1 Joab knew that David couldn't stop thinking about Absalom, 2-3 and he sent someone to bring in the wise woman who lived in Tekoa. Joab told her, “Put on funeral clothes and don't use any makeup. Go to the king and pretend you have spent a long time mourning the death of a loved one.” Then he told her what to say.
4 The woman from Tekoa went to David. She bowed very low and said, “Your Majesty, please help me!”
5 David asked, “What's the matter?”
She replied:
My husband is dead, and I'm a widow. 6 I had two sons, but they got into a fight out in a field where there was no one to pull them apart, and one of them killed the other. 7 Now all of my relatives have come to me and said, “Hand over your son! We're going to put him to death for killing his brother.” But what they really want is to get rid of him, so they can take over our land.
Please don't let them put out my only flame of hope! There won't be anyone left on this earth to carry on my husband's name.
8 “Go on home,” David told her. “I'll take care of this matter for you.”
9 The woman said, “I hope your decision doesn't cause any problems for you. But if it does, you can blame me.”
10 He said, “If anyone gives you trouble, bring them to me, and it won't happen again!”
11 “Please,” she replied, “swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!”
He said, “I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!”
12 Then she asked, “Your Majesty, may I say something?”
“Yes,” he answered.
13 The woman said:
Haven't you been hurting God's people? Your own son had to leave the country. And when you judged in my favor, it was the same as admitting that you should have let him come back. 14 We each must die and disappear like water poured out on the ground. But God doesn't take our lives. Instead, he figures out ways of bringing us back when we run away.
15 Your Majesty, I came here to tell you about my problem, because I was afraid of what someone might do to me. I decided to come to you, because I thought you could help. 16 In fact, I knew that you would listen and save my son and me from those who want to take the land that God gave us.
17 I can rest easy now that you have given your decision. You know the difference between right and wrong just like an angel of God, and I pray that the Lord your God will be with you.
18 Then David said to the woman, “Now I'm going to ask you a question, and don't try to hide the truth!”
The woman replied, “Please go ahead, Your Majesty.”
19 David asked, “Did Joab put you up to this?”
The woman answered, “Your Majesty, I swear by your life that no one can hide the truth from you. Yes, Joab did tell me what to say, 20 but only to show you the other side of this problem. You must be as wise as the angel of God to know everything that goes on in this country.”
21 David turned to Joab and said, “It seems that I have already given my decision. Go and bring Absalom back.”
22 Joab bowed very low and said, “Your Majesty, I thank you for giving your permission. It shows that you approve of me.”
23 Joab went to Geshur to get Absalom. But when they came back to Jerusalem, 24 David told Joab, “I don't want to see my son Absalom. Tell him to stay away from me.” So Absalom went to his own house without seeing his father.
Absalom Was Handsome
25 No one in all Israel was as handsome and well-built as Absalom. 26 His hair grew so thick and heavy that when he got it cut once a year, it weighed over two kilograms.
27 Absalom had three sons. He also had a daughter named Tamar, who grew up to be very beautiful.
Absalom Finally Sees David
28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing his father. 29 He wanted Joab to talk to David for him. So one day he sent a message asking Joab to come over, but Joab refused. Absalom sent another message, but Joab still refused. 30 Finally, Absalom told his servants, “Joab's barley field is right next to mine. Go set it on fire!” And they did.
31 Joab went to Absalom's house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
32 Absalom answered, “You didn't pay any attention when I sent for you. I want you to ask my father why he told me to come back from Geshur. I was better off there. I want to see my father now! If I'm guilty, let him kill me.”
33 Joab went to David and told him what Absalom had said. David sent for Absalom, and Absalom came. He bowed very low, and David leaned over and kissed him.
Tavoora Yoaba ro Egoro Abisolomo ri
1 Yoaba ŋgwa Zeruya ro nite anjioko ya 'Bädri'ba Dawidi ro gi 'du Abisolomo ta. 2 Ndi Yoaba zo lazo te Tekoa ya, ago ezi toko tavouni be aza te, ago Yoaba atate anyari ekye: “Mi'ba mi a'done oso 'dise lu'be be ronye, ago miso boŋgo lu'be ro milomvo; mipi ido ko milomvo oko nya'do oso toko se a'dote liyivoya u'duna amba avo dri ronye. 3 Ago Nyoyi 'bädri'ba re ago nyedele tase mabe atana miri ono ndäri.” 'Dooko Yoaba iti tase gya oyine anyari atane 'do te anyari.
