1
Kisha Daudi akawahesabu watu waliokuwa pamoja naye, akaweka maakida wa elfu elfu, na maakida wa mia mia juu yao.
Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
2
Daudi akawapeleka hao watu vitani, theluthi moja chini ya mkono wa Yoabu, na theluthi ya pili chini ya mkono wa Abishai, mwana wa Seruya nduguye Yoabu, na theluthi ya tatu chini ya mkono wa Itai, Mgiti. Mfalme akawaambia watu, Bila shaka mimi mwenyewe nami nitatoka pamoja nanyi.
He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”
3
Lakini watu wakasema, Wewe usitoke nje; kwa maana tukikimbia, hawatatuona sisi kuwa kitu; au tukifa nusu yetu, hawatatuona kuwa kitu; lakini wewe u wa thamani kuliko watu elfu kumi katika sisi; kwa hivyo sasa ni afadhali ukae tayari kutusaidia toka mjini.
But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will not care about us. Even if half of us die, they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better now if you support us from the city.”
4
Mfalme akawaambia, Yaliyo mema machoni penu ndiyo nitakayofanya. Basi mfalme akasimama kando ya lango, na hao watu wakatoka kwa elfu zao na mia zao.
“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
5
Mfalme akawaamuru Yoabu na Abishai na Itai, akasema, Mtendeeni yule kijana, Absalomu, kwa upole kwa ajili yangu. Nao watu wote wakasikia, mfalme alipowaagiza maakida wote katika habari za Absalomu.
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
6
Hivyo watu wakatoka waende nyikani ili kupigana na Israeli; na vita vikatokea ndani ya msitu wa Efraimu.
So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7
Watu wa Israeli wakapigwa huko mbele ya watumishi wa Daudi, kukawa na maangamizo makuu huko siku ile, ya watu ishirini elfu.
There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.
8
Kwa maana vita vilienea huko juu ya uso wote wa nchi; na siku ile huo msitu ukala watu wengi kuliko wale walioliwa na upanga.
The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.
9
Na kwa bahati Absalomu akakutana na watumishi wa Daudi. Naye Absalomu alikuwa amepanda nyumbu wake, na yule nyumbu akapita chini ya matawi manene ya mwaloni mkubwa, hata kichwa chake kikakwama katika mwaloni huo, akanyakuliwa juu kati ya mbingu na nchi; na yule nyumbu aliyekuwa chini yake akaenda mbele.
Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.
10
Basi mtu mmoja akaona hayo, akaenda akamwambia Yoabu, akasema, Tazama, mimi nalimwona Absalomu ametundikwa katika mwaloni.
When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11
Naye Yoabu akamwambia mtu yule aliyempasha habari, Je! Wewe umeona haya; Mbona, basi, hukumpiga hata nchi papo hapo? Nami ningalikupa fedha kumi na mshipi.
“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt!”
12
Yule mtu akamwambia Yoabu, Kama ningalipata fedha elfu mkononi mwangu, hata hivyo singalinyosha mkono wangu juu ya mwana wa mfalme; kwa maana mfalme masikioni mwetu alikuagiza wewe, na Abishai na Itai, akisema, Angalieni sana mtu awaye yote asimguse yule kijana, Absalomu.
The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
13
Na tena, kama ningaliitendea roho yake kwa hila; (wala hapana neno lo lote liwezalo kufichwa mbele ya mfalme); ndipo wewe mwenyewe ungalijitenga.
If I had jeopardized my own life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”
14
Ndipo Yoabu akasema, Siwezi kungoja na kusema nawe hivi. Akachukua vyemba vitatu mkononi mwake, akamchoma Absalomu moyoni, alipokuwa akali hai katikati ya ule mwaloni.
But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
15
Kisha vijana kumi, waliomchukulia Yoabu silaha zake wakamzunguka, wakampiga Absalomu, na kumwua.
And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16
Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, wakarudi watu toka kuwafuatia Israeli; kwani Yoabu akawazuia watu.
Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them.
17
Nao wakamtwaa Absalomu wakamtupa katika shimo kubwa mle msituni, wakaweka juu yake chungu kubwa sana la mawe; kisha Israeli wote wakakimbia kila mtu hemani mwake.
