1 Someone told Joab, “The king is crying because Absalom is dead.”
2 David's army found out he was crying because his son had died, and their day of victory suddenly turned into a day of sadness. 3 The troops were sneaking into Mahanaim, just as if they had run away from a battle and were ashamed.
4 David covered his face with his hands and kept on crying loudly, “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him:
You've made your soldiers ashamed! Not only did they save your life, they saved your sons and daughters and wives as well. 6 You're more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. What you've done today has shown your officers and soldiers that they don't mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive, even if the rest of us were dead.
7 Now get up! Go out there and thank them for what they did. If you don't, I swear by the Lord that you won't even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past, but this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you!
8 David got up and went to the town gate and sat down. When the people heard that he was sitting there, they came to see him.
Israel and Judah Want David Back
After Israel's soldiers had all returned home, 9-10 everyone in Israel started arguing. They were saying to each other, “King David rescued us from the Philistines and from our other enemies. But then we chose Absalom to be our new leader, and David had to leave the country to get away. Absalom died in battle, so why hasn't something been done to bring David back?”
11 When David found out what they were saying, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. It said:
Say to the leaders of Judah, “Why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? 12 He is your brother, your own relative! Why haven't you done anything to bring him back?”
13 And tell Amasa, “You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab.”
14 Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: “Come back, and bring your soldiers with you.”
David Starts Back for Jerusalem
15 David started back and had gone as far as the Jordan River when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help him cross the river.
16 Shimei the son of Gera was there with them. He had hurried from Bahurim to meet David. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin, and 17 1,000 others from Benjamin had come with him.
Ziba, the chief servant of Saul's family, also came to the Jordan River. He and his 15 sons and 20 servants waded across to meet David. 18 Then they brought David's family and servants back across the river, and they did everything he wanted them to do.
Shimei Meets with David
Shimei crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David. 19 He said, “Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me! Please, forget what I did when you were leaving Jerusalem. Don't even think about it. 20 I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.”
21 But Abishai shouted, “You should be killed for cursing the Lord's chosen king!”
22 David said, “Abishai, what will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I've been made king of all Israel today, and no one will be put to death!” 23 Then David promised Shimei that he would not be killed.
Mephibosheth Meets with David
24-25 Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes the whole time David was gone. David asked him, “Why didn't you go with me?”
26 He answered, “Your Majesty, you know I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me, and 27 then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right. 28 After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?”
29 David answered, “You've said enough! I've decided to divide the property between you and Ziba.”
30 Mephibosheth replied, “He can have it all! I'm just glad you've come home safely.”
Barzillai Returns Home
31 Barzillai came from Rogelim in Gilead to meet David at the Jordan River and go across with him. 32 Barzillai was 80 years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in Mahanaim.
33 David said to him, “Cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you.”
34 Barzillai answered:
Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live. 35 I'm already 80 years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. 36 I'll cross the river with you, but I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. 37 Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you, and you can treat him as your own.
38 David said, “I'll take Chimham with me, and whatever you ask me to do for him, I'll do. And if there's anything else you want, I'll also do that.”
39 David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai goodbye and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but 40 Chimham crossed the river with David.
Israel and Judah Argue
All of Judah's army and half of Israel's army were there to help David cross the river. 41 The soldiers from Israel came to him and said, “Why did our relatives from Judah secretly take you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan?”
42 The people of Judah answered, “Why are you so angry? We are the king's relatives. He didn't give us any food, and we didn't take anything for ourselves!”
43 Those from Israel said, “King David belongs to us ten times more than he belongs to you. Why didn't you think we were good enough to help you? After all, we were the first ones to think of bringing him back!”
The people of Judah argued more strongly than the people of Israel.
