1
Kisha Yoabu akaambiwa, Angalia, mfalme anamlilia Absalomu na kumwombolezea.
Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”
2
Na kushinda kwao vitani siku ile kukageuzwa kuwa maombolezo kwa watu wote; maana watu walisikia siku ile ya kwamba, Mfalme anahuzunika kwa ajili ya mwanawe.
And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”
3
Watu wakajificha siku ile, wakaingia mjini kama vile watu waonao fedheha wajifichavyo, hapo wakimbiapo vitani.
So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle.
4
Mfalme akajifunika uso; na mfalme akalia kwa sauti kuu, Mwanangu Absalomu, Absalomu, mwanangu, mwanangu!
But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5
Basi Yoabu akaingia nyumbani kwa mfalme, akasema, Wewe leo umefedhehesha nyuso za watumishi wako wote, waliokuokoa leo roho yako, na roho za wanao, na za binti zako, na roho za wakezo, na roho za masuria wako;
Then Joab went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines.
6
kwa kuwa unawapenda wakuchukiao, na unawachukia wakupendao. Maana umetangaza leo ya kuwa wakuu na watumishi wako si kitu kwako; maana leo nimetambua hivi; kama Absalomu angaliishi, na sisi sote tungalikufa leo, ingalikuwa vyema machoni pako.
You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!
7
Basi sasa, ondoka, utoke nje, ukaseme na watumishi wako maneno ya kuwatuliza roho zao; maana mimi nakuapia kwa Bwana, usipotoka, hatabaki hata mtu mmoja pamoja nawe usiku huu; na mambo haya yatakuwa mabaya kwako kuliko mabaya yote yaliyokupata tokea ujana wako hata sasa.
Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!”
8
Ndipo mfalme akaondoka, akaketi langoni. Nao wote wakaambiwa ya kwamba, Angalieni, mfalme ameketi langoni; watu wote wakaenda huko mbele ya mfalme. Basi, Israeli wote walikuwa wamekimbia kila mtu hemani kwake.
So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.
9
Wakashindana watu wote katika kabila zote za Israeli, wakisema, Mfalme alitutoa mikononi mwa adui zetu, akatuokoa mikononi mwa Wafilisti; naye sasa amekimbia kutoka nchi hii mbele ya Absalomu.
And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.
10
Na huyo Absalomu, tuliyemtia mafuta ili awe juu yetu, amekufa vitani. Basi sasa mbona ninyi hamsemi neno lo lote juu ya kumrudisha tena mfalme?
But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
11
Naye mfalme Daudi akatuma kwa Sadoki na Abiathari, makuhani, kusema, Neneni na wazee wa Yuda, mkisema, Kwa nini ninyi mmekuwa wa mwisho wa kumrudisha tena mfalme nyumbani kwake? Kwa maana maneno ya Israeli wote yamemjia mfalme, ili kumleta nyumbani kwake.
Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
12
Ninyi ni ndugu zangu, ninyi ni mfupa wangu na nyama yangu; mbona basi ninyi mmekuwa wa mwisho wa kumrudisha tena mfalme.
You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’
13
Kisha mkamwambie Amasa, Je! Si wewe uliye mfupa wangu, na nyama yangu? Mungu anifanyie hivyo, na kuzidi, usipokuwa wewe jemadari wa jeshi mbele yangu daima mahali pa Yoabu.
And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”
14
Akawainamisha mioyo watu wote wa Yuda, kama mtu mmoja; basi wakatuma kwa mfalme, Rudi wewe na watumishi wako wote.
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”
15
Hivyo mfalme akarudi, akafika Yordani. Kisha Yuda wakaja Gilgali kwenda kumlaki mfalme, na kumvusha mfalme Yordani.
So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.
16
Akafanya haraka Shimei, mwana wa Gera, Mbenyamini, wa Bahurimu akashuka pamoja na watu wa Yuda ili kumlaki mfalme Daudi.
Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,
17
Na Watu elfu wa Benyamini walikuwa pamoja naye, na huyo Siba mtumwa, nyumba ya Sauli, na hao wanawe kumi na watano, na watumwa wake ishirini pamoja naye; wakavuka Yordani mbele ya mfalme.
along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king
18
Tena ikavuka mashua ili kuwavusha jamaa ya mfalme, na kufanya aliyoyaona kuwa mema. Ndipo Shimei, mwana wa Gera, akamwangukia mfalme alipokuwa amevuka Yordani.
and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king
19
Akamwambia mfalme, Bwana wangu asinihesabie uovu, wala usiyakumbuke yale niliyoyatenda mimi mtumwa wako kwa upotoe siku ile alipotoka Yerusalemu bwana wangu mfalme, hata mfalme ayatie moyoni mwake.
and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart.
20
Kwa kuwa mimi mtumwa wako najua ya kwamba nimekosa; kwa hiyo, tazama, nimekuja leo, wa kwanza wa nyumba yote ya Yusufu, kushuka ili nimlaki bwana wangu mfalme.
For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
21
Lakini Abishai, mwana wa Seruya, akajibu na kusema, Je! Shimei hatauawa kwa sababu hii, kwa kuwa amemlaani masihi wa BWANA?
