< 1 Kings 2 >

1 The time of David's death was approaching, so he gave his son Solomon these last instructions:
Dawid rebɛwuo no, ɔde adwuma hyɛɛ Salomo nsa sɛ:
2 “I am about to go the way everybody on earth must go. Be brave, and act like a man.
“Merekɔ baabi a ɛsɛ sɛ da bi ɔteasefoɔ biara kɔ, enti yɛ den na kyerɛ wo mmaninyɛ,
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.
na yɛ deɛ Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn, hwehwɛ sɛ woyɛ, nante nʼakwan mu, na di ne mmara ne nʼahyɛdeɛ so sɛdeɛ wɔatwerɛ wɔ Mose mmara no mu no, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wobɛkɔ so wɔ biribiara a wobɛyɛ mu ne baabiara a wobɛkɔ nso.
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.’
Sɛ woyɛ yei a na Awurade bɛdi ne bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ me no so sɛ, ‘Sɛ wʼasefoɔ hwɛ wɔn asetena, na wɔfiri wɔn akoma ne wɔn kra nyinaa mu nante nokorɛ mu wɔ mʼanim a, wɔn mu baako bɛtena Israel ahennwa no so.’
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.
“Wonim sɛ Seruia babarima Yoab kumm mʼakodɔm asahene baanu no a ɛyɛ Ner babarima Abner ne Yeter babarima Amasa no. Ɔkunkumm wɔn, hwiee wɔn mogya guiɛ asomdwoeɛ berɛ mu a ɛnyɛ ɔko berɛ mu, na ɔde wɔn mogya kekaa nʼabɔwomu a ɛbɔ nʼasene mu ne ne mpaboa a ɛhyɛ ne nan so.
6 Do what you think is right, but don't let his gray head go down peacefully into the grave. (Sheol h7585)
Wo ne no nni, na mma no mmfa ne ti dwono nkɔ damena mu asomdwoeɛ mu. (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.
“Na yɛ Barsilai a ɔfiri Gilead no mmammarima adɔeɛ, na ma wɔnka wɔn a wɔdidi wɔ wo didipono so no ho. Ɛberɛ a medwane firii wo nuabarima Absalom ho no, wɔyɛɛ me adɔeɛ.
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.’
“Kae Gera Benyaminni a ɔfiri Bahurim no babarima Simei. Ɔdomee me dendeenden, da a meredwane akɔ Mahanaim no. Na ɔbɛhyiaa me wɔ Yordan no, mede Awurade edin kaa ntam sɛ, Merenkum no.
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)
Nanso, ntam no mma ɔnni bem. Woyɛ ɔnyansafoɔ na wobɛhunu ɛkwan a wobɛfa so aka ne mogya agu.” (Sheol h7585)
10 Then David died and his was buried in the City of David.
Na Dawid wuiɛ, na wɔsiee no wɔ Dawid kurom.
11 His reign over Israel lasted forty years; seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
Ɔdii ɔhene wɔ Israel mfeɛ aduanan a ne nkyerɛmu ne sɛ, ɔdii Hebron so mfeɛ nson ɛnna Yerusalem nso, ɔdii adeɛ mfeɛ aduasa mmiɛnsa.
12 Solomon took over as king, sitting on the throne of his father David, and his hold on his kingdom was secure.
Enti, Salomo tenaa nʼagya Dawid ahennwa so, na nʼadedie ase timiiɛ yie.
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.”
Na Hagit babarima Adoniya kɔɔ Salomo ne maame Batseba nkyɛn. Batseba bisaa no sɛ, “Wobaa no asomdwoeɛ so anaa?” Ɔbuaa no sɛ, “Ɛyɛ asomdwoeɛ so.”
14 “I have something I'd like to ask of you,” he continued. “Go on,” she said.
Na ɔka kaa ho sɛ, “Mepɛ sɛ woyɛ me adɔeɛ bi.” Na Batseba bisaa sɛ, “Adɔeɛ bɛn.”
