1 Ahemfo 2
1 Dawid rebewu no, ɔde adwuma hyɛɛ Salomo nsa sɛ:
Now the days of David had drawn near, so that he would die, and he instructed his son Solomon, saying:
2 “Merekɔ faako a ɛsɛ sɛ da bi ɔteasefo biara kɔ, enti yɛ den na kyerɛ wo mmaninyɛ,
“I am entering the way of all the earth. Be strengthened and be a good man.
3 na yɛ nea Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn, hwehwɛ sɛ woyɛ. Nantew nʼakwan so, na di ne mmara ne nʼahyɛde so sɛnea wɔakyerɛw wɔ Mose mmara no mu no, sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wobɛkɔ so wɔ biribiara a wobɛyɛ mu ne baabiara a wobɛkɔ nso.
And observe the care of the Lord your God, so that you walk in his ways, so that you care for his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonies, just as it is written in the law of Moses. So may you understand everything that you do, in any direction that you may turn yourself.
4 Sɛ woyɛ eyi a na Awurade bedi ne bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ me no so se, ‘Sɛ wʼasefo hwɛ wɔn asetena, na wofi wɔn koma ne wɔn kra nyinaa mu nantew nokware mu wɔ mʼanim a, wɔn mu baako bɛtena Israel ahengua no so.’
So may the Lord confirm his words, which he has spoken about me, saying: ‘If your sons will guard their ways, and if they will walk before me in truth, with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from you a man on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Wunim se Seruia babarima Yoab kum mʼakofo asahene baanu no a ɛyɛ Ner babarima Abner ne Yeter babarima Amasa no. Okunkum wɔn, hwiee wɔn mogya gui, asomdwoe bere mu a ɛnyɛ ɔko bere mu, na ɔde wɔn mogya kekaa nʼabɔso a ɛbɔ nʼasen mu ne ne mpaboa a ɛhyɛ ne nan so.
Also, you know what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, has done to me, what he did to the two leaders of the army of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether. He killed them, and so he shed the blood of war in peace time, and he set the bloodshed of battle on his belt, which was around his waist, and in his shoes, which were on his feet.
Therefore, act according to your wisdom. And you shall not allow his gray head to be led away to death in peace. (Sheol h7585)
7 “Na yɛ Barsilai a ofi Gilead no mmabarima adɔe, na ma wɔnka wɔn a wodidi wɔ wo didipon so no ho. Bere a miguan fii wo nuabarima Absalom ho no, wɔyɛɛ me adɔe.
Then, too, repay grace to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. And you shall allow them to eat at your table. For they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom, your brother.
8 “Kae Gera Benyaminni a ofi Bahurim no babarima Simei. Ɔdomee me denneennen, da a mereguan akɔ Mahanaim no. Na obehyiaa me wɔ Yordan no, mede Awurade din kaa ntam sɛ, Merenkum no.
Also, you have with you Shimei, the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin, from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went away to the camp. And he descended to meet me when I crossed over the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death by the sword,’
9 Nanso ntam no mma onni bem. Woyɛ onyansafo na wubehu ɔkwan a wobɛfa so aka ne mogya agu.” (Sheol h7585)
yet do not choose to treat him as if he were innocent. Since you are a wise man, you will know what to do with him. And you shall lead away his grey hair to death with blood.” (Sheol h7585)
10 Na Dawid wui, na wosiee no wɔ Dawid kurom.
And so, David slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David.
11 Odii hene wɔ Israel mfe aduanan a ne nkyerɛmu ne sɛ, odii Hebron so mfe ason na Yerusalem nso, odii ade mfe aduasa abiɛsa.
Now the days during which David reigned over Israel are forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, thirty-three in Jerusalem.
12 Enti Salomo tenaa nʼagya Dawid ahengua so, na nʼadedi ase timii yiye.
Then Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was strengthened exceedingly.
13 Na Hagit babarima Adoniya kɔɔ Salomo ne na Batseba nkyɛn. Batseba bisaa no se, “Wobaa no asomdwoe so ana?” Obuaa no se, “Ɛyɛ asomdwoe so.”
And Adonijah, the son of Haggith, entered to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. And she said to him, “Is your entrance peaceful?” He responded, “It is peaceful.”
14 Na ɔka kaa ho se, “Mepɛ sɛ woyɛ me adɔe bi.” Na Batseba bisae se, “Adɔe bɛn.”
And he added, “My word is for you.” She said to him, “Speak.” And he said:
15 Adoniya kae se, “Sɛnea wunim no, na ahemman no yɛ me dea. Na Israel nyinaa hwɛ me kwan sɛ wɔn hene. Nanso nneɛma sesae, na ahemman no kɔɔ me nuabarima nkyɛn, efisɛ Awurade pɛ no saa.
“You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all of Israel had preferred me for themselves as king. But the kingdom was transferred, and has become my brother’s. For it was appointed to him by the Lord.
16 Mprempren, ade baako na mepɛ sɛ mesrɛ wo. Mfa nkame me.” Ɔkae se, “Wutumi ka.”
Now therefore, I beg of you one petition. May you not confound my face.” And she said to him, “Speak.”
