< Samuel 1 20 >

1 Azɔ la, David si tso Nayɔt le Rama eye wòyi Yonatan gbɔ hebiae be, “Nu ka mewɔ? Agɔ ka medze? Nu ka ta fofowò ɖo ta me kplikpaa nenema be yeawum ɖo?”
And David fled from Naioth, in Ramah, —and came in, and said before Jonathan—What have I done? What is my transgression, and what my sin, before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2 Yonatan ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Gbeɖe, mèle kuku ge o. Kpɔ ɖa, fofonye mewɔa naneke, sue alo gã ne megblɔe nam o. Nu ka ŋutie wòaɣla nu sia ya ɖem? Mele ame o!”
And he said unto him—Far be it! thou shalt not die. Lo! my father doeth nothing, great or small, without unveiling mine ear, —wherefore, then, should my father hide from me, this thing? There is, nothing, in this.
3 Ke David ka atam hegblɔ be, “Fofowò nyae nyuie be nye nu doa dzidzɔ na wò eye wògblɔ na eɖokui be, ‘Mele be Yonatan nanya esia o. Ne menye nenema o la, ava xa nu.’ Meta Yehowa ƒe agbe kple wò ŋutɔ ƒe agbe be afɔɖeɖe ɖeka koe le nye kple ku dome.”
But David sware yet further, and said—Thy father, doth know, that I have found favour in thine eyes, therefore saith he, —Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he grieve; but, indeed, by the life of Yahweh, and by the life of thine own soul, surely there is but as it were a step betwixt me and death!
4 Yonatan gblɔ na David be, “Nu sia nu si ke nedi be mawɔ na ye la, mawɔe na wò.”
And Jonathan said unto David, —Whatsoever thy soul shall desire, I will do for thee.
5 Ale David gblɔ be, “Kpɔ ɖa, etsɔe nye dzinu yeye ƒe ŋkekenyui eye ele nam be maɖu nu kple fia la, gake na mayi aɖaɣla ɖokuinye ɖe gbe me va se ɖe etsɔ mele eme o ƒe fiẽ.
And David said unto Jonathan—Lo! the new moon, is to-morrow, and, I, must not sit with the king, to eat, —let me go then, and hide myself in the field, until the evening.
6 Ne fofowò mekpɔm o eye wòbia tanye la, gblɔ nɛ be, ‘David bia mɔm vevie be yeayi ɖe yewo de, Betlehem elabena woawɔ ƒe sia ƒe ƒe vɔsa na eƒe ƒome blibo la.’
If thy father, enquire, for me, then shalt thou say—David, did ask leave, of me, to run to Bethlehem, his own city, for, a yearly sacrifice, [is to be held] there for all the family.
7 Ke ne egblɔ be, ‘Enyo’ la, ekema wò dɔla le dedie. Gake ne dzi kui la, ekema nyae nyuie be eɖo vɔ̃ ɖe ŋutinye.
If, thus, he say—It is well, —thy servant shall have, peace, —but, if it, anger, him, know that harm hath been determined by him.
8 Ke wò ya la, ve wò dɔla nu elabena èbla nu kplim le Yehowa ŋkume. Ne medze agɔ la, ekema wò ŋutɔ nàwum! Nu ka ŋuti nàtsɔm ade asi na fofowò?”
Thus shalt thou do a lovingkindness for thy servant, for, into a covenant of Yahweh, hast thou brought thy servant, with thee, —But, if there is in me transgression, put me to death, thyself, for, unto thy father, wherefore shouldst thou bring me in?
9 Yonatan ɖo eŋu be, “Madzɔ nenema gbeɖe o; le nyateƒe me la, ne wò nyawo ɖe wole eme la, anye ne megblɔe na wò xoxo.”
And Jonathan said—Far be it from thee! but, if I, get to know, that harm is determined by my father, to bring it upon thee, is not, that, the thing that I will tell thee?
10 David biae be, “Aleke mawɔ anya ne fofowò do dɔmedzoe alo medo dɔmedzoe o?”
Then said David unto Jonathan, Who shall tell me, —if thy father answer thee aught that is, harsh?
11 Yonatan gblɔ be, “Na míayi gbedzi.” Ale wo ame evea yi gbedzi.
And Jonathan said unto David, Come! and let us go out into the field. And they two went out into the field.
12 Yonatan gblɔ na David be, “Medo ŋugbe na wò le Yehowa, Israel ƒe Mawu ƒe ŋkɔ me be etsɔ ɣe alawo ɣi alo ne edidi ƒãa la nyitsɔ la, maƒo nu kple fofonye tso ŋuwò eye mana nànya ta me si wòɖo ɖe ŋuwò la enumake.
Then said Jonathan unto David—Witness [be] Yahweh God of Israel, that I will sound my father about this time to-morrow or the third day, and lo! if there he good towards David, will I not, then, send unto thee, and unveil thine ear?
13 Ne edo dɔmedzoe eye wòdi be yeawu wò la, ekema Yehowa nawum ne nyemegblɔe na wò ale be nàsi, anɔ agbe o. Yehowa nanɔ kpli wò abe ale si wònɔ kple fofonye tsã la ene.
