< 2 Samuel 15 >
1 Some time later, Absalom acquired a chariot and horses [to pull it]. He [hired] 50 men to run in front of him [to honor him while he was riding around Jerusalem in the chariot].
Yei akyi no, Absalom tɔɔ teaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ, na ɔbɔɔ mmarima aduonum paa sɛ wɔbɛdi nʼanim.
2 Furthermore, he always rose early [each morning] and stood by the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute/quarrel that he wanted the king to decide, Absalom would call out to him, asking “What city are you from?” When the person told him what [city and] tribe he was from,
Adekyeɛ biara, ɔsɔre ntɛm na wakɔtena kuropɔn no ɛpono ano. Na sɛ nnipa bi de asɛm bɛto ɔhene no anim sɛ ɔmmu ho atɛn a, Absalom bɛbisa faako a wɔfirie, na wɔakyerɛ abusuakuo a wɔfiri mu.
3 Absalom would say to him, “Listen, [I am sure that] what you are saying/claiming is right. But there is no one whom the king has appointed/authorized to listen to [people like] you.”
Na Absalom bɛka sɛ, “Wʼasɛm yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɔhene nni obiara a ɔbɛtie.
4 Absalom would then add, “I wish that I were a judge in this land. If I were a judge, anyone who had a dispute could come to me, and I would decide it fairly/justly.”
Sɛ meyɛ ɔtemmufoɔ anka mepɛ. Anka nnipa de wɔn nsɛm bɛba mʼanim, na mabu wɔn atɛn.”
5 And whenever anyone came near to Absalom to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and embrace him and kiss him.
Sɛ nnipa pɛ sɛ wɔkoto no a, Absalom mma wɔn nyɛ saa na mmom ɔsɔ wɔn nsa, yɛ wɔn atuu.
6 Absalom did this to everyone in Israel who came to the king because of having a dispute with someone. In that way, Absalom persuaded all the Israeli people to be more pleased with him [IDM] [than they were pleased with David].
Absalom yɛɛ saa de nyaa Israelfoɔ no nyinaa wɔ nʼafa.
7 Four years later, Absalom [went to] the king and said, “Please allow me to go to Hebron [city], in order that I can do what I promised Yahweh that I would do.
Mfirinhyia ɛnan akyi, Absalom ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Ma menkɔ Hebron na menkɔbɔ afɔdeɛ mma Awurade sɛdeɛ mahyɛ no bɔ no.
8 When I was living in Geshur, in Syria, I promised Yahweh that if he brought me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him [in Hebron].”
Ɛberɛ a na mewɔ Gesur no na mehyɛɛ saa bɔ no sɛ, ‘Sɛ Awurade de me sane ba Yerusalem a, mɛbɔ afɔdeɛ ama no wɔ Hebron.’”
9 The king replied, “You may go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.
Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, kɔ na kɔdi wo bɔhyɛ so.” Enti, Absalom kɔɔ Hebron.
10 But [while he was there, ] he secretly sent messengers to all the tribes in Israel, to tell them, “When you hear the sound of the trumpets [being blown], shout ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”
Ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ hɔ no, ɔfaa sum ase somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Israel afanan nyinaa kɔhwanyanee ɔmanfoɔ de tiaa ɔhene no. Ne nkra ne sɛ, “Sɛ mote totorobɛnto nne pɛ a, monka sɛ, ‘Absalom adi ɔhene wɔ Hebron.’”
11 Absalom had taken with him to Hebron 200 men from Jerusalem, but they did not know [what Absalom was planning to do].
Absalom faa mmarima ahanu firii Yerusalem kaa ne ho a na wɔnnim Absalom nsusuiɛ yi ho hwee.
12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices [at Hebron], he sent a message to Ahithophel, from Giloh [town], requesting him to come. Ahithophel was one of the king’s advisors. So the number of people who joined Absalom and who were ready to rebel [against David] became larger.
Ɛberɛ a Absalom rebɔ afɔdeɛ no, ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfaa Giloni Ahitofel a na ɔyɛ Dawid fotufoɔ firi ne kurom Gilo baeɛ. Ankyɛre nnipa bebree no ara bɛkaa Absalom ho, na atirisopam no mu yɛɛ den.
13 Soon a messenger came to David and said to him, “All [HYP] the Israeli people [SYN] are joining Absalom to rebel against you!”
