1 Kwesi sithuba uJowabhi unyana kaZeruya waphawula ukuba ukumkani uDavide wayeselenxubile kukukhumbula uAbhasalom.
2 Wathumela abantu eTokowa, ukuya kulanda khona mfazi uthile wayeliqhajazana elilumkileyo. Akuba efikile wathi kuye uJowabhi: “Ndifuna uzenze umntu ozilileyo, unxibe iimpahla zokuzila, ungathambisi, ube ngathi kudala wafelwayo,
3 uze uye kukumkani, ufike umxelele le nto ndifuna uyithethe kuye.” Watsho emnika amazwi amakawathethe kukumkani.
4 Waya ke kukumkani loo mfazi waseTekowa, wafika wawa ngamadolo, ekhahlela, wathi: “Ndincede, mhlekazi!”
5 Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Ngaba ukhathazwa yintoni?”Uthe ukuphendula loo mfazi: “Mhlekazi, ndingumhlolokazi; ndibhujelwe yindoda.
6 Yaye bendinoonyana ababini. Ngenye imini baxabana besemadlelweni, kwathi ngenxa yokuba kwakungekho mlamli, balwa wabethwa wafa omnye unyana wam.