1 Samuel 24
1 Saulo ne Filistifo no ko wiee no, wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Dawid hyɛ En-Gedi sare so hɔ.”
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 Ɛno nti Saulo yii mmarima mpensa fii Israel mmaa nyinaa, de wɔn kɔe sɛ wɔrekɔhwehwɛ Dawid ne ne mmarima wɔ beae bi a ɛbɛn Wuram Mmirekyi Abotan no.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 Obeduu nguannan bi ho a ɛhɔ ara nso na ɔbodan bi wɔ no, Saulo wuraa mu sɛ, ɔrekogye nʼahome. Na Dawid ne ne mmarima no wɔ saa ɔbodan no mu akyirikyiri.
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 Mmarima no kae se, “Nnɛ ne da a Awurade kae se, ‘Mede wo tamfo bɛhyɛ wo nsa, na woayɛ no nea wopɛ biara’ no.” Na Dawid weawea kɔɔ Saulo ho, kotwaa nʼatade ano.
And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
5 Na Dawid adwene mu anteɛ no sɛ watwa Saulo atade ano.
And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6 Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no se, “Awurade nim sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ meyɛ saa. Ɛyɛ mmusu sɛ obi bɛteɛ me nsa wɔ obi a Awurade asra no ngo so; efisɛ Awurade ankasa na wapaw no.”
And he said unto his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing unto my lord, Jehovah’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Jehovah’s anointed.
7 Ɔnam saa nsɛm yi so kaa ne mmarima no anim, na wamma ho kwan amma wɔankɔ Saulo so. Na Saulo fii ɔbodan no mu kɔɔ ne kwan no.
So David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 Dawid pue bae, teɛteɛɛ mu dii nʼakyi se, “Me wura ɔhene!” Saulo twaa nʼani no, Dawid bɔɔ ne mu ase.
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 Afei, ɔteɛɛ mu bisaa Saulo se, “Adɛn nti na wutie nkurɔfo ano sɛ merepɛ wo ahaw wo?
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Nnɛ dua yi, wʼankasa wʼani tua sɛ ɛnyɛ nokware. Efisɛ, Awurade de wo hyɛɛ me nsa wɔ ɔbodan no mu, na me mmarima no bi ka kyerɛɛ me se, minkum wo, nanso mankum wo. Na mekae se, ‘Merenyɛ no bɔne biara da, efisɛ ɔyɛ obi a Awurade asra no.’
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Jehovah’s anointed.
11 Mʼagya, hwɛ ade a mikura yi. Ɛyɛ wʼatade sin bi. Mitwae, nanso mankum wo. Eyi da no adi pefee sɛ merenhaw wo, na menyɛɛ wo bɔne biara nso, na mmom, wo na woataataa me rehwehwɛ me akum me.
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it.
12 Awurade na ɔbɛhwɛ me ne wo ntam asɛm. Ebia, nea woayɛ nti, Awurade bɛtwe wʼaso wɔ nea wopɛ sɛ woyɛ me no ho, na me de, merenhaw wo da.
Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 Wobu bɛ se, ‘Abɔnefo mu na bɔne fi ba.’ Enti, gye di sɛ, merenhaw wo.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14 “Hena na Israelhene rehwehwɛ no akyere no yi? Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔsɛe ne bere taataa obi a ne so nni mfaso sɛ ɔkraman funu anaa dwiw?
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 Ma Awurade mmu atɛn nkyerɛ yɛn mu nea odi bem, na ɔntwe ɔfɔdifo no aso. Ɔno ne me kamafo, na obegye me afi wo tumi ase.”
Jehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
16 Saulo buae se, “Me babarima Dawid, wo na worekasa yi?” Na ofii ase sui.
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 Ɔtoaa so se, “Woteɛ sen me. Wode papa atua me bɔne so ka, nanso me de mayɛ wo bɔne.
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.
18 Ampa ara woayɛ me papa a ɛboro so, efisɛ Awurade de me hyɛɛ wo nsa, a anka wubetumi akum me nanso woankum me.
And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not.
19 Sɛ obi nsa ka ne tamfo a, ogyaa no ma no kɔ kwa? Awurade nhyira wo wɔ ɔkwan a wode me afa so nnɛ yi ho.
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
20 Afei mahu sɛ, nea ɛbɛyɛ biara, wobesi wo ɔhene, na Israel ahemman no bedi yiye wɔ wo bere so.
And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21 Afei, sua wɔ Awurade din mu kyerɛ me sɛ, sɛ wubedi ade a, worentwa mʼasefo anaa worempepa me din mfi mʼagya fi.”
Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22 Enti Dawid sua kyerɛɛ Saulo. Na Saulo san kɔɔ fie, na Dawid ne ne mmarima kɔɔ wɔn abandennen mu.
And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.
