2 Samuel 1
1 Saulo wu akyi no, Dawid san fii nkonim a odii Amalekfo so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnaanu.
After Saul died, David [and the men who were with him] returned to Ziklag [town] after defeating the descendants of Amalek. They stayed in Ziklag for 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.
On the third day, unexpectedly a man arrived there who had come from where Saul’s army was camped. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head [to show that he was grieving]. He came to David, and prostrated himself on the ground [in front of David to show respect for him].
3 Dawid bisaa no se, “Ɛhe na wufi?” Obuae se, “Maguan afi Israel nsraban mu.”
David asked him, “Where have you come from?” The man replied, “I escaped from where the Israeli army had been camped.”
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 asked him, “What happened? Tell me [about the battle]!” The man replied, “The Israeli soldiers ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. And Saul and his son Jonathan (are dead/were also killed).”
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, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan 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 replied, “It happened that I was on Gilboa Mountain [where the battle occurred], and I saw Saul, leaning on his spear. The [enemy] chariots and their drivers had come very close to Saul.
7 Ɔdan ne ho a ohuu me no, ɔteɛɛ mu frɛɛ me se memmra. Mibisaa no se, ‘Menyɛ dɛn?’
Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I answered him and said, ‘What do you want me to do?’
8 “Obisaa me se, ‘Wo ne hena?’ “Mibuaa no se, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’
He replied, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I am a descendant of Amalek.’
9 “Na ɔsrɛɛ me se, ‘Begyina me so na kum me, na me ho yeraw me yiye, na mepɛ sɛ me wu.’
Then he said to me, ‘Come over here and kill me. I am still alive, but I am enduring a lot of pain.’
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 went to him and killed him, because I knew that he was wounded very badly and would (not continue to live/soon die). I took the crown that was on his head and the band/bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them to you.”
11 Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhow sunsuan wɔn ntade mu.
Then David and all the men who were with him tore their clothes [to show that they were very sad].
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 for Saul and his son Jonathan, and they cried and (fasted/abstained from eating food) until it was evening. They also mourned for all the army of Yahweh, and for all the Israeli people, because many of their soldiers had been killed in the battle [MTY].
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.”
Then David asked the young man who had told him [about the battle], “Where are you from?” He replied, “My father is a descendant of Amalek, but we live in Israel.”
14 Dawid bisaa no se, “Na wunsuro sɛ wukum obi a Awurade asra no no?”
David asked him, “(Why were you not afraid [that you would be punished if you] killed Saul, whom Yahweh had appointed [MTY] [to be the king]?/You should have been afraid [that you would be punished if you] killed Saul, whom Yahweh had appointed [MTY] [to be the king].) [RHQ]
15 Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no mu baako se, “Kum no!” Enti ɔbarima no twee nʼafoa de wɔɔ Amalekni no, kum no.
You yourself said, ‘I killed the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king.’ So you have caused yourself to be guilty [MTY] of causing your own death!” Then David summoned one of his soldiers and said to him, “Kill him!” So the soldier killed him by striking him [with a sword].
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.”
17 Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.
Then David composed/wrote this sad song about Saul and Jonathan,
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 that it be taught to the people of Judah. [The song is called] ‘The Bow [and Arrow]’ and it has been written in the Book of Jashar:
19 “Wʼanuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛw, Israel, awu da mmepɔw so! Akofo akɛse atotɔ!
“You Israeli people, your glorious [MTY] leaders have been killed on the mountains! [It is very sad that] those mighty men have died!
20 “Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat, na Filistifo abɔ ose! Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔnten so, na abosonsomfo anserew ahosɛpɛw mu.
“Do not tell it [to our enemies in the Philistia area]; do not tell to the people who live in Gath [city] what happened; do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon [city], because if you tell them, [even] the women in that area will be happy; do not allow those (pagan women/women who do not know God) to 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.
I hope/desire that there will be no rain or dew on the mountains of [the] Gilboa [area] [APO], and that no grain will grow in the fields there, because there the shield of Saul, the mighty [king], fell on the ground. No one rubbed [olive] oil on Saul’s shield;
22 “Saulo ne Yonatan kunkum wɔn atamfo ahoɔdenfo! Wɔamfi akono amma no nsapan.
instead, it was stained with the blood of those whom he had killed, and the fat of mighty enemy soldiers was smeared on it. Jonathan [PRS] did not retreat carrying his bow [and arrows], and Saul always [defeated his enemies when he fought them] with his sword. [PRS, LIT]
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 loved and they pleased many people. They were together [LIT] while they lived and when they died. [In battles] they were swifter than eagles and they were stronger than lions.
24 “Israel mmabea, munsu Saulo, efisɛ ofuraa mo ntama pa, hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agude.
“You Israeli women, cry about Saul; He provided beautiful scarlet/red clothes for you and he gave you gold ornaments/jewelry to fasten on those clothes.
25 “Akofo akɛse atotɔ akono. Yonatan awu da mmepɔw no so.
“[It is very sad that] this mighty soldier has died! Jonathan has been killed on the mountains/hills.
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!
Jonathan, my dear friend, I grieve for you; you were very dear to me. You loved me in a wonderful manner; it was better than the way that a woman loves [her husband and her children].
27 “Hwɛ sɛnea akofo akɛse atotɔ! Ɔko mu akode ayerayera!”
“It is very sad that those mighty men have died, and their weapons are now abandoned!
