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 returned from pursuing after the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, David [is] in the wilderness of Engaddi.
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.
And he took with him three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of Saddaeem.
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 flocks of sheep that were by the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make preparation, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part 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 to him, Behold, this [is] the day of which the Lord spoke to thee, that he would deliver thine enemy into thy hands; and thou shalt do to him as [it is] good in thy sight. So David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's garment secretly.
5 Na Dawid adwene mu anteɛ no sɛ watwa Saulo atade ano.
And it came to pass after this that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment.
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 David said to his men, The Lord forbid it me, that I should do this ting to my lord the anointed of the Lord, to lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.
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 persuaded his men by [his] words, and did not suffer them to arise and slay Saul: and Saul arose and went his way.
8 Dawid pue bae, teɛteɛɛ mu dii nʼakyi se, “Me wura ɔhene!” Saulo twaa nʼani no, Dawid bɔɔ ne mu ase.
And David rose up [and went] after him out of the cave: and David cried after Saul, saying, [My] lord, [O] king! and Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance to him.
9 Afei, ɔteɛɛ mu bisaa Saulo se, “Adɛn nti na wutie nkurɔfo ano sɛ merepɛ wo ahaw wo?
And David said to Saul, Why dost thou hearken to the words of the people, saying, Behold, David seeks thy life?
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, thine eyes have seen this day how that the Lord has delivered thee this day into my hands in the cave; and I would not slay thee, but spared thee, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for 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.
And behold, the skirt of thy mantle [is] in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not slay thee: know then and see to-day, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou layest snares for my soul 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.
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord requite thee on thyself: 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 the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: 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?
And now after whom dost thou come forth, O king of Israel? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, and 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.”
The Lord be judge and umpire between me and thee, the Lord look upon and judge my cause, and rescue 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 finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, 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 Saul said to David, Thou [art] more righteous that I, for thou hast recompensed me good, but I have recompensed 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 told me to-day what good thou hast done me, how the Lord shut me up into thy hands to-day, and thou didst not slay 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.
And if any one should find his enemy in distress, and should send him forth in a good way, then the Lord will reward him good, as thou has done 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 reign, and 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.”
Now then swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, that thou wilt not blot out my name from the house of my father.
22 Enti Dawid sua kyerɛɛ Saulo. Na Saulo san kɔɔ fie, na Dawid ne ne mmarima kɔɔ wɔn abandennen mu.
So David swore to Saul: and Saul departed to his place, and David and his men went up to the strong-hold of Messera.
