< Samuel 2 1 >

1 Le Saul ƒe ku megbe la. David trɔ va Ziklag le esime wòɖu Amalekitɔwo dzi vɔ megbe eye wònɔ afi ma ŋkeke eve.
And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days,
2 Le ŋkeke etɔ̃a gbe la, ame aɖe tso Saul ƒe asaɖa me eƒe awuwo vuvu eye ke nɔ tame nɛ. Ede ta agu eye wòbɔbɔ ɖe David ŋkume kple bubu.
and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] rent, and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass, in his coming in unto David, that he falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance.
3 David biae be, “Afi ka nètso?” Eɖo eŋu be, “Mesi tso Israel ƒe asaɖa me.”
And David saith to him, 'Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him, 'Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped.'
4 David yi edzi be, “Nya kae dzɔ? Gblɔe nam.” Ŋutsu la ɖo eŋu be, “Aʋa si ameawo eye wo dometɔ geɖewo ku. Saul kple via Yonatan hã ku.”
And David saith unto him, 'What hath been the matter? declare, I pray thee, to me.' And he saith, that 'The people hath fled from the battle, and also a multitude hath fallen of the people, and they die; and also Saul and Jonathan his son have died.'
5 Tete David bia ɖekakpui si tsɔ du la vɛ nɛ la be: “Aleke nèwɔ nya be Saul kple via Yonatan ku?”
And David saith unto the youth who is declaring [it] to him, 'How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan his son [are] dead?'
6 Ɖekakpui la ɖo eŋu be, “Menɔ Gilboa to la dzi eye mekpɔ Saul wòtɔ eɖokui ɖe eƒe akplɔ nu le esime futɔwo ƒe tasiaɖamwo nɔ to ɖem ɖee.
And the youth who is declaring [it] to him saith, I happened to meet in mount Gilboa, and lo, Saul is leaning on his spear; and lo, the chariots and those possessing horses have followed him;
7 Esime wònye kɔ la, ekpɔm yɔm eye mebiae be, ‘Nu ka mawɔ na wò?’
and he turneth behind him, and seeth me, and calleth unto me, and I say, Here [am] I.
8 “Ebiam be, ‘Ame ka nènye?’ “Meɖo eŋu be ‘Amalekitɔe menye.’
And he saith to me, Who [art] thou? and I say unto him, An Amalekite I [am].'
9 “Tete wògblɔ nam be, ‘Va, tsi tsitre ɖe gbɔnye eye nàwum! Meɖo kudo nu gake agbe gale menye ko.’
'And he saith unto me, Stand, I pray thee, over me, and put me to death, for seized me hath the arrow, for all my soul [is] still in me.
10 “Ale mete ɖe eŋu hewui elabena menyae be ale si wòdze anyii la, maganɔ agbe o. Meɖe fiakuku la le ta nɛ kple abɔga si wòdo eye metsɔ wo va afii na nye aƒetɔ.”
And I stand over him, and put him to death, for I knew that he doth not live after his falling, and I take the crown which [is] on his head, and the bracelet which [is] on his arm, and bring them in unto my lord hither.'
11 David kple eƒe amewo dze woƒe awuwo esi wose nya sia.
And David taketh hold on his garments, and rendeth them, and also all the men who [are] with him,
12 Wofa konyi, fa avi eye wotsi nu dɔ va se ɖe fiẽ ɖe Saul kple via Yonatan kple Yehowa ƒe aʋakɔ kple Israel ƒe aƒe la ta elabena wotsi yi nu.
and they mourn, and weep, and fast till the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel, because they have fallen by the sword.
13 David bia ɖekakpui si gblɔ nya la nɛ be, “Afi ka nètso?” Ɖekakpui la ɖo eŋu be, “Amalekitɔ aɖe si nye amedzro la ƒe viŋutsue menye.”
And David saith unto the youth who is declaring [it] to him, 'Whence [art] thou?' and he saith, 'Son of a sojourner, an Amalekite, I [am].'
14 David biae be, “Nu ka ŋuti mèvɔ̃ o eye nèdo wò asi ɖa wu Yehowa ƒe amesiamina la?”
And David saith unto him, 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?'
