1 Samuel 24
1 Saulo ne Filistifo no ko wiee no, wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Dawid hyɛ En-Gedi sare so hɔ.”
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “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.
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of 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.
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses 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.
So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Na Dawid adwene mu anteɛ no sɛ watwa Saulo atade ano.
Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
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.”
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’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.
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left 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.
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
9 Afei, ɔteɛɛ mu bisaa Saulo se, “Adɛn nti na wutie nkurɔfo ano sɛ merepɛ wo ahaw wo?
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
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 you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’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.
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
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.
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
13 Wobu bɛ se, ‘Abɔnefo mu na bɔne fi ba.’ Enti, gye di sɛ, merenhaw wo.
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
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?
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? 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.”
May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
16 Saulo buae se, “Me babarima Dawid, wo na worekasa yi?” Na ofii ase sui.
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
17 Ɔtoaa so se, “Woteɛ sen me. Wode papa atua me bɔne so ka, nanso me de mayɛ wo bɔne.
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with 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 you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
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.
When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
20 Afei mahu sɛ, nea ɛbɛyɛ biara, wobesi wo ɔhene, na Israel ahemman no bedi yiye wɔ wo bere so.
Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21 Afei, sua wɔ Awurade din mu kyerɛ me sɛ, sɛ wubedi ade a, worentwa mʼasefo anaa worempepa me din mfi mʼagya fi.”
So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22 Enti Dawid sua kyerɛɛ Saulo. Na Saulo san kɔɔ fie, na Dawid ne ne mmarima kɔɔ wɔn abandennen mu.
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
