1 Ahemfo 1

1 Bere a Ɔhene Dawid bɔɔ akwakoraa posoposo no, sɛ wɔde ntama ahe kuru ne ho koraa a, entumi nka no hyew koraa.

Now King David was old and far on in years; and though they put covers over him, his body was cold.

2 Enti nʼafotufo kae se, “Momma yɛmpɛ ɔbabun bi mma ɔhene na ɔtena ne ho nhwɛ no. Ɔbɛda ne kokom, na ama yɛn wura ɔhene ho ayɛ no hyew.”

So his servants said to him, Let search be made for a young virgin for my lord the king, to take care of him and be waiting on him; and you may take her in your arms, and so my lord the king will be warm.

3 Enti wokyin ɔman no mu nyinaa, hwehwɛɛ ɔbea hoɔfɛfo bi. Wokonyaa Abisag a ofi Sunam, na wɔde no brɛɛ ɔhene no.

So after searching through all the land of Israel for a fair young girl, they saw Abishag the Shunammite, and took her to the king.

4 Na ɔyɛ ɔbabea hoɔfɛfo, na ɔno na ɔbɛhwɛɛ ɔhene. Nanso ɔhene no amfa ne ho anka no.

Now she was very beautiful; and she took care of the king, waiting on him at all times; but the king had no connection with her.

5 Saa bere no mu Dawid babarima Adoniya a na wɔfrɛ ne na Hagit no yɛɛ ahomaso kaa se obesi ne ho hene, ahyɛ nʼagya a wabɔ akwakoraa no anan mu. Enti ɔyɛɛ nteaseɛnam, pɛɛ apɔnkɔ kaa ho. Ɔpɛɛ mmarima aduonum, twee nteaseɛnam no ne apɔnkɔ no dii nʼanim.

Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, lifting himself up in pride, said, I will become king; and he made ready his carriages of war and his horsemen, with fifty runners to go before him.

6 Na nʼagya, ɔhene Dawid, nteɛɛ no da, mpo sɛ obebisa no se, “Dɛn na woreyɛ yi?” Na Adoniya yɛ ɔbarima hoɔfɛfo. Ɔno na na odi Absalom akyi wɔ awo mu.

Now all his life his father had never gone against him or said to him, Why have you done so? and he was a very good-looking man, and younger than Absalom.

7 Adoniya gyee Seruia babarima Yoab ne ɔsɔfo Abiatar too mu, na wɔn nso penee sɛ wɔbɛboa no ama wadi ɔhene.

And he had talk with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they were on his side and gave him their support.

8 Na wɔn a wɔtaa Dawid akyi, na wɔampɛ sɛ wɔboa Adoniya na odi hene no bi ne ɔsɔfo Sadok, Yehoiada babarima Benaia, odiyifo Natan, Simei, Rei ne Dawid ho bammɔfo.

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei, and David's men of war did not take the side of Adonijah.

9 Adoniya kɔɔ Sohelet Bo a ɛbɛn En-Rogel asuti ho. Ɛhɔ na ɔde nguan, anantwi ne anantwi mma bɔɔ afɔre. Ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ ne nuabarimanom nyinaa, ɔhene Dawid mmabarima no, ne Yuda adehye mpanyimfo.

Then Adonijah put to death sheep and oxen and fat beasts by the stone of Zoheleth, by En-rogel; and he sent for all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants, to come to him:

10 Nanso wamfrɛ odiyifo Natan anaa Benaia anaa ɔhene ho bammɔfo anaa ne nuabarima Salomo.

But he did not send for Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the other men of war and Solomon his brother.

11 Na odiyifo Natan kɔɔ Batseba a ɔyɛ Salomo na no nkyɛn kobisaa no se, “Wunim sɛ Hagit babarima Adoniya asi ne ho hene a yɛn wura Dawid mpo nnim ho hwee?

Then Nathan said to Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, Has it not come to your ears that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king without the knowledge of David our lord?

