1
Zaidi ya hayo Ahithofeli akamwambia Absalomu, Niache nichague watu kumi na mbili elfu, nami nitaondoka na kumfuatia Daudi usiku huu;
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
2
nami nitamshambulia wakati atakaokuwa amechoka, na mikono yake imekuwa dhaifu, nami nitamtia hofu; na watu wote walio pamoja naye watakimbia; nami nitampiga mfalme peke yake;
I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
3
na hao watu wote nitawarejeza kwako; mtu yule umtafutaye ni kana kwamba wamerudi wote; na hivyo watu wote watakuwa katika amani.
and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”
4
Shauri hili likawa jema machoni pa Absalomu, na machoni pa wazee wote wa Israeli.
This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5
Ndipo Absalomu akasema, Basi, mwiteni Hushai, Mwarki, naye, tukasikie atakayosema yeye pia.
Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.”
6
Basi Hushai alipofika kwa Absalomu, Absalomu akamwambia, akasema, Ahithofeli amesema hivi; je! Tufanye kama alivyosema? Kama sivyo, sema maneno yako.
So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”
7
Hushai akamwambia Absalomu, Shauri hili alilolitoa Ahithofeli si jema wakati huu.
Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.”
8
Hushai akafuliza kusema, Wamjua baba yako na watu wake, ya kuwa ni watu mashujaa hawa, nao wana uchungu katika mioyo yao, kama dubu aliyenyang'anywa watoto wake nyikani; tena baba yako ni mtu wa vita, hatalala pamoja na watu wake.
He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.
9
Angalia, amefichwa sasa katika shimo, au penginepo; kisha itakuwa, watakapoanguka baadhi yao mwanzo, kila mtu atakayesikia, atasema, Kuna machinjo katika watu wanaofuatana na Absalomu.
Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’
10
Basi hata yeye aliye shujaa, mwenye moyo kama moyo wa simba, atayeyuka kabisa; maana Israeli wote wanajua ya kuwa baba yako ni shujaa, na ya kuwa watu wale walio pamoja naye ni mashujaa.
Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.
11
Kwa hiyo shauri langu ni hili, Waisraeli wote toka Dani mpaka Beer-sheba wakusanyike kwako, kama mchanga wa bahari kwa wingi; na wewe uende vitani mwenyewe.
Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.
12
Hivyo tutamfikia mahali po pote atakapoonekana, na kumwangukia kama vile umande uangukavyo juu ya nchi; wala hatutaacha hata mmoja wao, yeye na watu wote walio pamoja naye.
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.
13
Tena, ikiwa amejitia katika mji uwao wote, basi Israeli wote wataleta kamba, na kuuendea mji ule, nasi tutaukokota mpaka mtoni, wala halitaonekana huko hata jiwe dogo moja la mawe yake.
If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.”
14
Naye Absalomu na watu wote wa Israeli wakasema, Shauri la Hushai, Mwarki, ni jema kuliko shauri la Ahithofeli. Kwa maana Bwana alikuwa amekusudia kulivunja shauri jema la Ahithofeli, ili Bwana alete mabaya juu ya Absalomu.
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
15
Ndipo Hushai akawaambia Sadoki na Abiathari, makuhani, Ahithofeli amempa Absalomu na wazee wa Israeli mashauri kadha wa kadha; na mimi nimetoa mashauri kadha wa kadha.
So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised.
16
Basi sasa pelekeni habari upesi kamwambieni Daudi ya kwamba, Usilale usiku huu karibu na vivuko vya jangwani; bali usikose kuvuka; asije akamezwa mfalme, na watu wote walio pamoja naye.
Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”
17
Basi Yonathani na Ahimaasi walikuwa wakikaa karibu na Enrogeli; na mjakazi mmoja alikuwa akienda na kuwapa habari; nao huenda kumwambia mfalme Daudi; maana ilikuwa lazima wasionekane wakiingia mjini.
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.
18
Lakini kijana mmoja aliwaona, akamwambia Absalomu; basi wakaenda wote wawili kwa haraka, wakafika Bahurimu, nyumbani kwa mtu aliyekuwa na kisima uani mwake; wakashuka ndani yake.
But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.
19
Na mwanamke akatwaa kifuniko akakiweka juu ya mdomo wa kile kisima, akaanika ngano iliyotwangwa juu yake; wala halikujulikana neno lo lote.
Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.
20
Nao watumishi wa Absalomu wakamwendea yule mwanamke mle nyumbani; wakasema, Wako wapi Yonathani na Ahimaasi? Yule mwanamke akawaambia, Wamevuka kijito cha maji. Basi walipokwisha kuwatafuta wasiwaone, wakarudi Yerusalemu.
When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21
Kisha ikawa, baada ya kuondoka kwao, wale wakatoka kisimani, wakaenda wakamwarifu mfalme Daudi; wakamwambia Daudi, Ondokeni, mkavuke maji haya upesi; maana ndivyo alivyotoa shauri Ahithofeli juu yenu.
After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”
22
Ndipo Daudi, na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye, wakaondoka, wakavuka Yordani; na kulipopambazuka hakubaki mmojawapo wao asiyevuka Yordani.
So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.
23
Naye Ahithofeli alipoona ya kuwa shauri lake halikufuatwa, akatandika punda wake, akaondoka, akaenda nyumbani kwake, mjini mwake, akaitengeneza nyumba yake, akajisonga; akafa, akazikwa kaburini mwa babaye.
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
24
Basi Daudi akaja Mahanaimu. Naye Absalomu akauvuka Yordani yeye na watu wote wa Israeli pamoja naye.
Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
25
Naye Absalomu akamweka Amasa awe juu ya jeshi mahali pa Yoabu. Basi huyo Amasa alikuwa mwana wa mtu, jina lake Yetheri, Mwishmaeli, aliyeingia kwa Abigali, binti Nahashi, nduguye Seruya, mamaye Yoabu.
Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
26
Israeli na Absalomu wakapiga kambi katika nchi ya Gileadi.
So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27
Ikawa, Daudi alipofika Mahanaimu, Shobi, mwana wa Nahashi wa Raba, wa wana wa Amoni, na Makiri, mwana wa Amieli wa Lo-debari, na Barzilai, Mgileadi wa Rogelimu,
When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.
28
wakaleta magodoro, na mabakuli, na vyungu, na ngano, na shayiri, na unga, na bisi, na kunde, na dengu,
They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,
29
na asali, na siagi, na kondoo, na samli ya ng'ombe, wapate kula Daudi na watu waliokuwa pamoja naye; kwani walisema, Watu hao waona njaa, tena wamechoka, nao wana kiu huku nyikani. </p>
honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”