1 Samuel 25
1 Afei, Samuel wui, na Israel nyinaa hyia yɛɛ nʼayi. Na wosiee no wɔ ne kurom Rama. Na Dawid tu kɔɔ Maon sare so.
[Soon after that], Samuel died, and all the Israeli people gathered and mourned for him. They buried his body outside his home in Ramah. Then David and his men moved to the Maon Desert.
2 Na ɔbarima bi fi Maon a na ɔwɔ agyapade wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Karmel yɛ ɔdefo kɛse. Na ɔwɔ mmirekyi apem ne nguan mpensa a na otwitwa wɔn nwi wɔ Karmel.
In Maon [town] there was a man who owned land in Carmel, [a nearby village]. He was very rich; he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats.
3 Saa ɔbarima no din de Nabal, na ne yere nso din de Abigail. Na ɔyɛ ɔbea a onim nyansa na ne ho nso yɛ fɛ, nanso na ne kunu a ɔyɛ Kalebni no mpɔw ɛ, na ne suban nso nyɛ fɛ.
His name was Nabal; he was a descendant of Caleb. His wife Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman, but Nabal was very cruel and treated people very unkindly [IDM].
4 Bere a Dawid tee sɛ Nabal retwitwa ne mmoa ho nwi no,
One day while David [and his men] were in the desert, someone told him that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.
5 ɔsomaa mmrante du kɔɔ ne nkyɛn. Ɔde nkra maa wɔn se,
So David told ten of his men, “Go to Nabal at Carmel and greet him for me.
6 “Wo nkwa so! Wo ne wo fifo nyinaa nya akwahosan! Na wʼagyapade nyinaa nso saa ara.
Then tell to him this message from me, ‘I wish/desire that things will go well for you and your family and for everything that you possess.
7 “Mate sɛ woretwitwa wo nguan ne mmirekyi ho nwi. Bere a na mo nguanhwɛfo wɔ yɛn nkyɛn ha no, yɛanyɛ wɔn basabasa. Na mmere dodow a wodii wɔ Karmel no nso, wɔn biribiara anyera.
‘heard people say that you are cutting the wool from your sheep. Previously, when your shepherds were among us, we did not harm them. All the time that your shepherds were among us at Camel, we did not steal any sheep from them.
8 Bisa wo ara wʼasomfo na wɔbɛka akyerɛ wo. Yɛaba ha wɔ afahyɛ bere, ɛno nti, mesrɛ wo, ma wo nkoa ne wo ba Dawid biribiara a wo nsa bɛso so.”
You can ask your servants if this is true, and they will tell you [that it is true]. We have come here at a time when you are celebrating, so I ask you to please be kind to us and give these men whatever extra food you have, for me, David, and my men to eat.’”
9 Dawid mmerante no de nkra no maa Nabal. Afei wɔtwɛnee.
When David’s men arrived where Nabal was, they gave David’s message to him, and they waited [for him to reply]. But Nabal spoke harshly to them.
10 Nabal buaa Dawid asomfo no se, “Hena ne saa Dawid yi? Saa Yisai babarima yi dwene sɛ ɔne hena? Nnansa yi, asomfo bebree retetew wɔn ho afi wɔn wuranom ho.
He said to them, “Who [does] this man, this son of Jesse, [think that he] is? [DOU, RHQ] There are many slaves who are running away from their masters at the present time, [and it seems to me that he is just one of them].
11 Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ mede me brodo ne me nsu ne mʼaboa a makum no nam a mede rebɛma me nwitwitwafo no ma nnipa a obi nnim faako a wofi?”
I give bread and water to the men who are cutting the wool from my sheep, and I give them meat from animals that I have slaughtered. Why should I take some of those things and give them to a group of outlaws [RHQ]? (Who knows where they have come from?/I do not even know where they have come from.)” [RHQ]
12 Na Dawid mmarima no san kɔe, kɔkaa de Nabal kae no kyerɛɛ no.
Then David’s men returned and told him what Nabal had said.
13 Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no se, “Momfa mo afoa.” Na Dawid nso faa ne de. Mmarima bɛyɛ sɛ ahannan na wɔkaa Dawid ho kɔe, ɛnna mmarima ahannu nso tena wɛn akode no.
When David heard that, he told his men, “[We are going to kill Nabal; ] fasten your swords!” So he fastened on his sword and about 400 men fastened on their swords and went with David. There were 200 of his men who stayed with their supplies.
14 Nabal asomfo no mu baako kɔka kyerɛɛ Nabal yere Abigail se, “Dawid somaa abɔfo fi sare no so sɛ wɔne yɛn wura mmɛkasa, nanso ɔyeyaw wɔn.
One of Nabal’s servants [found out what David and his men were planning to do, so he] went to Nabal’s wife Abigail and said to her, “David sent some messengers from the desert to greet our master Nabal, but Nabal only yelled at them.
15 Nanso Dawid nnipa no ye ma yɛn. Wɔanyɛ yɛn bɔne biara. Bere a yɛne wɔn wɔ hɔ no, wɔamfa yɛn biribiara.
All the time that we were in the fields close to them, those men of David were very kind to us. They did not harm us. They did not steal anything from us.
