1
Basi siku ya kufa kwake Daudi ikakaribia, akamwusia Sulemani mwanawe, akasema,
As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon,
2
Mimi naenda njia ya ulimwengu wote; basi uwe hodari, ujionyeshe kuwa mwanamume;
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man.
3
uyashike mausia ya Bwana, Mungu wako, uende katika njia zake, uzishike sheria zake, na amri zake, na hukumu zake, na shuhuda zake, sawasawa na ilivyoandikwa katika torati ya Musa, upate kufanikiwa katika kila ufanyalo, na kila utazamako;
And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn,
4
ili Bwana afanye imara neno lake alilonena kwa habari yangu, akisema, Ikiwa watoto wako wataiangalia njia yao, wakienda mbele zangu kwa kweli, kwa moyo wao wote, na kwa roho yao yote, (akasema), hutakosa mtu katika kiti cha enzi cha Israeli.
and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
5
Na zaidi ya hayo, umejua alivyonitenda Yoabu, mwana wa Seruya, yaani, alivyowatenda majemadari wawili wa majeshi ya Israeli, Abneri, mwana wa Neri, na Amasa, mwana wa Yetheri, ambao aliwaua, na kuimwaga damu ya vita wakati wa amani, akautia damu ya vita mshipi uliokuwa viunoni mwake, na viatu vilivyokuwa miguuni mwake.
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
6
Kwa hiyo ufanye kama ilivyo hekima yako, wala usimwachie mvi zake kushukia Ahera kwa amani.
So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
7
Lakini uwafanyie mema wana wa Barzilai Mgileadi, wawe miongoni mwao walao mezani pako; kwa jinsi walivyonijilia nilipokuwa nimekimbia mbele ya Absalomu, ndugu yako.
But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8
Hata, angalia, yuko pamoja nawe Shimei, mwana wa Gera, Mbenyamini, wa Bahurimu, ndiye aliyenilaani kwa laana kuu siku ile nilipokwenda Mahanaimu; lakini akashuka kunilaki kule Yordani, nami nikamwapia kwa Bwana, nikamwambia, Mimi sitakuua kwa upanga.
Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’
9
Basi kwa hiyo usimwachilie, kwa kuwa wewe u mtu wa akili; nawe utajua ikupasayo umtendee, na mvi zake utazishusha Ahera pamoja na damu.
Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”
10
Basi Daudi akalala na babaze, akazikwa mjini mwa Daudi.
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.
11
Na siku alizotawala Daudi juu ya Israeli zilikuwa miaka arobaini; huko Hebroni alitawala miaka saba, na katika Yerusalemu akatawala miaka thelathini na mitatu.
The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
12
Basi Sulemani akaketi katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi baba yake; na ufalme wake ukawa imara sana.
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.
13
Ndipo Adonia mwana wa Hagithi akaja kwa Bath-sheba mamaye Sulemani. Naye akasema, Je! Umekuja kwa amani?
Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.
14
Naye akajibu, Kwa amani. Tena akasema, Nina shauri ninalotaka kukuambia. Naye akamwambia, Sema.
Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered.
15
Basi akasema, Wajua ya kwamba ufalme ulikuwa wangu, na Israeli wote wakaniwekea nyuso zao ili nimiliki mimi; walakini sasa ufalme umegeuka kuwa wake ndugu yangu; kwa maana ulikuwa wake kutoka kwa Bwana.
“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.
16
Basi sasa nina haja moja ninayokuomba, usinikataze hiyo. Naye akamwambia, Sema.
So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him.
17
Akasema, Nena, nakusihi, na Sulemani, mfalme, (kwa kuwa hawezi kukukataza neno), kwamba anioze Abishagi, Mshunami.
Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
18
Naye Bath-sheba akasema, Vema; nitasema na mfalme kwa ajili yako.
“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”
19
Basi Bath-sheba akaingia kwa mfalme Sulemani, aseme naye kwa ajili ya Adonia. Naye mfalme akainuka kwenda kumlaki, akamwinamia, akaketi katika kiti chake cha enzi; kisha akaagiza awekewe kiti cha enzi mamaye mfalme; naye akaketi mkono wake wa kuume.
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.
20
Ndipo akasema, Haja moja ndogo nakuomba; usinikataze. Mfalme akamwambia, Omba, mama; kwa kuwa siwezi kukukataza neno.
“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”
21
Naye akasema, Nataka Adonia, ndugu yako, aozwe Abishagi, Mshunami.
So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
22
Akajibu mfalme Sulemani akamwambia mamaye, Na mbona wamtakia Adonia Abishagi, Mshunami? Umtakie na ufalme pia; kwa kuwa yeye ni ndugu yangu mkubwa; naam, umtakie yeye, na Abiathari kuhani, na Yoabu mwana wa Seruya.
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”
23
Ndipo mfalme Sulemani akaapa kwa Bwana, akasema, Mungu anifanyie hivyo, na kuzidi, isipokuwa Adonia amenena neno hili juu ya uhai wake mwenyewe.
Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.
24
Basi kwa hiyo, Bwana aishivyo, aliyenithibitisha na kunikalisha katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi baba yangu, akanifanyia nyumba, kama alivyoahidi, hakika atauawa leo hivi Adonia.
