2 Samuel 14
1 Joab, son of Zeruiah, knew that the king kept on thinking about Absalom.
Pea ko eni, naʻe mamata ʻe Soape, ko e tama ʻo Selaia, kuo ngaue ʻae loto ʻoe tuʻi kia ʻApisalomi.
2 So Joab sent a messenger to Tekoa to bring back a wise woman who lived there. He told her, “Pretend to be a mourner. Put on clothes for mourning, and don't use any scented oils. Be like a woman who has been in mourning for the dead a long time.
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:
3 Then go to the king and tell him this.” Joab told her what to say.
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.
4 When the woman from Tekoa went to see the king, she bowed facedown to the ground in respect, and said, “Please help me, Your Majesty!”
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.”
5 “What's the matter?” the king asked her. “Sadly I'm a widow. My husband is dead,” she replied.
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.
6 “Your Majesty, I had two sons. They had a fight outside, and there was nobody there to stop them. One of them hit the other, and killed him.
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.
7 Now the whole family is against me. They're saying, ‘Hand over your son who killed his brother so we can put him to death for murdering his brother. That way he won't inherit anything either!’ By doing this they would snuff out the last ember of hope I have to carry on my husband's name and family in the world.”
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.”
8 “Go on home,” the king told the woman, “and I myself will make sure your case is dealt with for you.”
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.”
9 “Thank you, Your Majesty,” said the woman. “I and my family will take the blame, and may Your Majesty and your family be held to be innocent.”
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.”
10 “If anyone complains to you about it, bring him here to me, and he won't bother you again!” the king told her.
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.”
11 “Please, Your Majesty,” the woman continued, “swear by the Lord your God that you will stop the person wanting to avenge the murder from making it worse by killing my son!” “As the Lord lives,” he promised, “not a single hair from your son's head will fall to the ground.”
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.”
12 “Could I please ask for one other thing, Your Majesty?” the woman asked. “Go ahead,” he replied.
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.”
13 “So why have you schemed in a similar way against the people of God?” the woman asked. “Since Your Majesty just decided my case by what you said, haven't you convicted yourself because you refuse to bring back the son you banished?
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.
14 Yes, we all have to die. We're like water spilled on the ground that can't be collected again. But that's not what God does. Instead he works out ways for anyone who is banished to come back home to him.
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.
15 That's why I've come to explain this to Your Majesty, because someone has frightened me. So I thought to myself, I will go and speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant my request.
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.
16 Perhaps the king will listen and save me from the man who would cut off both me and my son from God's chosen people.
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.
17 I thought: May what Your Majesty says bring me peace, for Your Majesty is able to tell the difference between good and evil, just like an angel of God. May the Lord your God be with you!”
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.”
18 “Please don't refuse to answer the question I'm about to ask,” the king said to the woman. “Please ask your question, Your Majesty,” she replied.
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.”
19 “Is all this Joab's doing?” the king asked. The woman replied, “As you live, Your Majesty, no one can hide anything from you. Yes, it was Joab, your officer, who ordered me to do this—he told me exactly what to say.
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:
20 He did so to show the other side of the situation, but Your Majesty is as wise as an angel of God, and you know everything that happens in this country.”
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.”
21 The king said to Joab, “Fine, I'll do it. Go and bring young Absalom back.”
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.”
22 Joab bowed down with his face to the ground in respect, and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “I, your servant, know that you approve of me, Your Majesty, because you have granted my request.”
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.”
23 Joab went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
Ko ia naʻe tuʻu hake ai ʻa Soape ʻo ne ʻalu ki Kesuli, pea ne ʻomi ʻa ʻApisalomi ki Selūsalema.
24 But the king gave this order, “He may return to his home, but he's not to come and see me.” So Absalom returned to his own home, but he didn't go and see the king.
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.
25 Absalom was admired as the most handsome man in the whole of Israel. He didn't have a single blemish from head to toe.
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.
26 He cut his hair every year because it got so heavy—it weighed two hundred royal shekels.
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.
27 He had three sons, and a daughter named Tamar—a very beautiful woman.
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.
28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years but was not permitted to see the king.
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.
29 Absalom called Joab to arrange for him to see the king, for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come. Absalom called Joab again, but Joab still wouldn't come.
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.
30 So Absalom told his servants, “Look, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley growing there. Go and set it on fire!” Absalom's servants went and set the field on fire.
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.
31 Joab went to Absalom's house and asked “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
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?
32 “Look here,” said Absalom, “I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here. I want you to go to the king and ask: Why did I bother coming back from Geshur? It would have been better for me to stay there.’ So go and arrange for me to see the king, and if I'm guilty of anything, he can kill me.”
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.”
33 So Joab went and told the king what Absalom had said. Then David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed down with his face to the ground before him in respect. Then the king kissed Absalom.
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.
