< 2 Samuel 18 >

1 And David inspecteth the people who [are] with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,
Afei, Dawid yiyii asahene ne asafohene dii nʼakodɔm anim.
2 and David sendeth the third of the people by the hand of Joab, and the third by the hand of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and the third by the hand of Ittai the Gittite, and the king saith unto the people, 'I certainly go out — I also — with you.'
Yoab na ɔtuaa wɔn mu nkyɛmu mmiɛnsa mu baako ano. Yoab nuabarima Abisai a na ɔyɛ Seruia babarima na ɔtuaa nkyɛmu mmiɛnsa mu baako nso ano. Ɛnna nkyɛmu mmiɛnsa mu baako a aka no, Gatni Itai na ɔtuaa ano. Ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ nʼakodɔm no sɛ, “Me ne mo na ɛrekɔ.”
3 And the people say, 'Thou dost not go out, for if we utterly flee, they do not set [their] heart upon us; and if half of us die, they do not set [their] heart unto us — for now like us [are] ten thousand; and now, better that thou be to us from the city for an helper.'
Nanso, ne mmarima no tiaa mu dendeenden sɛ, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ wokɔ bi. Na sɛ ɛba sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ yɛwae, na yɛdwane, na sɛ mpo, yɛn mu fa koraa wuwu a, ɛrennuru Absalom akodɔm no ho hwee. Wo ara na wɔbɛhwehwɛ. Wo nko ara yɛ yɛn mu ɔpedu enti, ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena kurom na sɛ mmoa bi ho hia yɛn a, wode bɛba.”
4 And the king saith unto them, 'That which is good in your eyes I do;' and the king standeth at the side of the gate, and all the people have gone out by hundreds and by thousands,
Ɔhene penee so sɛ, “Sɛ modwene sɛ ɛno ne adwene pa deɛ a, mate.” Enti, ɔkɔgyinaa kuro no ɛpono ano, ɛberɛ a akodɔm no rekɔ no.
5 and the king chargeth Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'Gently — for me, for the youth, for Absalom;' and all the people heard in the king's charging all the heads concerning Absalom.
Na ɔhene no hyɛɛ Yoab, Abisai ne Itai sɛ, “Me enti mo ne abɔfra Absalom nni no bɔkɔɔ so.” Na akodɔm no nyinaa tee saa nhyɛ a ɔhene hyɛɛ nʼasafohene no.
6 And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;
Enti, ɔko no hyɛɛ aseɛ wɔ Efraim kwaeɛ mu.
7 and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day — twenty thousand;
Na Dawid mmarima no yɛɛ Israel akodɔm no pasaa. Ɛyɛ akofena ano kum, na da no, mmarima ɔpeduonu na wɔhweree wɔn nkwa.
8 and the battle is there scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplieth to devour among the people more than those whom the sword hath devoured in that day.
Ɔko no didi kɔɔ nkuro so, na ɛsiane kwaeɛ no enti, nnipa pii wuwuiɛ sene wɔn a wɔwuu wɔ akofena ano no.
9 And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that [is] under him hath passed on.
Ɔko no gyina mu no, Absalom puee prɛko pɛ wɔ Dawid mmarima no bi mu. Ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔdwane wɔ nʼafunumpɔnkɔ so, nanso ɔdwane kɔfaa dɔtɔ bi mu wɔ odum bi ase. Ɔdɔtɔ no kyekyeree ne tirinwi, ma ɔkaa mu. Nʼafunumpɔnkɔ no deɛ, na kɔ ara na ɔrekɔ enti, ɔgyaa no hɔ a, ɔsensɛn dɔtɔ no mu a ɔreto adonko wɔ ewiem.
10 And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, 'Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.'
Dawid mmarima no baako hunuu asɛm a asi no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ, “Mehunuu Absalom sɛ ɔsensɛn dua bi so wɔ dɔtɔ mu.”
11 And Joab saith to the man who is declaring [it] to him, 'And lo, thou hast seen — and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth — and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?'
Yoab bisaa sɛ, “Asɛm pa ara? Wohunuu no na woanku no? Anka mɛma wo dwetɛ gram ɔha ne dunan ne akokoɔduru abɔwomu sɛ akradeɛ.”
