pea ke lea pehē ni kiate ia.” Pea ko ia, naʻe ʻai ʻe Soape ʻae ngaahi lea ki hono ngutu.

Then go to the king and speak to him about what I will describe.” So Joab told her the words she was to say to the king.

4 Pea ʻi heʻene hoko ʻo lea ʻae fefine mei Tikoa ki he tuʻi, naʻa ne tō hifo ki hono mata ki he kelekele, ʻo ne fai fakaʻapaʻapa, mo ne pehē ʻe ia, “ʻE tuʻi, ke ke tokoni mai.”

When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she lay facedown on the ground and said, “Help me, king.”

5 Pea naʻe pehē kiate ia ʻe he tuʻi, “Ko e hā hoʻo mamahi?” Pea naʻa ne pehēange, “Ko e fefine paea moʻoni au, he kuo pekia ʻa hoku husepāniti.

The king said to her, “What is wrong?” She answered, “The truth is that I am a widow, and my husband is dead.

6 Pea naʻe maʻu ʻe hoʻo kaunanga ʻae tama ʻe toko ua, pea naʻa na fekeʻikeʻi ʻi he ngoue, pea naʻe ʻikai ʻi ai ha tokotaha ke fakamavae ʻakinaua, pea naʻe taaʻi ʻae tokotaha ʻa hono tokoua, ʻo ne tāmateʻi ia.

I, your servant, had two sons, and they fought together in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One struck the other and killed him.

7 Pea vakai, kuo hiki ʻita mai ʻae kāinga kotoa pē ki hoʻo kaunanga, pea kuo nau pehē, Tuku mai ia ʻaia naʻe teʻia ʻa hono tokoua, koeʻuhi ke mau tāmateʻi ia, koeʻuhi ko e moʻui ʻa hono tokoua ʻaia naʻa ne tāmateʻi; pea neongo ko e tama hoko ia, te mau tāmateʻi ia: pea ka pehē, tā ʻe tāmateʻi ʻae malalaʻi afi ʻoku kei toe kiate au, pea ʻe ʻikai tuku ki hoku husepāniti ha hingoa pe ha toenga [hako ]ʻi he funga ʻo māmani.”

Now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, 'Give into our hand the man who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death, to pay for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So they would also destroy the heir. Thus they will put out the burning coal that I have left, and they will leave for my husband neither name nor descendant on the surface of the earth.”

8 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he tuʻi ki he fefine, “ʻAlu koe ki ho fale, pea te u tokanga ʻo fai ha fekau ki hoʻo meʻa.”

So the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will command something to be done for you.”

9 Pea naʻe pehēange ʻe he fefine Tikoa ki he tuʻi, “ʻE Tuʻi, ko hoku ʻeiki, ka kuo halaia, pea tuku ia kiate au, pea ki he fale ʻo ʻeku tamai: pea ke taʻehalaia ai ʻae tuʻi, pea mo hono nofoʻanga fakatuʻi.”

The woman of Tekoa replied to the king, “My master, king, may the guilt be on me and on my father's family. The king and his throne are guiltless.”

10 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he tuʻi, “Kapau ʻe lea ha tokotaha kiate koe, ʻomi ia kiate au, pea ʻe ʻikai te ne toe ala kiate koe.”

The king replied, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.”

11 Pea naʻe toki pehēange ʻe ia, “ʻOku ou kole kiate koe, ke manatuʻi ʻe he tuʻi kia Sihova ko ho ʻOtua, ke ʻoua naʻa ke tuku ʻae kau totongi toto ke toe fai ha maumau, telia naʻa nau tāmateʻi ʻa ʻeku tama.” Pea naʻa ne pehē ʻe ia, “ʻO hangē ʻoku moʻui ʻa Sihova, “ʻE ʻikai ha tuʻoni louʻulu ʻo ho tama ʻe tō ki he kelekele.”

Then she said, “Please, may the king call to mind Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not destroy anyone further, so that they will not destroy my son.” The king replied, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

12 Pea naʻe toki pehē ai ʻe he fefine, “ʻOku ou kole kiate koe, tuku ki hoʻo kaunanga ke ne fai ha lea ki hoku ʻeiki ko e tuʻi.” Pea naʻa ne pehē ʻe ia, “Ke ke lea pe.”

Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a further word to my master the king.” He said, “Speak on.”

13 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he fefine, “Pea ko e hā ai kuo ke fakakaukau ki ha meʻa pehē ki he kakai ʻae ʻOtua? ʻOku lea ʻaki eni ʻe he tuʻi ʻo hangē ko ha taha ʻoku halaia, ko e meʻa ʻi he ʻikai toe ʻomi ki ʻapi ʻaia kuo ne fakahēʻi.

