< Samuel 2 18 >
1 David ƒo aʋawɔla siwo nɔ eŋu la nu ƒu eye wòɖe aʋakplɔlawo ɖo ame akpewo kple alafawo nu.
And David inspecteth the people who [are] with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,
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 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.'
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.”
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.'
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 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,
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 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.
6 Ale David ƒe aʋakɔ la ho aʋa ɖe Israel ŋu eye wodze aʋa la gɔme le Efraim ƒe ave la me.
And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;
7 David ƒe amewo ɖu Israel ƒe aʋakɔ la dzi. Wowu ame akpe blaeve sɔŋ le Israelviwo dome gbe ma gbe.
and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day — twenty thousand;
8 Ame siwo bu le avea me la sɔ gbɔ wu ame siwo wowu.
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.
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 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.
10 David ƒe amewo dometɔ ɖeka kpɔe eye wògblɔe na Yoab bena, “Kpɔ ɖa, mekpɔ Absalom wòtsi klẽti aɖe ŋu.”
And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, 'Lo, 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 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?'
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 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;
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.”
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.'
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.
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.
15 Yoab ƒe akpoxɔnutsɔla ewo, ame siwo ƒo xlã Yoab ɣe ma yi hafi la lũ ɖe Absalom dzi hewui.
And they go round — ten youths bearing weapons of Joab — and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
16 Tete Yoab ku kpẽ eye eƒe amewo dzudzɔ Israel ƒe aʋawɔlawo nyanya.
And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept 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 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.
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.
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.
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.”
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;'
20 Yoab gblɔ nɛ be, “Ao, manye dzidzɔnya na fia la be via ŋutsu ku o; nyemele dɔwòm ɖe afi aɖeke o.”
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.'
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.
And Joab saith to Cushi, 'Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
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.”
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?' —
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.
'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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.'
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 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.'
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 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.'
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 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].'
30 Fia la gblɔ na Ahimaaz be, “Lala le afi sia” Ale Ahimaaz dze ɖe axadzi.
And the king saith, 'Turn round, station thyself here;' and he turneth round and standeth 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 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.'
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 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.'
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 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.'