Deuteronomy 20

1 If thou go out to war against thy enemies, and see horsemen and chariots, and the numbers of the enemy’s army greater than thine, thou shalt not fear them: because the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt.

Sɛ mokɔ ɔko de tia mo atamfo na muhu apɔnkɔ ne nteaseɛnam ne asraafo a wɔdɔɔso sen mo a, munnsuro wɔn, efisɛ Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no, a oyii mo fii Misraim no bɛka mo ho.

2 And when the battle is now at hand, the priest shall stand before the army, and shall speak to the people in this manner:

Sɛ morebɛkɔ ɔko a, ɔsɔfo no bɛba abɛkasa akyerɛ asraafo no.

3 Hear, O Israel, you join battle this day against your enemies, let not your heart be dismayed, be not afraid, do not give back, fear ye them not:

Ɔbɛka se, “Muntie me, mo Israel mmarima! Nnɛ, morekɔ ɔsa atia mo atamfo. Mommma mo koma ntutu! Mommma mo aba mu mmu na momma mo ho mpopo.

4 Because the Lord your God is in the midst of you, and will fight for you against your enemies, to deliver you from danger.

Na Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no, na ɔne mo rekɔ. Ɔbɛko atia mo atamfo no ama moadi nkonim.”

5 And the captains shall proclaim through every band in the hearing of the army: What man is there, that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

Asraafo mpanyimfo no bebisa asraafo no se, “Mo mu bi asi ɔdan foforo a ɔntenaa mu da? Onii no nsan nkɔ fie! Ebia na wɔakum no wɔ ɔko no mu na ama obi akɔtena mu.

6 What man is there, that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not as yet made it to be common, whereof all men may eat? let him go, and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man execute his office.

Obi wɔ ha a wadɔw bobeturo na onnidii mu da? Onii no nsan nkɔ fie! Ebia na wɔakum no wɔ ɔko no mu na ama obi akodidi mu.

7 What man is there, that hath espoused a wife, and not taken her? let him go, and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man take her.

Obi wɔ ha a ɔne ɔbea bi akasa nanso ɔwaree no ana? Onii no nsan nkɔ fie! Ebia na wɔakum no wɔ ɔko no mu na ama obi akɔware no.”

8 After these things are declared they shall add the rest, and shall speak to the people: What man is there that is fearful, and faint hearted? let him go, and return to his house, lest he make the hearts of his brethren to fear, as he himself is possessed with fear.

Afei, mpanyimfo no bɛkɔ so abisa se, “So mo mu bi suro anaa ne koma atu ana? Ɛno de, ɔnkɔ fie sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a, ne nuabarimanom nso koma rentu.”

9 And when the captains of the army shall hold their peace, and have made an end of speaking, every man shall prepare their bands to fight.

Sɛ mpanyimfo no wie asraafo no kasakyerɛ a, afei wɔbɛpaw asahene adeda wɔn ano.

10 If at any time thou come to fight against a city, thou shalt first offer it peace.

Sɛ mudu kurow bi mu a mo ne wɔn nni kan nka asomdwoesɛm.

11 If they receive it, and open the gates to thee, all the people that are therein, shall be saved, and shall serve thee paying tribute.

Sɛ wɔpene mo nhyehyɛe so na wobue wɔn apon ma mo a, mobɛhyɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ mu no nyinaa ama wɔayɛ adwumaden ama mo.

12 But if they will not make peace, and shall begin war against thee, thou shalt besiege it.

Na sɛ wɔampene asomdwoe nhyehyɛe no so na sɛ wose wɔne mo bɛko a, ɛno de, montow nhyɛ kurow no so.

13 And when the Lord thy God shall deliver it into thy bands, thou shalt slay all that are therein of the male sex, with the edge of the sword,

Sɛ Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no, dan kurow no hyɛ mo nsa a, munkum kurow no mu mmarima nyinaa.

14 Excepting women and children, cattle and other things, that are in the city. And thou shalt divide all the prey to the army, and thou shalt eat the spoils of thy enemies, which the Lord thy God shall give thee.

Ɛyɛ a momfa kurow no mu mmea, mmofra, nyɛmmoa ne asade a aka nyinaa sɛ agyapade. Mubetumi de mo atamfo no asade a Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no, de bɛma mo no ayɛ mo ade.

15 So shalt thou do to all cities that are at a great distance from thee, and are not of these cities which thou shalt receive in possession.

Eyi ne ɔkwan a ɛsɛ sɛ mode nkuropɔn a ɛwɔ akyiri na wɔnyɛ aman a ɛbemmɛn no fa so.

16 But of those cities that shall be given thee, thou shalt suffer none at all to live:

Na amanaman nkuropɔn a Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no, de rema mo sɛ agyapade no de, monsɛe biribiara a nkwa wɔ mu wɔ hɔ.

17 But shalt kill them with the edge of the sword, to wit, the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee:

Monsɛe Hetifo, Amorifo, Kanaanfo, Perisifo, Hewifo ne Yebusifo no pasaa sɛnea Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no, ahyɛ mo no.

18 Lest they teach you to do all the abominations which they have done to their gods: and you should sin against the Lord your God.

Sɛ ɛba saa a, ɛremma nnipa a wɔte asase no so no nkyerɛ mo akyiwade a wɔyɛ wɔ wɔn abosonsom ho amma mo anyɛ bɔne antia Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no.

19 When thou hast besieged a city a long time, and hath compassed it with bulwarks to take it, thou shalt not cut down the trees that may be eaten of, neither shalt thou spoil the country round about with axes: for it is a tree, and not a man, neither can it increase the number of them that fight against thee.

Sɛ motua kuropɔn bi ano kyɛ, a moreko afa kurow no a, mommfa abonnua ntwitwa mu nnua nsɛe no. Efisɛ mubetumi adi nʼaba. Munntwitwa nnua no ngu. Nnua no nyɛ atamfo a ɛsɛ sɛ motow hyɛ so!

20 But if there be any trees that are not fruitful, but wild, and fit for other uses, cut them down, and make engines, until thou take the city, which fighteth against thee.

Nanso mutumi twa nnua a munim sɛ ɛnyɛ aduan; na momfa nyɛ ade a ɛho behia mo sɛ mode bɛboa atua kurow a mo ne wɔn reko no ano akosi sɛ mubedi so.