So, let Yahweh do unto Jonathan, and, so, let him add—when harm against thee seemeth good unto my father, then will I unveil thine ear, and let thee go, and thou shall depart in peace, —then Yahweh be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14 Ɖo ŋku edzi be ele be nàɖe Yehowa ƒe lɔlɔ̃ kple dɔmenyo afia menye nye ɖeka ko le nye agbenɔɣi me o,
And, not only while I yet live, shalt thou deal with me in the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I die not:
15 ke boŋ na vinyewo hã ne Yehowa tsrɔ̃ wò futɔwo katã.”
but thou shalt not cut off thy lovingkindness from my house, unto times age-abiding, —no! not when Yahweh hath cut off the enemies of David, every one from off the face of the ground.
16 Ale Yonatan bla nu kple David ƒe ƒometɔwo eye David ka atam be fiƒode dziŋɔ aɖe nava ye kple yeƒe ƒometɔwo dzi ne yewomewɔ nubabla la dzi o.
Thus Jonathan solemnised a covenant with the house of David [saying], —So let Yahweh require it, at the hand of the enemies of David.
17 Ke Yonatan na David gaka atam nɛ azɔ kple eƒe lɔlɔ̃ nɛ elabena elɔ̃e abe eɖokui ene.
And again Jonathan sware unto David, by his love to him, —for, as he loved his own soul, so loved he him.
18 Yonatan gblɔ be, “Dzinu yeye adze egɔme etsɔ. Ne mèva nuɖukplɔ̃a ŋu etsɔ o la, amewo abia tawò vevie.
Then said Jonathan unto him—To-morrow, is the new moon, and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty;
19 Ame sia ame anɔ tawò biam tso nyitsɔ, eya ta nɔ afi si nàɣla ɖokuiwò ɖo le afi si woli kɔ kpewo ɖo.
and, when thou hast tarried three days, thou shalt come down quickly and enter the place, where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the deed, and shall remain by the side of this mound.
20 Mava da aŋutrɔ etɔ̃ ɖe kpeawo ŋgɔ abe nane medzidze le dadam ene.
And, as for me—three arrows to the side, will I shoot, —as though I shot at a mark.
21 Emegbe maɖo ɖekakpui aɖe ɖa be wòayi aɖatsɔ aŋutrɔawo vɛ nam. Ne èse megblɔ be, ‘Wole akpa sia’ la, ekema nànya be nya vɔ̃ aɖeke meli o.
And lo! I will send the boy [saying], Go, find the arrow! If I, say, to the boy—Lo! the arrows, are on this side of thee—take them, then come, for there is peace for thee, and no cause [for fear], by the life of Yahweh.
22 Ke ne megblɔ nɛ be, ‘Yi ŋgɔ. Aŋutrɔawo gale ŋgɔ na wò’ la, ekema egɔmee nye ele be nàdzo enumake.
But, if, thus, I say to the youth, Lo! the arrows are beyond thee, depart, for Yahweh hath sent thee away.
23 Yehowa nana míawɔ míaƒe ŋugbedodowo na mía nɔewo dzi elabena Yehowae nye avuléla le mía dome tegbetegbe.”
But, as touching the matter whereof we spake—I and thou, lo! Yahweh, be betwixt me and thee, unto times age-abiding.
24 Ale David ɣla eɖokui ɖe gbedzi eye esi ɣleti yeyea ƒe ŋkekenyui la ɖo edzi la, fia la nɔ anyi be yeaɖu nu.
So David hid himself in the field—and, when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat, food,
25 Enɔ gli ŋu afi si wònɔna ɖaa. Yonatan nɔ anyi dze ŋgɔe eye Abner nɔ Saul xa, ke David ƒe teƒe ɖi gbɔlo.
yea the king sat down on his seat, as at other times, by the seat against the wall, and, when Jonathan arose, Abner seated himself by the side of Saul, —but David’s place was empty.
26 Saul megblɔ nya aɖeke tso nu sia ŋu gbe ma gbe o elabena ebu be nya aɖee anya dzɔ alo David ŋu mekɔ o.
Saul, however, spake nothing that day, —for he said to himself—It is, an accident, he is, not clean, because he hath not been cleansed.
27 Ke esi eƒe teƒe gaɖi gbɔlo le ŋkeke evelia dzi la, Saul bia Yonatan be, “Nu ka ta Yese ƒe vi meva afi sia hena fiẽnuɖuɖu etsɔ kple egbe siaa o?”
And it came to pass, on the morrow, the second of the month, that David’s place was empty, —and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore hath not the son of Jesse come in, either yesterday or to-day, to meat?