15 Enumake David yɔ eƒe amewo dometɔ ɖeka eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Yi, nàƒu nui ƒu anyi!” Ale wòyi ɖaƒu nui ƒu anyi eye wòku.
And David calleth to one of the youths, and saith, 'Draw nigh — fall upon him;' and he smiteth him, and he dieth;
16 Elabena David gblɔ nɛ be, “Wò ʋu ava wò ŋutɔ wò ta dzi. Wò ŋutɔ wò nue ɖu ɖasefo ɖe ŋuwò esi negblɔ be, ‘Mewu Yehowa ƒe amesiamina la.’”
and David saith unto him, 'Thy blood [is] on thine own head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I — I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'
17 David kpa konyifaha sia tso Saul kple via Yonatan ŋu
And David lamenteth with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son;
18 eye wòde se na Yuda ŋutsuwo be woafia aŋutrɔ ƒe konyifaha sia abe ale si woŋlɔe ɖe Yasar ƒe agbalẽ me ene.
and he saith to teach the sons of Judah 'The Bow;' lo, it is written on the book of the Upright: —
19 “Oo, Israel, wò ŋutikɔkɔe Nye ekema wowu ɖe wò towo dzi. Aleke kalẽtɔwo tsi aʋa ale!
'The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places [is] wounded; How have the mighty fallen!
20 “Migagblɔe le Gat o; migaɖe gbeƒãe le Askelon ƒe ablɔwo dzi o. Ne menye nenema o la, Filistitɔwo ƒe vinyɔnuwo akpɔ dzidzɔ eye bolotɔwo ƒe vinyɔnuwo atso aseye.
Declare [it] not in Gath, Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest they rejoice — The daughters of the Philistines, Lest they exult — The daughters of the Uncircumcised!
21 “Oo, mi Gilboa towo, zãmu alo tsi magadza ɖe mia dzi o, eye miaƒe anyigbawo magawɔ nuku o. Elabena afi ma, wodo gu kalẽtɔ ƒe akpoxɔnu le, Saul ƒe akpoxɔnu le abe ɖe womegasi ami ɖe eŋu o ene.
Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul — without the anointed with oil.
22 “Yonatan ƒe aŋutrɔ metrɔ gbɔ ƒuƒlu eye Saul ƒe yi metrɔ gbɔ numagblemagblẽ tso aʋatsilawo ƒe ʋu me kple kalẽtɔwo ƒe ŋutilã ŋu o,
From the blood of the wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Hath not turned backward; And the sword of Saul doth not return empty.
23 Saul kple Yonatan, le agbe me la, wolɔ̃ wo eye wovea ame nu. Le ku me hã wo me mema o. Woɖi du wu hɔ̃wo, eye wosẽ wu dzatawo.
Saul and Jonathan! They are loved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they have not been parted. Than eagles they have been lighter, Than lions they have been mightier!
24 “O Israel vinyɔnuwo, mifa avi na Saul ame si ta aɖabɛvɔ na mi eye wòtsɔ nu nyuiwo na mi ame si ɖo atsyɔ̃ na miaƒe awuwo kple sikanuwo.
Daughters of Israel! for Saul weep ye, Who is clothing you [in] scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25 “Aleke kalẽtɔwo tsi aʋa ale! Eye wowu Yonatan le wò toawo dzi.
How have the mighty fallen In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!
26 Nɔvinye Yonatan, tɔwò le veyem elabena èxɔ asi nam vevie ŋutɔ. Wò lɔlɔ̃ nam de to ŋutɔ ede to wu nyɔnuwo ƒe lɔlɔ̃ gɔ̃ hã.
I am in distress for thee, my brother Jonathan, Very pleasant wast thou to me; Wonderful was thy love to me, Above the love of women!
27 “Aleke kalẽtɔwo tsi aʋa ale! Eye woƒe aʋawɔnuwo katã hã tsrɔ̃ ale!”
How have the mighty fallen, Yea, the weapons of war perish!'

< Samuel 2 1 >