2 Samuel 3

1 Ɔko a ɛbɛtɔɔ wɔn a wɔwɔ Saulo afa ne wɔn a wɔwɔ Dawid afa no kyɛe yiye, na ne mfiase ni. Bere a Dawid adedi renya ahoɔden no na Saulo adedi no resɛe.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Eyinom ne Dawid mmabarima a wɔwoo wɔn wɔ Hebron: Nʼabakan no din de Amnon a ɔyɛ Ahinoam a ofi Yesreel no babarima.

Now sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 Nea ɔto so abien no din de Kileab a ɔyɛ Abigail a na ɔyɛ Nabal a ofi Karmel no kunabea babarima; nea ɔto so abiɛsa no din de Absalom a ɔyɛ Gesurhene Talmai babea Maaka babarima.

and his second, Daluiah, of Abigail of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 Nea ɔto so anan no din de Adoniya a ɔyɛ Hagit babarima; nea ɔto so anum no din de Sefatia a ɔyɛ Abital babarima.

and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, of Abital;

5 Na nea ɔto so asia no din de Yitream a ɔyɛ Dawid yere Egla babarima. Wɔwoo saa mma yi maa Dawid wɔ Hebron.

and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 Bere a na ɔko a ɛda Saulo fi ne Dawid fi no gu so no, na Abner agye din ama nʼankasa ne ho wɔ Saulo fi.

And it came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.

7 Na Saulo wɔ mpena bi a wɔfrɛ no Rispa, a ɔyɛ Aia babea. Na Is-Boset bisaa Abner se, “Adɛn nti na wo ne mʼagya mpena dae?”

Now Saul had a secondary wife, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal son of Saul said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's secondary wife?"

8 Abner bo fuw yiye kae se, “Meyɛ akraman sodifo wɔ Yuda na wɔadwoodwoo me saa? Nea mayɛ ama wo ne wʼagya, a manyi mo amma Dawid no, mʼayeyi ne sɛ, mode ɔbea yi ho asɛm rekyekyere me?

Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ishbaal, and said, "Am I a dog's head? Until today, is it for myself that I have been doing all these things, showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David? And yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

9 Sɛ mammoa Dawid amma ne nsa anka nea Awurade hyɛɛ ho bɔ no a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no ɔnwene so.

God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do not do even so to him;

10 Mede Saulo ahenni bɛkɔ akɔma Dawid na matim Dawid ahengua ase wɔ Israel ne Yuda so afi Dan akosi Beer-Seba.”

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba."

11 Esiane sɛ na Is-Boset suro Abner nti, wantumi ankasa bio.

And Ishbaal could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 Afei, Abner tuu abɔfo kɔɔ Dawid nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ma yɛnyɛ nhyehyɛe na mɛboa ama yɛadan Israelman mu no nyinaa ama wo.”

Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make an agreement with me, and look, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you."

13 Dawid buae se, “Ɛyɛ asɛm papa, nanso me ne wo renyɛ saa nhyehyɛe no gye sɛ, sɛ woreba a, wode me yere Mikal a ɔyɛ Saulo babea no brɛ me.”

He said, "Good. I will make a covenant with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Mikal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face."

14 Enti, Dawid soma ma wɔkɔbɔɔ Saulo babarima Is-Boset amanneɛ se, “Ma me nsa nka me yere Mikal, efisɛ mede Filistifo ɔha nkwa na ɛtɔɔ no.”

David sent messengers to Ishbaal, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Mikal, whom I betrothed to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

15 Enti Is-Boset gyee Mikal fii ne kunu Paltiel a ɔyɛ Lais babarima no nsam.

Ishbaal sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.

16 Na Paltiel de osu dii ɔbea no akyi koduu Bahurim. Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ no se, “San kɔ fie.” Na Paltiel san kɔɔ fie.

But her husband went with her, weeping behind her, as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.

17 Na Abner ne Israel ntuanofo adidi nkɔmmɔ. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mmere kakra a atwam no, na mopɛ sɛ musi Dawid ɔhene.

Abner advised the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time you have wanted David to be king over you.

18 Bere no ni. Efisɛ Awurade aka se, ‘Mayi Dawid sɛ onnye me nkurɔfo mfi Filistifo ne wɔn atamfo nyinaa nsam.’”

Now then do it, for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'"

19 Abner san ne Benyamin abusua mu ntuanofo kasae. Afei, ɔkɔɔ Hebron kɔbɔɔ Dawid amanneɛ se, Israel nyinaa ne Benyamin taa wʼakyi.

And Abner also spoke privately to the sons of Benjamin. And Abner also spoke privately to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 Bere a Abner ne ne mmarima aduonu baa Hebron no, Dawid too wɔn pon kɛse.

