2 Samuel 1

1 Saulo wu akyi no, Dawid san fii nkonim a odii Amalekfo so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnaanu.

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from smiting the 'Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag two days.

2 Ne nnansa so no, ɔbarima bi fi Saulo nsraban mu a watetew ne ntade mu, atu mfutuma agu ne ti mu, de rekyerɛ sɛ ɔretwa adwo bae. Oduu Dawid nkyɛn no, ɔdan ne ho hwee fam nidi mu.

And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

3 Dawid bisaa no se, “Ɛhe na wufi?” Obuae se, “Maguan afi Israel nsraban mu.”

And David said unto him, From where comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 Dawid bisaa no se, “Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn? Ɔko no kosii dɛn?” Ɔkae se, “Mmarima no guan fii akono. Bebree totɔe. Na Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan nso atotɔ.”

And David said unto him, What took place there? I pray thee, tell me. And he said, That the people are fled from the battle, and that also many of the people are fallen and have died; and that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.

5 Enti Dawid bisaa aberante a ɔbɛbɔɔ no saa amanneɛ no se, “Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wuhuu sɛ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan awuwu?”

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also Jonathan his son?

6 Aberante no buae se, “Mikofii Gilboa bepɔw so, na mekɔtoo sɛ Saulo sɛn ne peaw so a atamfo no nteaseɛnam ne nʼapɔnkɔsotefo mmɛn no ara.

And the young man that told him said, I happened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gilboa', when, behold, there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen had overtaken him.

7 Ɔdan ne ho a ohuu me no, ɔteɛɛ mu frɛɛ me se memmra. Mibisaa no se, ‘Menyɛ dɛn?’

And he turned round, and he saw me, and called unto me, And I said, Here am I.

8 “Obisaa me se, ‘Wo ne hena?’ “Mibuaa no se, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’

And he said unto me, Who art thou! And I answered him, An 'Amalekite am I.

9 “Na ɔsrɛɛ me se, ‘Begyina me so na kum me, na me ho yeraw me yiye, na mepɛ sɛ me wu.’

And he said unto me, Place thyself, I pray thee, by me, and slay me; for a mortal tremor hath seized on me, although my life is yet whole in me.

10 “Enti migyinaa ne so kum no, efisɛ na minim sɛ tebea a ɔwɔ mu no, ɔrennya nkwa. Na mituu nʼahenkyɛw a ɛhyɛ no no ne nʼabasa so atweaban no sɛ mede rebrɛ wo, me wura.”

So I placed myself by him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them unto my lord hither.

11 Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhow sunsuan wɔn ntade mu.

David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and [so did] likewise all the men that were with him:

12 Wotwaa ho agyaadwo, sui, bua daa da mu no nyinaa wɔ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan wu ne Awurade asraafo ne Israelman sɛ wɔn mu pii wuwuu saa da no.

And they lamented, and wept, and fasted until the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 Na Dawid bisaa aberante a ɔbɛbɔɔ wɔn saa amanneɛ no se, “Wufi he?” Na obuae se, “Meyɛ ɔhɔho Amalekni a mete mo asase so.”

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, The son of a stranger, an 'Amalekite, am I.

14 Dawid bisaa no se, “Na wunsuro sɛ wukum obi a Awurade asra no no?”

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15 Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no mu baako se, “Kum no!” Enti ɔbarima no twee nʼafoa de wɔɔ Amalekni no, kum no.

And David called one of the young men, and said, Come near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16 Na Dawid kae se, “Wʼano ayi mmusu ama wo ama woawu, efisɛ wo ara na wokae se woakum obi a Awurade asra no no.”

And David said unto him, Thy blood is upon thy own head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I myself have slain the Lord's anointed.

17 Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18 Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔnkyerɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nyinaa to. Wɔtoo no din sɛ agyan dwom a wɔakyerɛw wɔ Yasar Nhoma mu.

And he said, That the children of Judah should be taught the bow; behold it is written in the book of Yashar.

19 “Wʼanuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛw, Israel, awu da mmepɔw so! Akofo akɛse atotɔ!

O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: how are the mighty fallen!

20 “Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat, na Filistifo abɔ ose! Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔnten so, na abosonsomfo anserew ahosɛpɛw mu.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice.

21 “Gilboa mmepɔw, mma obosu anaa osu ntɔ ngu wo so anaa wo nsian so. Efisɛ ɛhɔ na woguu ɔkofo kɛse no akokyɛm ho fi; wɔremfa ngo nsra Saulo nkatabo ho bio.

O mountains of Gilboa', no dew, nor rain be upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.

22 “Saulo ne Yonatan kunkum wɔn atamfo ahoɔdenfo! Wɔamfi akono amma no nsapan.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned never back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty.

23 Ɔdɔ ne ahoɔfɛ bɛn na na Saulo ne Yonatan nni, wɔn mu antetew da, nkwa ne owu mu. Na wɔn ho yɛ hare kyɛn akɔre; na wɔn ho yɛ den kyɛn gyata.

Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the dear in their lives, were even in their death not divided: more than eagles were they swift, more than lions were they strong.

24 “Israel mmabea, munsu Saulo, efisɛ ofuraa mo ntama pa, hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agude.

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 “Akofo akɛse atotɔ akono. Yonatan awu da mmepɔw no so.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, on thy high places slain.

26 Misu wo, me nua Yonatan! Na wosom me bo yiye. Na wo dɔ a wowɔ ma me no yɛ nwonwa; emu dɔ sen ɔbea dɔ!

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very dear hast thou been unto me: wonderful was thy love for me, passing the love of women.

27 “Hwɛ sɛnea akofo akɛse atotɔ! Ɔko mu akode ayerayera!”

How are the mighty fallen, and lost the instruments of war!