2 Samuel 18
1 Devid gụkọtara ndị ya na ha so ma họpụta ndịisi agha. Doo ụfọdụ ka ha chịa ọtụtụ puku ndị agha, ụfọdụ ka ha chịa ọtụtụ narị ndị agha.
David counted the soldiers who were with him and appointed captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 Devid zipụrụ ndị agha ya, otu ụzọ nʼime ụzọ atọ nʼokpuru Joab, Ọ họpụtakwara Abishai, nwanne Joab, nwa Zeruaya, ka ọ chịa otu ụzọ. Ma otu ụzọ nke fọdụrụ ka o tinyere nʼaka Itai onye Gat. Eze gwara ndị agha ahụ sị, “Mụ onwe m ga-edu unu gaa agha.”
Then David sent out the army, one-third under the command of Joab, another third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and still another third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the army, “I will certainly go out with you myself, too.”
3 Ma ndị ikom ahụ sịrị, “Ị gaghị apụkwa ọzọ nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na anyị atụgharịa bido ịgba ọsọ, ọ bụrụkwa na otu ọkara nʼime anyị anwụọ, nke ahụ agaghị emetụ ha nʼobi. Naanị gị ka ha na-achọ. Ị dịkwa mkpa karịa puku ndị agha iri. Ọ ga-akara anyị mma ugbu a ka ị na-ezitere anyị inyeaka site nʼime obodo.”
But the men said, “You must not go to battle, for if we flee away they will not care about us, or if half of us die they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us! Therefore it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”
4 Eze zara nʼikpeazụ sị, “Ihe ọbụla dị mma nʼanya unu ka m ga-eme.” Ya mere, eze guzoro nʼakụkụ ọnụ ụzọ ama dịka ndị ikom ya niile na-apụ nʼusu nke ọtụtụ narị, nakwa nʼusu nke ọtụtụ puku.
So the king answered them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” The king stood by the city gate while all the army went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Eze nyere ndịisi agha ya, bụ Joab, Abishai na Itai, iwu sị ha, “Bikonu, nʼihi m, werenụ nwayọọ nʼebe nwokorobịa ahụ bụ Absalọm nọ.” Ndị agha niile nụkwara mgbe eze nyere ndịisi niile iwu a banyere Absalọm.
The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom.” All the people heard that the king had given the captains this command about Absalom.
6 Ndị agha Devid si nʼobodo pụọ izute ndị Izrel nʼagha. Alụrụ agha a nʼọhịa Ifrem.
So the army went out into the countryside against Israel; the battle spread into the forest of Ephraim.
7 Ndị agha Devid tigbukwara ndị agha Izrel. Ha gburu iri puku ndị agha abụọ nʼụbọchị ahụ.
The army of Israel was defeated there before the soldiers of David; there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
8 Agha ahụ gbasara nʼelu ala ahụ niile. Ndị nwụrụ nʼọhịa nʼetiti ụmụ Izrel karịrị ndị e gburu egbu.
The battle spread throughout the whole countryside, and more men were consumed by the forest than by the sword.
9 Absalọm zutere ndị agha Devid. Ọ na-anọkwasị nʼelu ịnyịnya ya nʼoge a, dịka ịnyịnya ahụ sitere nʼokpuru osisi ook ukwu dị nʼọhịa ahụ na-agbafee, agịrị isi ya konyere nʼalaka osisi ahụ, tụhịkọtaakwa, nke mere na ọ kwụrụ nʼetiti eluigwe na ala. Ma ịnyịnya ya gbaara na-aga.
Absalom happened to meet some of David's soldiers. Absalom was riding his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree, and his head was caught up in the tree branches. He was left dangling between the ground and the sky while the mule he was riding kept going.
10 Otu nʼime ndị ikom ahụ hụrụ ya, kọọrọ Joab, “Lee, ahụrụ m Absalọm ebe ọ kwụ nʼelu osisi ook.”
Someone saw this and told Joab, “Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11 Joab sịrị nwoke ahụ onye gwara gị, “Gịnị, ị hụrụ ya? Gịnị mere i tigbughị ya ka o ruo nʼala nʼebe ahụ? Mgbe ahụ, agaara m enye gị shekel ọlaọcha iri, na belịt a na-enye onye bụ dike nʼagha.”
