Absalomu padà si Jerusalẹmu
1Joabu ọmọ Seruiah sì kíyèsi i, pé ọkàn ọba sì fà sí Absalomu. 2Joabu sì ránṣẹ́ sí Tekoa, ó sì mú ọlọ́gbọ́n obìnrin kan láti ibẹ̀ wá, ó sì wí fún un pé, “Èmi bẹ̀ ọ́, ṣe bí ẹni tí ń ṣọ̀fọ̀, kí o sì fi aṣọ ọ̀fọ̀ sára, kí o má sì ṣe fi òróró pa ara, kí o sì dàbí obìnrin ti ó ti ń ṣọ̀fọ̀ fún òkú lọ́jọ́ púpọ̀. 3Kí o sì tọ ọba wá, kí o sọ fún un gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọ̀rọ̀ yìí.” Joabu sì fi ọ̀rọ̀ sí lẹ́nu.
4Nígbà tí obìnrin àrá Tekoa sì ń fẹ́ sọ̀rọ̀ fún ọba, ó wólẹ̀, ó dojúbolẹ̀, o sí bu ọlá fún un, o sì wí pé, “ọba, gbà mi.”
5Ọba sì bi í léèrè pé, “Kín ni o ṣe ọ́?”
Òun sì dáhùn wí pé, “Nítòótọ́ opó ni èmi ń ṣe, ọkọ mi sì kú. 6Ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ̀ sì ti ní ọmọkùnrin méjì, àwọn méjèèjì sì jọ jà lóko, kò sì si ẹni tí yóò là wọ́n, èkínní sì lu èkejì, ó sì pa á. 7Sì wò ó, gbogbo ìdílé dìde sí ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ̀, wọ́n sì wí pé, Fi ẹni tí ó pa arákùnrin rẹ fún wa, àwa ó sì pa á ní ipò ẹ̀mí arákùnrin rẹ̀ tí ó pa, àwa ó sì pa àrólé náà run pẹ̀lú: wọn ó sì pa iná mi tí ó kù, wọn kì yóò sì fi orúkọ tàbí ẹni tí ó kú sílẹ̀ fún ọkọ mi ní ayé.”
8Ọba sì wí fún obìnrin náà pé, “Lọ sí ilé rẹ̀, èmi ó sì kìlọ̀ nítorí rẹ.”
9Obìnrin ará Tekoa náà sì wí fún ọba pé, “Olúwa mi, ọba, jẹ́ kí ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ náà wà lórí mi, àti lórí ìdílé baba mí; kí ọba àti ìtẹ́ rẹ̀ ó jẹ́ aláìlẹ́bi.”
10Ọba sì wí pé, “Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá sọ̀rọ̀ sí ọ, mú ẹni náà tọ̀ mí wá, òun kì yóò sì tọ́ ọ mọ́.”
11Ó sì wí pé, “Èmi bẹ̀ ọ́ jẹ́ kí ọba ó rántí Olúwa Ọlọ́run rẹ̀, kí olùgbẹ̀san ẹ̀jẹ̀ má ṣe ní ipá láti ṣe ìparun, kí wọn o má bá a pa ọmọ mi!”
Òun sì wí pé, “Bí Olúwa ti ń bẹ láààyè ọ̀kan nínú irun orí ọmọ rẹ ki yóò bọ sílẹ̀.”
Ẹ̀bẹ̀ ní ti Absalomu
12Obìnrin náà sì wí pé, “Èmí bẹ̀ ọ́, jẹ́ kí ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ sọ̀rọ̀ kan fún olúwa mi ọba.”
Òun si wí pé, “Máa wí.”