Dawuda ye Abusalomu saŋakumboo
1 Ì ye a fo Yowabu ye le ko, mansa be Abusalomu kumboo kaŋ ne. 2 Aduŋ kañewo seewoo yelemata Dawuda la kelediŋ kafoo bee ye sunoo le ti wo luŋo, kaatu ì ye a moyi le ko, mansa be a diŋo kumboo kaŋ ne. 3 Wo luŋo kewolu suuñaatoo dunta saatewo kono le, ko kee maluriŋolu ka suuñaatoo duŋ ñaameŋ, niŋ ì ye ì noo, ka bo naŋ keledulaa to. 4 Mansa ye a ñaa muuri, a ye a kaŋo bula santo kumboo la. “Hee! N diŋo Abusalomu! Hee Abusalomu! N diŋo, n diŋo!”
5 Wo to le Yowabu taata mansa yaa buŋo kono. A ko, “Bii i ye i la kewolu bee malundi le, mennu ye i niyo tankandi, aniŋ i dinkewolu niŋ i dimmusoolu niyolu, aniŋ i la musoolu niŋ i la kaŋ foroyandi musoolu* niyolu. 6 Mennu ye i koŋ, i ye wolu le kanu, aduŋ mennu ye i kanu, ite ye wolu le koŋ. Bii i ye a koyindi le ko, kelediŋ ñaatonkoolu niŋ ì la kewolu maŋ ke ite ye feŋ ti. Ŋa a je le ko, bii ite be seewoo la le, niŋ Abusalomu baluuta nuŋ, ntolu bee ye faa. 7 Saayiŋ, finti banta, i ye i la kewolu jusoo ñabu. Ŋa n kali Yaawe* la ko, niŋ i maŋ finti, hani kee kiliŋ ne te tu la i fee, janniŋ fanoo be ke la. Ñiŋ ne be jawuyaa la i fee, ka tambi mantooroolu bee la, i ye mennu taki, kabiriŋ i fondinkewo fo ka naa bula saayiŋ na.” 8 Wo to le mansa wulita, a taata sii saatee dundaŋ daa to. Kabiriŋ ì ko kewolu ye ko, mansa be siiriŋ saatee dundaŋ daa to le, ì bee taata a ñaatiliŋo la.
Dawuda pareeta ka muruŋ Yerusalaamu
Banisirayilankoolu mennu niŋ Abusalomu la kuwo laata ñoo kaŋ, wolu borita le ka taa ì la suwolu kono le. 9 Banisirayila kaabiiloolu bee kono, moolu bee be ñoo soosoo kaŋ ne, ka a fo ko, “Mansa Dawuda ye ǹ tankandi ǹ jawoolu buloo kono le, ate le ye ǹ kanandi Filisitinkoolu buloo kono. Bari saayiŋ, Abusalomu la kuwo ye a tinna le, a borita bankoo la. 10 Aduŋ Abusalomu ŋà meŋ tomboŋ ka m̀ mara faata kele wuloo kono le. Saayiŋ muŋ ne ye a tinna, ali maŋ feŋ fo mansa la seyindiri kuwo to?”
11 Mansa Dawuda ye ñiŋ kibaaroo le kii Sadoki niŋ Abiyata piriisoolu* ye, ka a fo ì ye ko, “Ali Yahuuda alifaalu ñininkaa, muŋ ne ye a tinna, itolu ñanta ke la moo labaŋo ti, ka mansa murundi a la mansabuŋo kono? Kaatu kumoo meŋ bee ka fo Banisirayila, futata nte la le n na suwo kono. 12 A fo ì ye ko, itolu mu m baadiŋolu le ti, m fansuŋ yeloo niŋ n suboo. Saayiŋ, muŋ ne ye a tinna, ì keta labaŋo ti, nte murundoo to? 13 Aduŋ ali si a fo Amasa ye ko, fo a maŋ ke m baadiŋ dakatoo ti baŋ? Allamaa Alla ye n halaki, niŋ ate maŋ seyi, ka ke n na kelediŋ ñaatonkoo ti Yowabu la palaasoo to ka bo saayiŋ na.” 14 Dawuda la kumoolu diyaata Yahuuda moolu ye le, bituŋ ì bee keta kiliŋ ti. Ì ye kumoo kii mansa ye ko, “I niŋ i la kewolu bee ye muruŋ naŋ.”
