2 Samweli 18
1 Daudi akawahesabu askari waliokuwa pamoja naye na akaweka akida wa elfu na akida wa mia juu yao.
And David numbered the people with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.
2 Kisha Daudi akalipeleka jeshi, thelusi moja chini ya Yoabu, thelusi nyingine chini ya Abishai mwana wa Seruya, ndugu wa Yoabu, na thelusi nyingine tena chini ya Itai Mgiti. Mfalme akaliambia jeshi, “kwa hakika mimi mwenyewe pia nitakwenda pamoja nanyi.
And David sent away the people, the third part under the hand of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Abessa the son of Saruia, the brother of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Ethi the Gittite. And David said to the people, I also will surely go out with you.
3 Lakini watu wakasema, “Wewe usiende vitani, kwani ikiwa tutakimbia hawatatujari sisi, ama nusu yetu wakifa hawatajari. Lakini wewe ni zaidi ya elfu kumi yetu sisi! Kwa hiyo ni afadhari zaidi ukitusaidia ukiwa mjini.”
And they said, You shall not go out: for if we should indeed flee, they will not care for us; and if half of us should die, they will not mind us; for you [are] as ten thousand of us: and now [it is] well that you shall be to us an aid to help us in the city.
4 Hivyo mfalme akawajibu, “Nitafanya lolote lionekanalo jema machoni penu.” Mfalme akasimama kati ya lango la mji wakati jeshi lilipoondoka katika mamia na katika maelfu.
And the king said to them, Whatsoever shall seem good in your eyes I will do. And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Mfalme akawaagiza Yoabu, Abishai, na Itai kusema, “Mmtendee huyo kijana, Absalomu, kwa upole kwa ajili yangu.” Watu wote wakasikia jinsi mfalme alivyowaagiza maakida kuhusu Absalomu.
And the king commanded Joab and Abessa and Ethi, saying, Spare for my sake the young man Abessalom. And all the people heard the king charging all the commanders concerning Abessalom.
6 Hivyo jeshi likaenda nyikani dhidi ya Israeli; vita ikaenea katika msitu wa Efraimu.
And all the people went out into the wood against Israel; and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim.
7 Jeshi la Israeli likashindwa mbele ya askari wa Daudi; kulikuwa na machinjo makuu kwa watu elfu ishirini siku hiyo.
And the people of Israel fell down there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter in that day, [even] twenty thousand men.
8 Vita ikaenea katika eneo lote na watu wengi wakaangamizwa na msitu kuliko upanga.
And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the land: and the wood consumed more of the people than the sword consumed amongst the people in that day.
9 Ikatukia kwamba Absalomu akakutana na askari wa Daudi. Absalomu alikuwa amepanda juu ya nyumbu wake na nyumbu akapita chini ya matawi manene ya mti wa mwaloni, na kichwa chake kikanaswa katika matawi ya mti. Akaachwa akining'inia kati ya nchi na anga wakati nyumbu alipoendelea mbele.
And Abessalom went to meet the servants of David: and Abessalom was mounted on his mule, and the mule came under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head was entangled in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth; and the mule passed on from under him.
10 Mtu mmoja akaona lililotukia na akamwambia Yoabu, “Tazama, nilimwona Absalomu akining'inia katika mwaloni!”
And a man saw it, and reported to Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Abessalom hanging in an oak.
11 Yoabu akamwambia aliyemwambia kuhusu Absalomu, “Tazama! Ulimwona! Kwa nini haukumpiga hata chini. Ningekupa shekeli kumi za fedha na mkanda.”
And Joab said to the man who reported it to him, And, behold, you did see him: why did you not strike him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten [pieces] of silver, and a girdle.
12 Yule mtu akamjibu Yoabu, “Hata kama ningepewa shekeli elfu za fedha hata hivyo nisingeinua mkono wangu juu ya mwana wa mfalme, kwa maana sisi sote tulimsikia mfalme akiwaagiza wewe, Abishai na Itai kusema, mtu asimguse huyo kijana Absalomu.'
And the man said to Joab, Were I even to receive a thousand shekels of silver, I would not lift my hand against the king's son; for in our ears the king charged you and Abessa and Ethi, saying, Take care of the young man Abessalom for me,
13 Ikiwa ningehatarisha maisha yangu kwa uongo(na hakuna jambo linalofichika kwa mfalme), ungejitenga nami.”
so as to do no harm to his life: and nothing of the matter will be concealed from the king, and you will set yourself against me.
14 Ndipo Yoabu aliposema, “sitakusubiri.” Kisha akachukua mishale mitatu mkononi mwake na akairusha katika moyo wa Absalomu wakati yu ngali hai na amening'inia katika mwaloni.
And Joab said, I will begin this; I will not thus remain with you. And Joab took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Abessalom, while he was yet alive in the heart of the oak.
15 Kisha vijana kumi waliochukua slaha za Yoabu wakamzunguka Absalomu, wakampiga na kumwua.
And ten young men that bore Joab's armour compassed Abessalom, and struck him and killed him.
16 Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta na jeshi likarudi kutoka kuwafuatia Israeli, hivyo Yoabu akalirudisha jeshi.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab spared the people.
17 Wakamchukua Absalomu na kumtupa katika shimo kubwa msituni; wakaufukia mwili wake chini ya rundo kubwa la mawe, wakati Israeli wote walipokimbia kila mtu nyumbani kwake.
And he took Abessalom, and cast him into a great cavern in the wood, into a deep pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled every man to his tent.
18 Wakati Absalomu alipokuwa yu ngali hai alijijengea nguzo kubwa ya jiwe katika Bonde la Mfalme, kwani alisema, “Sina mwana wa kuchukua kumbukumbu ya jina langu.” Akaiita nguzo kwa jina lake, hivyo inaitwa Mnara wa Absalomu hata leo.
