< 1 Kings 2 >

1 The time of David's death was approaching, so he gave his son Solomon these last instructions:
Esi Fia David ƒe kuɣi ɖo vɔ la, egblɔ na via, Solomo be:
2 “I am about to go the way everybody on earth must go. Be brave, and act like a man.
“Mele demagbɔnugbe yim eya ta lé dzi ɖe ƒo, nàwɔ kalẽ.
3 Do what God orders you to do, follow his ways. Keep his rules, his commands, and his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses, so you may be successful in everything you do, and in everything you give your attention to.
Wɔ nu siwo katã Yehowa, wò Mawu ɖo na wò. Wɔ eƒe se siwo katã woŋlɔ ɖe Mose ƒe agbalẽ me la dzi ale be nu sia nu si nàwɔ le go ɖe sia ɖe me la nadze edzi na wò.
4 If so, then the Lord will keep his promise to me when he said: ‘If your descendants are to live right before me, faithfully and with complete commitment, then you will always have one of them on the throne of Israel.’
Ne èwɔ alea la, ekema Yehowa awɔ ŋugbe si wòdo nam la dzi. Ŋugbe siae nye be ne vinyewo kple woƒe dzidzimeviwo azɔ nyuie, eye woawɔ nuteƒe na ye, Mawu la, ekema wo dometɔ ɖeka anye fia na Israel ɣe sia ɣi eye nye fiaɖuƒe nu mayi akpɔ o.
5 In addition, you know what Joab, son of Zeruiah, did to me and what he did to Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether, the two army commanders of Israel. He murdered them, spilling the blood of war during a time of peace. He smeared the blood of war on his belt and on his sandals.
“Ènya be Yoab, Yeruya vi wu nye Israelʋafia eve, Abner kple Amasa. Eble amewo be aʋa mee yewu wo le, le esime wònye ŋutifafa ƒe ɣeyiɣiwo mee wòwu wo le.
6 Do what you think is right, but don't let his gray head go down peacefully into the grave. (Sheol h7585)
Ame nyanue nènye eye ànya nu si nàwɔ; mègana wòaku le ŋutifafa me o. (Sheol h7585)
7 But be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Bring them into your royal court, for they helped me when I ran from your brother Absalom.
“Ke ve Barzilai, Gileadtɔ la ƒe viwo nu elabena wove nunye esi mesi le vinye Absalom nu.
8 Don't you forget Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who cursed me with painful words when I went to Mahanaim. When he met me at the Jordan I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will not kill you with the sword.’
“Èɖo ŋku Simei, ame si nye Gera, Benyamintɔ tso Bahurim ƒe vi dzia? Eƒo fi dem vevie esime meyina Mahanaim. Ke esi wòva kpem le Yɔdan tɔsisi la nu la, medo ŋugbe nɛ le Yehowa ŋkɔ me be nyemawui o.
9 So don't leave him unpunished. You're a wise man and you know what you have to do to him—send him down into the grave with blood on his gray head.” (Sheol h7585)
Ke azɔ la, mègabui ame maɖifɔe o. Nunyalae nènye; ànya nu si nàwɔe. Ɖo eƒe ta ƒowɔ la ɖe yɔ me to ʋu me.” (Sheol h7585)
10 Then David died and his was buried in the City of David.
Ale David ku eye woɖii ɖe Yerusalem, David ƒe du la me.
11 His reign over Israel lasted forty years; seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Eɖu fia ɖe Israel dzi ƒe blaene, ƒe adre le Hebron, ƒe blaetɔ̃-vɔ-etɔ̃ le Yerusalem.
12 Solomon took over as king, sitting on the throne of his father David, and his hold on his kingdom was secure.
Solomo zu fia yeye ɖe fofoa, David teƒe eye nuwo tsɔ afɔ nyuie le eƒe fiaɖuƒe la me.
13 Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked him, “Have you come here with good intentions?” He replied, “Yes, with good intentions.”
Gbe ɖeka la, Adoniya, Hagit ƒe vi la va Fia Solomo dada, Batseba gbɔ. Batseba biae be, “Ŋutifafae nètsɔ vɛa?” Adoniya ɖo eŋu be, “Ɛ̃, ŋutifafa mee meva le.
14 “I have something I'd like to ask of you,” he continued. “Go on,” she said.
Le nyateƒe me la, meva be maɖe kuku na wò, nàve nunye le mɔ tɔxɛ aɖe nu.” Batseba biae be, “Nu kae?”
15 “You know that the kingdom was mine,” he declared, “and everyone in Israel was looking forward to me being their next king. But everything was turned upside-down, and the kingdom passed to my brother, because that's what the Lord wanted.
Adoniya ɖo eŋu be, “Tsã la, fiaɖuƒe la nye tɔnye eye Israel katã bu be nyee anye fia yeyea hafi. Ke nuwo va trɔ eye nu sia nu va yi nɔvinye boŋ ƒe asi me elabena nenemae Yehowa di be wòanɔ.
16 Now I've just one request to ask of you—please don't say no.” “Tell me,” she said.
Azɔ la, medi be mabia wò nàna kpekpeɖeŋu tɔxɛ aɖem. Meɖe kuku, mègagbe kpekpeɖeŋu sia nanam o.” Batseba biae be, “Nu kae?”
