< Samuel 2 18 >

1 David ƒo aʋawɔla siwo nɔ eŋu la nu ƒu eye wòɖe aʋakplɔlawo ɖo ame akpewo kple alafawo nu.
AND David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 Akpa ɖeka nɔ Yoab nɔviŋutsu, Abisai, Zeruya ƒe viŋutsu te. Akpa evelia nɔ Itai, Gititɔ la te eye Fia David ɖo be akpa etɔ̃lia nanɔ ye ŋutɔ yeƒe kpɔkplɔ te hafi, gake ameawo gbe nɛ
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 hegblɔ be, “Mele be wò ŋutɔ nàkplɔ aʋalɔgo aɖeke o, elabena ne wòahiã be míasi eye woawu aʋalɔgo la ƒe afã la, womatsɔ ɖeke le eme o. Woanɔ wò ɖeka ko dim, eya ta enyo wu be nànɔ dua me le afi sia eye ne aɖaŋu aɖe hiã mí la, nàɖoe ɖe mí.”
But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 Fia la ɖo eŋu be, “Enyo, mawɔ nu sia nu si nyo na mi ko.” Ale David nɔ tsitre ɖe dua ƒe agbonu esime aʋawɔlawo katã va tso eme.
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Fia la gblɔ na Yoab, Abisai kple Itai be, “Mixa ɖe tanye ne miakpɔ nublanui na vinye Absalom.” Aʋawɔlawo katã se nya si fia la gblɔ na wo.
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 Ale David ƒe aʋakɔ la ho aʋa ɖe Israel ŋu eye wodze aʋa la gɔme le Efraim ƒe ave la me.
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 David ƒe amewo ɖu Israel ƒe aʋakɔ la dzi. Wowu ame akpe blaeve sɔŋ le Israelviwo dome gbe ma gbe.
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 Ame siwo bu le avea me la sɔ gbɔ wu ame siwo wowu.
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Le aʋa la me la, Absalom va do go David ƒe amewo. Esi Absalom nɔ eƒe tedzisɔ dzi si yina la, tedzisɔa to logoti aɖe ƒe alɔdzewo te eye eƒe taɖa ku alɔdze aɖe. Tedzisɔ la si dzo, do le ete le esime eya ŋutɔ tsi ɖe alɔdze la ŋu henɔ nyenyem segblesegble le yame.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 David ƒe amewo dometɔ ɖeka kpɔe eye wògblɔe na Yoab bena, “Kpɔ ɖa, mekpɔ Absalom wòtsi klẽti aɖe ŋu.”
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 Yoab biae be, “Nyateƒea? Èkpɔe le afi ma hafi mèwui oa? Nenye ɖe nèwui la, anye ne mana klosalo ewo kple alidziblaka ewo wò.”
And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 Ŋutsu la ɖo eŋu be, “Ne àna klosalo akpe ɖeka teƒe akpe ɖekam hã la, nyemawui o. Mí katã míese fia la wògblɔ na wò kple Abisai kple Itai be, ‘Le tanye la, migawɔ nuvevi aɖeke vinye Absalom o.’
And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Ne magbe nyemawɔ fia la ƒe gbe dzi o eye mawu via la, fia la ava nya ame si wu via kokoko eye wòe anye ame gbãtɔ si atsɔ nya ɖe ŋunye.”
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14 Yoab gblɔ be, “Migagblẽ ɣeyiɣi nam o.” Tete wòtsɔ akplɔ etɔ̃ ɖe asi eye wòtsɔ wo nyrɔ ɖe Absalom ƒe dzi gbɔ, le esime wònɔ nyenyem segblesegble le logoti la ƒe alɔdze ŋu.
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 Yoab ƒe akpoxɔnutsɔla ewo, ame siwo ƒo xlã Yoab ɣe ma yi hafi la lũ ɖe Absalom dzi hewui.
And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 Tete Yoab ku kpẽ eye eƒe amewo dzudzɔ Israel ƒe aʋawɔlawo nyanya.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 Woda Absalom ƒe kukua ɖe do globo aɖe me le avea me eye woli kɔ kpe geɖewo ɖe edzi. Israel ƒe aʋawɔlawo si yi woƒe aƒewo me.