But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
22
Lakini Daudi akasema, Mimi nina nini nanyi, enyi wana wa Seruya, hata mmekuwa adui zangu leo? Je! Atauawa mtu ye yote leo katika Israeli? Kwa maana sijui mimi leo ya kwamba ndimi mfalme juu ya Israeli?
And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”
23
Kisha mfalme akamwambia Shimei, Hutakufa. Mfalme akamwapia.
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.
24
Kisha Mefiboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, akashuka ili amlaki mfalme; alikuwa hakukata kucha za miguu yake wala kukata ndevu zake, wala kufua nguo zake, tangu siku alipoondoka mfalme, hata siku hiyo aliporudi kwake kwa amani.
Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.
25
Basi ikawa, alipofika Yerusalemu kumlaki mfalme, mfalme akamwambia, Mbona hukwenda pamoja nami, Mefiboshethi?
And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”
26
Naye akajibu, Bwana wangu, Ee mfalme, mtumwa wangu alinidanganya; kwa kuwa mimi mtumwa wako nilisema, Nitajitandikia punda, nipate kumpanda, na kwenda pamoja na mfalme; kwa sababu mimi mtumwa wako ni kiwete.
“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,
27
Naye amenisingizia mimi mtumwa wako kwa bwana wangu mfalme; lakini bwana wangu mfalme ni kama malaika wa Mungu; utende basi yaliyo mema machoni pako.
and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.
28
Kwa kuwa jamaa yote ya baba yangu walikuwa kama watu wa kufa tu mbele ya bwana wangu mfalme; ila uliniweka mimi mtumwa wako kati ya hao walao mezani pako. Basi ni haki gani sasa niliyo nayo, hata nimlilie mfalme zaidi?
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”
29
Basi mfalme akamwambia, Kwa nini unazidi kuyanena mambo yako? Mimi naamua, Wewe na Siba mwigawanye hiyo nchi.
The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”
30
Naye Mefiboshethi akamwambia mfalme, Naam, hata yote na atwae yeye, kwa kuwa bwana wangu mfalme amekuja kwa amani nyumbani kwake.
And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”
31
Tena Barzilai, Mgileadi, akashuka kutoka Rogelimu; akavuka Yordani pamoja na mfalme, amvushe Yordani.
Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there.
32
Naye huyo Barzilai alikuwa mzee sana, amepata umri wa miaka themanini; naye amemlisha mfalme hapo alipokuwapo Mahanaimu; kwa kuwa alikuwa mtu mwenye cheo kikubwa.
Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.
33
Naye mfalme akamwambia Barzilai, Uvuke pamoja nami; nami nitakulisha kwangu huko Yerusalemu.
The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”
34
Lakini Barzilai akamjibu mfalme, Siku ni ngapi za miaka ya maisha yangu, hata mimi nipande pamoja na mfalme kwenda Yerusalemu?
But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
35
Nimepata leo miaka themanini; nami je! Naweza kupambanua mema na mabaya? Mimi mtumwa wako, je! Naweza kuonja nilacho au ninywacho? Naweza kusikia tena sauti ya waimbaji waume na wake? Kwa nini basi mtumwa wako amlemee bado bwana wangu mfalme?
I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
36
Mtumwa wako ataka kuvuka Yordani tu pamoja na mfalme; tena mbona mfalme anilipie thawabu ya namna hii?
Your servant will go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?
37
Niache nirudi basi, mimi mtumwa wako, ili nife katika mji wangu mwenyewe, karibu na kaburi la baba yangu na la mama yangu. Lakini tazama, mtumwa wako Kimhamu; na avuke yeye pamoja na bwana wangu mfalme; nawe ukamtendee yeye yaliyo mema machoni pako.
Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”
38
Mfalme akajibu, Haya, Kimhamu na avuke pamoja nami, nami nitamtendea yaliyo mema machoni pako wewe; na kila utakalotaka kwangu, mimi nitalifanya kwa ajili yako.
The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”
39
Basi watu wote wakavuka Yordani, naye mfalme akavuka; kisha mfalme akambusu Barzilai, akambariki; naye akarejea mahali pake.
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.
40
Hivyo mfalme akavuka, akafika Gilgali; Kimhamu akavuka pamoja naye; na watu wote wa Yuda wakamvusha mfalme, na nusu ya watu wa Israeli.
Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.
41
Tena, angalia, watu wote wa Israeli wakamjia mfalme wakamwambia mfalme, Kwa nini ndugu zetu, watu wa Yuda wamekuiba, na kumvusha Yordani mfalme, na jamaa yake, na watu wote wa Daudi pamoja naye?
Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”
42
Ndipo watu wote wa Yuda wakawajibu hao watu wa Israeli, Ni kwa sababu mfalme ndiye wa jamaa yetu; mbona basi ninyi mmekasirika kwa ajili ya jambo hili? Je! Sisi tumekula kitu cha mfalme? Ama ametupa sisi zawadi yo yote?
And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”
43
Hao watu wa Israeli wakawajibu watu wa Yuda, wakasema, Sisi tunazo sehemu kumi katika mfalme, tena tunayo haki yetu katika Daudi zaidi kuliko ninyi; mbona basi ninyi mmetudharau sisi, lisitakwe kwanza shauri letu katika kumrudisha tena mfalme wetu? Na maneno ya watu wa Yuda yakawa makali kuliko maneno ya watu wa Israeli.
“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.