1
Hata Ishboshethi mwana wa Sauli aliposikia ya kuwa Abneri amekufa huko Hebroni, mikono yake ilikuwa dhaifu, na Waisraeli wote wakataabika.
Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed.
2
Na huyo mwana wa Sauli alikuwa na watu wawili, maakida wa vikosi; jina lake mmoja akiitwa Baana, na jina la wa pili Rekabu wana wa Rimoni, Mbeerothi, wa wana wa Benyamini; (kwa maana Beerothi umehesabiwa kuwa wa Benyamini;
Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin,
3
na hao Wabeerothi walikimbia kwenda Githaimu, ndipo wanapokaa hali ya ugeni hata hivi leo.)
because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.
4
Naye Yonathani, mwana wa Sauli alikuwa na mwana aliyekuwa na kilema cha miguu. Alikuwa amepata miaka mitano, habari za Sauli na Yonathani zilipofika Yezreeli, na yaya wake akamchukua akakimbia ikawa, alipokimbia kwa haraka, huyo mtoto akaanguka, akawa kilema. Na jina lake aliitwa Mefiboshethi.
And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
5
Na wale wana wa Rimoni, Mbeerothi, Rekabu na Baana, wakaenda wakafika nyumbani kwa Ishboshethi, wakati wa hari ya mchana, alipokuwa akipumzika adhuhuri.
Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap.
6
Wakafikia kati ya nyumba, kana kwamba wanataka kuchukua ngano, wakampiga mkuki wa tumbo; kisha Rekabu na Baana nduguye wakakimbia.
They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away.
7
Basi walipoingia katika ile nyumba, alipokuwa amelala kitandani mwake, katika chumba chake cha kulala, wakampiga, wakamwua, wakamkata kichwa, wakachukua kichwa chake, wakaenda zao kwa njia ya Araba usiku kucha.
They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah.
8
Wakamletea Daudi kichwa cha Ishboshethi huko Hebroni, wakamwambia mfalme, Tazama, hiki ni kichwa cha Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, adui yako, aliyekutafuta roho yako; Bwana amemlipia kisasi bwana wangu mfalme hivi leo, juu ya Sauli, na juu ya wazao wake.
They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
9
Naye Daudi akawajibu Rekabu na Baana, nduguye, wana wa Rimoni, Mbeerothi, akawaambia, Aishivyo Bwana, aliyenihifadhi roho yangu katika shida zote,
But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
10
mtu mmoja aliponiambia, akasema, Tazama, Sauli amekufa, akidhani ya kuwa ameleta habari njema, nalimshika, nikamwua, huko Siklagi, ndio ujira niliompa kwa habari zake.
when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!
11
Basi, iwapo watu waovu wamemwua mtu mwenye haki kitandani mwake, je! Sasa nisitake zaidi damu yake mikononi mwenu, na kuwaondoa ninyi katika nchi?
How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”
12
Ndipo Daudi akawaagiza vijana wake, wakawaua, wakawakata mikono na miguu, wakawatundika kando ya ziwa katika Hebroni. Nao wakakitwaa kichwa cha Ishboshethi wakakizika katika kaburi la Abneri huko Hebroni.
So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.