1 Ahemfo 1
1 Afei, na ɔhene Dawid anyini yie, na sɛ wɔde nnasoɔ ahe ara kuru ne ho koraa a, ɛnka ne ho hye koraa.
Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.
2 Enti, nʼafotufoɔ ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Yɛbɛpɛ ɔbaabunu bi ama wo a ɔbɛtena wo ho ahwɛ wo. Ɔbɛda wo kokom, na ama wo ho ayɛ wo hye.”
So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”
3 Enti, wɔkyinii ɔman no mu nyinaa, hwehwɛɛ ɔbaa hoɔfɛfoɔ bi. Wɔkɔnyaa Abisag a ɔfiri Sunam, na wɔde no brɛɛ ɔhene no.
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4 Na ɔyɛ abaayewa hoɔfɛfoɔ, na ɔno na ɔbɛhwɛɛ ɔhene. Nanso, na ɔhene no ne no nni nna mu ayɔnkofa biara.
The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.
5 Saa ɛberɛ no mu Dawid babarima Adoniya a na wɔfrɛ ne maame Hagit no yɛɛ ahomasoɔ kaa sɛ ɔbɛsi ne ho ɔhene, ahyɛ nʼagya a wabɔ akɔkoraa no ananmu. Enti, ɔyɛɛ nteaseɛnam, pɛɛ apɔnkɔ kaa ho. Ɔpɛɛ mmarima aduonum, twii nteaseɛnam no ne apɔnkɔ no dii nʼanim.
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
6 Na nʼagya, ɔhene Dawid, nteaa no da, mpo sɛ ɔbɛbisa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na woreyɛ yi?” Na Adoniya yɛ ɔbarima hoɔfɛfoɔ. Ɔno na na ɔdi Absalom akyi wɔ awoɔ mu.
(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)
7 Adoniya gyee Seruia babarima Yoab ne ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar too mu, na wɔn nso penee sɛ wɔbɛboa no ama wadi ɔhene.
So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
8 Na wɔn a wɔtaa Dawid akyi, na wɔampɛ sɛ wɔboa Adoniya na ɔdi ɔhene no bi ne ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok, Yehoiada babarima Benaia, odiyifoɔ Natan, Simei, Rei ne Dawid ho banbɔfoɔ.
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.
9 Adoniya kɔɔ Sohelet boɔ a ɛbɛn En-Rogel asutire ho. Ɛhɔ na ɔde nnwan, anantwie ne anantwie mma bɔɔ afɔdeɛ. Ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ ne nuammarima nyinaa, ɔhene Dawid mmammarima no, ne Yuda adehyeɛ mpanimfoɔ.
And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.
10 Nanso, wamfrɛ odiyifoɔ Natan anaa Benaia anaa ɔhene ho banbɔfoɔ anaa ne nuabarima Salomo.
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11 Na odiyifoɔ Natan kɔɔ Batseba a ɔyɛ Salomo maame no nkyɛn kɔbisaa no sɛ, “Wonim sɛ Hagit babarima Adoniya asi ne ho ɔhene a yɛn wura Dawid mpo nnim ho hwee?
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
12 Sɛ wopɛ sɛ wonya wo tiri didi mu, na wogye wo babarima Salomo nso nkwa a, tie mʼafotuo yi.
Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13 Kɔ ɔhene Dawid nkyɛn ntɛm so, na kɔbisa no sɛ, ‘Me wura, ɛnyɛ wo na wohyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, me babarima Salomo na da bi ɔbɛdi wʼadeɛ sɛ ɔhene, na watena wʼahennwa no so? Na adɛn enti na Adoniya ayɛ ɔhene?’
Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
14 Na ɛberɛ a wɔgu so ne no rekasa no, mɛba abɛsi asɛm biara a woaka no so dua.”
Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 Na Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene piam. Afei, na wabɔ akɔkoraa posoposo a Abisag na na ɔhwɛ no.
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.
16 Batseba kotoo no, na ɔhene no bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na menyɛ mma wo?”
And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17 Ɔbuaa no sɛ, “Me wura, wogyina Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn, anim hyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, me babarima Salomo na ɔbɛdi wʼadeɛ, na watena wʼahennwa so.