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 kaa sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ wonim no, na ahemman no yɛ me dea. Na Israel nyinaa hwɛ me kwan sɛ wɔn ɔhene. Nanso, nneɛma sesaeɛ, na ahemman no kɔɔ me nuabarima nkyɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade pɛ no saa.
16 Now I've just one request to ask of you—please don't say no.” “Tell me,” she said.
Seesei, adeɛ baako na mepɛ sɛ mebisa wo. Mfa nkame me.” Ɔkaa sɛ, “Wotumi bisa me.”
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.”
Na ɔtoaa so sɛ, “Kɔbisa ɔhene Salomo ma me, na ɔremfa dekodeɛ no nkame wo. Bisa no na ɔmfa Abisag Sunamni no mma me sɛ me yere.”
18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will talk to the king for you.”
Na Batseba buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, mɛka ho asɛm akyerɛ ɔhene ama wo.”
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.
Enti Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene Salomo nkyɛn sɛ ɔrekɔkasa ama Adoniya. Ɔhene no sɔree sɛ ɔrebɛhyia no, bɔɔ ne mu ase ansa na ɔretena nʼahennwa so. Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa adwa mmrɛ ɔhene maame, na ɔtenaa ɔhene nifa so.
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.”
Ɔka kyerɛɛ ɔhene sɛ, “Mewɔ adeɛ ketewaa bi bisa wo, na mfa nkame me.” Ɔhene no buaa no sɛ, “Bisa me, me maame. Meyɛ ama wo.”
21 “Please give Abishag from Shunem to your brother Adonijah as his wife,” she replied.
Enti, ɔkaa sɛ, “Ma wɔmfa Sunamni Abisag mma wo nuabarima Adoniya awadeɛ.”
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!”
Ɔhene Salomo bisaa ne maame sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wopɛ sɛ Adoniya ware Sunamni Abisag? Ɛnneɛ, sɛ wobɛbisa ahemman nso ama no. Wonim sɛ ɔyɛ me nua panin na ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar ne Seruia babarima Yoab nso boa no!”
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.
Na ɔhene Salomo de Awurade edin kaa ntam sɛ, “Sɛ Adoniya amfa ne nkwa antwa saa abisadeɛ yi so a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no denden so pa ara.
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.”
Na seesei deɛ, mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade te ase yi, ɔno a watim mʼase wɔ mʼagya Dawid ahennwa so, na wabɔ me fie ahennie mu nnidisoɔ atenaseɛ ama me, sɛdeɛ ɔhyɛɛ me bɔ no, Adoniya deɛ, twa ara na ɛtwa sɛ ɔwu ɛnnɛ yi ara.”
25 King Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who carried out the king's orders and executed Adonijah.
Enti, Salomo hyɛɛ Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ ɔnkum no, na ɔkumm Adoniya.
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.”
Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar sɛ, “Sane kɔ wo kurom Anatot. Wofata sɛ wowuo, nanso merenku wo seesei, ɛfiri sɛ, wosoaa Awurade Otumfoɔ Adaka no maa mʼagya, na wo ne no nyinaa na mohunuu amane wɔ nʼabɛbrɛsɛ nyinaa mu.”
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.
Enti, Salomo worɔɔ Abiatar atadeɛ sɛ ɔsɔfoɔ, nam so dii mmara a Awurade hyɛɛ wɔ Silo fa Eli asefoɔ ho no so.
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.)
Ɛwom, ahyɛaseɛ no na ɔnni Absalom akyi, nanso Yoab de ne ho kɔdɔm Adoniya adɔnyɛ no. Ɛberɛ a Yoab tee Adoniya wuo no, ɔtuu mmirika kɔɔ Awurade ntomadan kronkron no mu, na ɔkɔsosɔɔ mmɛn a ɛtuatua afɔrebukyia no ho no mu.
29 When King Solomon was told that Joab was seeking sanctuary by the altar, he sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute him.
Ɛberɛ a ɔhene Salomo tee asɛm yi, ɔsomaa Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ ɔnkɔkum no.
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.
