Samuel 2 15
1 Emegbe la, Absalom ƒle tasiaɖam nyui aɖe kple sɔwo eye wòdi ame blaatɔ̃ siwo anɔ du ƒum le eŋgɔ.
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].
2 Efɔna kaba ŋdi sia ŋdi, yia dua ƒe agbonu eye ne ame aɖe tsɔ nya aɖe gbɔna be fia nadrɔ̃ na ye la, Absalom yɔnɛ eye wòbianɛ be, “Du ka me nètso?” Ne ame la ɖo eŋu be “Wò dɔla tso Israel toawo dometɔ ɖeka me la,”
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,
3 Absalom gblɔna be, “Mekpɔ be wò nya dzɔ; evem ŋutɔ be ame aɖeke mele Fia la ŋu si akpe ɖe eŋu le nya siawo dɔdrɔ̃ me o.”
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.”
4 Absalom gagblɔna be, “Nyee anye ʋɔnudrɔ̃la la hafi, ekema ame sia ame ate ŋu atsɔ eƒe ʋɔnunya vɛ nam eye madrɔ̃ nya dzɔdzɔe nɛ!”
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.”
5 Ne ame aɖe va be yeade ta agu nɛ la, melɔ̃na o, ke boŋ enaa asii eye wòkplaa asi kɔ nɛ boŋ.
And whenever anyone came near to Absalom to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and embrace him and kiss him.
6 Absalom to mɔ sia dzi eye wòna Israelviwo katã tsɔ lɔlɔ̃ tɔxɛ nɛ.
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].
7 Le ƒe enelia ƒe nuwuwu la, Absalom gblɔ na Fia la be, “Na mayi Hebron eye maxe adzɔgbe aɖe si meɖe na Yehowa.
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.
8 Esi wò subɔla nɔ Gesur le Aram la, meɖe adzɔgbe be, ‘Ne Yehowa akplɔm maɖo Yerusalem la, masubɔ Yehowa le Hebron.’”
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].”
9 Fia la gblɔ nɛ be, “Enyo; yi nàsa vɔ la le adzɔgbe si nèɖe la nu.” Ale Absalom yi Hebron.
The king replied, “You may go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.
10 Ke esi wònɔ afi ma la, eɖo ŋkutsalawo ɖe Israel ƒe to ɖe sia ɖe me be woagblɔ na amewo be; “Ne miese kpẽwo ƒe ɖiɖi ko la, mianya be wotsɔ Absalom ɖo fiae le Hebron.”
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!’”
11 Absalom kplɔ ame alafa eve ɖe asi tso Yerusalem abe eƒe amedzrowo ene ke womenya naneke tso eƒe tameɖoɖowo ŋu o.
Absalom had taken with him to Hebron 200 men from Jerusalem, but they did not know [what Absalom was planning to do].
12 Esi wònɔ vɔ sam la, eɖo du ɖe Ahitofel, ame si nye David ƒe aɖaŋuɖolawo dometɔ ɖeka si nɔ Giloh. Ahitofel va de Absalom dzi abe ale si ame geɖewo wɔ ene, ale Absalom ƒe babla ɖe David ŋu nu sẽ ŋutɔ.
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.
13 Le ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe megbe la, ame aɖe va ɖo Yerusalem eye wògblɔ na Fia David be, “Israelviwo katã de Absalom dzi eye wobla ɖe ŋuwò!”
Soon a messenger came to David and said to him, “All [HYP] the Israeli people [SYN] are joining Absalom to rebel against you!”
14 David gblɔ na eƒe amewo enumake be, “Ekema mina míasi enumake hafi sisi magava nɔ mía ŋu o. Ne míesi dzo le dua me hafi Absalom va ɖo la, ekema míawo kple Yerusalem du la siaa míakpɔ ɖeɖe.”
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!”
15 Eŋumewo ka ɖe edzi nɛ be, “Míeli kpli wò; wɔ nu si nyo na wò, míaƒe aƒetɔ fia.”
The king’s officials said, “Okay, your majesty, we are ready to do whatever you decide.”
16 Ale David kple eƒe aƒemetɔwo dze mɔ enumake; eƒe ahiãvi ewo ko wògble ɖi be woanɔ fiasã la dzi kpɔm.
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.
17 Ale fia la dze mɔ, eƒe amewo katã dze eyome eye wotɔ ɖe dua godo.
When they all were leaving [the city], they stopped at the last house.
18 Eƒe amewo kple Keretitɔwo kple Peletitɔwo kple Gititɔ alafa adeawo, ame siwo dze eyome tso Gat la va to eŋu eye wozɔ le fia la ŋgɔ.
