1 Samuel 14

1 Da bi, Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ aberante a ɔsoa nʼakode se, “Bra na yɛnkɔ baabi a Filistifo no apee so wɔ hɔ no.” Yonatan anka nʼadwene ankyerɛ nʼagya.

Now one day Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was with him, looking after his arms, Come, let us go over to the Philistine force over there. But he said nothing to his father.

2 Saa bere no na Saulo ne ne mmarima ahansia no akyere nsraban wɔ Gibea nkwantia wɔ atoaa dua a ɛwɔ Migron no ase.

And Saul was still waiting in the farthest part of Geba, under the fruit-tree in Migron: there were about six hundred men with him;

3 (Onipa a na ɔka Saulo mmarima no ho no ne Ahiya a ɔyɛ Awurade sɔfo a na ɔhyɛ sirikyi asɔfotade no. Na Ahiya yɛ Ahitub babarima a ɔyɛ Ikabod nua. Na saa Ahitub no nso yɛ Pinehas babarima a na ɔyɛ Eli nena nso. Na Eli yɛ Awurade sɔfo a na ɔsom wɔ Silo.) Na obiara nnim sɛ Yonatan afi Israel nsraban mu hɔ.

And Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, who had the ephod. And the people had no idea that Jonathan had gone.

4 Ansa na Yonatan beduu Filistifo nsraban mu no, na ɛsɛ sɛ osian fa abotan mmepɔw abien bi a wɔfrɛ no Boses ne Sene no ntam.

Now between the narrow roads over the mountains by which Jonathan was making his way to the Philistines' forces, there was a sharp overhanging rock on one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: one was named Bozez and the other Seneh.

5 Ɔbotan a etweri hɔ a na ɛwɔ atifi fam no, na ɛkyerɛ Mikmas anim, na nea ɛwɔ anafo fam no nso ɛkyerɛ Geba anim.

The one rock went up on the north in front of Michmash and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ aberante a ɔyɛ nʼakodekurafo no se, “Ma yentwa mu nkɔ abosonsomfo no nkyɛn. Ebia, Awurade bɛboa yɛn, efisɛ biribiara ntumi nsiw Awurade kwan. Obetumi adi ɔko mu nkonim a ɛmfa ho sɛ nʼakofo dɔɔso anaa wosua.”

And Jonathan said to his young servant who had his arms, Come, let us go over to the armies of these men who have no circumcision: it may be that the Lord will give us help, for there is no limit to his power; the Lord is able to give salvation by a great army or by a small band.

7 Aberante no kae se, “Yɛ nea wugye di sɛ eye biara. Gyinae biara a wubesi no, metaa wʼakyi pintinn.”

And his servant said to him, Do whatever is in your mind: see, I am with you in every impulse of your heart.

8 Yonatan kae se, “Eye, yebetwa mu akɔ hɔ, na yɛama wɔahu yɛn.

Then Jonathan said, Now we will go over to these men and let them see us.

9 Na sɛ wɔka se, ‘Munnyina faako a moadu hɔ ara na anyɛ saa a, yebekum mo’ a, ɛno de, yebegyina a yɛrenkɔ wɔn nkyɛn.

If they say to us, Keep quiet where you are till we come to you; then we will keep our places and not go up to them.

10 Na sɛ wɔka se, ‘Momforo mmra mmɛko’ a, ɛno de, yɛbɛforo akɔ soro. Ɛbɛyɛ Awurade nsɛnkyerɛnne sɛ ɔbɛboa yɛn, ama yɛadi wɔn so nkonim.”

But if they say, Come up to us; then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands: and this will be the sign to us.

11 Bere a Filistifo no huu sɛ wɔreba no, wɔteɛɛ mu se, “Monhwɛ o! Hebrifo no na wɔreweawea afi wɔn abon mu no!”

And they let the Philistine force see the two of them: and the Philistines said, Look! the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have taken cover.

12 Na wɔteɛɛ mu frɛɛ Yonatan se, “Foro bra ha na yɛnkyerɛ wo nyansa!” Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ nʼakodekurafo no se, “Bra; foro di mʼakyi na Awurade bɛboa yɛn, ama yɛadi wɔn so nkonim.”

And the armed men of the force gave Jonathan and his servant their answer, saying, Come up here to us, and we will let you see something. Then Jonathan said to his servant, Come up after me: for the Lord has given them up into the hands of Israel.

13 Enti wɔde wɔn nsa abien ne wɔn anan foroe, na Yonatan ne nʼakodekurafo no kunkum Filistifo no benkum ne nifa.

And Jonathan went up, gripping with his hands and his feet, his servant going up after him; and the Philistines gave way before Jonathan when he made an attack on them, and his servant put them to death after him.