“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
18 Nanso, ɛwiee aseɛ no, Adoniya na wabɛyɛ ɔhene foforɔ a mpo, wonnim ho hwee.
But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it.
19 Ɔde anantwie ne anantwie mma a wɔadɔre sradeɛ ne nnwan abɔ afɔdeɛ. Na ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ wo mmammarima nyinaa ne ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar ne Yoab a ɔyɛ akodɔm sahene no. Nanso, wanto nsa amfrɛ wo ɔsomfoɔ Salomo bi.
And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.
20 Na, me wura ɔhene, Israel nyinaa retwɛn deɛ wobɛkyerɛ sɛ ɔnni wʼadeɛ sɛ ɔhene.
And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21 Na sɛ woanyɛ biribi na sɛ wonya kɔ wo kra akyi pɛ a, wɔbɛyɛ me ne me ba Salomo sɛ awudifoɔ.”
Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
22 Ɔgu so ne no rekasa no ara pɛ na, odiyifoɔ Natan bɛduruu hɔ.
And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23 Ɔhene afotufoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Odiyifoɔ Natan aba ha, na ɔpɛ sɛ ɔhunu woɔ.” Natan kɔɔ mu kɔkotoo ɔhene no.
So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
24 Ɔbisaa sɛ, “Me wura, woayɛ wʼadwene sɛ Adoniya na ɔnni wʼadeɛ, na ɔntena wʼahennwa so anaa?
“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
25 Ɛnnɛ, ɔde anantwie, anantwie mma a wɔadɔre sradeɛ ne nnwan abɔ afɔdeɛ, na ɔtoo nsa frɛɛ wo mmammarima nyinaa, ma wɔbaa afahyɛ no ase. Ɔfrɛɛ Yoab a ɔyɛ akodɔm sahene no ne ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar nso. Merekasa yi, wɔne no redidi, nom, teateam sɛ, ‘Ɔhene Adoniya nkwa so!’
For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26 Na me a meyɛ wo ɔsomfoɔ no, wanto nsa amfrɛ me; saa ara nso na wamfrɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok, Yehoiada babarima Benaia ne Salomo nso.
But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27 Ɛyɛ nokorɛ sɛ me wura ayɛ saa a wamma nʼasomfoɔ no mu biara ante onipa a ɔbɛdi nʼadeɛ sɛ ɔhene no ho hwee?”
Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”
28 Dawid kaa sɛ, “Momfrɛ Batseba mma me.” Na ɔbaa ɔhene anim bɛgyinaa hɔ.
Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 Na ɔhene hyɛɛ bɔ sɛ, “Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade a ɔgyee me firii ɔhaw ne abɛbrɛsɛ mu da so te ase yi,
And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
30 ɛnnɛ, mehyɛ mmara sɛ, wo babarima Salomo na ɔbɛdi adeɛ sɛ ɔhene, na ɔbɛtena mʼahennwa so, sɛdeɛ mekaa ntam kyerɛɛ wo wɔ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, anim no.”
I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 Na Batseba sane kotoo no bio, na ɔteaam sɛ, “Me wura, ɔhene Dawid, ntena ase afebɔɔ!”
Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 Na ɔhene Dawid hyɛɛ sɛ, “Momfrɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok, odiyifoɔ Natan ne Yehoiada babarima Benaia mma me.” Wɔbaa ɔhene anim no,
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
33 ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Momfa Salomo ne me mpanimfoɔ no nkɔ Gihon asutire no ho. Salomo ntena mʼafunumpɔnkɔ so.
“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
34 Ɛhɔ na ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok ne odiyifoɔ Natan bɛsra no ngo sɛ Israelhene. Monhyɛn totorobɛnto, na monteateam sɛ, ‘Ɔhene Salomo nkwa so!’
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35 Na sɛ mosane de no ba ha a, ɔbɛtena mʼahennwa so. Ɔbɛdi mʼadeɛ sɛ ɔhene, ɛfiri sɛ, mayi no sɛ ɔnyɛ ɔhene wɔ Israel ne Yuda so.”
Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Yehoiada babarima Benaia gyee so sɛ, “Amen! Awurade a ɔyɛ me wura, ɔhene Onyankopɔn no mmara no mmra mu saa.
“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37 Na Awurade nka Salomo ho sɛdeɛ ɔkaa wo ho no, na Salomo ahennie nyɛ yie nkyɛn wo deɛ no mpo.”
Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”
38 Enti, ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok, odiyifoɔ Natan ne Yehoiada babarima Benaia ne ɔhene ho banbɔfoɔ faa Salomo de no kɔɔ Gihon asutire no ho a, na Salomo te ɔhene Dawid afunumpɔnkɔ so.
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
39 Ɛhɔ na ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok faa ngotoa firii ntomadan kronkron mu hɔ bɛhwie guu Salomo tirim. Afei, wɔhyɛn totorobɛnto maa nnipa no nyinaa teateaam sɛ, “Ɔhene Salomo nkwa so!”
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
40 Na nnipa no nyinaa sane ne Salomo kɔɔ Yerusalem a wɔrebɔ mmɛn, di ahurisie. Na anigyeɛ ne ahosɛpɛ ne nteateam no ano yɛɛ den ara kɔsii sɛ, wɔn nne no wosoo asase.
All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.
41 Adoniya ne nʼahɔhoɔ tee osebɔ ne nteateam ɛberɛ a wɔreyɛ awie wɔn apontoɔ no. Na Yoab tee totorobɛnto nne no, ɔbisaa sɛ, “Na asɛm bɛn na asie? Na adɛn nso na kuro no mu ayɛ gyegyeegye yi?”
Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.
42 Ɛberɛ a ɔgu so rekasa no, Yonatan a ɔyɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar babarima no kɔɔ hɔ. Adoniya ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Bra mu, ɛfiri sɛ, woyɛ onipa papa. Minim sɛ asɛm pa wɔ wʼano.”
As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”
43 Yonatan buaa sɛ, “Dabi! Seesei ara, yɛn wura ɔhene Dawid, asi Salomo ɔhene.
“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 Ɔhene no maa ɔne ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok, odiyifoɔ Natan, Yehoiada babarima Benaia a ɔhene ho banbɔfoɔ rebɔ wɔn ho ban, kɔɔ Gihon asutire ho. Wɔmaa no tenaa ɔhene afunumpɔnkɔ so,
And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.
45 ɛnna Sadok ne Natan sraa no ngo sɛ ɔhene foforɔ. Wɔreba ara ni, na kuro mu no nyinaa agye bum ahokeka so. Gyegyeegye no asekyerɛ ara ne no.
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
46 Afei, seesei, Salomo te ahennwa so sɛ ɔhene.
Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 Adehyeɛ mpanimfoɔ nyinaa kɔɔ ɔhene Dawid nkyɛn, kɔmaa no amo, kaa sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn mma Salomo ahennie nhyeta nkyɛn wo deɛ no, na Salomo ahemman nso nyɛ kɛseɛ nsene wo deɛ no!’ Na ɔhene sii ne tiri ase yii Awurade ayɛ, ɛberɛ a na ɔda ne mpa mu,
The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,
48 na ɔkaa saa nsɛm yi, ‘Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, a ɛnnɛ da yi wayi obi sɛ ɔntena mʼahennwa so wɔ ɛberɛ a mete ase, na mehunu deɛ ɛrekɔ so nyinaa.’”
saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
49 Ɛhɔ ara, Adoniya ahɔhoɔ no nyinaa de ehu gyee bum, firii apontoɔ no ase, na ntɛm so, obiara kɔɔ ne kwan.
At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
50 Na Adoniya no ankasa suro Salomo, enti ɔdwane kɔɔ ntomadan kronkron no mu kɔsosɔɔ mmɛn a ɛsisi afɔrebukyia no so no mu.
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
51 Ankyɛre na Salomo tee sɛ Adoniya akɔsosɔ mmɛn a ɛsisi afɔrebukyia no so, na ɔresrɛ sɛ, “Momma Salomo nsuae nkyerɛ ɛnnɛ yi ara, na wankum me!”
It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”
52 Salomo buaa sɛ, “Sɛ ɔbɛdi me nokorɛ deɛ a, wɔrenha no. Na sɛ wanyɛ saa deɛ a, wɔbɛkum no.”
And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
53 Enti, ɔhene Salomo frɛɛ Adoniya, na wɔde no firi afɔrebukyia no so kɔeɛ. Ɔkotoo ɔhene no, na Salomo ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Kɔ efie.”
So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”