16 Anadwo ne awia nyinaa, na wɔbɔ yɛn ne nguan no ho ban.
They protected us during the daytime and during the night. They were like a wall [MET] around us to protect us while we were taking care of our sheep.
17 Enti dwene ho yiye, anyɛ saa a asɛm bɛto yɛn wura ne nʼabusua nyinaa. Ɔyɛ obi a ne koma nye na obiara ntumi nkasa nkyerɛ no.”
So now you should think about it and decide what you can do. [If you do not do something, ] terrible things will happen to our master and to all his family. Nabal is an extremely wicked man, with the result that [he will not heed anyone when] that person tries to tell him anything [that he should do].”
18 Abigail ansɛe bere koraa. Ɔfaa brodo mua ahannu, nsa aboa nhoma abien, nguan anum a wɔakum wɔn asiesie wɔn, nkyewe susude anum, bobe ɔfam ɔha ne bobe aba a wɔabɔ no atɔwatɔw ahannu de soaa mfurum.
[When] Abigail [heard that, she] very quickly gathered 200 loaves [of bread], and also got two leather bags full of wine, the meat from five sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100 packs of raisins, and 200 packs of dried figs. She put all those things on donkeys.
19 Na ɔka kyerɛɛ nʼasomfo se, “Munni kan nkɔ. Metiw mo.” Nanso wanka nea na ɔreyɛ no ankyerɛ ne kunu Nabal.
Then she told her servants, “Go ahead of me. I will follow you.” But she did not tell her husband [what she was going to do].
20 Ɔte nʼafurum so nam ara kosii bepɔw bi asiansian mu no, ohuu Dawid nso ne ne mmarima sɛ wɔrehyia no.
David and his men [had left the place where they were staying and were on the road to Nabal’s property. They] were coming down a hill when they met Abigail.
21 Na Dawid aka se, “Mfaso biara nni so sɛ mahwɛ saa onipa yi agyapade so wɔ sare so a ne biribiara anyera. Ɔde bɔne atua me papa a meyɛɛ no no so ka.
David had been saying to his men, “It was useless for us to protect that man and all his possessions here in this desert. We did not steal anything that belonged to him, but he has done evil to me in return for our good [things we did for him].
22 Sɛ ɛba sɛ ɔkyena ne fini barima bi da so te ase a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no ɔyaw so pa ara.”
I hope/desire that God will strike me and kill me [IDM] if he or even one of his men [IDM] is still alive tomorrow morning!”
23 Abigail huu Dawid no, ntɛm ara, ohuruw fii nʼafurum no so sii fam, bɔɔ ne mu ase wɔ nʼanim.
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from her donkey and bowed before him, with her face touching the ground.
24 Ɔhwee ne nan ase kae se, “Me wura migye saa asɛm yi ho afɔdi nyinaa to me ho so. Mesrɛ wo sɛ, tie asɛm a mewɔ ka.
Then she prostrated herself at David’s feet and said to him, “Sir, I deserve to be punished [for what my husband has done]. Please listen to what I say to you.
25 Minim sɛ Nabal yɛ otirimɔdenfo; mesrɛ wo, ntie no. Ɔyɛ ɔkwasea sɛnea ne din kyerɛ no. Na me, wʼafenaa, abɔfo a wosomaa wɔn no, manhu wɔn.
Please do not pay attention to [IDM] what this worthless man Nabal has said. His name means ‘fool’, and he surely is a foolish man. But I, who am [willing to be] your servant, did not see the messengers whom you sent to him.
26 Afei, me wura, mpɛn dodow a Awurade te ase, na wo nso wote ase na Awurade amma woamfa awudi ne aweretɔ anhyɛ wo nsam yi, ma mmusu mmra wʼatamfo nyinaa so, sɛnea bi aba Nabal so yi.
Yahweh has prevented you from getting revenge on anyone and killing anyone. I hope/desire that as surely as Yahweh lives and as surely as you live, your enemies will be [cursed] like Nabal will be.
27 Akyɛde a mede abrɛ wo ne wo mmerante no ni.
I have brought a gift for you and for the men who are with you.
28 “Mesrɛ wo, sɛ mafom a, fa kyɛ me. Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ Awurade de ofi a nʼahenni ase betim bɛdom wo, efisɛ woreko Awurade ko. Na wonyɛɛ bɔne biara nso wɔ wʼasetena mu.
Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong to you. Yahweh will surely [reward you by] allowing many of your descendants to become kings of Israel, because you are fighting the battles that Yahweh [wants you to fight]. And [I know that] throughout all your life you have not done anything wrong.
29 Na sɛ ɛba sɛ wɔn a wɔpɛ wo kra no taataa wo so a, Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn, begye wo, abɔ wo ho ban sɛnea wɔbɔ ademude ho ban no. Na wʼatamfo nkwa de, ɛbɛyera te sɛ abo a wɔatow fi ahwimmo mu.
Even when those who are trying to kill you pursue you, you are safe, because Yahweh your God takes care of you. You will be [protected as though you were] [MET] a bundle that he has safely tied up. But your enemies will [disappear as fast as stones] that are hurled from a sling.