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 Absalom tu ŋkuɖodzikpe aɖe na eɖokui le eƒe agbenɔɣi ɖe Fia ƒe Balime elabena egblɔ be, “Viŋutsu aɖeke mele asinye si ana nye ŋkɔ natsi anyi o.” Ena ŋkɔe be “Absalom ƒe Ŋkuɖodzikpe.” Wogayɔnɛ nenema egbegbe.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
19 Zadok ƒe vi, Ahimaaz gblɔ be, “Na maƒu du ayi aɖagblɔ dzidzɔnya la na David be Yehowa ɖee tso eƒe futɔ, Absalom ƒe asi me.”
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 Yoab gblɔ nɛ be, “Ao, manye dzidzɔnya na fia la be via ŋutsu ku o; nyemele dɔwòm ɖe afi aɖeke o.”
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21 Yoab gblɔ na ŋutsu aɖe si tso Kus be, “Yi nàgblɔ nu si nèkpɔ la na fia la.” Ŋutsu la de ta agu eye wòdzo.
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 Ke Zadok vi Ahimaaz gagblɔ na Yoab be, “Ne nu sia nu le dzɔdzɔm hã la, maƒu du adze Kusitɔ la yome.” Yoab ɖo eŋu be, “Vinye, nu ka ta nèdzi be yeayi ɖo? Nya bubu aɖeke megali míagblɔ aɖo ɖe o eye ame aɖeke mele dɔtsɔho xe ge na wò o.”
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 Ahimaaz gaɖe kuku be, “Ele eme nenema gake na mayi ko.” Yoab gblɔ azɔ be, “Enyo, heyi.” Ahimaaz to mɔ kpui aɖe si to gbadzaƒe la eye wòtre ɖoɖo na ŋutsu si tso Kus.
But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 David nɔ anyi ɖe dua ƒe agbo eve, egodotɔ kple emetɔ dome le ɣe ma ɣi me. Esi gbetakpɔla la lia gli la yi gbeta kpɔ ge la, ekpɔ ame ɖeka wònɔ du dzi gbɔna wo gbɔ.
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25 Edo ɣli gblɔ nya la na David. Fia la ɖo eŋu be, “Nenye eya ɖekae la, ekema nya aɖe le esi.” Esi dɔla la te ɖe wo ŋu la.
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 Gbetakpɔla la hã kpɔ ame bubu; eya hã nɔ du dzi gbɔna wo gbɔ. Edo ɣli gblɔ be, “Ame bubu aɖe hã gbɔna.” Fia la ɖo eŋu be, “Ɖewohĩ eya hã anya tsɔ nya nyui aɖe gbɔnae.”
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 Gbetakpɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Ame gbãtɔ ɖi Ahimaaz, Zadok ƒe vi.” Fia la ɖo eŋu be, “Ame nyuie; etsɔ nya nyui gbɔnae.”
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 Tete Ahimaaz do ɣli gblɔ na Fia la be, “Nu sia nu dze edzi nyuie!” Ebɔbɔ, de ta agu heyi edzi be, “Woakafu Yehowa, wò Mawu la ame si tsrɔ̃ aglãdzela siwo tsi tsitre ɖe ŋuwò.”
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 Fia la bia be, “Vinye Absalom ɖe? Ele dediea?” Ahimaaz ɖo eŋu be, “Esi Yoab gblɔ nam be mava la, ameawo nɔ ɣli dom hoo, ke nyemenya nu si tututue dzɔ o.”
And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 Fia la gblɔ na Ahimaaz be, “Lala le afi sia” Ale Ahimaaz dze ɖe axadzi.
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 Kustɔ la va do eye wògblɔ be, “Mehe nya nyui aɖe vɛ na nye aƒetɔ kple nye fia. Egbe la, Yehowa ɖe wò tso ame siwo katã tso ɖe ŋuwò la ƒe asi me.”
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 Fia la bia Kustɔ la be, “Vinye Absalom ɖe? Ele dediea?” Ŋutsu la ɖo eŋu be, “Nye aƒetɔ fia, wò futɔwo katã nanɔ abe ale si ɖekakpui ma le fifia ene!”
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 Fia la de asi avifafa me enumake. Eyi eƒe xɔ me le xɔ tame. Efa avi hegblɔ be, “Oo, vinye Absalom, vinye, vinye Absalom, ɖe maku ɖe nuwò hafi! Oo, Absalom, vinye, vinye!”
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

< Samuel 2 18 >