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

21 Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ Dawid se, “Ma menkɔ na menkɔfrɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wɔmmra wʼafa. Wɔne wo bɛyɛ apam, na wɔasi wo hene. Na ɛbɛma woadi biribiara a wo koma pɛ so.” Enti Dawid maa Abner kɔɔ dwoodwoo.

Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he left in peace.

22 Abner kɔe ara pɛ, Yoab ne Dawid asraafo no bi fi ɔsa mu bae a wokura asade bebree.

Look, the servants of David and Joab were returning from a raid, and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he left in peace.

23 Bere a wɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab se Abner baa hɔ nkyɛe koraa, na ɔbɛsraa ɔhene, ama ɔhene ama no kɔ asomdwoe mu no,

When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to David, and he has sent him away, and he left in peace."

24 Yoab yɛɛ ntɛm kohuu ɔhene bisaa no se, “Dɛn na woayɛ yi? Abner kɔ a womaa no kɔe yi, wokyerɛ dɛn?

Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away? Now he has gone.

25 Wunim pefee sɛ, ɔbaa wo so sɛ ɔkwansrafo, bɛhwehwɛɛ nea woreyɛ nyinaa mu ana?”

Don't you know the evil ways of Abner the son of Ner? He came to deceive you and to observe your movements and to learn everything that you are doing."

26 Ɛhɔ ara, Yoab fi Dawid nkyɛn, na ɔsomaa abɔfo sɛ wontiw Abner. Wɔkɔtoo no Sira ɔtare ho, twee no de no bae. Nanso na Dawid nnim ho hwee.

When Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27 Afei, Abner san kɔɔ Hebron no, Yoab frɛɛ no kɔɔ nkyɛn kosii ɔpon ano te sɛ nea ɔrekɔka kokoamsɛm akyerɛ no no. Na ɛhɔ no na esiane sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔtɔ ne nuabarima Asahel so were no nti, Yoab wɔɔ Abner yafunu mu afoa ma owui.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the abdomen, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 Akyiri no a Dawid tee asɛm no, ɔkae se, “Me ne mʼaheman nnim saa asɛm a ɛfa Abner yi ho hwee wɔ Awurade anim.

Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah now and forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 Ne mogya ngu Yoab ne nʼagya fi so! Yoab fi de, awo ntoatoaso mu nyinaa, obi a watutu akuru anaa ɔyare kwata, nea ɔnam pema ho nantew anaa nea owu afoa ano ne nea ɔsrɛsrɛ aduan rempa hɔ da.”

May it whirl over the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."

30 Yoab ne ne nuabarima Abisai kum Abner, efisɛ Abner kum wɔn nuabarima Asahel wɔ akono wɔ Gibeon.

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ Yoab ne nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nyinaa se, “Munsunsuan mo ntama mu, na mumfura atweaatam. Muntwa Abner ho agyaadwo.” Na ɔhene Dawid ankasa dii santen a wɔato no akyi, kɔɔ ɔda no so.

David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the coffin.

32 Wosiee Abner wɔ Hebron, na ɔhene Dawid ne nnipa no nyinaa suu wɔ ne da no ho.

They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33 Afei, ɔhene too saa kwadwom yi maa Abner: “Ɛsɛ sɛ Abner wu sɛnea nkwaseafo wu ana?

The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 Wɔankyekyere wo nsa; wɔangu wo nan nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn. Dabi, wodii wo awu; amumɔyɛfo atirimpɔw so ade.” Nnipa no nyinaa suu Abner bio.

Your hands were not bound in chains, your feet were not put into fetters. As a man falls before the ruthless, so you fell." All the people wept again over him.

35 Da a wɔreyɛ ayi no, Dawid annidi da mu no nyinaa, maa afei, obiara srɛɛ no se onnidi. Nanso na Dawid aka ntam se, “Sɛ mididi ansa na owia akɔtɔ a, Onyankopɔn nkum me.”

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down."

36 Eyi sɔɔ nnipa no ani yiye. Nokware, biribiara a ɔhene no yɛe no sɔɔ ɔmanfo no ani.

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased the people.

37 Eyi maa obiara a ɔte Yuda ne Israel no huu sɛ, ɛnyɛ ɔhene Dawid na okum Abner.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38 Na ɔhene Dawid bisaa ɔmanfo no se, “Munhu sɛ ɔkannifo kɛse ne onipa kɛse atɔ fam nnɛ wɔ Israel ana?

The king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 Na ɛwɔ mu sɛ me ne ɔhene a wɔasra no de, nanso Seruia mmabarima Yoab ne Abisai de, wɔyɛ den dodo ma me sɛ metumi aka wɔn ahyɛ. Ɛno nti, Awurade ntua saa mmarima amumɔyɛfo yi so ka wɔ wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm ho.”

I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May Jehovah reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."