12 Sɛ wopɛ sɛ wunya wo ti didi mu, na wugye wo babarima Salomo nso nkwa a, tie mʼafotu yi.

So now, let me make a suggestion, so that you may keep your life safe and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Kɔ ɔhene Dawid nkyɛn ntɛm so, na kobisa no se, ‘Me wura, ɛnyɛ wo na wohyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, me babarima Salomo na da bi obedi wʼade sɛ ɔhene, na watena wʼahengua no so? Na adɛn nti na Adoniya ayɛ ɔhene?’

Come now, go to King David and say to him, Did you not, O my lord, take an oath to me, your servant, saying, Truly Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom? why then is Adonijah acting as king?

14 Na bere a wugu so ne no rekasa no, mɛba abesi asɛm biara a woaka no so dua.”

And while you are still talking there with the king, see, I will come in after you and say that your story is true.

15 Na Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene pia mu. Afei, na wabɔ akwakoraa posoposo a Abisag na na ɔhwɛ no.

Then Bath-sheba went into the king's room; now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was waiting on him.

16 Batseba kotow no, na ɔhene no bisaa no se, “Dɛn na menyɛ mma wo?”

And Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour. And he said, What is your desire?

17 Obuaa no se, “Me wura, wugyina Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn, anim hyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, me babarima Salomo na obedi wʼade, na watena wʼahengua so.

And she said to him, My lord, you took an oath by the Lord your God and gave your word to your servant, saying, Truly, Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom.

18 Nanso mprempren de, Adoniya na wabɛyɛ ɔhene foforo a mpo, wunnim ho hwee.

And now, see, Adonijah has made himself king without my lord's knowledge;

19 Ɔde anantwi ne anantwi mma a wɔadodɔ srade ne nguan abɔ afɔre. Na ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ wo mmabarima nyinaa ne ɔsɔfo Abiatar ne Yoab a ɔyɛ asraafo no sahene no. Nanso wanto nsa amfrɛ wo somfo Salomo bi.

And has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the captain of the army; but he has not sent for Solomon your servant.

20 Na me wura ɔhene, Israel nyinaa retwɛn nea wobɛkyerɛ sɛ onni wʼade sɛ ɔhene.

And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to say who is to take the place of my lord the king after him.

21 Na sɛ woanyɛ biribi na sɛ wunya kɔ wo kra akyi pɛ a, wɔbɛyɛ me ne me ba Salomo sɛ amumɔyɛfo.”

For as things are, it will come about, when my lord the king is sleeping with his fathers, that I and Solomon my son will be made outlaws.

22 Ogu so ne no rekasa no ara pɛ na, odiyifo Natan beduu hɔ.

And while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 Ɔhene afotufo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Odiyifo Natan aba ha, na ɔpɛ sɛ ohu wo.” Natan kɔɔ mu kɔkotow ɔhene no.

And they said to the king, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he went down on his face on the earth.

24 Obisae se, “Me wura, woayɛ wʼadwene sɛ Adoniya na onni wʼade, na ɔntena wʼahengua so ana?

And Nathan said, O my lord king, have you said, Adonijah is to be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom?

25 Nnɛ, ɔde anantwi, anantwi mma a wɔadodɔ srade ne nguan abɔ afɔre, na ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ wo mmabarima nyinaa maa wɔbaa afahyɛ no ase. Ɔfrɛɛ Yoab a ɔyɛ asraafo so sahene no ne ɔsɔfo Abiatar nso. Merekasa yi, wɔne no redidi, nom, teɛteɛ mu se, ‘Ɔhene Adoniya nkwa so!’

Because today he has gone down and has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the king's sons to come to him, with the captains of the army and Abiathar the priest; and they are feasting before him and crying, Long life to King Adonijah!

26 Na me a meyɛ wo somfo no, wanto nsa amfrɛ me; saa ara nso na wamfrɛ ɔsɔfo Sadok, Yehoiada babarima Benaia ne Salomo nso.

But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not sent for.

27 Ɛyɛ nokware sɛ me wura ayɛ saa a wamma nʼasomfo no mu biara ante onipa a obedi nʼade sɛ ɔhene no ho hwee?”

Has this thing been done by my lord the king, without giving word to your servants who was to be placed on my lord the king's seat after him?