They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.
18
Huyo Absalomu alipokuwa yu hai alikuwa ameitwaa na kujiinulia ile nguzo iliyoko bondeni mwa mfalme; kwa maana alisema, Mimi sina mtoto wa kulikumbusha jina langu; akaiita hiyo nguzo kwa jina lake mwenyewe nayo inaitwa ziara la Absalomu hata hivi leo.
During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.
19
Basi Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki, akasema, Niende mbio sasa, nikampelekee mfalme habari, jinsi Bwana alivyomlipiza kisasi juu ya adui zake.
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
20
Yoabu akamwambia, Wewe hutakuwa mchukua habari leo, siku nyingine utachukua habari; lakini leo hutachukua habari, kwa sababu mwana wa mfalme amekufa.
But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21
Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia Mkushi mmoja, Nenda ukamwambie mfalme hayo uliyoyaona. Na huyo Mkushi akajiinamisha mbele ya Yoabu, akaenda zake mbio.
So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
22
Ndipo Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki, akamwambia Yoabu mara ya pili, Haidhuru, tafadhali nipe ruhusa, nipige mbio na mimi nyuma ya huyo Mkushi. Naye Yoabu akasema, Mbona wewe unataka kupiga mbio, mwanangu, kwa maana hutapata kitu kwa habari hizo unazopeleka?
Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”
23
Akasema, Haidhuru, nitapiga mbio. Akamwambia, Haya, piga mbio. Ndipo Ahimaasi akapiga mbio, akishika njia ya uwandani, akampita yule Mkushi.
“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. “Then run!” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
24
Basi Daudi alikuwa ameketi kati ya malango mawili; mlinzi akapanda juu hata dari ya lile lango hata ukutani, akainua macho yake, akaangalia, na tazama, mtu anakuja mbio peke yake.
Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
25
Mlinzi akalia, akamwambia mfalme. Naye mfalme akasema, Kama yu peke yake, ana habari kinywani mwake. Akaja mbio, akakaribia.
So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,
26
Kisha huyo mlinzi akaona mtu mwingine anapiga mbio; mlinzi akamwita bawabu, akasema, Angalia, mtu mwingine anakuja mbio peke yake. Mfalme akasema, Huyu naye analeta habari.
the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said the king.
27
Na huyo mlinzi akasema, Nionavyo mimi, kupiga mbio kwake yule wa kwanza ni kama kupiga mbio kwake Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki. Naye mfalme akasema, Yeye ni mtu mwema, anakuja na habari njema.
The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”
28
Ahimaasi akainua sauti yake, akamwambia mfalme, Amani. Akainama mbele ya mfalme kifudifudi, akasema, Ahimidiwe Bwana, Mungu wako, aliyewatoa watu hao walioiinua mikono yao juu ya bwana wangu, mfalme.
Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king. He continued, “Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.”
29
Mfalme akauliza, Je! Yule kijana, Absalomu, yu salama? Ahimaasi akajibu, Yoabu aliponituma mimi mtumishi wa mfalme, mimi mtumishi wako, naliona kishindo kikubwa, lakini sikujua sababu yake.
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”
30
Naye mfalme akasema, Geuka, usimame hapa. Akageuka, akasimama.
“Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” So he stepped aside.
31
Na tazama, yule Mkushi akafika; Mkushi akasema, Nina habari kwa bwana wangu mfalme; kwa maana Bwana amekulipizia kisasi leo juu ya hao wote walioinuka kupigana nawe.
Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”
32
Naye mfalme akamwambia yule Mkushi, Yule kijana, Absalomu, je! Yu salama? Yule Mkushi akajibu, Adui za bwana wangu mfalme, na wote wainukao ili kukudhuru, na wawe kama alivyo yule kijana.
The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to harm you be like that young man.”
33
Naye mfalme akataabika sana, akapanda juu, akaingia kile chumba kilichokuwa juu ya lango, akalia; na katika kwenda kwake alisema hivi, Mwanangu Absalomu! Ee mwanangu! Mwanangu Absalomu! Laiti ningalikufa badala yako, Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu! </p>
The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”