< 2 Samuel 1 >

1 Saulo wu akyi no, Dawid san fii nkonim a odii Amalekfo so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnaanu.
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
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.
on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect.
3 Dawid bisaa no se, “Ɛhe na wufi?” Obuae se, “Maguan afi Israel nsraban mu.”
David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”
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.”
David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5 Enti Dawid bisaa aberante a ɔbɛbɔɔ no saa amanneɛ no se, “Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wuhuu sɛ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan awuwu?”
David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
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.
The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.
7 Ɔdan ne ho a ohuu me no, ɔteɛɛ mu frɛɛ me se memmra. Mibisaa no se, ‘Menyɛ dɛn?’
When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8 “Obisaa me se, ‘Wo ne hena?’ “Mibuaa no se, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’
He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 “Na ɔsrɛɛ me se, ‘Begyina me so na kum me, na me ho yeraw me yiye, na mepɛ sɛ me wu.’
He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me, for anguish has taken hold of me because my life lingers 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 stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhow sunsuan wɔn ntade mu.
Then David took hold on his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
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.
They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel, because they had 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.”
David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
14 Dawid bisaa no se, “Na wunsuro sɛ wukum obi a Awurade asra no no?”
David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’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.
David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so 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.”
David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’”
17 Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.
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 commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19 “Wʼanuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛw, Israel, awu da mmepɔw so! Akofo akɛse atotɔ!
“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20 “Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat, na Filistifo abɔ ose! Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔnten so, na abosonsomfo anserew ahosɛpɛw mu.
Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
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.
You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not 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, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return 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 were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
24 “Israel mmabea, munsu Saulo, efisɛ ofuraa mo ntama pa, hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agude.
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
25 “Akofo akɛse atotɔ akono. Yonatan awu da mmepɔw no so.
How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.
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 you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
27 “Hwɛ sɛnea akofo akɛse atotɔ! Ɔko mu akode ayerayera!”
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

< 2 Samuel 1 >