Na Benaia kɔɔ Awurade ntomadan kronkron no mu kɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ, “Ɔhene se firi adi.” Nanso, Yoab buaa sɛ, “Dabi, mɛwu wɔ ha.” Enti, Benaia sane kɔɔ ɔhene no nkyɛn kɔkaa asɛm a Yoab aka no kyerɛɛ no.
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.
Ɔhene no tee asɛm a Yoab kaeɛ no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Benaia sɛ, “Yɛ deɛ ɔkaeɛ no. Ku no wɔ afɔrebukyia no ho, na sie no. Yei bɛyi adwenemherɛ mogyahwieguo ho afɔdie afiri me ne mʼagya fiefoɔ so.
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.
Na Awurade bɛtua no kum a ɔkumm mmarima ateneneefoɔ amapa baanu a na wɔyɛ sene no no so ka. Na mʼagya nnim Ner babarima Abner a na ɔyɛ Israel akodɔm sahene ne Yeter babarima Amasa a na ɔno nso yɛ Yuda akodɔm sahene no wuo ho hwee.
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.”
Yoab ne nʼasefoɔ deɛ, saa awudie ahodoɔ yi ho afɔdie ntena wɔn so, na Awurade mma Dawid ne nʼasefoɔ ne nʼahennwa asomdwoeɛ afebɔɔ!”
34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness.
Enti, Yehoiada babarima Benaia sane kɔɔ ntomadan kronkron no mu, kɔkumm Yoab, na wɔsiee Yoab wɔ ne kurom wiram baabi.
35 The king appointed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to take over Joab's role as army commander, and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
Na ɔhene no yii Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ ɔnsi Yoab anan sɛ ɔsafohene. Na ɔyii ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok de no sii Abiatar anan.
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.
Ɔhene no soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Si efie wɔ Yerusalem ha na tena mu. Nanso, mfiri kuro no mu nkɔ baabiara.
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.”
Na da a wobɛtwa Kidron bɔnhwa no, wobɛwu; na wo mogya bɛgu wʼankasa wo tiri so.”
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.
Na Simei buaa sɛ, “Wʼatemmuo no yɛ kronn. Biribiara a me wura ɔhene bɛhyɛ sɛ menyɛ no, mɛyɛ.” Enti, Simei tenaa Yerusalem kyɛree yie.
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.”
Na mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no, Simei asomfoɔ baanu dwane kɔɔ Gathene Akis, Maaka babarima nkyɛn. Ɛberɛ a Simei hunuu baabi a wɔwɔ no,
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.
ɔhyehyɛɛ nʼafunumu, kɔɔ Gat, kɔhwehwɛɛ wɔn. Ɔhunuu wɔn no, ɔde wɔn sane baa Yerusalem.
41 Solomon was informed that Shimei had left Jerusalem to go to Gath, and had then returned.
Salomo tee sɛ Simei afiri Yerusalem akɔ Gat asane aba.
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’?
Enti, wɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei baeɛ, na ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Mamma woanka ntam Awurade edin mu sɛ, worenkɔ baabiara, na sɛ anyɛ saa a, wobɛwu? Na wobuaa sɛ, ‘Atemmuo no yɛ kronkron; na mɛdi asɛm a woaka no so.’
43 So why haven't you kept your vow to the Lord, and obeyed my orders?”
Na adɛn enti na woanni wo ntanka no so amma Awurade, na woantie me nhyɛ?”
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.
Na ɔhene no ka kaa ho sɛ, “Akyinnyeɛ biara nni ho sɛ wokae amumuyɛ a woyɛɛ mʼagya, ɔhene Dawid. Awurade bɛtwe wʼaso wɔ ho.
45 But I, King Solomon, will be blessed and David's dynasty will be kept safe in the presence of the Lord forever.”
Na medeɛ, mɛnya Awurade nhyira, na daa Dawid aseni atena ahennwa no so.”
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.
Na ɔhene no nhyɛ so, Yehoiada babarima Benaia faa Simei de no firii adi kɔkumm no. Enti ahemman no timiiɛ wɔ Salomo nsam.

< 1 Kings 2 >