28 Dawid kae se, “Momfrɛ Batseba mma me.” Na ɔbaa ɔhene anim begyinaa hɔ.

Then King David in answer said, Send for Bath-sheba to come to me. And she came in and took her place before the king.

29 Na ɔhene hyɛɛ bɔ se, “Mmere dodow a Awurade a ogyee me fii ɔhaw ne abɛbrɛsɛ mu da so te ase yi,

And the king took an oath, and said, By the living Lord, who has been my saviour from all my troubles,

30 nnɛ, mehyɛ mmara sɛ, wo babarima Salomo na obedi ade sɛ ɔhene, na ɔbɛtena mʼahengua so, sɛnea mekaa ntam kyerɛɛ wo wɔ Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, anim no.”

As I took an oath to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Certainly Solomon your son will become king after me, seated on my seat in my place; so will I do this day.

31 Na Batseba san kotow no bio, na ɔteɛɛ mu se, “Me wura, ɔhene Dawid, ntena ase afebɔɔ!”

Then Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour, and said, May my lord King David go on living for ever.

32 Na ɔhene Dawid hyɛɛ se, “Momfrɛ ɔsɔfo Sadok, odiyifo Natan ne Yehoiada babarima Benaia mma me.” Wɔbaa ɔhene anim no,

And King David said, Send for Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Momfa Salomo ne me mpanyimfo no nkɔ Gihon asuti no ho. Salomo ntena mʼafurumpɔnkɔ so.

And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and put Solomon my son on my beast, yes, mine, and take him down to Gihon;

34 Ɛhɔ na ɔsɔfo Sadok ne odiyifo Natan bɛsra no ngo sɛ Israelhene. Monhyɛn torobɛnto, na monteɛteɛ mu se, ‘Ɔhene Salomo nkwa so!’

And there let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him to make him king over Israel; and sounding the horn say, Long life to King Solomon!

35 Na sɛ mosan de no ba ha a, ɔbɛtena mʼahengua so. Obedi mʼade sɛ ɔhene, efisɛ mayi no sɛ ɔnyɛ ɔhene wɔ Israel ne Yuda so.”

Then come up after him and he will come in and take his place on the seat of my kingdom; for he is to be king in my place, and I have given orders that he is to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 Yehoiada babarima Benaia gyee so se, “Amen! Awurade a ɔyɛ me wura, ɔhene Nyankopɔn no mmara no mmra mu saa.

And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answering the king, said, So be it: and may the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so.

37 Na Awurade nka Salomo ho sɛnea ɔkaa wo ho no, na Salomo ahenni nyɛ yiye nkyɛn wo de no mpo.”

As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon and make the seat of his authority greater than that of my lord King David.

38 Enti ɔsɔfo Sadok, odiyifo Natan ne Yehoiada babarima Benaia ne ɔhene ho bammɔfo faa Salomo de no kɔɔ Gihon asuti no ho a, na Salomo te ɔhene Dawid afurumpɔnkɔ so.

So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and put Solomon on King David's beast and took him to Gihon.

39 Ɛhɔ na ɔsɔfo Sadok faa ngotoa fii ntamadan kronkron mu hɔ behwie guu Salomo tirim. Afei, wɔhyɛn torobɛnto maa nnipa no nyinaa teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Ɔhene Salomo nkwa so!”

And Zadok the priest took the vessel of oil out of the Tent, and put the holy oil on Solomon. And when the horn was sounded, all the people said, Long life to King Solomon!

40 Na nnipa no nyinaa san ne Salomo kɔɔ Yerusalem a wɔrebɔ mmɛn, di ahurusi. Na anigye ne ahosɛpɛw ne nteɛteɛmu no ano yɛɛ den ara kosii sɛ, wɔn nne no wosow asase.

And all the people came up after him, piping with pipes, and they were glad with great joy, so that the earth was shaking with the sound.

41 Adoniya ne nʼahɔho tee osebɔ ne nteɛteɛmu bere a wɔreyɛ awie wɔn aponto no. Yoab tee torobɛnto nne no, obisae se, “Na asɛm bɛn na asi? Na adɛn nso na kurow no mu ayɛ gyegyeegye yi?”