14 Wokunkum mmarima bɛyɛ aduonu maa wɔn amu no dedaa asase a ne trɛw bɛyɛ sɛ eka fa so.

And at their first attack, Jonathan and his servant put to the sword about twenty men, all inside the space of half an acre of land.

15 Ɛhɔ ara, ehu bɔɔ Filistifo asraafo no wɔ nsraban no mu ne akono hɔ nyinaa, na ɛkaa afowfo no mpo. Ɛhɔ ara asase wosow maa obiara koma tui.

And there was great fear in the tents and in the field and among all the men of the armed force, and the attackers were shaking with fear; even the earth was moved with a great shaking and there was a fear as from God.

16 Saulo awɛmfo a wɔwɔ Gibea no huu biribi a ɛyɛ wɔn nwonwa. Ɛno ara ne sɛ, Filistifo asraafo no abɔ ahwete mmaa nyinaa.

And the watchmen of Saul, looking out from Geba in the land of Benjamin, saw all the army flowing away and running here and there.

17 Afei, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ mmarima a wɔka ne ho no se, “Monhwɛ asraafo no mu nhwɛ sɛ obi nni hɔ ana.” Wɔhwehwɛ huu sɛ Yonatan ne nʼakodekurafo no na na wonni hɔ.

Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Let everyone be numbered and let us see who has gone from us. And when they had been numbered, it was seen that Jonathan and his servant were not there.

18 Saulo ka kyerɛɛ Ahiya se, “Kɔfa Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no bra.” (Saa bere no na ɛwɔ Israelfo nkyɛn.)

And Saul said to Ahijah, Let the ephod come here. For he went before Israel with the ephod at that time.

19 Bere a Saulo rekasa akyerɛ ɔsɔfo no, na basabasa a asi Filistifo nsraban no mu no ano den ara na ɛreyɛ. Enti Saulo ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfo no se, “Gyae! Ma yɛnkɔ.”

Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the noise in the tents of the Philistines became louder and louder; and Saul said to the priest, Take back your hand.

20 Afei, Saulo ne ne mmarima ahansia no kaa wɔn ho ntɛm so fii akono hɔ kohuu sɛ, Filistifo no atwa wɔn ho rekunkum wɔn ho wɔn ho. Na ɛhɔ nyinaa ayɛ kitikiti ne basabasa nko ara.

And Saul and all the people with him came together and went forward to the fight: and every man's sword was turned against the man at his side, and there was a very great noise.

21 Mpo, Hebrifo a na wɔdɔm Filistifo asraafo no kɔdɔm Saulo, Yonatan ne Israelfo nkae no.

Then the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines for some time, and had gone up with them to their tents, turning round were joined to those who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Saa ara na mmarima a na wɔakɔtetɛw wɔ mmepɔw mu no huu sɛ Filistifo no reguan no, bɛkaa ho taa wɔn bi.

And all the men of Israel who had taken cover in the hill-country of Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines had been put to flight, went after them, attacking them.

23 Enti Awurade gyee Israel da no. Na ɔko no kɔɔ so ara traa Bet-Awen.

So the Lord made Israel safe that day: and the fight went over to Beth-aven.

24 Afei, saa da no na Israelfo no abrɛbrɛ, efisɛ na Saulo ama wɔaka ntam se, “Nnome mmra obiara a obedidi ansa na onwini atɔ, anaasɛ ansa matɔ mʼatamfo no so were.” Enti obiara amfa hwee anka nʼano da mu no nyinaa,

And all the people were with Saul, about twenty thousand men, and the fight was general through all the hill-country of Ephraim; but Saul made a great error that day, by putting the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes food before evening comes and I have given punishment to those who are against me. So the people had not a taste of food.

25 ɛwɔ mu, wohuu sɛ ɛwo kyɛm da fam wɔ kwae no ase.

And there was honey on the face of the field, and all the people came to the honey, the bees having gone from it;

26 Wɔamfa wɔn nsa anso ɛwo no mu mpo, efisɛ na wɔn nyinaa suro ntam a wɔaka no.

But not a man put his hand to his mouth for fear of the curse.

27 Nanso na Yonatan de, ɔntee nʼagya ntam no ho hwee. Ɔde abaa bi nuu ɛwo kyɛm no mu, dii ɛwo no bi. Odi wiee no, ne ho bae no.

But Jonathan, having no knowledge of the oath his father had put on the people, stretching out the rod which was in his hand, put the end of it in the honey, and put it to his mouth; then his eyes were made bright.

