1 Ahemfo 12

1 Rehoboam kɔɔ Sekem, ɛfiri sɛ, na Israelfoɔ nyinaa akɔ hɔ sɛ wɔrekɔsi no ɔhene.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 Ɛberɛ a Nebat babarima Yeroboam tee sɛ Salomo awuo no, ɔfiri Misraim baeɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔdwane firii ɔhene Salomo nsam kɔtenaa Misraim.

And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (now he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;

3 Enti, Israel mpanimfoɔ soma ma wɔkɔfaa Yeroboam, na Israel nnipadɔm no nyinaa kɔɔ Rehoboam nkyɛn, ne no kɔkasaeɛ sɛ,

and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

4 “Wʼagya hyɛɛ yɛn ma yɛyɛɛ adwumaden. Yɛsrɛ wo, te saa adwumaden ne apeatoɔ adesoa duruduru a wʼagya de soaa yɛn no so. Woyɛ saa a, yɛbɛsom wo nokorɛ mu.”

Thy father made our yoke grievous; and now lighten thou the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

5 Rehoboam buaa sɛ, “Momma me nnansa na menwene mo asɛm yi ho. Ɛno akyi, mommra mmɛgye me mmuaeɛ.” Enti, nnipa no sane kɔeɛ.

And he said to them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

6 Na ɔhene Rehoboam ne ne mpanimfoɔ a wɔsom nʼagya Salomo ɛberɛ a ɔte ase no tuu asɛm no ho agyina. Ɔbisaa mpanimfoɔ no sɛ, “Moka asɛm no ho ɛdeɛn? Mmuaeɛ bɛn na memfa mma saa nnipa yi?”

And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, How do ye advise to return answer to this people?

7 Wɔbuaa no sɛ, “Sɛ ɛnnɛ yi, wopɛ sɛ woyɛ ɔsomfoɔ ma saa nnipa yi, na woma wɔn mmuaeɛ pa a, ɛnneɛ, daa wɔbɛsom wo nokorɛ mu.”

And they spoke to him saying, If this day thou wilt be a servant to this people, and wilt serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

8 Nanso Rehoboam amfa afotuo a mpanimfoɔ no tuu no no. Mmom, ɔkɔɔ nʼatipɛnfoɔ mmabunu bi a ɔne wɔn sii so a na wɔtu no fo no nkyɛn.

But he forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, that stood before him.

9 Ɔbisaa wɔn sɛ, “Mo nso mo adwene ne sɛn? Mmuaeɛ bɛn na memfa nkɔma nnipa a wɔpɛ sɛ mete adesoa a mʼagya de soaa wɔn no so?”

And he said to them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people who have spoken to me saying, Lighten the yoke which thy father put upon us?

10 Nʼatipɛnfoɔ mmabunu buaa no sɛ, “Ka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔnwiinwii no sɛ, ‘Me kɔkorɔbɛto mu pi sene mʼagya asene; sɛ modwene sɛ ɔhyɛɛ mo so dodo a, montwɛn na monhwɛ sɛdeɛ mɛyɛ.’

And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people that have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us, — thus shalt thou say to them: My little [finger] is thicker than my father's loins;

11 Aane, mʼagya yɛɛ den wɔ mo so, na mɛyɛ aboro saa. Mʼagya kaa mo mpire a, me deɛ mede anyanyankyerɛ bɛkeka mo.”

and whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12 Nnansa akyi, Yeroboam ne nnipa no nyinaa sane baa sɛ wɔrebɛtie Rehoboam mmuaeɛ, sɛdeɛ ɔkaeɛ no.

And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed saying, Come again to me on the third day.

13 Ɔhene no buaa nnipa no abufuo so. Wamfa mpanimfoɔ no afotuo no;

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him;

14 ɔfaa mmabunu no afotuo. Ɔka kyerɛɛ nnipa no sɛ, “Mʼagya yɛɛ den wɔ mo so, na mɛyɛ aboro saa. Mʼagya hwee mo mpire na me deɛ mede anyanyankyerɛ bɛkeka mo.”

and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15 Enti, ɔhene no antie nnipa no adesrɛ. Sɛdeɛ nneɛma mu daneeɛ no nyinaa firi Awurade, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛmaa asɛm a Awurade nam Ahiya a ɔfiri Silo so ka kyerɛɛ Nebat babarima Yeroboam no baa mu.

So the king hearkened not to the people; for it was brought about by Jehovah, that he might give effect to his word, which Jehovah spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 Ɛberɛ a Israel nyinaa hunuu sɛ ɔhene anyɛ wɔn abisadeɛ amma wɔn no, wɔteateaam sɛ, “Yɛne Dawid nni hwee yɛ! Yɛne Yisai babarima no nni hwee yɛ! Israel, momma yɛnkɔ yɛn nkyi! Dawid, hwɛ wʼankasa wo fie so!” Enti, Israelfoɔ no sane kɔɔ wɔn fie.

And all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them; and the people answered the king saying, What portion have we in David? And [we have] no inheritance in the son of Jesse: To your tents, O Israel! Now see to thine own house, David! And Israel went to their tents.

