1 Samuel 11

1 Ɛbɛyɛ ɔsram akyi, Amonhene Nahas dii nʼakofo anim bɛtoaa Israel kuropɔn Yabes Gilead. Na Yabesman mma srɛɛ sɛ, “Momma yɛne mo nyɛ apam, na yɛbɛyɛ mo asomfo.”

Then came up Nahash the Ammonite, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead, —and all the man of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Solemnise with us a covenant, that we may serve thee.

2 Nanso Amonni Nahas buae se, “Eye, na ade baako pɛ na ɛsɛ sɛ mopene so. Ɛne sɛ, metu obiara ani nifa baako de agu Israel nyinaa anim ase.”

And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, Hereby, will I solemnise [a covenant] with you by digging out for you, every one’s right eye, —and laying it for a reproach, upon all Israel.

3 Na Yabes mpanyin no buae se, “Ma yɛn nnanson, na yɛmfa nsoma abɔfo mfa Israel nyinaa, na sɛ yɛn abusuafo amma ammegye yɛn de a, yɛbɛpene wo nhyehyɛe no so.”

And the elders of Jabesh said unto him—Give us a respite of seven days, that we may send messengers throughout all the bounds of Israel, —and then, if there is none to save us, we will come out unto thee.

4 Abɔfo no beduu Gibea a ɛyɛ Saulo kurom, bɛkaa asɛm a ato wɔn no kyerɛɛ ɔmanfo maa wɔn nyinaa sui.

And, when the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spake the words in the ears of the people, all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 Saa bere no, na Saulo refuntum nʼafuw. Na ɔbaa fie no, obisae se, “Dɛn asɛm na asi? Adɛn nti na nusu abu obiara kɔn yi?” Enti wɔbɔɔ asɛm a efi Yabes aba no ho amanneɛ.

But lo! Saul, came in, following the oxen, out of the field, and Saul said, What aileth the people, that they should weep? Then were recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 Onyankopɔn honhom besii Saulo so denneennen. Na ne bo fuw yiye.

And the Spirit of God came suddenly upon Saul, when he heard these words, —and his anger raged furiously.

7 Ɔfaa anantwi abien, twitwaa wɔn asinasin, na wɔmaa abɔfo no soa kyinii Israel nyinaa, kae se, “Obiara a wanni Saulo ne Samuel akyi ankɔ ɔko no, saa ara na ne nantwi bɛyɛ!” Na Awurade maa nnipa no suroo Saulo abufuw no. Enti wɔn nyinaa bɛboaa wɔn ho ano.

So he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent throughout all the bounds of Israel by the hand of messengers—saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul, and after Samuel, so, shall it be done unto his oxen. Then felt the dread of Yahweh, upon the people, and they came forth, as one man.

8 Bere a Saulo boaa wɔn ano wɔ Besek a ɔkan wɔn no, na Israel mmarima dodow yɛ mpem ahaasa na Yudafo nso dodow yɛ mpem aduasa.

And, when he numbered them in Bezek, the sons of Israel were found to be—three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 Saulo somaa abɔfo no ma wɔsan wɔn akyi kɔɔ Yabes Gilead kɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Enkosi ɔkyena awia owigyinae bere mu no, yebeyi mo afi mo ahokyere no mu.” Abɔfo no kɔka eyi kyerɛɛ Yabes mmarima no, wɔn ani gyei.

So they said unto the messengers who had come—Thus, shall ye surely say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, shall ye have deliverance, about the time the son is hot. And, when the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.

10 Na Yabes mmarima ka kyerɛɛ wɔn atamfo no se, “Ɔkyena yɛbɛba mo so, na nea mopɛ no, monyɛ yɛn.”

So the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow, will we come out unto you, —Then shall ye do with us, according to all that is good in your eyes.

11 Nanso ansa na ade bɛkye no, na Saulo adu hɔ dedaw. Ɔkyekyɛɛ nʼakofo no mu akuw abiɛsa. Ɔtow hyɛɛ Amonfo no so mpofirim, kunkum wɔn anɔpa mu no nyinaa. Wɔn asraafo nkae no bɔ hwetee baabiara a obi mpo nhu sɛ wɔn mu baanu bi gyina faako.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Saul set the people in three companies, and they entered into the midst of the host, during the morning watch, and smote Ammon until the day was hot. And it came to pass that, they who were left, were scattered, so that there were not left among them, two together.

12 Afei, nnipa no teɛɛ mu frɛɛ Samuel se, “Nnipa a wɔka se ɛnsɛ sɛ Saulo di yɛn so hene no wɔ he? Momfa wɔn mmra na yenkum wɔn.”

Then said the people unto Samuel, Who is he that was saying, Shall, Saul, reign over us? Give up the men, that we may put them to death.

13 Nanso Saulo buae se, “Wɔrenkum obiara nnɛ, efisɛ, Awurade agye Israel nnɛ.”

But Saul said, There shall not be put to death a man, this day, —for, to-day, hath Yahweh wrought deliverance in Israel.

14 Na Samuel ka kyerɛɛ nnipa no se, “Mommra na yɛn nyinaa nkɔ Gilgal nkosi Saulo ahenni no so dua.”

Then said Samuel unto the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, —and let us there renew the kingdom.

15 Enti wɔn nyinaa kɔɔ Gilgal, na wɔhyɛɛ Saulo ahenkyɛw wɔ Awurade anim. Na wɔbɔɔ asomdwoe afɔre maa Awurade, na Saulo ne Israelfo nyinaa gyee wɔn ani.

So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, —and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.