So the woman said, “Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in saying this thing, the king is like someone who is guilty, because the king has not brought back home again his banished son.

14 He kuo pau pe ke tau mate, pea tau hangē ko e vai kuo lilingi ki he kelekele, ʻaia ʻoku ʻikai faʻa tānaki hake; pea ʻoku ʻikai filifilimānako ʻae ʻOtua ki ha tokotaha: ka neongo ia ʻoku ne fakakaukauʻi ʻae meʻa ke ʻoua naʻa kapusi meiate ia ʻaia kuo fakahēʻi.

For we all must die, and we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life; instead, he finds a way for those who were driven away to be restored.

15 Pea ko eni foki, kuo u haʻu au ke lea ʻi he meʻa ni ki he tuʻi ko hoku ʻeiki, koeʻuhi kuo fakamanavahēʻi au ʻe he kakai: pea naʻe pehē ʻe hoʻo kaunanga, Ko eni te u lea ki he tuʻi; heiʻilo ʻe fai ʻe he tuʻi ki he kole ʻa ʻene kaunanga.

Now then, seeing that I have come to speak this thing to my master the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. So your servant said to herself, 'I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.

16 Koeʻuhi ʻe fanongo ʻe he tuʻi, ke ne fakamoʻui ai ʻa ʻene kaunanga mei he nima ʻoe tangata ʻoku fie fakaʻauha fakataha au mo hoku tama mei he tofiʻa ʻoe ʻOtua.

Perhaps the king will listen to me and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together, out of the inheritance God gave us.'

17 Pea naʻe toki pehē ʻe hoʻo kaunanga, Ko e lea ʻa hoku ʻeiki ko e tuʻi ʻe hoko ni ko e fakafiemālie: he ko hoku ʻeiki ko e tuʻi, ʻoku hangē ia ko ha ʻāngelo ʻae ʻOtua ʻi heʻene ʻiloʻi ʻae lelei mo e kovi: ko ia ʻe ʻiate koe ʻa Sihova ko ho ʻOtua.”

Then your servant prayed, 'Yahweh, please let the word of my master the king give me relief, for as an angel of God, so is my master the king in telling good from evil.' May Yahweh your God be with you.”

18 Pea naʻe toki pehēange ʻe he tuʻi ki he fefine, “ʻOku ou kole kiate koe, ke ʻoua naʻa ke fufū meiate au ʻae meʻa ʻaia te u fehuʻi ai ni kiate koe.” Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he fefine, “Ke lea pe eni ʻa hoku ʻeiki ko e tuʻi.”

Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I will ask you.” The woman replied, “Let my master the king now speak.”

19 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he tuʻi, “ʻIkai ʻoku kau mo koe ʻae nima ʻo Soape ʻi he meʻa ni kotoa pē?” Pea naʻe lea ʻo pehēange ʻe he fefine, “ʻO hangē ʻoku moʻui ho laumālie, ʻe ʻeiki ko e tuʻi: he ko hoʻo tamaioʻeiki ko Soape, ko ia ne ne fekauʻi au, mo ne ʻai ʻae ngaahi lea ni kotoa pē ki he ngutu ʻo hoʻo kaunanga:

The king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As you live, my master the king, no one can escape to the right hand or to the left from anything that my master the king has spoken. It was your servant Joab who commanded me and told me to say these things that your servant has spoken.

20 Kuo fai ʻae meʻa ni ʻe hoʻo tamaioʻeiki ko Soape koeʻuhi ke tupu ai ʻae lea pehē ni: pea ʻoku poto ʻa hoku ʻeiki, ʻo tatau mo e poto ʻo ha ʻāngelo ʻae ʻOtua, ke ʻilo ʻaia kotoa pē ʻoku ʻi māmani.”

Your servant Joab has done this to change the course of what is happening. My master is wise, like the wisdom of an angel of God, and he knows everything that is happening in the land.”

21 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he tuʻi kia Soape, “Vakai mai, kuo u fai ʻae meʻa ni: ko ia ke ke ʻalu ʻo toe ʻomi ʻae tangata talavou ko ʻApisalomi.”

So the king said to Joab, “Look now, I will do this thing. Go then, and bring the young man Absalom back.”

22 Pea naʻe tō hifo ʻa Soape ki hono mata ki he kelekele, pea naʻa ne punou, ʻo ne fakafetaʻi ki he tuʻi: pea naʻe pehē ʻe Soape, “Kuo ʻilo ʻe hoʻo tamaioʻeiki he ʻaho ni kuo u maʻu ʻae ʻofa ʻi ho ʻao, ʻa koe ko hoku ʻeiki, ʻe tuʻi, ko e meʻa ʻi he fai ʻe he tuʻi ki he kole ʻa hoʻo tamaioʻeiki.”