15 Wo to le mansa muruta fo a futata Yoridani Boloŋo la. Saayiŋ Yahuuda kewolu taata Kilikali le, ka finti ka taa mansa yaa, ka a samba, ì niŋ a ye teyi Yoridani Boloŋo la.
Dawuda balafaata Simeyi ye
16 Simeyi Kera dinkewo Benjamini lasili moo meŋ bota Bahurimu tariyaata ka taa Mansa Dawuda yaa. 17 A niŋ Benjamini lasili moolu wuli kiliŋ ne taata. Siba meŋ keta Sawulu la dimbaayaalu la dookuulaa ti, aniŋ a dinkee taŋ niŋ luuloo aniŋ a la dookuulaa muwaŋ fanaa naata. Ì tariyaata ka taa mansa yaa Yoridani Boloŋo to. 18 Ì ye Yoridani Boloŋo teyi, ka mansa niŋ a la moolu kanta, aniŋ ka feŋ-wo-feŋ ke, mansa lafita meŋ na.
Kabiriŋ Simeyi ye Yoridani Boloŋo teyi, a ñoyita mansa ye. 19 A ko mansa ye ko, “M maarii, kana m muta kuu la. Kana i miira nte i la dookuulaa ye kuu jawoo meŋ ke, kabiriŋ i bota Yerusalaamu. Allamaa ite mansa ye a bondi i hakiloo kono. 20 Nte i la dookuulaa ye a loŋ ne ko, ŋa kuu jawoo le ke, bari bii nte le keta moo foloo ti, ka bo Yusufa la lasiloo moolu kono, ka naa ite m maarii mansa yaa.”
21 Wo to le Abisayi Seruya dinkewo kumata ko, “Fo Simeyi maŋ ñaŋ na faa la ñiŋ kuwo kamma la? A ye Yaawe la tomboŋ moo le danka.”
22 Dawuda ye a jaabi ko, “Nte niŋ alitolu denta muŋ ne la, alitolu Seruya dinkewolu? Bii luŋo ali keta n jawoolu le ti. Fo bii moo le ñanta faa la Banisirayila kono baŋ? Fo m maŋ a loŋ bii ko, nte le mu Banisirayilankoolu la mansa ti?” 23 Bituŋ mansa ko Simeyi ye ko, “I maŋ taa faa la.” Aduŋ mansa ye laahidoo le taa, a kalita a ye.
Dawuda niŋ Mefiboseti benta
24 Mefiboseti meŋ keta Sawulu mamariŋo ti, fanaa taata mansa yaa le. A maŋ a siŋolu kuu, waraŋ ka a booraa lii, aniŋ ka a la duŋ feŋolu kuu, kabiriŋ luŋo meŋ na mansa bota jee, fo a muruta kayiroo kono. 25 Kabiriŋ a bota naŋ Yerusalaamu ka taa mansa yaa, mansa ye a ñininkaa ko, “Mefiboseti, muŋ ne ye a tinna, i niŋ m maŋ taa ñoo la?”
26 A ye a jaabi ko, “M maarii mansa, n na dookuulaa le ye n neenee, kaatu nte i la dookuulaa ko a ye le ko, ‘Faloo kirikee n ye, fo n si a borindi, n niŋ mansa ye taa ñoo la.’ Kaatu i la dookuulaa lanjuuruta le. 27 Aduŋ a ye i la dookuulaa niŋ mansa fayi ñoo kaŋ ne. M maarii mansa niŋ Alla la malaayikoo le ka muluŋ, bituŋ meŋ diyaata i ye, i si wo ke. 28 M mama koomalankoolu bee la jooroo ñanta ke la saayaa le ti ka bo m maarii mansa yaa, bari i ye palaasoo dii i la dookuulaa la, a ka sii moolu kono, mennu ka domoroo ke mansa la taabuloo to. Saayiŋ ŋa muŋ daliila le soto kotenke, ka daaniroo ke mansa yaa?”
29 Mansa ye a jaabi ko, “I maŋ ñaŋ na feŋ fo la kotenke. Ŋa ñiŋ ne fo ko, ite niŋ Siba le be Sawulu la keetaafeŋo talaa la.”
