1 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
Kisha Daudi akawahesabu watu waliokuwa pamoja naye, akaweka maakida wa elfu elfu, na maakida wa mia mia juu yao.
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
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.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
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.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
Mfalme akawaambia, Yaliyo mema machoni penu ndiyo nitakayofanya. Basi mfalme akasimama kando ya lango, na hao watu wakatoka kwa elfu zao na mia zao.
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
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.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
Hivyo watu wakatoka waende nyikani ili kupigana na Israeli; na vita vikatokea ndani ya msitu wa Efraimu.
7 where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men .
Watu wa Israeli wakapigwa huko mbele ya watumishi wa Daudi, kukawa na maangamizo makuu huko siku ile, ya watu ishirini elfu.
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
Kwa maana vita vilienea huko juu ya uso wote wa nchi; na siku ile huo msitu ukala watu wengi kuliko wale walioliwa na upanga.
Death of Absalom
9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
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.
10 And a certain man saw it , and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
Basi mtu mmoja akaona hayo, akaenda akamwambia Yoabu, akasema, Tazama, mimi nalimwona Absalomu ametundikwa katika mwaloni.
11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him , and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
Naye Yoabu akamwambia mtu yule aliyempasha habari, Je! Wewe umeona haya; Mbona, basi, hukumpiga hata nchi papo hapo? Nami ningalikupa fedha kumi na mshipi.
12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
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.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me .
Na tena, kama ningaliitendea roho yake kwa hila; (wala hapana neno lo lote liwezalo kufichwa mbele ya mfalme); ndipo wewe mwenyewe ungalijitenga.
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Ndipo Yoabu akasema, Siwezi kungoja na kusema nawe hivi. Akachukua vyemba vitatu mkononi mwake, akamchoma Absalomu moyoni, alipokuwa akali hai katikati ya ule mwaloni.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
Kisha vijana kumi, waliomchukulia Yoabu silaha zake wakamzunguka, wakampiga Absalomu, na kumwua.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
Kisha Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, wakarudi watu toka kuwafuatia Israeli; kwani Yoabu akawazuia watu.
17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
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.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
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.
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
Basi Ahimaasi, mwana wa Sadoki, akasema, Niende mbio sasa, nikampelekee mfalme habari, jinsi Bwana alivyomlipiza kisasi juu ya adui zake.
20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
Yoabu akamwambia, Wewe hutakuwa mchukua habari leo, siku nyingine utachukua habari; lakini leo hutachukua habari, kwa sababu mwana wa mfalme amekufa.
21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
Ndipo Yoabu akamwambia Mkushi mmoja, Nenda ukamwambie mfalme hayo uliyoyaona. Na huyo Mkushi akajiinamisha mbele ya Yoabu, akaenda zake mbio.
22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
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?
23 But howsoever, said he , let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
Akasema, Haidhuru, nitapiga mbio. Akamwambia, Haya, piga mbio. Ndipo Ahimaasi akapiga mbio, akishika njia ya uwandani, akampita yule Mkushi.
24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
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.
25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
Mlinzi akalia, akamwambia mfalme. Naye mfalme akasema, Kama yu peke yake, ana habari kinywani mwake. Akaja mbio, akakaribia.
26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
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.
27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
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.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
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.
29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was .
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.
30 And the king said unto him , Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
Naye mfalme akasema, Geuka, usimame hapa. Akageuka, akasimama.
31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
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.
32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is .
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.
33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
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!