17 He went on, “Please talk to King Solomon for me because he won't turn you down. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife.”
Eɖo eŋu be, “Ƒo nu na Fia Solomo nam elabena menya be awɔ nu sia nu si nàbiae. Ƒo nu nɛ nam be wòatsɔ Abisag, Sunami nyɔnu la nam maɖe.”
18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will talk to the king for you.”
Batseba ɖo eŋu be, “Enyo, mabiae na wò.”
19 So Bathsheba went to talk to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king got up from his throne to meet her, and bowed before her. Then he sat back down and ordered another throne brought in for his mother. She sat to his right.
Ale Batseba yi be yeagblɔ nya la na Fia Solomo le Adoniya ƒe ŋkɔ me. Esi wòɖo fia la gbɔ ko la, fia la tso le eƒe fiazikpui dzi, bɔbɔ eye wòde ta agu na dadaa. Eɖe gbe be woatsɔ fiazikpui aɖe ada ɖe ye tɔ gbɔ na ye dada, ale dadaa nɔ eƒe ɖusime.
20 “I have just one small request to ask of you,” she said. “Please don't say no.” The king replied, “Ask away, dear mother. I won't say no to you.”
Dadaa gblɔ nɛ be, “Meva be mabia nane wò; meka ɖe edzi be màgbe nu si mabia wò la wɔwɔ o.” Fia la biae be, “Nu kae, danye? Ènya be, màbia nanekem magbe o.”
21 “Please give Abishag from Shunem to your brother Adonijah as his wife,” she replied.
Dadaa gblɔ nɛ be, “Ɖe mɔ nɔviwò, Adoniya naɖe Abisag.”
22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why on earth are you asking me to give Abishag to Adonijah? You might as well ask me to give my brother the kingdom! He is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, son of Zeruiah, are on his side!”
Fia Solomo ɖo ŋu na dadaa be, “Nu ka ta nèle Abisag, Sunami nyɔnu la biam na Adoniya ɖo? Bia fiaɖuƒe la hã na eya kple nunɔla Abiata kple Aʋafia Yoab si nye Zeruya ƒe vi la elabna fonyee.”
23 Then King Solomon vowed before the Lord, “May God punish me, really punish me, if what Adonijah has asked for doesn't cost him his life.
Tete Fia Solomo tsɔ Yehowa ka atam be, “Mawu nafiam agafiam ɖe edzi, ne Adoniya metsɔ eƒe agbe xe fe ɖe nu si wòbia la ta o!
24 So I vow, as the Lord lives, who affirmed me as king and placed me on the throne of my father David, making me the head of a dynasty as he promised, Adonijah shall be executed today.”
Ke azɔ la, zi ale si Yehowa le agbe, ame si tsɔm ɖo fofonye, David ƒe fiazikpui dzi eye wòɖo fiaɖuƒe anyi nam abe ale si wòdo ŋugbe ene la, woawu Adoniya egbea!”
25 King Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who carried out the king's orders and executed Adonijah.
Ale Fia Solomo ɖo Benaya ɖa be wòayi aɖawu Adoniya eye wòyi ɖawui kple yi.
26 In the case of Abiathar, the high priest, the king told him, “Go home and take care of your fields. You should be condemned to death, but I will not kill you right now because you carried the Ark of the Lord God ahead of my father David and went through all his hard times with him.”
Le esia megbe la, fia la gblɔ na nunɔla Abiata be, “Yi wò aƒe me le Anatɔt; ele be woawu wò hã gake nyemawu wò fifia o elabena wòe tsɔ Aƒetɔ la ƒe nubablaɖaka la le fofonye ƒe fiaɖuɣi eye nèkpe fu sia fu kplii to eƒe xaxaɣiwo katã me.”
27 So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, and so fulfilled what the Lord had said at Shiloh regarding the descendants of Eli.
Ale Solomo nya Abiata be magawɔ dɔ abe Yehowa ƒe nunɔla ene o. Ale wona Yehowa ƒe nya si wògblɔ ɖi ɖe Eli kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo ŋu le Silo la va eme.
28 When Joab heard the news he ran to the Lord's Tent and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. (He had not supported Absalom's rebellion but he had supported Adonijah.)
Yoab nye aʋafia na David ƒe aʋakɔ eye mede Absalom dzi o, ke ede Adoniya ya dzi. Esi Yoab se Adoniya ƒe ku la, eƒu du yi ɖadi sitsoƒe le Agbadɔ la me eye wòlé vɔsamlekpui la ƒe lãdzowo ɖe asi.
29 When King Solomon was told that Joab was seeking sanctuary by the altar, he sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute him.
Esi Fia Solomo se nya sia la, eɖo Benaya ɖa be wòayi aɖawui.
30 Benaiah went to the Lord's Tent and told called to Joab, “The king orders you to come out!” “No! I'll die here!” Joab replied. Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.