30 Mefiboseti ye a jaabi ko, “Siba si a bee taa, kaatu m maarii Mansa i la seyoo naŋ kayiroo kono, wo kaañanta nte fee le.”
Dawuda ye beteyaa yitandi Baasillayi la
31 Saayiŋ, Baasillayi Kileyadinkoo naata naŋ ne ka bo Rokelimu, fo a niŋ mansa si taa ñoo la Yoridani, ka a dandaŋ, a ye Yoridani Boloŋo teyi. 32 Baasillayi keta nuŋ kee kotoo baa le ti. A ye sanji taŋ seyi le soto. Naafulutii baa le mu, aduŋ kabiriŋ mansa be nuŋ Mahanayimu, a ka domoroo dii a la le. 33 Mansa ko a ye ko, “Ŋà taa ñoo la Yerusalaamu, aduŋ m be i topatoo la jee le.”
34 Bari Baasillayi ye a jaabi ko, “N siyo maŋ jamfa kotenke. Muŋ ne ye a tinna, n niŋ mansa be taa Yerusalaamu? 35 Nte, ŋa sanji taŋ seyi le soto fokabaŋ, aduŋ feŋ ne buka diyaa n ye kotenke. N ka meŋ domo, aniŋ n ka meŋ miŋ, ì buka diyaa n daa kono, aduŋ hani denkililaalaalu la denkiloolu, m buka ì moyi. M be m maarii mansa batandi la le doroŋ. 36 Nte, i la dookuulaa niŋ ite mansa, be taa ñoo la le, ka Yoridani Boloŋo teyi ka tambi wo la domandiŋ. Bari muŋ ne ye a tinna, mansa be n joo la ñiŋ na? 37 M batu, i la dookuulaa ye muru, fo n si faa m fansuŋ saatewo to, m baamaa niŋ m faamaa la kaburoo daala. Bari i la dookuulaa Kimuhamu fele. A niŋ i si taa ñoo la. Meŋ diyaata i ye, i si wo ke a ye.”
38 Mansa ko, “Kimuhamu niŋ m be taa ñoo la le, aduŋ meŋ diyaata i ye, m be wo le ke la a ye. I ye feŋ-wo-feŋ kaniŋ n yaa, m be a ke la i ye le.” 39 Wo to le moolu bee ye Yoridani Boloŋo teyi, bituŋ mansa fanaa teyita. Mansa ye Baasillayi sumbu, a neemata a ma, wo to le Baasillayi muruta a la suwo kono.
40 Mansa taata Kilikali, aduŋ Kimuhamu niŋ a taata ñoo la le. Yahuuda moolu bee, aniŋ Banisirayila talantewo bee le ye a dandaŋ.
Yahuuda niŋ Banisirayila kaabiila doolu ye mansa la kuwo sonka
41 Bituŋ Banisirayilankoolu bee naata mansa yaa, i ko a ye ko, “Mansa, muŋ ne ye a tinna, m̀ baadiŋolu mennu keta Yahuuda kewolu ti, ye i niŋ i la dimbaayaalu niŋ i la kewolu yoolendi, ka ali teyindi Yoridani Boloŋo la?”
42 Yahuuda kewolu bee ye Banisirayila kewolu jaabi ko, “Ŋà ñiŋ ke le, kaatu mansa keta m̀ baadiŋ sutuŋ ne ti. Muŋ ne ye a tinna, ali kamfaata wo la? Fo ŋà mansa la feŋ ne domo baŋ? Fo ŋà feŋ ne taa m̀ faŋo ye baŋ?”
43 Bituŋ Banisirayila kewolu fanaa ye Yahuuda kewolu jaabi ko, “Ntolu siyaata ali ti mansa yaa le ko siiñaa taŋ. Saayiŋ, muŋ ne ye a tinna, ali jututa ǹ na? Fo ntolu le foloo maŋ a fo ko, m̀ be ǹ na mansa murundi la le?”
Bari Yahuuda kewolu le la jaabiroo saŋarata ka tambi Banisirayila kewolu la.
