1
Ikawa baada ya hayo, Absalomu akajiwekea tayari gari na farasi, na watu hamsini wa kupiga mbio mbele yake.
Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
2
Tena Absalomu huondoka asubuhi na mapema, na kusimama kando ya njia ya lango; kisha ikawa, mtu ye yote aliyekuwa na neno, lililokuwa halina budi kufika kwa mfalme ili kuhukumiwa, Absalomu humwita mtu huyo kwake, na kumwuliza, Wewe u mtu wa mji gani? Naye akasema, Mtumwa wako ni mtu wa kabila fulani ya Israeli.
He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
3
Naye Absalomu humwambia, Tazama, maneno yako ni mema yenye haki; lakini hapana mtu aliyeagizwa na mfalme kukusikiliza.
Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”
4
Tena Absalomu husema, Laiti mimi ningewekwa kuwa mwamuzi katika nchi hii, ili kila mtu mwenye neno au daawa aje kwangu, nimpatie haki yake!
And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5
Tena ikawa hapo alipokaribia mtu ye yote kumsujudia, hunyosha mkono wake, na kumshika, na kumbusu.
Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.
6
Hivyo ndivyo Absalomu alivyowatendea Israeli wote, waliomwendea mfalme ili wapate hukumu; na hivyo Absalomu akawadanganya watu wa Israeli.
Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7
Hata ikawa mwisho wa miaka minne, Absalomu akamwambia mfalme Tafadhali uniache niende nikaondoe nadhiri yangu, niliyomwekea Bwana huko Hebroni.
After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
8
Maana mimi mtumishi wako naliweka nadhiri hapo nilipokuwa nikikaa Geshuri katika Shamu, nikasema, Kama Bwana akinirudisha Yerusalemu kweli, ndipo nitamtumikia Bwana.
For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”
9
Naye mfalme akamwambia, Enenda na amani. Basi akaondoka, akaenda Hebroni.
“Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.
10
Lakini Absalomu akapeleka wapelelezi katika kabila zote za Israeli kusema, Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya tarumbeta, ndipo mtakaposema Absalomu anamilikl huko Hebroni.
Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
11
Na watu mia mbili walioalikwa wakatoka Yerusalemu pamoja na Absalomu, wakaenda katika ujinga wao wasijue neno lo lote.
Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.
12
Absalomu naye akatuma kumwita Ahithofeli Mgiloni, mshauri wake Daudi, kutoka katika mji wake, yaani, Gilo, alipokuwa akitoa dhabihu. Fitina yao ikawa na nguvu; maana watu waliokuwa pamoja na Absalomu wakazidi kuwa wengi.
While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.
13
Mjumbe akamfikilia Daudi, akasema, Mioyo ya watu wa Israeli inashikamana na Absalomu.
Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14
Basi Daudi akawaambia watumishi wake wote waliokuwa pamoja naye Yerusalemu, Ondokeni, tukakimbie kwa kuwa tusipokimbia hapana mtu miongoni mwetu atakayeokoka mikononi mwa Absalomu; haya! Fanyeni haraka, tuondoke, asitupate kwa upesi, na kutuletea maovu, na kuupiga mji huu kwa makali ya upanga.
And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
15
Hao watumishi wa mfalme wakamwambia mfalme, Angalia, sisi watumishi wako tu tayari kutenda lo lote atakalolichagua bwana wetu mfalme.
The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
16
Basi mfalme akatoka na watu wa nyumbani mwake wote wakafuatana naye. Mfalme akaacha wanawake kumi, masuria, ili kuitunza nyumba.
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
17
Mfalme akatoka, na watu wote wakamfuata; wakakaa kidogo katika Beth-merhaki.
So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,
18
Watumishi wake wote wakapita karibu naye; na Wakerethi wote, na Wapelethi wote, na Wagiti wote, watu mia sita walioandamana naye kutoka Gathi, wakapita mbele ya mfalme.
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
19
Ndipo mfalme akamwambia Itai, Mgiti, Mbona wewe unakwenda pamoja nasi? Rudi, ukakae na mfalme; maana wewe u mgeni, tena u mtu uliyefukuzwa mahali pako mwenyewe.
Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
20
Kwa kuwa umekuja jana tu kwa nini nikusumbue leo, na kukuzungusha huko na huko pamoja nasi nami hapa naenda niwezapo kwenda? Rudi wewe, ukawarudishe na ndugu zako; rehema na kweli ziwe pamoja nawe.
In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”
21
Naye Itai akamjibu mfalme akasema, Kama aishivyo Bwana, na bwana wangu mfalme aishivyo, hakika yake kila mahali atakapokuwapo mfalme, bwana wangu, ikiwa ni kwa kufa au ikiwa ni kwa kuishi, ndipo atakapokuwapo na mtumwa wako.
But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”
22
Basi Daudi akamwambia Itai, Haya, enenda ukavuke. Akavuka Itai, Mgiti na watu wake wote, na watoto wadogo wote waliokuwa pamoja naye.
“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
23
Na nchi yote ikalia kwa sauti kuu, nao watu wote wakavuka, mfalme mwenyewe naye akavuka kile kijito Kidroni, na hao watu wote wakavuka, wakielekea njia ya nyika.
Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.
24
Na tazama, Sadoki naye akaja, na Walawi wote pamoja naye, huku wakilichukua sanduku la agano la Mungu; kisha wakalitua hilo sanduku la Mungu; Abiathari naye akapanda juu, hata watu wote walipokwisha kuutoka mji.
Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.
25
Naye mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, Rudisha sanduku la Mungu mjini; nikipata kibali machoni pa Bwana atanirudisha, na kunionyesha tena sanduku hili, na maskani yake;
Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.
26
lakini akisema kama hivi, Mimi si radhi nawe kabisa; basi, mimi hapa, na anitendee kama aonavyo kuwa vyema.
But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
27
Kisha mfalme akamwambia Sadoki, kuhani, Angalia, rudini mjini kwa amani, na wana wenu wawili pamoja nanyi,Ahimaasi,mwana wako, na Yonathani,mwana wa Abiathari.
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.
28
Angalia, mimi nitangoja penye vivuko vya jangwani, hata litakaponifikilia neno la kunipasha habari kutoka kwenu.
See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29
Basi Sadoki na Abiathari wakalichukua sanduku la Mungu, wakalirudisha Yerusalemu; wakakaa huko.
So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.
30
Daudi akapanda akishika njia ya kuupandia mlima wa Mizeituni, akilia alipokuwa akipanda; naye alikuwa amejifunika kichwa chake, akaenda hana viatu; na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye wakajifunika vichwa vyao, kila mmoja wao, wakapanda juu, wakilia walipopanda.
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
31
Mtu mmoja akamwambia Daudi ya kwamba, Ahithofeli yu katika hao waliopatana na Absalomu; Daudi akasema, Ee Bwana, nakusihi, uligeuze shauri la Ahithofeli liwe ubatili.
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
32
Ikawa, Daudi alipofika juu, hapo Mungu alipoabudiwa, tazama, Hushai, Mwarki, akaja kumlaki na joho lake limeraruliwa, tena ana udongo kichwani mwake.
When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
33
Daudi akamwambia, Ukienda mbele pamoja nami, utakuwa mzigo kwangu;
David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
34
lakini ukirudi mjini, na kumwambia Absalomu, Nitakuwa mtumishi wako, Ee mfalme; kama vile nilivyokuwa mtumishi wa baba yako tokea zamani, ndivyo nitakavyokuwa mtumishi wako sasa; ndipo utayavunja mashauri ya Ahithofeli kwa ajili yangu.
But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’
35
Je! Hawako Sadoki na Abiathari, makuhani, pamoja nawe huko? Basi itakuwa, kila neno utakalolisikia katika jumba la mfalme, utawaambia Sadoki na Abiathari, makuhani.
Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.
36
Angalia, wanao huko pamoja nao wana wao wawili, Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki, na Yonathani, mwana wa Abiathari; nanyi kwa mikono yao mtanipelekea habari ya kila neno mtakalolisikia.
Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”
37
Basi Hushai, rafiki wa Daudi, akaingia ndani ya mji; naye Absalomu akafika akaingia Yerusalemu.
So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.