Joab said to the man who told him about Absalom, “Look! You saw him! Why did you not strike him down to the ground? I would have given you ten silver shekels and a belt.”
12 Ma nwoke ahụ zara sị, “A sịkwarị na e nyere m puku ọlaọcha nʼaka m a, agaraghị m egbu ya. Nʼihi na anyị niile nụrụ mgbe eze na-agwa gị na Abishai na Itai sị, ‘Lezienụ anya banyere nwokorobịa bụ Absalọm, nʼihi m.’
The man replied to Joab, “Even if I received a thousand silver shekels, still I would not have reached out my hand against the king's son, because we all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'No one must touch the young man Absalom.'
13 A sị na m gburu ya, ọ ga-abụ imegide eze. Ọ ga-emesiekwa chọpụta onye mere ya. Ma gị onwe gị agaraghị apụta kwuchite ọnụ m.”
If I had risked my life by a falsehood (and there is nothing hidden from the king), you would have abandoned me.”
14 Joab sịrị, “Ọ bụghị otu a ka m ga na-eche nʼihu gị.” Ya mere, ọ chịịrị ùbe atọ nʼaka ya, dubaa ha nʼobi Absalọm, mgbe Absalọm ka dị ndụ makwụrụ nʼelu osisi ook.
Then Joab said, “I will not wait for you.” So Joab took three javelins in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive and hanging from the oak.
15 Ụmụ okorobịa iri ndị na-ebu ihe agha Joab gbara Absalọm gburugburu, tigbuo ya.
Then ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, attacked him, and killed him.
16 Emesịa, Joab fụrụ opi ike nke mere ka ndị agha Devid na-achụ ndị Izrel kwụsị ịchụ ha ọsọ, nʼihi na Joab kwụsịrị ha.
Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the army returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab held back the army.
17 Ha buuru ozu Absalọm tụba ya nʼolulu ukwu dị nʼoke ọhịa ahụ, werekwa nkume tụọ ya nʼelu. Ndị agha Izrel niile gbalara nʼụlọ ha.
They took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest; they buried his body under a very large pile of stones, while all Israel fled, every man to his own home.
18 Nʼoge Absalọm dị ndụ, o wuuru onwe ya ogidi ncheta. O wuru ogidi a na Ndagwurugwu Eze, nʼihi na o chere nʼime onwe ya sị, “Enweghị m nwa nwoke ga-aza aha m.” Ya mere, ọ gụrụ ogidi ahụ aha nke ya onwe ya. Ọ bụkwa Ogidi Absalọm ka a na-akpọ ya ruo taa.
Now Absalom, while still alive, had built for himself a large stone pillar in the King's Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry along the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after his own name, so it is called Absalom's Monument to this very day.
19 Mgbe ahụ, Ahimaaz, nwa Zadọk, bịakwutere Joab sị ya, “Biko, ka m gbara ọsọ gaa zie eze oziọma a, na Onyenwe anyị azọpụtala ya site nʼaka ndị iro ya.”
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me now run to the king with the good news, how Yahweh has rescued him from the hand of his enemies.”
20 Ma Joab zara sị ya, “Ọ bụghị gị ga-ezi eze ozi taa. I nwere ike ime ya mgbe ọzọ, ma ọ bụghị taa, nʼihi na nwa eze nwụrụ.”
Joab answered him, “You will not be the bearer of news today; you must do it another day. Today you will bear no news because the king's son is dead.”
21 Joab gwara otu nwoke onye Kush sị ya, “Gaa gwa eze ihe ị hụrụ.” Nwoke ahụ kpọrọ isiala, gbapụ ọsọ.
Then Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed down to Joab, and ran.
22 Ahimaaz nwa Zadọk rịọkwara Joab ọzọ sị ya, “Otu ọbụla o si dị, biko kwere ka m gbaso onye Kush a.” Ma Joab zara sị, “Nwa m nwoke, gịnị mere i ji chọọ ị ga? I nweghị ozi ọbụla ị ga-ezi nke ga-ewetara gị ụgwọ ọrụ.”
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Regardless of what may happen, please let me also run and follow the Cushite.” Joab replied, “Why do you want to run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?”