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.
19 Fia la gblɔ na Itai, Gititɔ la be, “Nu ka ta nànɔ mía dome? Trɔ nàyi aɖanɔ Absalom ŋu. Amedzroe nènye, ame si si dzo le mia de.
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.
20 Etsɔ ko nèva! Egbe la, ɖe mana nàtsa tsaglalã kpli mí, le esime nyemenya afi si yim nye ŋutɔ mele oa? Trɔ kple wò amewo. Amenuveve kple nuteƒewɔwɔ nanɔ kpli mi.”
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.”
21 Ke Itai ɖo eŋu be, “Metsɔ Yehowa kple wò ŋutɔ wò agbe ka atam be afi sia afi si nàyi la, nye hã mayi; nya sia nya nedzɔ, nenye agbee hã, kue hã!”
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.”
22 David ɖo eŋu be, “Enyo, miva míyi.” Ale Itai kple eƒe ame alafa adeawo kple woƒe aƒemetɔwo yi kpli wo.
David replied to Ittai, “Okay, march with us!” So Ittai and all his troops and their families went [with David].
23 Ame sia ame lé blanui le dua me esime fia la kple eƒe amewo va yina. Wotso Kidron tɔʋu la eye woɖo ta gbegbe la.
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.
24 Abiata kple Zadok kple Levitɔwo kɔ Mawu ƒe nubablaɖaka la eye wodae ɖe mɔto va se ɖe esime ame sia ame va yi vɔ.
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.
25 Fia la gblɔ na Zadok be, “Gbugbɔ Mawu ƒe nubablaɖaka la yi dua me. Ne mekpɔ amenuveve le Yehowa ŋkume la, Yehowa ana magagbɔ ava kpɔe kple eƒe nɔƒe.
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.
26 Ke ne egblɔ be, ‘Nyemekpɔ ŋudzedze le ŋuwò o’ la, ekema mele klalo; newɔ nu sia nu si dze eŋu lam.”
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.”
27 Fia la gblɔ na Zadok be, “Kpɔ ɖa, medi be nàtrɔ le ŋutifafa me ayi dua me kple viwò Ahimaaz kple Abiata ƒe vi, Yonatan.
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.
28 Matɔ ɖe Yɔdan tɔsisi la ƒe tɔtsoƒe va se ɖe esime mese nya aɖe tso gbɔwò. Na manya nu si le dzɔdzɔm le Yerusalem hafi mabu ɖe gbegbe la.”
I will wait in the desert at the place where people can walk across the river, until you send a message to me.”
29 Ale Zadok kple Abiata gbugbɔ Mawu ƒe nubablaɖaka la yi dua me eye wotsi afi ma.
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
30 David zɔ mɔ si ɖo ta Amito la dzi henɔ avi fam. Etsyɔ nu ta eye wòɖe afɔ ƒuƒlu abe konyifafa ƒe dzesi ene. Eŋumewo hã tsyɔ nu ta henɔ avi fam le esime wonɔ to la liam.
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.
31 Esime ame aɖe gblɔ na David be eƒe aɖaŋuɖola Ahitofel dze Absalom yome la, David do gbe ɖa be, “Oo, Yehowa, meɖe kuku, na Ahitofel naɖo aɖaŋu gbegblẽ na Absalom!”
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!”
32 Esi woɖo teƒe si le toa tame, afi si amewo subɔa Mawu le la, David kpɔ Husai, Arkitɔ la, wònɔ elalam; eƒe awuwo vuvu le eŋu eye ke nɔ tame nɛ.
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].
33 David gblɔ nɛ be, “Ne èdze yonyeme la, agba ko nànye nam.
David said to him, “If you go with me, you will not be able to help me.
34 Ke ne ètrɔ yi dua me eye nègblɔ na Absalom be, ‘O fia, menye fofowò ƒe subɔla tsã, ke azɔ la, manye wò subɔla’ la, ekema àte ŋu akpe ɖe ŋunye to Ahitofel ƒe aɖaŋuɖoɖo me gbegblẽ me.
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.
35 Nunɔla Zadok kple nunɔla Abiata manɔ afi ma kpli wò oa? Gblɔ nu sia nu si nàse le fiasã la me na wo.
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.
36 Wo viŋutsu eveawo, Ahimaaz, Zadok ƒe vi kple Yonatan, Abiata ƒe vi, le afi ma kpli wo. Gblɔ nu si nàse la na wo be woava gblɔ nam.”
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.”
37 Ale David xɔlɔ̃ Husai trɔ yi dua me eye esi wòɖo teti ko la, Absalom hã va ɖo.
So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city, at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
