Fiawo 1 12

1 Rehoboam yi Sekem elabena Israelviwo katã yi afi ma be woaɖoe fiae.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, —for, to Shechem, had all Israel come to make him king.

2 Esi Yeroboam, Nebat ƒe viŋutsu se nya sia la, etrɔ gbɔ tso Egipte, afi si wòsi le Fia Solomo nu yi ɖabe ɖo.

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it—he being yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt;

3 Ale woɖo du ɖe Yeroboam eye eya kple Israel blibo la yi Rehoboam gbɔ ɖagblɔ nɛ be,

yes they sent, and called him, and Jeroboam and all the convocation of Israel came, —and spake unto Rehoboam, saying:

4 “Fofowò da kɔkuti kpekpe aɖe ɖe mía dzi. Ke azɔ la, wò la, ɖe dɔ sesẽ wɔwɔ kple kɔkuti kpekpe si wòda ɖe mía dzi la dzi na mí ekema míasubɔ wò.”

Thy father, made our yoke, grievous, —now, therefore do, thou, lighten the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, that we may serve thee.

5 Rehoboam ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Miyi ne miatrɔ gbɔ le ŋkeke etɔ̃ megbe.” Ale ameawo trɔ dzo.

And he said unto them—Depart ye for yet three days, and then come again unto me. And the people departed.

6 Tete Fia Rehoboam de aɖaŋu kple ametsitsi siwo nɔ fofoa Solomo ŋu le eƒe agbemeŋkekewo me. Ebia wo be, “Ŋuɖoɖo kae miesusu be mana ame siawo?”

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who used to stand before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, —How do, ye, advise, that I answer this people?

7 Woɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ne egbe ànye dɔla na ame siawo, asubɔ wo eye nàna ŋuɖoɖo nyui aɖewo la, woanye wò dɔlawo tegbee.”

And they spake unto him, saying—If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, —and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always.

8 Ke Rehoboam gbe mexɔ aɖaŋu si dumemetsitsiawo ɖo nɛ la o ke boŋ eyi ɖade aɖaŋu kple ehati siwo nɔ esubɔm

But he declined the counsel of the elders which they gave him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, who were standing before himself;

9 Ebia wo be, “Nu ka miesusu? Aleke míagblɔ na ame siawo esi wova biam be, ‘Ɖe kɔkuti si fofowò tsɔ da ɖe mía dzi la dzi kpɔtɔ na mí’ mahã?”

and said unto them—What counsel do, ye, give as to how we shall answer this people who have spoken unto me, saying—Make a lightening of the yoke which thy father put upon us?

10 Ɖekakpuiawo, ame siwo nye ehatiwo la gblɔ nɛ be, “Gblɔ na ame siawo, esi wogblɔ na wò be, ‘Fofowò da kɔkuti kpekpe aɖe ɖe mía dzi eya ta wɔ wò kɔkuti la wodzoe’ la be, ‘Nye asibidɛ kɔtoetɔ lolo wu fofonye ƒe alime.

Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee, saying—Thy father, made our yoke heavy, thou, therefore lighten it upon us, Thus, shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father’s loins;

11 Fofonye tsɔ kɔkuti kpekpe ɖo mia dzi. Nye ya mawɔe wòagakpe ɖe edzi. Fofonye ƒo mi kple ameƒoti, ke nye ya maƒo mi kple ahɔ̃.’”

Now, therefore, whereas, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, I, will add to your yoke, —My father, did chastise you with whips, but, I, will chastise you with scorpions.

12 Le ŋkeke etɔ̃ megbe la, Yeroboam kple ameawo katã trɔ va Rehoboam gbɔ abe ale si fia la gblɔ ene be, “Mitrɔ gbɔ va gbɔnye le ŋkeke etɔ̃ megbe la ene.”

So Jeroboam and all the people came in unto Rehoboam, on the third day, —as the king had bidden, saying—Come again unto me, on the third day.

13 Fia la ɖo nya la ŋu na wo kple adã eye mewɔ ɖe ametsitsiawo ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo dzi o.

And the king answered the people, harshly, —and declined the counsel of the elders wherewith they had counselled him;

14 Ewɔ ɖe ɖekakpuiawo ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo boŋ dzi eye wògblɔ be, “Fofonye na miaƒe kɔkuti kpe; nye ya mana kɔkuti la nagakpe wu. Fofonye ƒo mi kple ameƒoti; nye ya maƒo mi kple ahɔ̃.”

and spake unto them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add unto your yoke, —My father, chastised you, with whips, but, I, will chastise you, with scorpions.

15 Ale fia la meɖo to ameawo o elabena nuwo ƒe yiyi me alea tso Yehowa gbɔ be woawu nya si Yehowa gblɔ ɖi ɖe Yeroboam, Nebat ƒe vi ŋuti to Silonitɔ, Ahiya dzi la nu.

Thus the king hearkened not unto the people, —for there had come about a turn from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, son of Nebat.

16 Esi Israel katã kpɔ be fia la gbe toɖoɖo yewo la, woɖo eŋu na fia la be, “Gomekpɔkpɔ kae le mía si le David me eye domenyinu kae míaxɔ tso Yese vi la gbɔ? Oo Israel, miyi miaƒe agbadɔwo me! Oo David, kpɔ wò ŋutɔ wò aƒe gbɔ!” Ale Israelviwo dzo yi aƒe me.

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying—What portion have, we, in, David. Or inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your homes O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And Israel departed to their homes.