Now Abessalom while yet alive had taken and set up for himself the pillar near which he was taken, and set it up so as to have the pillar in the king's dale; for he said he had no son to keep his name in remembrance: and he called the pillar, Abessalom's hand, until this day.
19 Kisha Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akasema, “Niruhusu niende kwa mfalme na habari njema, jinsi Yahwe alivyomwokoa kutoka mkono wa adui zake.”
And Achimaas the son of Sadoc said, Let me run now and carry glad tidings to the king, for the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.
20 Yoabu akamjibu, “Wewe hautakuwa mchukua habari leo; utafanya hivyo siku nyingine. Leo hautachukua habari yoyote kwa maana mwana wa mfalme ameuawa.”
And Joab said to him, You [shall] not [be] a messenger of glad tidings this day; you shall bear them another day; but on this day you shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
21 Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia Mkushi, “Nenda umwambia mfalme ulichokiona.” Mkushi akamwinamia Yoabu, na kisha akakimbia.
And Joab said to Chusi, Go, report to the king all that you have seen. And Chusi did obeisance to Joab, and went out.
22 Kisha tena, Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki akamwambia Yoabu, “Pamoja na yote yanayoweza kutokea, tafadhari niruhusu nami pia niende nimfuate Mkushi.” Yoabu akajibu, “Mwanangu kwa nini unataka kwenda, hautapata thawabu yoyote kwa ajili ya habari hii?”
And Achimaas the son of Sadoc said again to Joab, Nay, let me also run after Chusi. And Joab said, Why would you thus run, my son? attend, you have no tidings for profit if you go.
23 “Vyovyote itakavyokuwa niache niende,” Ahimaasi alijibu. Hivyo Yoabu akamjibu, “Nenda.” Ndipo Ahimaasi akakimbia kwa njia ya tambarare na akampita Mkushi.
And he said, Why should I not run? and Joab said to him, Run. And Achimaas ran along the way of Kechar, and outran Chusi.
24 Basi Daudi alikuwa amekaa kati ya lango la ndani na lango la nje. Na mlinzi alikuwa juu ya lango ukutani naye akainua macho yake. Alipokuwa akiangalia, akamwona mtu anakaribia huku akikimbia peke yake.
And David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up on the top of the gate of the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone before him.
25 Mlinzi akaita kwa sauti na kumwambia mfalme. Ndipo mfalme akasema, “Ikiwa yupo peke yake ana habari katika kinywa chake.” Mkimbiaji akasogea na kuukaribia mji.
And the watchman cried out, and reported to the king. And the king said, If he be alone, [there are] good tidings in his mouth. And the man came and drew near.
26 Kisha mlinzi akaona mtu mwingine aliyekuwa anakimbia, naye akamwambia bawabu; kusema, “Tazama, kuna mtu mwingine anakimbia peke yake.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye pia analeta habari.”
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman cried at the gate, and said, And look, another man running alone. And the king said, He also brings glad tidings.
27 Ndipo mlinzi akasema, Nadhani kukimbia kwake mtu aliye mbele ni kama kukimbia kwake Ahimaasi mwana wa Sadoki.” Mfalme akasema, “Yeye ni mtu mwema naye anakuja na habari njema.”
And the watchman said, I see the running of the first as the running of Achimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and will come to [report] glad tidings.
28 Ndipo Ahimaasi akaita na kumwambia mfalme, “Yote ni mema.” Kisha akainama yeye mwenyewe uso wake chini mbele ya mfalme na kusema, Atukuzwe Yahwe Mungu wako, aliyewatoa watu walioinua mkono wao kinyume cha bwana wangu mfalme.”
And Achimaas cried out and said to the king, Peace. And he did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground, and said, Blessed [be] the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hands against my lord the king.
29 Hivyo mfalme akauliza, “Je huyo kijana Absalomu hajambo?” Ahimaasi akajibu, “Wakati Yoabu ananituma kwako mfalme, mimi mtumishi wa mfalme, niliona fujo kubwa sana lakini sikutambua ilihusu nini.”
And the king said, [Is] the young man Abessalom safe? and Achimaas said, I saw a great multitude [at the time] of Joab's sending the king's servant and your servant, and I knew not what was there.
30 Mfalme akamwambia, “Geuka usimame kando.” Hivyo Ahimaasi akageuka na kusimama.
And the king said, Turn aside, stand still here. And he turned aside, and stood.
31 Mara Mkushi akafika na kusema, “Kuna habari njema kwa bwana wangu mfalme kwa kuwa leo Yahwe amekulipia kisasi kwa wale wote walioinuka kinyume chako.”
And, behold, Chusi came up, and said to the king, Let my lord the king hear glad tidings, for the Lord has avenged you this day upon all them that rose up against you.
32 Ndipo mfalme akamwuliza, “Je huyo kijana Absalomu ni mzima?” Mkushi akajibu, “Adui wa bwana wangu mfalme na wote wainukao kukudhuru na wawe kama huyo kijana.”
And the king said to Chusi, Is it well with the young man Abessalom? and Chusi said, Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all whoever have risen up against him for evil, be as that young man.
33 Ndipo mfalme alipohuzunishwa sana naye akaenda chumbani juu ya lango na kulia. Kadili alivyokwenda aliomboleza, mwanangu Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu Absalomu! afadhari ningekufa badala yako, Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu!”
And the king was troubled, and went to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and thus he said as he went, My son Abessalom, my son, my son Abessalom; would God I had died for you, [even] I [had died] for you, Abessalom, my son, my son!