Benaya yi agbadɔ la me; ekpɔ Yoab eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Fia Solomo be, ‘do go!’” Yoab ɖo eŋu be, “Ao, medi be maku ɖe afi sia.” Ale Benaya trɔ yi fia la gbɔ hegblɔ nɛ be, “Ale Yoab gblɔ eye ale wòɖo eŋu nam enye esi.”
31 “Do as he says,” the king told Benaiah. “Strike him down and bury him. In that way you will remove from me and my family the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed.
Fia la gblɔ be, “Wɔ eƒe didi dzi, wui le vɔsamlekpui la gbɔ eye nàɖii. Esia aɖe amewo wuwu dzodzro ƒe fɔɖiɖi ɖa le nye kple fofonye ƒe ƒome la dzi.
32 The Lord will pay him back for the blood he shed, for without my father David's knowledge, he killed two good men who were better than he was. With his sword he killed Abner, son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa, son of Jether, commander of Judah's army.
Ekema Yehowa ana ame eve siwo nyo wui hafi wòwu wo la ƒe nu vɔ̃ nanɔ eya ŋutɔ dzi elabena fofonye ƒe asi menɔ Aʋafia Abner, Israelʋakɔ la ƒe kplɔla gã la kple Aʋafia Amasa, Yudaʋakɔwo ƒe kplɔla gã la ƒe ku me o.
33 May the responsibility for shedding their blood come back on Joab and his descendants forever; but may the Lord give peace and prosperity to David, his descendants, his family, and his dynasty forever.”
Ame siawo wuwu ƒe nu vɔ̃ nanɔ Yoab kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo dzi tegbetegbe eye Mawu nakpɔe be David kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo meɖi fɔ le ame siawo wuwu me o.”
34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness.
Ale Benaya trɔ yi agbadɔ la me eye wòwu Yoab. Woɖi eƒe kukua ɖe eƒe aƒe xa le gbegbe.
35 The king appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to take over Joab's role as army commander, and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
Fia Solomo ɖo Benaya aʋafia gãe ɖe Yoab teƒe eye wòtsɔ Zadok ɖo nunɔla ɖe Abiata teƒe.
36 Then the king summoned Shimei and told him, “Go and build yourself a house in Jerusalem and stay there, but don't leave and go anywhere else.
Fia la ɖo du ɖe Simei eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Tu xɔ na ɖokuiwò ɖe Yerusalem eye nànɔ afi ma; mègayi teƒe bubu aɖeke o.
37 You should know for certain that the day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley you will die. Your death will be your own responsibility.”
Gbe si gbe nàtso Kidron bali la la, nànya nyuie be yeaku eye yeƒe ʋu anɔ ye ŋutɔ ƒe ta dzi.”
38 “What Your Majesty says is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has ordered.” Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.
Simei gblɔ nɛ be, “Mesee; mawɔ nu sia nu si nye aƒetɔ fia la gblɔ.” Ale wònɔ Yerusalem ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe.
39 But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves escaped to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”
Le ƒe etɔ̃ megbe la, Simei ƒe kluvi eve si yi Gat fia, Akis gbɔ. Esime Simei se be wole afi ma la,
40 So Shimei saddled up his donkey and went to Achish in Gath to look for his slaves. He found them and brought them back from Gath.
edo tedzi yi Gat le Akis gbɔ be yeadi yeƒe kluviwo. Esi wòkpɔ eƒe kluviawo la, ekplɔ wo va Yerusalem.
41 Solomon was informed that Shimei had left Jerusalem to go to Gath, and had then returned.
Fia Solomo se be Simei dzo le Yerusalem yi Gat eye wòtrɔ gbɔ.
42 The king summoned Shimei and asked him, “Didn't I vow to you by the Lord, didn't I warn you that the day you left and went somewhere else that you should know for certain that you would die? Didn't you reply to me, ‘What Your Majesty says is fair; I'll do as you ordered’?
Eyɔe hebiae be, “Ɖe nyemeɖo na wò be nànɔ Yerusalem alo nàku oa? Wò ŋutɔ mèɖo eŋu gblɔ be, ‘Mesee; mawɔ nu sia nu si nènya gblɔ ko’ oa?
43 So why haven't you kept your vow to the Lord, and obeyed my orders?”
Ekema nu ka ta mèwɔ míaƒe ɖoɖo kple nye se la dzi o?”
44 The king also told Shimei, “Deep down you know all the evil things you did to my father David. That's why the Lord will repay you for your evil.
“Nya kae le asiwò le nu vɔ̃ɖi siwo katã nèwɔ ɖe fofonye, Fia David, ŋu la ta? Yehowa nabia hlɔ̃ wò
45 But I, King Solomon, will be blessed and David's dynasty will be kept safe in the presence of the Lord forever.”
gake wòakɔ eƒe yayra gã ɖe Solomo dzi ale be David ƒe fiazikpui la ali ke le Yehowa ƒe ŋkume tegbee.”
46 The king ordered Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute Shimei, so he went and killed Shimei. In this way Solomon's hold on the kingdom was made secure.
Enumake Fia Solomo ɖe gbe eye Benaya kplɔ Simei yi gota eye wòwui. Ale Solomo ƒe fianyenye li ke ɖe Israel dukɔ la me.

< 1 Kings 2 >