So Joab lay facedown on the ground in honor and gratitude to the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my master, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.”

23 Ko ia naʻe tuʻu hake ai ʻa Soape ʻo ne ʻalu ki Kesuli, pea ne ʻomi ʻa ʻApisalomi ki Selūsalema.

So Joab arose, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

24 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he tuʻi, “Tuku ke ne ʻalu ki hono fale ʻoʻona, pea ʻoua siʻi naʻa ne sio mai ki hoku fofonga.” Ko ia naʻe tafoki ai ʻa ʻApisalomi ki hono fale ʻoʻona, pea naʻe ʻikai sio ia ki he fofonga ʻoe tuʻi.

The king said, “He may return to his own house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.

25 Ka naʻe ʻikai ha tokotaha ʻi ʻIsileli kotoa pē naʻe ongoongolelei ʻene toulekeleka ke hangē ko ʻApisalomi: mei hono ʻaofi vaʻe ʻo aʻu ki he tumuʻaki ʻo hono ʻulu naʻe ʻikai siʻi ha mele ʻiate ia.

Now in all Israel there was no one praised for his handsomeness more than Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish in him.

26 Pea ʻi heʻene kosi hono louʻulu, (he naʻa ne kosi ia ʻi he kuonga niʻihi: he naʻe mamafa ia kiate ia, pea ko ia naʻa ne kosi ai ia: ) naʻa ne fakamamafa ʻae louʻulu ʻo hono ʻulu ko e sikeli ʻe uangeau ʻo fakatatau mo e fakamamafa ʻae tuʻi.

When he cut the hair of his head at the end of every year, because it was heavy on him, he weighed his hair; it would weigh about two hundred shekels, which is measured by the weight of the king's standard.

27 Pea naʻe fanauʻi kia ʻApisalomi ʻae foha ʻe toko tolu, mo e ʻofefine ʻe tokotaha, ʻaia naʻe hingoa ko Tamaa: ko e fefine ia naʻe mata hoihoifua.

To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

28 Ko ia naʻe nofo ai ʻa ʻApisalomi ʻi Selūsalema ʻi he taʻu kātoa ʻe ua, ka naʻe ʻikai ke ne sio ki he fofonga ʻoe tuʻi.

Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king's face.

29 Pea naʻe fekau ai ʻe ʻApisalomi kia Soape ke ne haʻu ʻo ʻalu ki he tuʻi; ka naʻe ʻikai fie haʻu ia kiate ia: pea ʻi heʻene fekau ʻo liunga ua, naʻe ʻikai te ne haʻu.

Then Absalom sent word for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. So Absalom sent word a second time, but Joab still did not come.

30 Ko ia naʻa ne pehē ai ki heʻene kau tamaioʻeiki, “Vakai, ʻoku ofi mai ʻae ngoue ʻa Soape ki hoku potu ʻoʻoku, pea ʻoku ʻi ai ʻene paʻale; ʻalu ʻo tutu ia.” Pea naʻe tutu ʻae ngoue ʻe he kau tamaioʻeiki ʻa ʻApisalomi.

So Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

31 Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ai ʻa Soape, ʻo ne haʻu ki he fale ʻo ʻApisalomi, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Ko e hā kuo tutu ai ʻe hoʻo kau tamaioʻeiki ʻa ʻeku ngoue?

Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

32 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe ʻApisalomi kia Soape, “Vakai, naʻaku fekau atu kiate koe, ʻo pehē, Haʻu kiate au, koeʻuhi ke u fekau atu koe ki he tuʻi, ke pehē, ‘Ko e hā kuo u haʻu ai mei Kesuli? ʻE lelei pe ʻo ka ne u kei ʻi ai ni:’ kae tuku eni ke u mamata ki he fofonga ʻoe tuʻi; pea kapau ʻoku ʻiate au ha meʻa hala, tuku ke ne tāmateʻi au.”

Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent word to you saying, 'Come here so I may send you to the king to say, “Why did I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there. Now therefore let me see the king's face, and if I am guilty, let him kill me.”'”

33 Ko ia naʻe haʻu ai ʻa Soape ki he tuʻi, ʻo ne fakahā ki ai: pea hili ʻa ʻene ui kia ʻApisalomi naʻa ne haʻu ki he tuʻi, pea naʻa ne punou hifo ia mo hono mata ki he kelekele ʻi he ʻao ʻoe tuʻi: pea naʻe ʻuma ʻe he tuʻi kia ʻApisalomi.

So Joab went to the king and told him. When the king called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed low to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.