28 Yonatan ɖo eŋu be, “David bia mɔm kple kukuɖeɖe blibo be yeayi Betlehem.
And Jonathan answered Saul, —David, asked leave, of me, [to go] as far as Bethlehem;
29 Egblɔ be, ‘Na mayi elabena míaƒe ƒometɔwo le vɔ sa ge egbea le dua me eye nɔvinyeŋutsu aɖe ɖo du ɖem. Ne edze ŋuwò la, ekema ɖe mɔ nam mayi aɖakpɔ nɔvinyewo.’ Esia tae meva fia ƒe kplɔ̃ ŋu o.”
and said—Let me go, I pray thee, for, a family sacrifice, have we in the city, and my brethren have commanded me, now, therefore, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me slip away, I pray thee, that I may see my brethren. For this cause, hath he not come in unto the table of the king.
30 Saul do dɔmedzoe ŋutɔ, eblu ɖe Yonatan hegblɔ be, “Wò, nyɔnu ɖigbɔ, dzeaglã ƒe vi! Ɖe nèbu be nyemenya be yedi be Yese vi ma naɖu fia ɖe nye teƒe eye nàdo ŋukpe wò ŋutɔ kple dawò siaa oa?
Then was Saul’s anger kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of rebellious perversity! do I not know that thou art, confederate, with the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and to the confusion of the shame of thy mother?
31 Ŋkeke ale si ɖekakpui ma le agbe la, màɖu fia gbeɖegbeɖe o. Yi, nàkplɔe vɛ ale be mate ŋu awui!”
For, as long as, the son of Jesse, liveth on the ground, thou wilt not be established, thou nor thy kingdom, Now, therefore, send and fetch him unto me, for, doomed to death, is he!
32 Yonatan biae be, “Nu kae wòwɔ? Nu ka tae woawui?”
And Jonathan responded to Saul his father, —and said unto him—Wherefore must he be put to death, What hath he done?
33 Tete Saul da akplɔ Yonatan be yeawui. Nu sia na Yonatan dze sii azɔ be menye fefenya ye fofo gblɔ be ele be David naku o.
And Saul hurled his spear at him, to smite him. So Jonathan knew that it was, determined, of his father, to put David to death.
34 Yonatan dzo le kplɔ̃ la ŋu kple dɔmedzoe eye wògbe nuɖuɖu ŋkeke blibo la elabena fofoa ƒe ŋukpenanuwɔnawo ɖe David ŋu vee ŋutɔ.
Jonathan therefore rose up from the table, in a glow of anger, —and did eat no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had reviled him.
35 Esi ŋu ke la, Yonatan yi gbedzi abe ale si eya kple David ɖoe da ɖi ene. Ekplɔ ŋutsuvi sue aɖe ɖe asi be wòafɔ eƒe aŋutrɔwo nɛ.
And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went forth into the field, to the place appointed with David, —a little lad, being with him.
36 Egblɔ na ŋutsuvi la be, “Dze duƒuƒu gɔme ale be nàte ŋu akpɔ aŋutrɔawo ne meda wo.” Ale ŋutsuvia ƒu du eye Yonatan da aŋutrɔ ɖeka wòdze le eŋu.
And he said to his lad—Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am about to shoot. The boy, ran, but, he, shot the arrow beyond him.
37 Esi wòsusɔ vie ɖevia naɖo afi si aŋutrɔ la dze la, Yonatan do ɣli be, “Aŋutrɔ la gale ŋgɔ na wò.
And, when the lad came as far as the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow, beyond, thee?
38 Ƒu du sesĩe; netsɔ! Mègatɔ o!” Ale ŋutsuvi la fɔ aŋutrɔawo eye wòƒu du yi eƒe aƒetɔ gbɔ.
And Jonathan cried after the lad, Haste thee—be quick, do not stay! so Jonathan’s lad picked up the arrows and brought [them] unto his master.
39 Ke ŋutsuvi la ya mese nu si Yonatan wɔ la gɔme o; Yonatan kple David koe se egɔme.
But, the lad, knew, nothing, only Jonathan and David, knew the matter.
40 Yonatan tsɔ eƒe dati kple aŋutrɔ na ŋutsuvi la eye wògblɔ nɛ be wòatsɔ wo ayi dua me.
So Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said to him, Go carry them into the city.
41 Esi ŋutsuvi la dzo teti ko la, David do go tso afi si wòbe ɖo le gbegbe la ƒe dziehe lɔƒo. Ebɔbɔ de ta agu na Yonatan zi etɔ̃. Wokpla asi kɔ na wo nɔewo eye wofa avi, ke David fa avi wu Yonatan.
As soon as, the lad, was gone, David, arose from beside the South, and fell on his face to the earth, and bowed himself down three times, —and they kissed each other, and wept over each other, until, David, exceeded.
42 Mlɔeba la, Yonatan gblɔ na David be, “Lé dzi ɖe ƒo elabena míetsɔ mía nɔewo kple mía nɔewo ƒe viwo de asi na Mawu tegbetegbe.” Ale woklã. David dzo eye Yonatan hã trɔ yi dua me.
Then said Jonathan unto David—Go in peace, —[remembering] that, we, have both sworn in the name of Yahweh, saying, Yahweh shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, unto times age-abiding. And he arose, and departed, —and, Jonathan, entered the city.

< Samuel 1 20 >