17 Na Rehoboam toaa so dii Israelfoɔ a wɔtenaa Yuda nkuro so no nyinaa so ɔhene.

But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 Na ɔhene Rehoboam somaa Adoram a na ɔtua adwumayɛfoɔ ano no sɛ ɔnkɔhwɛ, na asomdwoeɛ mmra, nanso Israel nyinaa sii no aboɔ, kumm no. Ɛberɛ a ɔhene Rehoboam tee saa asɛm yi no, ntɛm ara, ɔhuri tenaa ne teaseɛnam mu, dwane kɔɔ Yerusalem.

And king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the levy; but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. And king Rehoboam hastened to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19 Israel mmusuakuo a wɔwɔ atifi fam no ampene sɛ Dawid aseni bɛdi wɔn so, de bɛsi ɛnnɛ.

And Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day.

20 Ɛberɛ a Israelfoɔ tee sɛ Yeroboam firi Misraim asane aba no, wɔyɛɛ nhyiamu, sii no ɔhene wɔ Israel nyinaa so. Enti, Yuda abusuakuo no nko ara na wɔkaeɛ, somm Dawid fie nokorɛ mu.

And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, that they sent and called him to the assembly, and made him king over all Israel: none followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

21 Ɛberɛ a Rehoboam duruu Yerusalem no, ɔboaboaa Yuda ne Benyamin akodɔm ano. Ɔyii akofoɔ mpem ɔha ne aduɔwɔtwe, sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Israel akodɔm, na wɔafa ahemman no adi so.

And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men apt for war, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

22 Nanso, Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Semaia, Onyankopɔn onipa no sɛ,

But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

23 “Ka kyerɛ Salomo babarima Rehoboam, Yudahene ne nnipa a wɔfiri Yuda ne Benyamin sɛ,

Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remainder of the people, saying,

24 ‘Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie, Mo ne mo nuanom Israelfoɔ nntwa mo ho nko. Monsane nkɔ mo akyi, na deɛ asi no nyinaa firi me!’” Enti, wɔtiee Awurade asɛm no, sane kɔɔ wɔn fie sɛdeɛ Awurade hyɛeɛ no.

Thus saith Jehovah: Go not up, nor fight with your brethren, the children of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing is from me. And they hearkened to the word of Jehovah, and returned to depart, according to the word of Jehovah.

25 Yeroboam kyekyeree Sekem kuro wɔ Efraim bepɔ asase so, ma ɛbɛyɛɛ ne kuropɔn. Akyire yi, ɔkɔkyekyeree kuro Penuel.

And Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

26 Yeroboam dwenee ho dinn, see nʼakomam sɛ, “Sɛ manhwɛ yie a, ahemman no bɛsane akɔ Dawid fiefoɔ adedifoɔ nsam.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David.

27 Na sɛ wɔkɔ Yerusalem, kɔbɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ Awurade Asɔredan mu nso a, wɔbɛsom Yudahene Rehoboam. Ɛba saa a, wɔbɛkum me, de ɔno mmom asi wɔn so ɔhene.”

If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.

28 Enti, ɔtiee deɛ nʼafotufoɔ ka, na ɔyɛɛ sikakɔkɔɔ anantwie mma mmienu. Ɔka kyerɛɛ nnipa no sɛ, “Ɛyɛ ɔbrɛ bebree sɛ mobɛforo akɔ Yerusalem akɔsom. Ɛno enti, Israel, yeinom ne anyame a wɔyii mo firii Misraim!”

And the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold. And he said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt!

29 Ɔde nantwie mma ahoni yi sisii Israel anafoɔ ne atifi, wɔ Bet-El ne Dan.

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

30 Yei bɛyɛɛ bɔne kɛseɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, nnipa no somm ahoni no, a na mpo wɔtwa ɛkwan kɔ Dan.

And this thing became a sin; and the people went [to worship] before the one, as far as Dan.

31 Yeroboam sisii abosonnan wɔ nkokoɔ so, na ɔpaa asɔfoɔ firii nnipa no mu a na wɔmfiri Lewi asɔfoɔ abusua mu.

And he made a house of high places, and made priests from all classes of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.

32 Yeroboam hyehyɛɛ nyamesom dapɔnna wɔ Bet-El a na wɔdi saa nna no Bul bosome (bɛyɛ Ahinime) mu a na ɛte sɛ Yuda Dwanekɔbea Afahyɛ no ara. Bet-El hɔ na ɔno ankasa bɔɔ afɔdeɛ maa anantwie mma ahoni a wayɛ no. Na Bet-El hɔ ara nso, na ɔpaa asɔfoɔ, maa abosomfie a ɔsisiiɛ no.

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made; and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.

33 Na ɔno ankasa yii da bi too hɔ, Bul bosome (bɛyɛ Ɔsannaa) mfimfini mu hɔ, na Yeroboam kɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ afɔrebukyia so wɔ Bet-El. Ɔhyɛɛ anyamesom afahyɛ ase maa Israel, na ɔforo kɔɔ afɔrebukyia no so kɔhyee aduhwam.

And he offered upon the altar that he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and he made a feast for the children of Israel, and he offered upon the altar, burning incense.