13Obìnrin náà sì wí pé, “Nítorí kín ni ìwọ sì ṣe ro irú nǹkan yìí sí àwọn ènìyàn Ọlọ́run? Nítorí pé ní sísọ nǹkan yìí ọba ní ẹ̀bi, nítorí pé ọba kò mú ìsáǹsá rẹ̀ bọ̀ wá ilé. 14Nítorí pé àwa ó sá à kú, a ó sì dàbí omi tí a tú sílẹ̀ tí a kò sì lè ṣàjọ mọ́; nítorí bí Ọlọ́run kò ti gbà ẹ̀mí rẹ̀, ó sì ti ṣe ọ̀nà kí a má bá a lé ìsáǹsá rẹ̀ kúrò lọ́dọ̀ rẹ.
15“Ǹjẹ́ nítorí náà ni èmi sì ṣe wá sọ nǹkan yìí fún olúwa mi ọba, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé àwọn ènìyàn ti dẹ́rùbà mí; ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ sì wí pé, ‘Ǹjẹ́ èmi ó sọ fún ọba; ó lè rí bẹ́ẹ̀ pé ọba yóò ṣe ìfẹ́ ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ̀ fún un. 16Nítorí pé ọba ò gbọ́, láti gbà ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ sílẹ̀ lọ́wọ́ ọkùnrin náà tí ó ń fẹ́ gé èmi àti ọmọ mi pẹ̀lú kúrò nínú ilẹ̀ ìní Ọlọ́run.’
17“Ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ̀ sì wí pé, ‘Ǹjẹ́ ọ̀rọ̀ ọba olúwa mi yóò sì jásí ìtùnú; nítorí bí angẹli Ọlọ́run bẹ́ẹ̀ ni olúwa mi ọba láti mọ rere àti búburú: Olúwa Ọlọ́run rẹ yóò sì wà pẹ̀lú rẹ.’ ”
Dafidi mọ̀ pé Joabu ni ó ṣe èyí
18Ọba sì dáhùn, ó sì wí fún obìnrin náà pé, “Má ṣe fi nǹkan tí èmi ó béèrè lọ́wọ́ rẹ pamọ́ fún mi, èmi bẹ̀ ọ́.”
Obìnrin náà wí pé, “Jẹ́ kí olúwa mi ọba máa wí?”
19Ọba sì wí pé, “Ọwọ́ Joabu kò ha wà pẹ̀lú rẹ nínú gbogbo èyí?”
Obìnrin náà sì dáhùn ó sì wí pé, “Bí ẹ̀mí rẹ ti ń bẹ láààyè, olúwa mi ọba, kò sí ìyípadà sí ọwọ́ ọ̀tún, tàbí sí ọwọ́ òsì nínú gbogbo èyí tí olúwa mi ọba ti wí: nítorí pé Joabu ìránṣẹ́ rẹ, òun ni ó rán mi, òun ni ó sì fi gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ wọ̀nyí sí ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ lẹ́nu. 20Láti mú irú ọ̀rọ̀ wọ̀nyí wá ni Joabu ìránṣẹ́ rẹ ṣe ṣe nǹkan yìí: olúwa mi sì gbọ́n, gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọgbọ́n angẹli Ọlọ́run, láti mọ gbogbo nǹkan tí ń bẹ̀ ní ayé.”
Absalomu padà wá sí ilé
21Ọba sì wí fún Joabu pé, “Wò ó, èmi ó ṣe nǹkan yìí: nítorí náà lọ, kí o sì mú ọmọdékùnrin náà Absalomu padà wá.”
22Joabu sì wólẹ̀ ó dojú rẹ̀ bolẹ̀, ó sì tẹríba fún un, ó sì súre fún ọba. Joabu sì wí pé, “Lónìí ni ìránṣẹ́ rẹ mọ̀ pé, èmi rí oore-ọ̀fẹ́ gbà lójú rẹ, olúwa mi, ọba, nítorí pé ọba ṣe ìfẹ́ ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀.”