12 And the man saith unto Joab, 'Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who [is] against the youth — against Absalom;
Ɔbarima no buaa sɛ, “Sɛ anka wobɛma me dwetɛ kilogram dubaako ne fa koraa a, anka merenyɛ saa. Yɛn nyinaa tee sɛ, ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ wo, Abisai ne Itai sɛ, ‘Me enti, obiara nnyɛ aberanteɛ Absalom bɔne.’
13 or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou — thou dost station thyself over-against.'
Na sɛ mebu ɔhene asɛm so kum ne babarima a, anka deɛ ɛbɛyɛ biara, ɔhene bɛhwehwɛ deɛ ɔyɛɛ saa. Na anka wʼankasa ne onipa a anka wobɛyi me ama.”
14 And Joab saith, 'Not right — I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he [is] alive, in the midst of the oak.
Yoab kaa sɛ, “Saa nkwaseasɛm yi ayɛ yie.” Enti, ɔtwee mpɛmɛ mmiɛnsa de wowɔɔ Absalom akoma mu ɛberɛ a na ɔsensɛn odum no so a na ɔnwuiɛ no.
15 And they go round — ten youths bearing weapons of Joab — and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
Yoab akodeɛkurafoɔ no mu mmeranteɛ edu twaa Absalom ho hyiaeɛ, na wɔkumm no.
16 And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept back the people;
Na Yoab hyɛnee totorobɛnto, maa akodɔm no gyaee Israel so taa.
17 and they take Absalom and cast him in the forest unto the great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones, and all Israel have fled — each to his tent.
Wɔfaa Absalom amu no to twenee amena donkudonku bi mu wɔ kwaeɛ mu hɔ, na wɔsoaa abotan guu ne so. Na Israelfoɔ no nyinaa dwane kɔɔ wɔn afie.
18 And Absalom hath taken, and setteth up for himself in his life, the standing-pillar that [is] in the king's valley, for he said, 'I have no son to cause my name to be remembered;' and he calleth the standing-pillar by his own name, and it is called 'The monument of Absalom' unto this day.
Ɛberɛ a Absalom te ase no, ɔsii nkaeɛdum bi wɔ ɔhene bɔnhwa mu de kaee ɔno ara ne ho, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔdwenee sɛ, “Menni ɔbabarima biara a ɔbɛyɛ nkaedeɛ biara de akae me din.” Ɔde nkaeɛdum no too ne ho, na wɔfrɛ no Absalom Nkaeɛdum de bɛsi ɛnnɛ.
19 And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, 'Let me run, I pray thee, and I bear the king tidings, for Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of his enemies;'
Na Sadok babarima Ahimaas kaa sɛ, “Momma mentu mmirika nkɔbɔ ɔhene amaneɛ sɛ, Awurade ayi no afiri atamfoɔ nsam.”
20 and Joab saith to him, 'Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king's son [is] dead.'
Na Yoab nso ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ ɔhene ba awu a, ɛnyɛ asɛm papa mma no. Wobɛtumi akɔbɔ saa amaneɛ no ɛda foforɔ bi, na ɛnyɛ ɛnnɛ.”
21 And Joab saith to Cushi, 'Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
Na Yoab ka kyerɛɛ Kusni bi sɛ, “Kɔ na kɔka deɛ woahunu no kyerɛ ɔhene.” Ɛhɔ ara na Kusni no bɔɔ ne mu ase wɔ Yoab anim, na ɔtuu mmirika kɔeɛ.
22 And Ahimaaz son of Zadok addeth again, and saith unto Joab, 'And whatever it be, let me run, I pray thee, I also, after the Cushite.' And Joab saith, 'Why [is] this — thou art running, my son, and for thee there are no tidings found?' —
Bio, Sadok babarima Ahimaas ka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ, “Deɛ ɛbɛba biara mmra, ma me ne Kusni no nkɔ.” Nanso, Yoab bisaa no sɛ, “Me ba, adɛn enti na wopɛ sɛ wokɔ? Wonni amanneɛbɔ biara a ɛbɛma wo abasobɔdeɛ biara.”