4 Ondro toko se Tekoa ro ana kesate 'bädri'ba re oko, anya 'dete militi si vuru gyini dri, ye taoro te, ago atate ekye: “Äye 'bädri'ba mipa ma.”
5 Ago 'bädri'ba eji tate ekye: “Rriti miro e'diyi ya?”
Anya zatadrite ekye: “Ma orivoya ävuzi yi; ago maro drate. 6 Ma ruindu'ba miro orivoya ŋgwàagoro be ritu, ago tu aza alo si ànya peyi kala te iyivoya lowo ya, se 'diaza i'do lau ocine lata ya, ago alo aza ga azi te ago fu nda te. 7 Ago yauono 'didiri maro cini ŋgate ma ruindu'ba miro dri, ago ànya atayite ekye: ‘Nyozo nda se kufu ädrupi ndaro be 'do ämärigye, tana mä̀fu nda robe ta adri ädrupi ndaro se nda kufube 'do rota.’ Mä̀funa nda se koyebe a'done drimbi'ba ro ono ndi. Ondro ànya koyete inye, 'dooko e'bena ma gindi ŋgwaagoro ako, ànya ufuna mio'ba ädu maro ndi, ago e'bena ago maro ndi ŋgwaagoro ako ago ävuru ako 'bädri ya.”
8 Ndi 'bädri'ba atate toko se ana ri ekye: “Nyoyi 'bäru medrena ta miro vona 'da.” 9 Ago toko se Tekoa ro ana atate 'bädri'ba ri ekye: “'Desi 'bädri'ba maro, takozi ono ka'do ndi mädri ndi katidri maro be; 'bädri'ba ndi giti ndaro be orivoya taenjiako.”
10 'Bädri'ba atate ekye: “Ondro 'diaza alo kata ta aza te miri, nyezi nda mare, ago nda ogona oyena mi ko koziro alona.”
11 'Dooko toko ana atate ekye: “Molo'baru miri mi'ba 'bädri'ba kuzi ävuru OPI Lu ndaro ro, tana tavologo'ba kari vo ufuro kufu 'di ko tona, ukyi äfu ŋgwa maro 'da.” 'Bädri'ba Dawidi äṛurute ekye: “Ma ruäṛu Lu lidriidriro si, drikyiri alodi ŋgwa miro ro e'dene gyini dri i'do.”
12 'Dooko toko se ana atate ekye: “Molo'baru miri mi'ba ruindu'ba miro kata ata alo aza 'bädri'ba ri.”
Nda atate ekye: “Dia nyata.”
13 'Dooko toko se ana atate Dawidi ri ekye: “Tana e'di mira ta oso ono ronye te lidri Lu ro lomvo niya? Tase kefobe tesi ni kala modo miro roya ono si, mipe vure andivo miro rote, tana mi 'bädri'ba migo nyologo nda se aza minjabe tesi ni 'bäru ono kote. 14 Beṛo ama cini ri odrane; ama orivoya oso gyi se kalada te gyini dri ronye, se äni kote ogone kalana kotone to'di; oko 'bädri'ba unina ndi liti usune mano se vo to ya logone. 15 Mikyite tase ono opene mi 'bädri'ba 'desi maro ri; tana lidri nyaozi te malomvo, ago musutavote makye: ‘Mitina tana ndi 'bädri'ba ri; kode azaya 'bädri'ba oyena taeji ruindu'ba ndaro ro ndi. 16 Tana nda erina ta maro ndi, ago nda opana ma ruindu'ba ndaro ndi ni drì mano se kolebe ma ufune ndi ŋgwa maro be ni wari se Lu kozo be drimbi ro lidri ndaro ri ono yasi.’ 17 Ago ma ruindu'ba miro musu tavote makye: Ata 'desi 'bädri'ba maro ro i'dwena ma 'da; tana 'desi maro laba orivoya oso malaika Lu ro ronye ago ni ndi takado ndi takozi be lewene. OPI Lu maro ka'do tro mibe!”
18 'Dooko 'bädri'ba atate toko se ana ri ekye: “Yauono male taejine ni misi si ago nyada'do ta aza koni märi” Ndi toko se ana atate ekye: “Nyeji ri, 'desi 'bädri'ba maro.”