28 Nanso mmarima no mu baako huu no, ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wʼagya maa asraafo no kaa ntam a emu yɛ den sɛ, obiara a obedidi nnɛ no, nnome bɛba ne so. Ɛno nti, na obiara ahodwow no.”

Then one of the people said to him, Your father put the people under an oath, saying, Let that man be cursed who takes any food this day. And the people were feeble, needing food.

29 Na Yonatan teɛɛ mu se, “Mʼagya de ɔhaw abɛto yɛn nyinaa so. Mmara a ɛte sɛɛ no pira yɛn. Monhwɛ sɛ ɛwo kakra a midii yi, me ho asisi me ho so.

Then Jonathan said, My father has made trouble come on the land: now see how bright my eyes have become because I have taken a little of this honey.

30 Sɛ mmarima no nyaa kwan dii nnuan a wohuu wɔ yɛn atamfo no nkyɛn a, anka mo ara mubehu wɔn dodow a yebekum aka ho.”

How much more if the people had freely taken their food from the goods of those who were fighting against them! would there not have been much greater destruction among the Philistines?

31 Nanso ɔkɔm no nyinaa akyi, wɔtaa Filistifo no da mu no nyinaa fi Mikmas, kosii Ayalon. Na afei, wɔbrɛbrɛɛ mmoroso.

That day they overcame the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were feeble from need of food.

32 Anwummere no, wɔtow guu asade no so, faa nguan, anantwi ne anantwi mma. Wokunkum wɔn, wee wɔn nam ne wɔn mogya nyinaa frae.

And rushing at the goods taken in the fight, the people took oxen and sheep and young oxen, and put them to death there on the earth, and had a meal, taking the flesh with the blood in it.

33 Afei, obi ka kyerɛɛ Saulo se, “Hwɛ! Mmarima no reyɛ bɔne atia Awurade, efisɛ wɔrewe nam a mogya fra mu.” Na Saulo kae se, “Ɛyɛ bɔne pa ara. Mumpirew ɔbo kɛse bi mmɛto ha.

Then it was said to Saul, See, the people are sinning against the Lord, taking the blood with the flesh. And he said to those who gave him the news, Now let a great stone be rolled to me here.

34 Na afei monkɔ mmarima no mu nkɔka nkyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Momfa anantwi no ne nguan no mmra ha mmekum wɔn na monsɔn wɔn mogya mfi wɔn mu. Monnnwe nam a mogya da so wɔ mu mmfa so nyɛ bɔne ntia Awurade.’” Enti anadwo no, asraafo no de wɔn anantwi bae, bekunkum wɔn wɔ hɔ.

And Saul said, Go about among the people and say to them, Let every man come here to me with his ox and his sheep, and put them to death here, and take his meal: do no sin against the Lord by taking the blood with the flesh. So all the people took their oxen with them that night and put them to death there.

35 Na Saulo sii afɔremuka wɔ hɔ, de maa Awurade, nea edi kan a osii.

And Saul put up an altar to the Lord: this was the first altar which he put up to the Lord.

36 Na Saulo kae se, “Momma yɛnkɔ Filistifo no so anadwo yi, na yɛnkɔsɛe wɔn ara nkosi ahemadakye a yɛrennyaw wɔn mu baako koraa.” Na wobuae se, “Biribiara a wugye di sɛ eye no, yɛbɛyɛ.” Nanso ɔsɔfo no kae se, “Momma yenni kan mmisa Awurade ansa.”

And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, attacking them till the morning, till there is not a man of them living. And they said, Do whatever seems right to you. Then the priest said, Let us come near to God.

37 Enti Saulo bisaa Awurade se, “Menkɔ so ntaa Filistifo no? Na wobɛboa yɛn ama yɛadi wɔn so ana?” Nanso Awurade amma wɔn mmuae biara saa da no.

And Saul, desiring directions from God, said, Am I to go down after the Philistines? will you give them up into the hands of Israel? But he gave him no answer that day.

38 Enti Saulo ka kyerɛɛ ntuanofo no se, “Biribi atɔ kyima, enti mehwehwɛ mʼasahene nyinaa. Ɛsɛ sɛ yehu bɔne a yɛayɛ nnɛ.

And Saul said, Come near, all you chiefs of the people, and let us get word from God and see in whom is this sin today.

39 Mede Awurade a oyii Israel din ka ntam sɛ nea wayɛ bɔne no bewu, mpo sɛ ɔyɛ me babarima Yonatan!” Na mmarima no mu baako mpo antumi anka hwee.

For, by the living Lord, the saviour of Israel, even if the sinner is Jonathan, my son, death will certainly be his fate. But not a man among all the people gave him any answer.