And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
25
Mfalme Sulemani akatuma kwa mkono wa Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada: naye akampiga, hata akafa.
So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.
26
Tena, mfalme akamwambia Abiathari kuhani, Enenda Anathothi mashambani kwako; kwa kuwa wastahili kufa; ila leo sikuui, kwa sababu wewe ulichukua sanduku la Bwana mbele ya Daudi baba yangu, na kwa sababu wewe uliteswa kwa mateso yote ya baba yangu.
Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”
27
Hivyo Sulemani akamtoa Abiathari asiwe kuhani wa Bwana; ili alitimize neno la Bwana, alilonena juu ya nyumba ya Eli katika Shilo.
So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.
28
Tena, habari zikamfikia Yoabu; kwa maana Yoabu alikuwa amemfuata Adonia, ingawa hakumfuata Absalomu. Yoabu akakimbilia Hemani kwa Bwana, akazishika pembe za madhabahu.
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
29
Akaambiwa mfalme Sulemani ya kwamba, Yoabu amekimbilia Hemani kwa Bwana, naye, tazama, yuko madhabahuni. Ndipo Sulemani akamtuma Benaya, mwana wa Yehoyada, akisema, Enenda, umpige.
It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”
30
Basi Benaya akaja Hemani kwa Bwana, akamwambia, Mfalme asema hivi, Njoo utoke. Naye akajibu, La, sivyo; ila nitakufa papa hapa. Naye Benaya akamletea mfalme habari, akisema, Hivi ndivyo alivyonena Yoabu, na ndivyo alivyonijibu.
And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”
31
Mfalme akamwambia, Fanya alivyonena, umpige, ukamzike; ili uniondolee mimi na nyumba ya babangu damu aliyoimwaga Yoabu bure.
And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
32
Naye Bwana atamrudishia damu yake kichwani pake mwenyewe, kwa kuwa aliwapiga watu wawili wenye haki, na wema kuliko yeye, akawaua kwa upanga, wala babangu Daudi hakujua habari hiyo; yaani Abneri, mwana wa Neri, jemadari wa jeshi la Israeli, na Amasa, mwana wa Yetheri, jemadari wa jeshi la Yuda.
The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
33
Hivyo damu yao itarudi kichwani pa Yoabu, na kichwani pa wazao wake hata milele; ila kwa Daudi, na kwa wazao wake, na kwa nyumba yake, na kwa kiti chake cha enzi, kutakuwa na amani hata milele kutoka kwa Bwana.
Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”
34
Ndipo Benaya, mwana wa Yehoyada, akapanda, akampiga, akamwua; naye akazikwa katika nyumba yake mwenyewe iliyoko nyikani.
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.
35
Kisha mfalme akamweka Benaya, mwana wa Yehoyada, mahali pake juu ya jeshi; na Sadoki, kuhani, mfalme akamweka mahali pa Abiathari.
And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.
36
Tena, mfalme akatuma watu akamwita Shimei, akamwambia, Ujijengee nyumba humu Yerusalemu, ukae ndani yake, wala usitoke humo kwenda mahali po pote.
Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.
37
Kwa kuwa siku ile ya kutoka kwako, na kuvuka kijito Kidroni, ujue hakika ya kwamba kufa utakufa; damu yako itakuwa juu ya kichwa chako mwenyewe.
On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”
38
Naye Shimei akamwambia mfalme, Neno hili ni jema; kama alivyosema bwana wangu mfalme, ndivyo atakavyofanya mtumwa wako. Basi Shimei akakaa Yerusalemu siku nyingi.
“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.
39
Ikawa miaka mitatu ilipokwisha, watumwa wawili wa Shimei wakatoroka kwenda kwa Akishi, mwana wa Maaka, mfalme wa Gathi. Wakamwambia Shimei, wakasema, Angalia, watumwa wako wako huko Gathi.
After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”
40
Shimei akaondoka, akatandika punda wake, akaenda Gathi kwa Akishi, ili kuwatafuta watumwa wake. Akaenda Shimei, akawaleta watumwa wake toka Gathi.
So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.
41
Naye Sulemani akaambiwa, ya kwamba Shimei alikuwa ametoka Yerusalemu kwenda Gathi, na kurudi tena.
When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,
42
Basi, mfalme akatuma watu, akamwita Shimei, akamwambia, Je! Sikukuapisha kwa Bwana, na kukushuhudia, kusema, Siku ile ya kutoka kwako ukienda mahali po pote, ujue hakika ya kwamba kufa utakufa? Nawe ukaniambia, Neno hili nililolisikia ni jema?
the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’
43
Mbona basi hukukishika kiapo cha Bwana, na amri niliyokuagiza?
So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”
44
Tena, mfalme akamwambia Shimei, Umejua uovu wote uliouona moyoni mwako, uliomtenda Daudi baba yangu; basi kwa hiyo Bwana atakurudishia uovu wako kichwani pako mwenyewe.
The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.
45
Ila mfalme Sulemani atakuwa amebarikiwa, na kiti cha enzi cha Daudi kitathibitika mbele za Bwana hata milele.
But King Solomon will be blessed and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.”
46
Basi mfalme akamwamuru Benaya, mwana wa Yehoyada; naye akatoka, akampiga, hata akafa. Nao ufalme ukawa imara mkononi mwa Sulemani.
Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.