17 Na ɔtoaa so se, “Kɔsrɛ ɔhene Salomo ma me, na ɔremfa dekode no nkame wo. Ka na ɔmfa Abisag Sunamni no mma me sɛ me yere.”
And he said: “I beg that you may speak to king Solomon, for he is not able to refuse anything to you, so that he may give Abishag the Shunammite to me as wife.”
18 Na Batseba buae se, “Eye mɛka ho asɛm akyerɛ ɔhene ama wo.”
And Bathsheba said: “It is well. I will speak to the king on your behalf.”
19 Enti Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene Salomo nkyɛn sɛ ɔrekɔkasa ama Adoniya. Ɔhene no sɔree sɛ ɔrebehyia no, bɔɔ ne mu ase ansa na ɔretena nʼahengua so. Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa agua mmrɛ ɔhene na, na ɔtenaa ɔhene nifa so.
Then Bathsheba went to king Solomon, so that she might speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and he reverenced her, and he sat down upon his throne. And a throne was stationed for the mother of the king, and she sat at his right hand.
20 Ɔka kyerɛɛ ɔhene se, “Mewɔ ade ketewaa bi srɛ wo, na mfa nkame me.” Ɔhene no buaa no se, “Ka, me na. Meyɛ ama wo.”
And she said to him: “I petition one small request from you. May you not confound my face.” And the king said to her: “Ask, my mother. For it is not right that I turn away your face.”
21 Enti ɔkae se, “Ma wɔmfa Sunamni Abisag mma wo nuabarima Adoniya aware.”
And she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah, your brother, as wife.”
22 Ɔhene Salomo bisaa ne na se, “Adɛn nti na wopɛ sɛ Adoniya ware Sunamni Abisag? Ɛno de, sɛ wubebisa ahemman nso ama no. Wunim sɛ ɔyɛ me nua panyin na ɔsɔfo Abiatar ne Seruia babarima Yoab nso boa no!”
And king Solomon responded, and he said to his mother: “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why not request the kingdom for him! For he is my older brother, and he has Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the son of Zeruiah.”
23 Na ɔhene Salomo de Awurade din kaa ntam se, “Sɛ Adoniya amfa ne nkwa antwa saa abisade yi so a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no dennen so pa ara.
And so king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: “May God do these things to me, and may he add these other things! For Adonijah has spoken this word against his own life.
24 Na mprempren de, mmere dodow a Awurade te ase yi, ɔno a watim mʼase wɔ mʼagya Dawid ahengua so, na wabɔ me fie ahenni mu nnidiso atenase ama me, sɛnea ɔhyɛɛ me bɔ no, Adoniya de, twa ara na etwa sɛ owu nnɛ yi ara.”
And now, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and placed me upon the throne of my father David, and who, just as he said, has made a house for me: Adonijah shall be put to death this day.”
25 Enti, Salomo hyɛɛ Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ onkum no, na okum Adoniya.
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, who put him to death, and so he died.
26 Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfo Abiatar se, “San kɔ wo kurom Anatot. Wofata sɛ wuwu, nanso merenkum wo mprempren, efisɛ, wosoaa Awurade Tumfo Adaka no maa mʼagya, na wo ne no nyinaa na muhuu amane wɔ nʼabɛbrɛsɛ nyinaa mu.”
Also, the king said to Abiathar, the priest: “Go into Anathoth, to your own land, for you are a man worthy of death. But I will not put you to death this day, since you carried the ark of the Lord God before David, my father, and since you have endured hardship in all the things, for which my father labored.”
27 Enti Salomo nam so dii mmara a Awurade hyɛɛ wɔ Silo fa Eli asefo ho no so.
Therefore, Solomon cast out Abiathar, so that he would not be the priest of the Lord, so that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke over the house of Eli at Shiloh.
28 Ɛwɔ mu, mfiase no na onni Absalom akyi, nanso Yoab de ne ho kɔdɔm Adoniya atuatew no. Bere a Yoab tee Adoniya wu no, otuu mmirika kɔɔ Awurade ntamadan kronkron no mu, na okosusoo mmɛn a etuatua afɔremuka no ho no mu.
And the news came to Joab, for Joab had turned aside after Adonijah, and he had not turned aside after Solomon. And so, Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and he took hold of the horn of the altar.
29 Bere a ɔhene Salomo tee asɛm yi, ɔsomaa Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ onkokum no.
And it was reported to king Solomon that Joab had fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and that he was beside the altar. And Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, put him to death.”
30 Na Benaia kɔɔ Awurade ntamadan kronkron no mu kɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab se, “Ɔhene se fi adi.” Nanso Yoab buae se, “Dabi, mewu wɔ ha.” Enti Benaia san kɔɔ ɔhene no nkyɛn kɔkaa asɛm a Yoab aka no kyerɛɛ no.
And Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the Lord, and he said to him: “The king says this: ‘Come out.’” But he said: “I will not come out. Instead, I will die here.” Benaiah sent word back to the king, saying, “Joab said this, and he responded to me in this way.”
31 Ɔhene no tee asɛm a Yoab kae no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Benaia se, “Yɛ nea ɔkae no. Kum no wɔ afɔremuka no ho, na sie no. Eyi beyi adwenhare mogyahwiegu ho afɔdi afi me ne mʼagya fifo so.
And the king said to him, “Do just as he has said. And put him to death, and bury him. And so shall you take away the innocent blood, which was shed by Joab, from me and from my father’s house.
32 Na Awurade betua no kum a okum mmarima atreneefo ankasa baanu a na woye sen no no so ka. Na mʼagya nnim Ner babarima Abner a na ɔyɛ Israel asraafo so sahene ne Yeter babarima Amasa a na ɔno nso yɛ Yuda asraafo so sahene no wu ho hwee.
And the Lord shall repay his blood upon his own head. For he killed two men, just and better than himself, and he killed them with the sword, while my father, David, did not know it: Abner, the son of Ner, leader of the military of Israel, and Amasa, the son of Jether, leader of the army of Judah.
33 Yoab ne nʼasefo de, saa awudi ahorow yi ho afɔdi ntena wɔn so, na Awurade mma Dawid ne nʼasefo ne nʼahengua asomdwoe afebɔɔ!”
And their blood shall be turned back upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his offspring forever. But as for David, and his offspring and house, and his throne, may there be peace from the Lord, even unto eternity.”
34 Enti Yehoiada babarima Benaia san kɔɔ ntamadan kronkron no mu, kokum Yoab, na wosiee Yoab wɔ ne kurom wuram baabi.
And so Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went up and, attacking him, put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the desert.
35 Na ɔhene no yii Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ onsi Yoab anan sɛ ɔsahene. Na oyii ɔsɔfo Sadok de no sii Abiatar anan mu.
And the king appointed Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, in his place over the army. And he appointed Zadok, the priest, in place of Abiathar.
36 Ɔhene no soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Si ofi wɔ Yerusalem ha na tena mu. Na mfi kurow no mu nkɔ baabiara.
Also, the king sent for and summoned Shimei, and he said to him: “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem, and live there. And do not depart from that place to here or to there.
37 Na da a wubetwa Kidron bon no, wubewu; na wo mogya begu wʼankasa wo ti so.”
For on whatever day you will have departed and crossed the torrent Kidron, know that you shall be put to death. Your blood will be upon your own head.”
38 Na Simei buae se, “Wʼatemmu no yɛ kronkron. Biribiara a me wura ɔhene bɛhyɛ sɛ menyɛ no, mɛyɛ.” Enti Simei tenaa Yerusalem kyɛe yiye.
And Shimei said to the king: “The word is good. Just as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” And so Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days.
39 Na mfe abiɛsa akyi no, Simei asomfo baanu guan kɔɔ Gathene Akis, Maaka babarima nkyɛn. Bere a Simei huu faako a wɔwɔ no,
But it happened that, after three years, the servants of Shimei fled to Achish, the son of Maacah, the king of Gath. And it was reported to Shimei that his servants had gone away to Gath.
40 ɔhyehyɛɛ nʼafurum, kɔɔ Gat, kɔhwehwɛɛ wɔn. Ohuu wɔn no, ɔde wɔn san baa Yerusalem.
And Shimei rose up, and he saddled his donkey. And went away to Achish in Gath, in order to seek his servants. And he led them away from Gath.
41 Salomo tee sɛ Simei afi Yerusalem akɔ Gat asan aba no,
And it was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone away from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned.
42 ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei bae, na obisaa no se, “Mamma woanka ntam Awurade din mu sɛ, worenkɔ baabiara, na sɛ anyɛ saa a, wubewu? Na wubuae se, ‘Atemmu no yɛ kronkron; na medi asɛm a woaka no so.’
And sending, he summoned him, and he said to him: “Did I not testify to you by the Lord, and warn you in advance, ‘On whatever day, having departed, you go forth to here or to there, know that you shall die?’ And you responded to me, ‘The word that I have heard is good.’
43 Adɛn nti na woanni wo ntam no so amma Awurade, na woanyɛ mʼahyɛde?”
Then why have you not kept the oath to the Lord, and the commandment which I instructed to you?”
44 Na ɔhene no ka kaa ho se, “Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ wokae amumɔyɛ a woyɛɛ mʼagya, ɔhene Dawid. Awurade bɛtwe wʼaso wɔ ho.
And the king said to Shimei: “You know all the evil, of which your heart is conscious, which you did to David, my father. The Lord has repaid your wickedness upon your own head.”
45 Na me de, menya Awurade nhyira, na daa Dawid aseni atena ahengua no so.”
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord, even forever.
46 Na ɔhene no hyɛɛ Yehoiada babarima Benaia ma ɔfaa Simei de no fii adi kokum no. Enti ahemman no tim wɔ Salomo nsam.
And so the king commanded Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And going out, he struck him down, and he died.
