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.
When King David was very old [IDM, DOU], even though his servants put many blankets on top of him, he was unable to become warm.
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 they said to him, “Your Majesty, allow us to search for a young virgin who can stay with you and take care of you. She can sleep close to you and enable you to become warm.”
3 Enti wokyin ɔman no mu nyinaa, hwehwɛɛ ɔbea hoɔfɛfo bi. Wokonyaa Abisag a ofi Sunam, na wɔde no brɛɛ ɔhene no.
[The king gave them permission, ] so they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found a woman named Abishag, from Shunem [town], and brought her to the king.
4 Na ɔyɛ ɔbabea hoɔfɛfo, na ɔno na ɔbɛhwɛɛ ɔhene. Nanso ɔhene no amfa ne ho anka no.
She was [truly] very beautiful. She took care of [DOU] the king, but the king did not have sexual relations 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.
[After Absalom died], David’s oldest surviving son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. He was a very handsome/good-looking man. But David had never rebuked him about anything he did. [After Absalom died, Adonijah thought that he would become king]. So he started to boast, saying “I will become king [now].” Then he provided for himself some chariots, and men to drive them, and horses [to pull them], and 50 men to run [as his bodyguards] in front of those chariots [wherever he went].
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.
7 Adoniya gyee Seruia babarima Yoab ne ɔsɔfo Abiatar too mu, na wɔn nso penee sɛ wɔbɛboa no ama wadi ɔhene.
One day he conferred with Joab, [David’s army commander], and Abiathar the priest, and they promised/agreed to help/support Adonijah.
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, who was also a priest, Benaiah [who had supervised David’s bodyguards], Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei, and David’s most capable soldiers refused to help/support 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.
One day Adonijah went to Snake Rock near En-Rogel [Spring, which is near Jerusalem], to sacrifice some sheep and oxen and fattened cattle. He invited most of his brothers, King David’s other sons, to come. He also invited all of the king’s officials from Judah to come to the celebration.
10 Nanso wamfrɛ odiyifo Natan anaa Benaia anaa ɔhene ho bammɔfo anaa ne nuabarima Salomo.
But he did not invite Nathan or Benaiah or the king’s most capable soldiers or his [younger/half]-brother Solomon.
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?
Nathan [found out what they were doing, so he went to] Solomon’s mother Bathsheba [and] asked her, “Have you not heard that Haggith’s son Adonijah is declared himself to be the king? And King David does not know about it!
12 Sɛ wopɛ sɛ wunya wo ti didi mu, na wugye wo babarima Salomo nso nkwa a, tie mʼafotu yi.
So if you want to save yourself and your son Solomon from being killed, allow me to tell you what you should do.
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?’
Go immediately to King David. Say to him, ‘Your Majesty, you solemnly promised me [RHQ] that my son Solomon would become the king after you [die], and that he would sit on your throne [and rule]. So why is it that Adonijah [has said that he] is now the king?’
14 Na bere a wugu so ne no rekasa no, mɛba abesi asɛm biara a woaka no so dua.”
Then, while you are still talking to the king, I will come in and tell him that what you are saying to him [about Adonijah] is true.”
15 Na Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene pia mu. Afei, na wabɔ akwakoraa posoposo a Abisag na na ɔhwɛ no.
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag was taking care of him.
16 Batseba kotow no, na ɔhene no bisaa no se, “Dɛn na menyɛ mma wo?”
Bathsheba bowed very low in front of the king, and the king asked her, “What do you want?”
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.
She replied, “Your Majesty, you solemnly promised me, knowing that Yahweh our God [was listening] [IDM], that my son Solomon would become king after you [die], and that he would sit on your throne [and rule].
18 Nanso mprempren de, Adoniya na wabɛyɛ ɔhene foforo a mpo, wunnim ho hwee.
But now, believe it or not, Adonijah has become king, and you do not know anything about it.
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.