40 Afei, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ Israelfo no nyinaa se, “Munnyina nohɔ; me ne me babarima Yonatan nso begyina ha.” Nnipa no penee so.

Then he said to all Israel, You be on one side, and I with Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do whatever seems good to you.

41 Enti Saulo bɔɔ Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, mpae se, “Ao Awurade Israel Nyankopɔn, yɛsrɛ wo kyerɛ yɛn nea odi fɔ ne nea odi bem. Mene Yonatan di fɔ anaasɛ bɔne no wɔ nkurɔfo no mu? Mfomso no bɛtɔɔ Yonatan ne Saulo so, na nnipa no dii bem.”

Then Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, Why have you not given me an answer today? If the sin is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord God of Israel, give Urim, and if it is in your people Israel, give Thummim. And by the decision of the Lord, Saul and Jonathan were marked out, and the people went free.

42 Na Saulo kae se, “Mommɔ me ne me babarima Yonatan so ntonto.” Na ntonto no bɔɔ Yonatan sɛ odi fɔ.

And Saul said, Give your decision between my son Jonathan and me. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Saulo bisaa Yonatan se, “Ka nea woayɛ kyerɛ me.” Yonatan gye too mu se, “Mede ɛwo kakra kaa mʼano. Ɛyɛ kakraa bi a na ɛwɔ abaa bi ti so. Na eyi yɛ owu asɛm?”

Then Saul said to Jonathan, Give me an account of what you have done. And Jonathan gave him the story and said, Certainly I took a little honey on the end of my rod; and now death is to be my fate.

44 Saulo kae se, “Yiw, Yonatan, ɛsɛ sɛ wuwu. Sɛ woanwu wɔ saa asɛm yi ho a, Onyankopɔn nka me na minwu.”

And Saul said, May God's punishment be on me if death is not your fate, Jonathan.

45 Ɛhɔ ara na nnipa no sɔre teɛɛ mu ka kyerɛɛ Saulo se, “Enti ɛfata sɛ Yonatan a ogyee Israel nnɛ no wu ana? Onyame mpa ngu. Bere dodow no a Awurade te ase yi, ne tinwi baako koraa ho nka, efisɛ Onyankopɔn afa ne so ayɛ anwonwade nnɛ.” Enti nnipa no gyee Yonatan, na wɔankum no.

And the people said to Saul, Is death to come to Jonathan, the worker of this great salvation for Israel? Let it not be so: by the living Lord, not one hair of his head is to be touched, for he has been working with God today. So the people kept Jonathan from death.

46 Na Saulo frɛɛ asraafo no sɛ wɔnntaa Filistifo no bio. Enti Filistifo no san kɔɔ fie.

Then Saul, turning back, went after the Philistines no longer: and the Philistines went back to their place.

47 Saulo nyaa Israel ahengua no so tenae a ɔhaw biara mma no, ɔko tiaa nʼatamfo wɔ afanan nyinaa. Ɔko tiaa Moab, Amon, Edom Soba ne Filistifo ahemfo. Na baabiara a ɔkɔe no, odii nkonim.

Now when Saul had taken his place as ruler of Israel, he made war on those who were against him on every side, Moab and the Ammonites and Edom and the kings of Zobah and the Philistines: and whichever way he went, he overcame them.

48 Ɔkoo mmarima so, dii Amalekfo so, gyee Israelfo fii wɔn afowfo nyinaa nsam.

And he did great things, and overcame the Amalekites, and made Israel safe from the hands of their attackers.

49 Na Saulo mmabarima ne Yonatan, Iswi ne Malki-Sua na ne mmabea baanu nso ne Merab a ɔyɛ panyin ne Mikal nso a ɔyɛ akumaa.

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Ishvi and Malchi-shua; and these are the names of his daughters: the older was named Merab and the younger Michal;

50 Na Saulo yere din de Ahinoam a na ɔyɛ Ahimaas ba. Na ne sahene din de Abner a na ɔyɛ Saulo agya nua Ner babarima.

The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, brother of Saul's father.

51 Na Saulo agya Kis ne Abner agya Ner yɛ anuanom a wɔyɛ Abiel mma.

Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were sons of Abiel.

52 Bere a Saulo dii ade nyinaa, na Filistifo taa ne Israelfo di ako. Enti bere biara a Saulo behu aberante biara a ne koko yɛ duru na ɔwɔ ahoɔden no, ɔtwe no de no fra nʼasraafo mu.

All through the life of Saul there was bitter war against the Philistines; and whenever Saul saw any strong man or any good fighting man, he kept him near himself.