23Joabu sì dìde, ó sì lọ sí Geṣuri, ó sì mú Absalomu wá sí Jerusalẹmu. 24Ọba sì wí pé, “Jẹ́ kí ó yípadà lọ sí ilé rẹ̀, má ṣe jẹ́ kí ó rí ojú mi.” Absalomu sì yípadà sí ilé rẹ̀, kò sì rí ojú ọba.
Ẹwà Absalomu àti àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀
25Kó sì sí arẹwà kan ní gbogbo Israẹli tí à bá yìn bí Absalomu: láti àtẹ́lẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀ títí dé àtàrí rẹ̀ kò sí àbùkù kan lára rẹ̀. 26Nígbà tí ó bá sì rẹ́ irun orí rẹ̀ (nítorí pé lọ́dọọdún ni òun máa ń rẹ́ ẹ. Nígbà tí ó bá wúwo fún un, òun a sì máa rẹ́ ẹ) òun sì wọn irun orí rẹ̀, ó sì jásí igba ṣékélì nínú òṣùwọ̀n ọba.
27A sì bí ọmọkùnrin mẹ́ta fún Absalomu àti ọmọbìnrin kan ti orúkọ rẹ̀ ń jẹ́ Tamari: òun sì jẹ́ obìnrin tí ó lẹ́wà lójú.
Ọgbọ́n ẹ̀wẹ́ Absalomu
28Absalomu sì gbé ni ọdún méjì ní Jerusalẹmu kò sì rí ojú ọba. 29Absalomu sì ránṣẹ́ sí Joabu, láti rán an sí ọba: ṣùgbọ́n òun kò fẹ́ wá sọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀; ó sì ránṣẹ́ lẹ́ẹ̀kejì òun kò sì fẹ́ wá. 30Ó sì wí fún àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀ pé, “Wò ó, oko Joabu gbé ti èmi, ó sì ní ọkà barle níbẹ̀; ẹ lọ kí ẹ sì ti iná bọ̀ ọ́.” Àwọn ìránṣẹ́ Absalomu sì tiná bọ oko náà.
31Joabu sì dìde, ó sì tọ Absalomu wá ní ilé, ó sì wí fún un pé, “Èéṣe tí àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀ fi tiná bọ oko mi?”
32Absalomu sì dá Joabu lóhùn pé, “Wò ó, èmi ránṣẹ́ sí ọ, wí pé, ‘Wá níhìn-ín yìí, èmi ó sì rán ọ lọ sọ́dọ̀ ọba, láti béèrè pé, “Kí ni èmi ti Geṣuri wá si? Ìbá sàn fún mí bí ó ṣe pé èmi wà lọ́hùn ún síbẹ̀!” ’ Ǹjẹ́ nísinsin yìí jẹ́ kí èmi lọ síwájú ọba bí ó bá sì ṣe ẹ̀bi ń bẹ nínú mi, kí ó pa mí.”
33Joabu sì tọ ọba wá, ó sì rò fún un: ó sì ránṣẹ́ pe Absalomu, òun sì wá sọ́dọ̀ ọba, ó tẹríba fún un, ó sì dojú rẹ̀ bolẹ̀ níwájú ọba, ọba sì fi ẹnu ko Absalomu lẹ́nu.
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
1Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. 2So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. 3Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.
4When the woman from Tekoa went14:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts spoke to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”
5The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”
She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. 6I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. 7Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”
8The king said to the woman, “Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf.”
9But the woman from Tekoa said to him, “Let my lord the king pardon me and my family, and let the king and his throne be without guilt.”
10The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and they will not bother you again.”
11She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.”
“As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”
12Then the woman said, “Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.”
“Speak,” he replied.
13The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? 14Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.
15“And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; perhaps he will grant his servant’s request. 16Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’
17“And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’ ”
18Then the king said to the woman, “Don’t keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.”
“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said.
19The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?”
The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. 20Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”
21The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
22Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant’s request.”
23Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.
25In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 26Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels14:26 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms by the royal standard.
27Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.
28Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face. 29Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. 30Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
32Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!” ’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”
33So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