17 Ke hena Israelvi siwo nɔ Yuda ƒe duwo me la, Rehoboam gaɖu fia ɖe wo dzi ko.

But, as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 Fia Rehoboam dɔ Adoram, ame si kpɔa dzizizidɔwo ƒe nyawo gbɔ la ɖe Israel gake Israel katã ƒu kpee wòku. Ke hã la, Fia Rehoboam dze agbagba ge ɖe eƒe tasiaɖam me eye wòsi yi Yerusalem.

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was over the tribute, but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died, —King Rehoboam, therefore, hastily mounted his chariot, to flee unto Jerusalem.

19 Ale Israel dze aglã ɖe David ƒe aƒe la ŋu va se ɖe egbe.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David, —unto this day.

20 Esi Israel ƒe to bubu me tɔwo se be Yeroboam gbɔ tso Egipte la, woyɔe be wòava do go ameawo katã. Woɖoe fiae ɖe Israel dzi le afi ma. Yuda kple Benyamin ƒe towo koe nɔ fia siwo nye David ƒe dzidzimeviwo la te.

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him into the assembly, and made him king over all Israel, —there were none that followed the house of David, saving the tribe of Judah only.

21 Esi Rehoboam va ɖo Yerusalem la, eƒo aʋawɔla akpe alafa ɖeka blaenyi nu ƒu hewɔ aʋakɔ tɔxɛ aɖe be wòazi Israel ƒe to bubuawo dzi be woaxɔ ye abe woƒe fia ene.

And, when Rehoboam entered Jerusalem, he called together all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, able to make war, —to fight against the house of Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon.

22 Ke Mawu gblɔ nya siawo na Nyagblɔɖila Semaya be,

Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:

23 “Gblɔ na Rehoboam, Yuda fia Solomo ƒe vi kple Yuda kple Benyamin kple ame bubuawo katã be,

Speak unto Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah, and Benjamin, —and the remnant of the people, saying:

24 ‘Nu si Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: Migawɔ aʋa kple mia nɔviwo, Israelviwo o. Ame sia ame nayi eƒe aƒe me elabena nyee wɔ esia.’” Ale woɖo to Yehowa ƒe gbe eye wotrɔ yi woƒe aƒewo me abe ale si Yehowa ɖo na wo ene.

Thus, saith Yahweh—Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel, —return ye every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the word of Yahweh, and turned back to depart, according to the word of Yahweh.

25 Azɔ la, Yeroboam tu Sekem du la ɖe Efraim ƒe tonyigba dzi eye wòna wòzu eƒe fiadu. Etu Penuel du la emegbe.

Then Jeroboam built Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein, —and went forth from thence, and built Penuel.

26 Yeroboam bu be, “Ne nyemekpɔ nyuie o la, ameawo adi David ƒe dzidzimeviwo dometɔ aɖe abe woƒe fia ene.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, —Now, shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

27 Ne woyi Yerusalem be woasa vɔ le gbedoxɔ la me la, woadze xɔ̃ fia Rehoboam, ekema woawum eye woana wòazu woƒe fia ɖe tenyeƒe.”

If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people return unto their lord, unto Rehoboam, king of Judah, —and they will slay me, and return unto Rehoboam, king of Judah.

28 Ale Yeroboam wɔ eƒe aɖaŋuɖolawo ƒe gbe dzi, wowɔ sikanyivi eve eye wògblɔ na eƒe amewo be, “Enye fukpekpe na mi akpa be miayi Yerusalem aɖasubɔ Mawu. Israel, kpɔ ɖa, sikanyivi siawoe anye miaƒe mawuwo; woawoe ɖe mi tso kluvinyenye me le Egipte!”

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, —and said unto them—It is, too much for you, to go up to Jerusalem, Lo! thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt;

29 Wotsɔ sikanyiviawo dometɔ ɖeka da ɖe Betel eye woda evelia ɖe Dan.

And he set the one in Bethel, —and, the other, put he in Dan.

30 Esia nye nu vɔ̃ vɔ̃ɖi aɖe elabena ameawo subɔ wo.

And this thing became a sin, —and the people went before the one, as far as Dan.

31 Etu trɔ̃xɔwo hã ɖe toawo dzi eye wòtsɔ ame siwo metso Levi ƒe ƒomea me gɔ̃ hã o la ɖo nunɔlawo.

And he made a house of high-places, —and made priests from the whole compass of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.

32 Eɖo ŋkekenyui aɖe anyi da ɖe ɣleti enyilia ƒe ŋkeke wuiatɔ̃lia dzi abe ŋkekenyui siwo woɖuna le Yuda ene eye wòsaa vɔ le vɔsamlekpui la dzi. Ewɔ esia le Betel eye wosaa vɔ na nyivi siwo wòwɔ le Betel. Eɖo nunɔlawo na nuxeƒe siwo wòtu.

And Jeroboam made a festival in the eight month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival which [was held] in Judah, and offered up on the altar, likewise, did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made, —and he kept in attendance in Bethel, the priests of the high-places which he had made.

33 Le ɣleti enyilia, ɣleti si eya ŋutɔ tia la ƒe ŋkeke wuiatɔ̃lia dzi la, esaa vɔwo le vɔsamlekpui si wòtu ɖe Betel la dzi. Ale wòɖo ŋkekenyui la anyi na Israelviwo eye wòyina ɖasaa vɔwo le vɔsamlekpui la dzi.

And he offered up on the altar which he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month which he had devised out of his own heart, —thus made he a festival for the sons of Israel, and offered up on the altar, to make a perfume.