23 Ọ rịọrọ sị, “Otu ọbụla o si dị, hapụ m ka m gaa.” Nʼikpeazụ Joab kwenyere sị ya, “Ọ dị mma, gbara ọsọ gaa.” Ahimaaz sitere nʼụzọ dị mkpụmkpụ nke gafere obosara ala Jọdan buru nwoke Kush ahụ ụzọ gbaruo.
“Whatever happens,” said Ahimaaz, “I will run.” So Joab answered him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
24 Devid nọ nʼọnụ ụzọ ama nʼoge a. Mgbe onye nche rigoruru nʼelu mgbidi ebe ọ na-anọ, ọ hụrụ otu nwoke ka ọ na-agba ọsọ naanị ya.
Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates. The watchman had gone up to the roof of the gate to the wall and raised his eyes. As he looked, he saw a man approaching, running alone.
25 Onye nche ahụ kpọrọ Devid oku gwa ya na o nwere onye na-abịa. Ma eze zara ya sị, “Ọ bụrụ naanị ya, o nwere oziọma.” Mgbe onyeozi ahụ na-abịaru nso,
The watchman shouted out and told the king. Then the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” The runner came closer and neared the city.
26 onye nche ahụ lepụkwara anya hụ otu nwoke ọzọ ka o ji ọsọ na-abịa naanị ya. Ọ kpọkwara oku ọzọ sị, “Onye ọzọ na-abịakwa.” Eze zara sị, “Onye ahụ ga-enwekwa oziọma.”
Then the watchman noticed another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper; he said, “Look, there is another man running alone.” The king said, “He is also bringing news.”
27 Onye nche ahụ zara sị, “Onye nke mbụ na-abịa dị ka Ahimaaz, nwa Zadọk,” Eze zara sị, “Ọ bụ ezi mmadụ, ọ bụkwa oziọma ka o ji na-abịa.”
So the watchman said, “I think the running of the man in front is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man and is coming with good news.”
28 Mgbe ahụ, Ahimaaz kpọrọ eze oku sị, “Udo!” Ọ kpọrọ isiala nye eze. Kpuokwa ihu ya nʼala sị, “Ngọzị na-adịrị Onyenwe anyị Chineke gị. Onye nke mebiri nzube ndị ahụ niile weliri aka imegide onyenwe m bụ eze.”
Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed be Yahweh your God! He has delivered the men who lifted up their hand against my master the king.”
29 Eze jụrụ ya sị, “Oleekwanụ maka nwokorobịa ahụ bụ Absalọm? Ọ nọkwa nʼudo?” Ahimaaz zara sị, “Mgbe Joab zipụrụ ohu eze, na mụ onwe m, oke ụzụ dị, ma amaghị m ihe kpatara ya.”
So the king replied, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent me, the king's servant, to you, king, I saw a great disturbance, but I did not know what it was.”
30 Eze gwara ya sị, “Chere nʼebe a.” Ahimaaz chigharịrị chere.
Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So Ahimaaz turned aside, and stood still.
31 Mgbe ahụ, onye Kush ahụ bịarutere sị, “Onyenwe m bụ eze, nụrụ oziọma a. Taa Onyenwe anyị ekpepụtala gị site nʼịnapụta gị nʼaka ndị niile biliri imegide gị.”
Immediately then the Cushite arrived and said, “There is good news for my master the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today from all who rose up against you.”
32 Eze jụrụ onye Kush ahụ, “Nwokorobịa ahụ bụ Absalọm, ọ nọkwa nʼudo?” Onye Kush ahụ zaghachiri, “Ka ndị iro onyenwe m bụ eze na ndị niile na-ebili imejọ gị dị ka nwokorobịa ahụ!”
Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “The enemies of my master the king, and all who rise up against you to do harm to you, should be as that young man is.”
33 Okwu a metụrụ eze nʼahụ nke ukwuu, o biliri rigoo nʼụlọ nke dị nʼọnụ ụzọ ama, nọdụ nʼebe ahụ kwaa akwa. Ọ nọ na-akwa akwa mgbe ọ na-aga, na-eti mkpu akwa na-asị, “O, nwa m, Absalọm! O nwa m, nwa m, Absalọm. A sịkwarị na m nwụrụ nʼọnọdụ gị! O, Absalọm nwa m, nwa m oo!”
Then the king was deeply unnerved, and he went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went he grieved, “My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