19 'Bädri'ba eji tate ekye: “Inye'do Yoaba orivoya mikundu tase cini ono ya ya?”
Toko se ana zatadrite ago atate ekye: “Endaro oso mibe orivoya lidriidri ro ono ronye, 'desi 'bädri'ba maro, mänina ko rulodine ni ta miro tadrina ozavoya si. Owo, ruindu'ba miro Yoaba eji ma ni tase ono oyene; nda ozo ata se cini kwoi ni ma ruindu'ba miro ri atane. 20 Ruindu'ba miro Yoaba ye tase ono te ta tozazana. Oko 'desi maro orivoya tavouni be oso tavouni malaika Lu ro ronye tase cini 'bädri ya kwoi unizana.”
21 'Dovosi 'bädri'ba atate Yoaba ri ekye: “Yauono maye na tase ono ndi; Nyoyi, ago nyologo mano ombato'di Abisolomo noŋwa.” 22 Ago Yoaba 'dete militi si gyini dri, ago ye taoro te, ago räṛu 'bädri'ba te ekye: “Ondro ono ma ruindu'ba miro mänite anjioko musu takado te mimile, 'desi 'bädri'ba maro, tana mile taeji ma ruindu'ba miro ro drîna te.” 23 'Dooko Yoaba ŋgate, oyite Gesura ya, ago logo Abisolomo te kovole Yerusalema ya. 24 Oko 'Bädri'ba atate ekye: “Mi'ba Abisolomo koyi kori iro dori zo modo ndaro roya ayani, ago nda kikyi ko makandra.” Ago Abisolomo oyite dori zo modo ndaro roya ayani ago ikyi kote 'bädri'ba kandra.
Abisolomo Go Letadri te Dawidi be
25 Yisaraele cini yasi äräṛu 'diaza alodi kote ta liŋgyi ndaro rota oso Abisolomo ronye; etoro ni pa ndaro ya le drî ndaro ya mämbi aza i'do nda lomvo. 26 Ondro nda kolo drikyiri ndaro te (nda ka olona perena alodi ndroa cini ya, tana ka a'do läŋgyiläŋgyiro nda dri), ago nda ojo läŋgyi na be orivoya sekele kama ritu (200) ŋga ŋgaläŋgyi ojoro 'bädri'ba rosi owo. 27 Abisolomo orivoya ŋgwàagoro be nätu, ago ŋgwa ŋguti ro be alodi se äzi ävuruna te Tamara; anya liŋgyi tawi.
28 Ago Abisolomo rite cu ndroa ritu Yerusalema ya, teinye ikyi ako 'Bädri'ba Dawidi kandra. 29 'Dooko Abisolomo zo lazo te Yoaba vo, nda ozone 'bädri'ba re; oko Yoaba gazo ikyine ndare. Ago nda zo lazo te pere ṛirina si, oko Yoaba gatezo ikyine. 30 Ndi Abisolomo atate ruindu'bai ndaro ri ekye: “Mìndre Yoaba orivoya ämvu be ämvu maro lomvo, ago inya orivoya ombavoya kigye; nyòyi mìso asi kigye.” Ago ruindu'bai Abisolomo ro oyiyite ago soyi asi te ämvu ya.
31 'Dooko Yoaba ŋgate ago oyite Abisolomo re 'ba ndaro ya ago atate ndäri ekye: “Ruindu'bai miro so asi te ämvu maro ya etaya?”
32 Abisolomo zatadri Yoaba rote ekye: “Mazo lazo te miri, ikyine noŋwa tana mazo mi robe oyine 'bädri'ba re, nda ejine vo maro ya ekye: ‘Ma'debe Gesura e'bene ago eṛine noŋwa tana e'diya? Aba ni kado märi orine lau.’ ” Ago Abisolomo ugu ata te ekye: “Yauono mi'ba märi oyine 'bädri'ba kandra, ago ondro ka'do maye ŋga kozi aza te, nda kufu ma robe.”
33 'Dooko Yoaba oyite 'Bädri'ba Dawidi re ago iti tase Abisolomo kata be ana te ndäri. Ago 'Bädri'ba zo lazo te Abisolomo vo. Ndi nda ikyite 'bädri'ba re, ago nda 'dete militi si gyini dri 'bädri'ba kandra. Ago 'bädri'ba njunju Abisolomo te.