Ankyɛre, ɔbɔfoɔ bi baa Yerusalem bɛka kyerɛɛ ɔhene Dawid sɛ, “Israel nyinaa atu di Absalom akyi sɛ wɔayɛ dɔm atia wo.”
14 So David said to all his officials, “We must leave immediately if we want to escape from Absalom! We must go quickly, before he [and his men] arrive. If we do not do that, they will kill us and everyone else in the city!”
Ɛhɔ ara, Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima sɛ, “Monyɛ no ntɛm na yɛnnwane mfiri ha, ansa na waduru ha, sɛdeɛ amanehunu bɛpare yɛn ne Yerusalem kuro mu no nyinaa.”
15 The king’s officials said, “Okay, your majesty, we are ready to do whatever you decide.”
Nʼafotufoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Yɛgyina wʼakyi. Biribiara a wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ no, yɛ.”
16 So the king left ten of his slave wives there to take care of the palace, but all the other people in his palace went with him.
Enti, ɔhene no ne ne fiefoɔ sii so kɔɔ prɛko pɛ a wannya biribiara wɔ akyire sɛ ne mpenafoɔ edu bi a wɔbɛhwɛ nʼahemfie no so.
17 When they all were leaving [the city], they stopped at the last house.
Ɔhene no ne ne nkurɔfoɔ no faa fam, na wɔfaa kuropɔn no fa bi,
18 The king and his officials stood there while his bodyguards went by in front of him. 600 soldiers from Gath [city] also walked by in front of him.
maa Dawid akodɔm no bɛtwaa wɔn ho dii wɔn anim. Nnipa a wɔkaa Dawid ho kɔeɛ no yɛ Gitifoɔ ahansia a wɔfiri Gat a ne banbɔfoɔ nso ka ho.
19 Then David said to Ittai, [the leader of the soldiers] from Gath, “(Why are you going with us?/You should not be going with us.) [RHQ] Go back and stay with [Absalom] the [new] king. You are not an Israeli; you are living away from your own land.
Na ɔhene no bisaa Gatni Itai a ɔyɛ ɔsafohene no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na woka yɛn ho rekɔ? Sane kɔka wo nkurɔfoɔ ho, na monkɔ ɔhene Absalom nkyɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, woyɛ ɔhɔhoɔ wɔ Israel ne ɔmamfrani a wɔatwa wo asuo.
20 You have lived here [in Israel] for only a short time [HYP]. And we do not even know where we will be going. So it is not right [RHQ] for me to force you to wander around with us. And take your troops with you. And I hope/wish that Yahweh will faithfully love and be loyal to you.”
Woduruu ha nnora nko ara. Na ɛsɛ sɛ mehyɛ wo na wo ne yɛn kyini anaa? Me mpo, mennim baabi a yɛbɛkorɔ. Sane wʼakyi na kɔfa wʼakodɔm ka wo ho, na Awurade nkyerɛ wo ne dɔ ne ne nokorɛ.”
21 But Ittai replied, “Your Majesty, as surely as you live, wherever you go, I will go; I will stay with you, whether they kill me or allow me to live.”
Nanso, Itai ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Mede Awurade din ne wo ara wo nkwa ka ntam sɛ, baabiara a wobɛkɔ no, mɛkɔ bi a deɛ ɛbɛsi biara mfa me ho, sɛ ɛyɛ nkwa anaa owuo.”
22 David replied to Ittai, “Okay, march with us!” So Ittai and all his troops and their families went [with David].
Dawid buaa no sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, ka yɛn ho.” Ɛno enti, Itai ne ne mmarima ahansia ne wɔn fiefoɔ kaa wɔn ho kɔeɛ.
23 All the people [along the road] cried when they saw them walking by. The king and all the others crossed the Kidron Valley and then they all went [up the hill] toward the desert.
Awerɛhoɔ kɛseɛ sii asase no so, ɛberɛ a ɔhene ne nʼakyidifoɔ resene korɔ no. Wɔtwaa Kidron bɔnhwa no de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ ɛserɛ so.
24 Abiathar and Zadok, [the priests, ] were walking with them. The descendants of Levi [who helped the priests] also went with them, carrying the sacred chest that contained the Ten Commandments. But they set it on the ground until all the others had left the city.