30 Sɛ Awurade di bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ wo no nyinaa so ma wo, na ɔde wo di Israelhene a,
Yahweh has promised to do good things for you, and he will do what he has promised. And he will cause you to become the ruler of the Israeli people.
31 mma eyi nnyɛ nkekae wɔ wʼabrabɔ mu. Na worensoa wʼahonim adesoa duruduru a efi mogyahwiegu ne aweretɔ a so nni mfaso ho. Na sɛ Awurade yɛ saa nneɛma akɛse yi ma wo a, mesrɛ wo, kae me!”
When that happens, [you will be glad that you did not kill any] people in Nabal’s household. You will not think that you deserve to be punished for having taken revenge yourself and killed innocent people. And when Yahweh enables you to successfully [become the king], please do not forget [to be kind to] me.”
32 Dawid buaa Abigail se, “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn a wama woabehyia me nnɛ.
David replied to Abigail, “I praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], because he sent you to [talk with] me.
33 Da Awurade ase wɔ wʼadwene pa ho. Nhyira nka wo sɛ woamma me ankum ɔbarima no, na woamma mamfa me nsa antɔ were.
I hope/desire that Yahweh will bless you for being very wise. You have prevented me from taking revenge myself and killing many people [MTY] today.
34 Na meka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn a wamma manyɛ wo bɔne no ntam sɛ, sɛ woanka wo ho ammehyia me a, anka ebedu ɔkyena anɔpa no, na Nabal mmarima no mu baako koraa nte ase.”
Just as surely as Yahweh the God whom we Israelis [worship] is alive, he has prevented me from harming you. If you had not come quickly to talk to me, neither Nabal nor even one of Nabal’s men [IDM] would be still alive tomorrow morning.”
35 Na Dawid gyee nʼakyɛde no, ka kyerɛɛ no se, “San kɔ fie asomdwoe mu. Yɛrenkum wo kunu no.”
Then David accepted the gifts that Abigail had brought to him. He said to her, “I hope/desire that things will go well for you. I have heard what you said, and I will do what you have requested.”
36 Bere a Abigail duu fie no, ohuu sɛ Nabal ato pon kɛse sɛ ɔhene. Na wabow nsa nti, wanka biribiara a ɛfa ɔne Dawid nhyiamu no ho ankyerɛ no kosii adekyee.
When Abigail returned to Nabal, he was in his house, having a big celebration like kings have. He was very drunk and feeling very happy. So Abigail did not say anything to him that night [about her meeting with David].
37 Ade kyee a nʼani so daa hɔ no, Abigail kaa nsɛm a asisi no kyerɛɛ no. Nabal tee nsɛm no, obubu kaa mpa mu.
The next morning, when he was no longer drunk, she told him everything [that had happened when she talked with David]. [Immediately] (he had a stroke/a blood vessel burst in his brain) and he became paralyzed [MET].
38 Nnafua du akyi no, Awurade bɔɔ no ma owui.
About ten days later Yahweh struck him [again] and he died.
39 Dawid tee sɛ Nabal awu no, ɔkae se, “Nhyira nka Awurade a watua Nabal ka na wamma mankum no. Nabal anya ne bɔne so akatua.” Na Dawid yɛɛ ntɛm soma kɔɔ Abigail nkyɛn, ma wɔkɔka kyerɛɛ no se ɔbɛware no.
After David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise Yahweh! Nabal insulted me, but Yahweh (vindicated me/got revenge for me). He has prevented me from [doing anything] wrong. And he has punished Nabal for the wrong that he did.” Then David sent [messengers] to Abigail, to ask her if she would become his wife.
40 Asomfo no kɔɔ Karmel kɔka kyerɛɛ Abigail se, “Dawid asoma yɛn sɛ yɛmmra mmɛfa wo mmrɛ no sɛ ne yere.”
His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David sent us to take you to become his wife.”
41 Ɔbɔɔ ne mu ase de nʼanim kyerɛɛ fam kae se, “Yiw, masiesie me ho sɛ mɛsom Dawid asomfo mpo.”
Abigail bowed down with her face touching the ground. Then she told [the messengers to tell David], “[I am happy to become your wife]. I will be your servant. And I am willing to wash the feet of your slaves.”
42 Ntɛm ara, Abigail huruw tenaa nʼafurum so, faa ne mmaawa baanum kaa ne ho, na ɔne Dawid asomfo no kɔe, na ɔbɛyɛɛ Dawid yere.
Abigail quickly got on her donkey and went with David’s messengers. Five of her maids went with her. [When she arrived where David was, ] she became his wife.
43 Dawid waree Ahinoam a ofi Yesreel, na wɔn baanu bɛyɛɛ ne yerenom.
David had previously married Ahinoam, a woman from Jezreel [town near Carmel]. So both Abigail and Ahinoam were now David’s wives.
44 Na Saulo de ne babea Mikal, Dawid yere, ama ɔbarima bi a ofi Galim a ne din de Palti a na ɔyɛ Lais babarima.
King Saul’s daughter Michal was also David’s wife, but Saul had given her to Laish’s son Paltiel, who was from Gallim [town].
