1
Basi kulikuwa na vita siku nyingi kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi; Daudi akaendelea akasitawi, lakini nyumba ya Sauli ikaendelea kudhoofika.
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2
Naye Daudi akazaliwa wana huko Hebroni; mzaliwa wake wa kwanza alikuwa Amnoni, wa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli;
And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3
na wa pili wake Danieli, wa Abigaili mkewe Nabali wa Karmeli; na wa tatu Absalomu, mwana wa Maaka binti Talmai, mfalme wa Geshuri,
his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
4
na wa nne Adoniya, mwana wa Hagithi; na wa tano Shefatia, mwana wa Abitali;
his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
5
na wa sita Ithreamu, wa Egla, mkewe Daudi. Hawa walizaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni.
and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
6
Ikawa, wakati vilipokuwapo vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi, Abneri akajipatia nguvu nyumbani kwa Sauli.
During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.
7
Basi Sauli alikuwa na suria, jina lake akiitwa Rispa, binti Aya; Ishboshethi akamwuliza Abneri, Kwa nini umeingia kwa suria ya babangu?
Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
8
Basi Abneri akakasirika kwa maneno ya Ishboshethi, akasema, Je! Mimi ni kichwa cha mbwa, aliye wa Yuda? Hata leo hivi nawafanyia fadhili nyumba ya Sauli babako, na ndugu zake, na rafiki zake, nisikutie wewe mkononi mwa Daudi; nawe hata hivyo wanitia hatiani leo kwa mwanamke huyu.
Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
9
Mungu amfanyie Abneri vivyo, na kuzidi, nisipomtendea Daudi kama vile Bwana alivyomwapia;
May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
10
kuupitisha ufalme toka nyumba ya Sauli, na kukisimamisha kiti cha Daudi juu ya Israeli, na juu ya Yuda, toka Dani mpaka Beer-sheba.
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11
Wala hakuweza kumjibu Abneri tena, kwa sababu alimwogopa.
And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.
12
Basi Abneri akatuma wajumbe kwa Daudi mahali alipokuwapo, akisema, Nchi hii ni ya nani? Fanya agano nami, na tazama, mkono wangu utakuwa pamoja nawe, ili kuwaleta Israeli wote kwako.
Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
13
Daudi akasema, Vema, nitafanya agano nawe, lakini nina sharti moja nitakalo kwako, nalo ni hili; Hutaniona uso wangu, isipokuwa uniletee Mikali, binti Sauli, hapo ujapo kuniona uso wangu.
“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
14
Basi Daudi akatuma wajumbe kwa Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, kusema, Nipe mke wangu Mikali, niliyemposa kwa govi mia za Wafilisti.
Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15
Basi Ishboshethi akatuma watu, akamnyang'anya Paltieli, mwana wa Laishi, mumewe, mwanamke huyo.
So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16
Huyo mumewe akafuatana naye, akiendelea na kulia, akamfuata mpaka Bahurimu. Ndipo Abneri akamwambia, Haya, rudi. Naye akarudi.
Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
17
Basi Abneri akafanya mashauri na wazee wa Israeli, akasema, Zamani mlitaka Daudi awamiliki;
Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.
18
basi, sasa, fanyeni hayo; kwa maana Bwana amemtaja Daudi, akisema, kwa mkono wa mtumishi wangu, Daudi, nitawaokoa watu wangu Israeli katika mikono ya Wafilisti, na katika mikono ya adui zao wote.
Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
19
Tena Abneri alinena masikioni mwa Benyamini; kisha Abneri akaenda ili kunena masikioni mwa Daudi huko Hebroni maneno yote yaliyoonekana kuwa mema machoni pa Israeli, na machoni pa nyumba yote ya Benyamini.
Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
20
Basi Abneri akamwendea Daudi huko Hebroni, na watu ishirini pamoja naye. Daudi akamfanyia karamu Abneri, na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye.
When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
21
Kisha Abneri akamwambia Daudi, Nitaondoka, niende zangu; nami nitamkusanyia bwana wangu mfalme Israeli wote, ili wafanye agano nawe, ukamiliki juu ya wote inaowatamani roho yako. Basi Daudi akamruhusu Abneri; naye akaenda zake kwa amani.
Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.
22
Na tazama, watumishi wa Daudi pamoja na Yoabu walitoka jeshini, wakaleta mateka mengi pamoja nao; lakini Abneri hakuwako Hebroni kwa Daudi; maana alikuwa amemruhusu, naye amekwisha kwenda zake kwa amani.
Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace.
23
Hata Yoabu, na jeshi lote waliokuwa pamoja naye, walipofika, watu wakamwambia Yoabu, wakisema, Abneri, mwana wa Neri, alikuja kwa mfalme, naye amemruhusu, naye amekwenda zake kwa amani.
When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
24
Basi Yoabu akamwendea mfalme, akasema, Umefanyaje? Tazama, Abneri amekuja kwako; mbona umemruhusu, naye amekwisha kwenda zake?
So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
25
Wewe wamjua Abneri, mwana wa Neri, ya kuwa alikuja ili kukudanganya, apate kujua kutoka kwako, na kuingia kwako, akajue yote uyatendayo.
Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”
26
Naye Yoabu alipotoka kwa Daudi, akapeleka wajumbe kumfuata Abneri, wakamrudisha kutoka kisima cha Sira; lakini Daudi alikuwa hana habari.
As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David was unaware of it.
27
Basi Abneri alipokuwa amerudi Hebroni, Yoabu akamchukua kando hata katikati ya lango, ili aseme naye kwa faragha; akampiga mkuki wa tumbo huko, hata akafa; kwa ajili ya damu ya Asaheli, ndugu yake.
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
28
Hata baadaye Daudi aliposikia, akasema, Mimi na ufalme wangu hatuna hatia milele mbele za Bwana, kwa sababu ya damu ya Abneri, mwana wa Neri;
Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29
na imwangukie Yoabu kichwani pake, na nyumba yote ya babaye, tena hiyo nyumba ya Yoabu isikose kuwa na mtu mwenye kutoka damu, au aliye na ukoma, au mwenye kutegemea fimbo, au mwenye kuanguka kwa upanga au mwenye kuhitaji chakula.
May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
30
Basi Yoabu, na Abishai nduguye, walimwua Abneri, kwa sababu yeye alimwua ndugu yao Asaheli katika vita huko Gibeoni.
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
31
Kisha Daudi alimwambia Yoabu, na watu wote waliokuwa pamoja naye, Rarueni nguo zenu, mkajivike nguo za magunia, mkamlilie Abneri. Naye mfalme Daudi akaifuata jeneza.
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
32
Wakamzika Abneri katika Hebroni; naye mfalme akapaza sauti yake, akalia kaburini kwa Abneri, nao watu wote wakalia.
When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.
33
Ndipo mfalme akamwomboleza Abneri, akasema, Ilimpasaje Abneri kufa afavyo mpumbavu?
And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?
34
Mikono yako haikufungwa, Wala miguu yako haikutiwa pingu; Aangukavyo mtu mbele ya wana wa uovu, ndivyo ulivyoanguka. Na watu wote wakaongeza kumlilia.
Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.
35
Wakaja na watu wote wamshurutishe Daudi kula chakula, ukalipo bado mchana; lakini Daudi akaapa, akasema Mungu anitendee vivyo, na kuzidi, nikionja mkate, au kingine cho chote kabla lichwapo jua.
Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
36
Wakaangalia watu wote, yakawa mema machoni pao; kama yalivyokuwa mema machoni pao yote aliyoyatenda mfalme.
All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37
Wakajua watu wote, na Israeli wote, siku ile, ya kuwa si nia ya mfalme kwamba auawe Abneri, mwana wa Neri.
So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
38
Kisha mfalme akawaambia watumishi wake, Hamjui ya kuwa mkuu mmoja, naye ni mtu mkubwa ameanguka leo katika Israeli?
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?
39
Nami leo nimedhoofika, hata nijapotiwa mafuta niwe mfalme; na watu hao, wana wa Seruya, ni wagumu kwangu mimi; Bwana amlipie mwovu sawasawa na uovu wake.
And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”