Abiatar ne Sadok ne Lewifoɔ no faa Apam Adaka no, na wɔde sii kwankyɛn. Na wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ hɔ kɔsii sɛ obiara seneeɛ.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “You and Abiathar take the sacred chest back into the city. If Yahweh is pleased with me, he will some day allow me to return to see it and the place where it is kept.
Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Sadok sɛ, “Sane fa Onyankopɔn Adaka no kɔ kuropɔn no mu. Sɛ menya Awurade anim adom a, ɔbɛsane de me aba ama mahunu Adaka no ne ne ntomadan no bio.
26 But if he says that he is not pleased with me, then I am willing for him to do to me whatever he thinks is good.”
Nanso, sɛ ɔne me awie a, ma ɔnyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ ma no.”
27 He also said to Zadok, “Listen [to what I suggest]. You and Abiathar return to the city peacefully/safely, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.
Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok sɛ, “Me nhyehyɛeɛ nie: Wo ne Abiatar nyɛ kodɛɛ nsane nkɔ kuropɔn no mu a wo babarima Ahimaas ne Yonatan a ɔyɛ Abiatar babarima ka ho.
28 I will wait in the desert at the place where people can walk across the river, until you send a message to me.”
Mɛtwɛn wɔ faako a wɔtwa Asubɔnten Yordan kɔ ɛserɛ no so hɔ kɔsi sɛ mɛte mo nkra. Momma mente asɛm a ɛbɛsi Yerusalem, ansa na makɔ ɛserɛ so.”
29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
Enti, Sadok ne Abiatar faa Onyankopɔn Adaka no de sane kɔɔ Yerusalem, na wɔtenaa hɔ.
30 David [and those with him] went up Olive [Tree] Hill. David was crying while he walked. He was walking barefoot and had something covering his head [to show that he was sorrowful]. All those who were going with him also covered their heads and were crying while they walked.
Dawid faa ɛkwan a ɛkɔ Ngo Bepɔ so no so a, ɔrekɔ no nyinaa, na ɔretwa adwo. Na wakata ne tiri so, ɛnna ne nan sisi fam saa ara a ɛkyerɛ awerɛhoɔdie. Na nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nso katakataa wɔn tiri so, twaa adwo ɛberɛ a wɔgu so reforo bepɔ no.
31 Someone told David that Ahithophel had joined with those who were rebelling against David. So David prayed, “Yahweh, cause whatever Ahithophel suggests to Absalom [that he should do to be considered] to be foolish!”
Ɛberɛ a obi ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, afei deɛ ne ɔfotufoɔ Ahitofel taa Absalom akyi no, Dawid bɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao Awurade, ma Ahitofel ntu Absalom ɛfo bɔne!”
32 When they arrived at the top of the hill, where there was a place where the people worshiped [God], suddenly Hushai, from the Arki people-group, met David. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head [to show that he was very sad].
Wɔduruu Ngo Bepɔ no atifi baabi a nnipa som Onyankopɔn no, Dawid hunuu Husai a ɔfiri Arki a ɔretwɛn no. Na Husai asunsuane nʼatadeɛ mu, de dɔteɛ afɔre ne tirim, de kyerɛ awerɛhoɔdie.
33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will not be able to help me.
Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ wo ne me kɔ a, wobɛyɛ adesoa ama me.
34 But if you return to the city, [you can help me by] saying to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will serve you as faithfully as I served your father.’ If you do that [and stay near Absalom], you will be able to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives to Absalom.
Sane kɔ Yerusalem, na ka kyerɛ Absalom sɛ, ‘Afei, mɛyɛ wo fotufoɔ sɛdeɛ da bi hɔ no na meyɛ wʼagya fotufoɔ no.’ Ɛba saa a, wobɛtumi atia Ahitofel afotuo mu, asɛe no.
35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests are already there [RHQ]. Whatever you hear people say in the king’s palace, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar.
Asɔfoɔ Sadok ne Abiatar wɔ hɔ. Ka adwene a wɔafa wɔ me ho, pɛ sɛ wɔkyere me no kyerɛ wɔn,
36 Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are also there. You can tell them whatever you find out, and send them to report it to me.”
na wɔbɛsoma wɔn mmammarima Ahimaas ne Yonatan na wɔabɛhwehwɛ me, aka deɛ ɛrekɔ so akyerɛ me.”
37 So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city, at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
Enti, Dawid adamfo Husai sane kɔɔ Yerusalem, kɔduruu hɔ berɛ korɔ no a Absalom nso duruu hɔ no mu.