He has sacrificed a lot of oxen and fattened cattle and sheep, and he has invited all of your other sons to the celebration. He has also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of your army, but he did not invite your son Solomon.
20 Na me wura ɔhene, Israel nyinaa retwɛn nea wobɛkyerɛ sɛ onni wʼade sɛ ɔhene.
Your Majesty, all the people [SYN] of Israel are expecting you to tell them who is the one who will become king after you are no longer the king.
21 Na sɛ woanyɛ biribi na sɛ wunya kɔ wo kra akyi pɛ a, wɔbɛyɛ me ne me ba Salomo sɛ amumɔyɛfo.”
If you do not do that, what will happen is that after you die [EUP] people will consider that my son Solomon and I are rebelling, [and they will execute us because we did not help Adonijah to become king].”
22 Ogu so ne no rekasa no ara pɛ na, odiyifo Natan beduu hɔ.
While she was still talking to the king, Nathan came [to the palace].
23 Ɔhene afotufo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Odiyifo Natan aba ha, na ɔpɛ sɛ ohu wo.” Natan kɔɔ mu kɔkotow ɔhene no.
The king’s servants/advisors told David, “Nathan the prophet has come.” So [Bathsheba left, and] Nathan went into where the king was and knelt down, with his face on the ground.
24 Obisae se, “Me wura, woayɛ wʼadwene sɛ Adoniya na onni wʼade, na ɔntena wʼahengua so ana?
Then Nathan said, “Your Majesty, have you declared that Adonijah will become king after you are no longer the king?
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!’
[I say that] because today he has gone down [to En-Rogel Spring] and has sacrificed a lot of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. And he has invited all of your other sons, Joab the army commander, and Abiathar the priest. They are all eating and drinking with him and saying ‘We hope/desire that King Adonijah will live a long time!’
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 he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or Solomon.
27 Ɛyɛ nokware sɛ me wura ayɛ saa a wamma nʼasomfo no mu biara ante onipa a obedi nʼade sɛ ɔhene no ho hwee?”
Did you, as the king, say that they should do this without telling your other officials who you want to become king [MTY] after you are no longer the king?”
28 Dawid kae se, “Momfrɛ Batseba mma me.” Na ɔbaa ɔhene anim begyinaa hɔ.
Then [after Nathan left the room, ] King David said [to one of his servants], “Tell Bathsheba to come in here again.” So [he went and told her, and] she came in and stood in front of 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,
Then the king said, “Yahweh has rescued me from all my troubles. I promised you, with Yahweh the God whom we Israelis [worship] listening, that your son Solomon would be king after I am no longer the king. Today, as surely as Yahweh lives, [I solemnly declare that] I will do what I promised.”
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.”
31 Na Batseba san kotow no bio, na ɔteɛɛ mu se, “Me wura, ɔhene Dawid, ntena ase afebɔɔ!”
Bathsheba knelt down with her face on the ground and said, “Your Majesty, I hope/desire that you will live for many more years [HYP]!”
32 Na ɔhene Dawid hyɛɛ se, “Momfrɛ ɔsɔfo Sadok, odiyifo Natan ne Yehoiada babarima Benaia mma me.” Wɔbaa ɔhene anim no,
Then King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah.” [So someone went and summoned them.] When they came in,
33 ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Momfa Salomo ne me mpanyimfo no nkɔ Gihon asuti no ho. Salomo ntena mʼafurumpɔnkɔ so.
he said to them, “Put my son Solomon on my mule. Take him with my officials down to Gihon [Spring].
34 Ɛhɔ na ɔsɔfo Sadok ne odiyifo Natan bɛsra no ngo sɛ Israelhene. Monhyɛn torobɛnto, na monteɛteɛ mu se, ‘Ɔhene Salomo nkwa so!’
There, you two, Zadok and Nathan, should anoint him, [with olive oil to appoint him to be] the king of Israel. Then you must blow trumpets, and [all the people there must] shout, ‘We hope/desire that King Solomon will live for many years!’