And it came to the ears of Adonijah and all the guests who were with him, when their meal was ended. And Joab, hearing the sound of the horn, said, What is the reason of this noise as if the town was worked up?

42 Bere a ogu so rekasa no, Yonatan a ɔyɛ ɔsɔfo Abiatar babarima no kɔɔ hɔ. Adoniya ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Bra mu, efisɛ woyɛ onipa papa. Minim sɛ asɛm pa wɔ wʼano.”

And while the words were on his lips, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, came; and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a man of good faith and the news which you have for us will be good.

43 Yonatan buae se, “Dabi da! Mprempren ara, yɛn wura ɔhene Dawid, asi Salomo ɔhene.

And Jonathan, answering, said to Adonijah, Not so, but our lord King David has made Solomon king:

44 Ɔhene no maa ɔne ɔsɔfo Sadok, odiyifo Natan, Yehoiada babarima Benaia a ɔhene ho bammɔfo rebɔ wɔn ho ban, kɔɔ Gihon asuti ho. Wɔmaa no tenaa ɔhene afurumpɔnkɔ so,

And he sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they put him on the king's beast:

45 na Sadok ne Natan sraa no ngo sɛ ɔhene foforo. Wɔreba ara ni, na kurow mu no nyinaa agye bum ahokeka so. Gyegyeegye no nkyerɛase ara ne no.

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him and made him king in Gihon; and they came back from there with joy, and the town was all worked up. This is the noise which has come to your ears.

46 Afei, mprempren, Salomo te ahengua so sɛ ɔhene.

And now Solomon is seated on the seat of the kingdom.

47 Adehye mpanyimfo nyinaa kɔɔ ɔhene Dawid nkyɛn, kɔmaa no mo, kae se, ‘Onyankopɔn mma Salomo ahenni nhyeta nkyɛn wo de no, na Salomo ahemman nso nyɛ kɛse nsen wo de no!’ Na ɔhene sii ne ti ase yii Awurade ayɛ, bere a na ɔda ne mpa mu,

And the king's servants came to our lord King David, blessing him and saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and the seat of his authority greater than your seat; and the king was bent low in worship on his bed.

48 na ɔkaa saa nsɛm yi, ‘Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, a nnɛ da yi wayi obi sɛ ɔntena mʼahengua so wɔ bere a mete ase, na mihu nea ɛrekɔ so nyinaa.’”

Then the king said, May the God of Israel be praised, who has given one of my seed to be king in my place this day and has let my eyes see it.

49 Ɛhɔ ara, Adoniya ahɔho no nyinaa de hu gyee bum, fii aponto no ase, na ntɛm so, obiara kɔɔ ne kwan.

And all the guests of Adonijah got up in fear and went away, every man to his place.

50 Na Adoniya no ankasa suro Salomo, enti oguan kɔɔ ntamadan kronkron no mu kosusoo mmɛn a esisi afɔremuka no so no mu.

And Adonijah himself was full of fear because of Solomon; and he got up and went to the altar, and put his hands on its horns.

51 Ankyɛ na Salomo tee sɛ Adoniya akosuso mmɛn a esisi afɔremuka no so, na ɔresrɛ se, “Momma Salomo nsua nkyerɛ nnɛ yi ara, na wankum me!”

And they gave Solomon word of it, saying, See, Adonijah goes in such fear of King Solomon, that he has put his hands on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon first give me his oath that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.

52 Salomo buae se, “Sɛ obedi me nokware de a, wɔrenhaw no. Na sɛ wanyɛ saa de a, wobekum no.”

And Solomon said, If he is seen to be a man of good faith, not a hair of him will be touched; but if any wrongdoing is seen in him, he is to be put to death.

53 Enti ɔhene Salomo frɛɛ Adoniya, na wɔde no fi afɔremuka no so kɔe. Ɔkotow ɔhene no, na Salomo ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Kɔ fie.”

So King Solomon sent, and they took him down from the altar. And he came and gave honour to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.