23 'And, whatever it be, [said he, ] let me run.' And he saith to him, 'Run;' and Ahimaaz runneth the way of the circuit, and passeth by the Cushite.
Ɔkaa sɛ, “Mepene so, nanso ma menkɔ.” Enti Yoab ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Kɔ!” Na Ahimaas faa tata no so kɔeɛ, kɔsianee Kusni no ho.
24 And David is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.
Ɛberɛ a Dawid te kuro no ɛpono ano no, ne wɛmfoɔ no kɔɔ kuro no ɛpono no atifi wɔ ɔfasuo no so. Ɔtoo nʼani no, ɔhunuu sɛ obi de mmirika reba.
25 And the watchman calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, 'If by himself, tidings [are] in his mouth;' and he cometh, coming on and drawing near.
Ɔwɛmfoɔ no teaam ka kyerɛɛ Dawid na ɔhene no buaa sɛ, “Sɛ ɔno nko ara na ɔnam deɛ a, ebia, na ɔde asɛm pa nam.” Na ɔreba ara, na ɔpinkyɛe.
26 And the watchman seeth another man running, and the watchman calleth unto the gatekeeper, and saith, 'Lo, a man running by himself;' and the king saith, 'Also this one is bearing tidings.'
Afei ɔwɛmfoɔ no hunuu sɛ ɔbarima foforɔ nso di so reba, na ɔteaam sɛ, “Hwɛ onipa foforɔ bi de mmirika reba!” Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ebia, na ɔno nso de asɛm pa na ɛnam.”
27 And the watchman saith, 'I see the running of the first as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' And the king saith, 'This [is] a good man, and with good tidings he cometh.'
Ɔwɛmfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Ɔbarima a ɔdi ɛkan no sɛ Sadok babarima Ahimaas.” Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ɔyɛ onipa pa a, ɔde asɛm pa nam.”
28 And Ahimaaz calleth and saith unto the king, 'Peace;' and he boweth himself to the king, on his face, to the earth, and saith, 'Blessed [is] Jehovah thy God who hath shut up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.'
Na Ahimaas teaam, frɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Biribiara yɛ!” Ɔkotoo wɔ ɔhene no anim, de nʼanim butuu fam kaa sɛ, “Animuonyam nka Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn. Ɔde nnipa a wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me wura ɔhene ahyɛ ne nsa.”
29 And the king saith, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And Ahimaaz saith, 'I saw the great multitude, at the sending away of the servant of the king, even thy servant [by] Joab, and I have not known what [it is].'
Ɔhene bisaa sɛ, “Na aberanteɛ, Absalom ho yɛ anaa?” Ahimaas buaa sɛ, “Ɛberɛ a Yoab yɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔsoma ɔhene ɔsomfoɔ ne me wo ɔsomfoɔ no, mehunuu sɛ nneɛma ayɛ basaa a na menhunu mu yie.”
30 And the king saith, 'Turn round, station thyself here;' and he turneth round and standeth still.
Ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Gyina nkyɛn ha na twɛn.” Enti, ɔgyinaa nkyɛn twɛnee.
31 And lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, 'Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising up against thee.'
Na Kusni no bɛduruiɛ kaa sɛ, “Me wura, Nana, tie asɛm pa a mede nam! Ɛnnɛ, Awurade ayi wo afiri wɔn a wɔsɔre tiaa wo no nyinaa nsam.”
32 And the king saith unto the Cushite, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And the Cushite saith, 'Let them be — as the youth — the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee for evil.'
Na ɔhene bisaa Kusni no sɛ, “Na aberanteɛ Absalom ho te sɛn?” Kusni no buaa sɛ, “Me wura ɔhene, atamfoɔ nyinaa ne wɔn a wɔsɔre tia wo, pɛ sɛ wɔyɛ wo bɔne no, nhunu amane sɛ saa aberanteɛ no.”
33 And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'
Ɔhene ho wosoeɛ. Ɔfaa ɛkwan ano ɛpono no mu kɔɔ ne dan mu kɔsuiɛ, twaa adwo. Ɔrekɔ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Ao, me ba Absalom! Me ba, me ba Absalom! Anka menwu nnya wo! Ao, Absalom, me ba, me ba!”

< 2 Samuel 18 >