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 follow him back here, and he will come and sit on my throne. He will then become king instead of me. I have appointed him to be the ruler of [all the people of] Israel and of Judah.”
36 Yehoiada babarima Benaia gyee so se, “Amen! Awurade a ɔyɛ me wura, ɔhene Nyankopɔn no mmara no mmra mu saa.
Benaiah replied, “We will do that! We hope/wish that Yahweh, who is your God [and our God], will cause it to happen!
37 Na Awurade nka Salomo ho sɛnea ɔkaa wo ho no, na Salomo ahenni nyɛ yiye nkyɛn wo de no mpo.”
King David, Yahweh has helped you; we hope/wish that he will also help Solomon and enable him to become a greater king than you have been.”
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, Nathan, Benaiah, and the two groups of men who were the king’s bodyguards went and put Solomon on King David’s mule and escorted him down to Gihon [Spring].
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!”
There Zadok took the container of [olive] oil from the Sacred Tent and (anointed/poured some oil on) Solomon. Then the trumpets were blown, and all the people shouted, “We hope/wish that King Solomon will live for many years!”
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.
Then all the people followed him back up [to the city], shouting joyfully and playing flutes. They shouted very loudly, with the result that the ground shook.
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?”
When Adonijah and all (his guests/the people whom he had invited) were finishing eating at their celebration, they heard the noise. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpets, he asked, “What is causing all that noise in the city?”
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.”
While he was still speaking, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in! You are a man whom we can trust, so you must be bringing us good news!”
43 Yonatan buae se, “Dabi da! Mprempren ara, yɛn wura ɔhene Dawid, asi Salomo ɔhene.
Jonathan replied, “No, [I do not have good news]! His Majesty, King David, has caused Solomon to be the 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,
He sent Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and his own group of bodyguards to go with Solomon. They put Solomon on King David’s mule.
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.
They [went down to] Gihon [Spring], and there Zadok and Nathan anointed him to become the king. Now they have returned from there to the city, shouting joyfully. That is why there is that great/loud noise that you are hearing.
46 Afei, mprempren, Salomo te ahengua so sɛ ɔhene.
So Solomon is now our king [MTY].
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,
Furthermore, the palace officials came to His Majesty, King David, to tell him that they approved of what he had done. They said, ‘We wish/hope that our God will enable Solomon [MTY] to become more famous than you have been and enable him to be a better king than you have been.’ When they said that, the king, lying on his bed, bowed his head to worship [Yahweh].
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 he said, ‘I praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], because he has allowed one of my sons to become the king today, and has permitted me to see it happen.’”
49 Ɛhɔ ara, Adoniya ahɔho no nyinaa de hu gyee bum, fii aponto no ase, na ntɛm so, obiara kɔɔ ne kwan.
Then all of Adonijah’s guests (trembled/were afraid), so they all immediately got up and left and scattered.
50 Na Adoniya no ankasa suro Salomo, enti oguan kɔɔ ntamadan kronkron no mu kosusoo mmɛn a esisi afɔremuka no so no mu.
Adonijah was afraid of what Solomon [would do], so he went [to the Sacred Tent] and grabbed the projections at the corners of the altar, [because he knew that no one would kill him there].
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!”
But someone told Solomon, “Hey/Listen, Adonijah is afraid of you, so he [has gone to the Sacred Tent and] is holding on to the corners of the altar. He is saying, ‘[Before I leave, ] I want King Solomon to solemnly promise that he will not command that I be executed.’”
52 Salomo buae se, “Sɛ obedi me nokware de a, wɔrenhaw no. Na sɛ wanyɛ saa de a, wobekum no.”
Solomon replied, “If he proves that he is loyal to me, I will not harm him at all [IDM]. But if he does anything that is wrong, he will be executed.”
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 [some men to Adonijah], and they brought him back from the altar. He came to Solomon and bowed down in front of him. Then Solomon said to him, “Go home.”
