1 Ahemfo 12

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

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, —for, to Shechem, had all Israel come 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 son of Nebat heard of it—he being yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt;

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

yes they sent, and called him, and Jeroboam and all the convocation of Israel came, —and spake unto 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, —now, therefore do, thou, lighten the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, that we may 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 unto them—Depart ye for yet three days, and then come again unto 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?”

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who used to stand before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, —How do, ye, advise, that I answer 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 spake unto him, saying—If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, —and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always.

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 declined the counsel of the elders which they gave him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, who were standing before himself;

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 said unto them—What counsel do, ye, give as to how we shall answer this people who have spoken unto me, saying—Make a lightening of 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.’

Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee, saying—Thy father, made our yoke heavy, thou, therefore lighten it upon us, Thus, shalt thou speak unto 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.”

Now, therefore, whereas, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, I, will add to your yoke, —My father, did chastise 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.

So Jeroboam and all the people came in unto Rehoboam, on the third day, —as the king had bidden, saying—Come again unto me, on the third day.

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

And the king answered the people, harshly, —and declined the counsel of the elders wherewith they had counselled 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 spake unto them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add unto 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.

Thus the king hearkened not unto the people, —for there had come about a turn from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, 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.

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying—What portion have, we, in, David. Or inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your homes O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And Israel departed to their homes.

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

But, as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling 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.

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was over the tribute, but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died, —King Rehoboam, therefore, hastily mounted his chariot, to flee unto Jerusalem.

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

So 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 returned, that they sent and called him into the assembly, and made him king over all Israel, —there were none that followed the house of David, saving 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, when Rehoboam entered Jerusalem, he called together all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, able to make war, —to fight against the house of Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon.

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

Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:

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

Speak unto Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah, and Benjamin, —and the remnant 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 Yahweh—Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel, —return ye every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the word of Yahweh, and turned back to depart, according to the word of Yahweh.

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

Then Jeroboam built Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein, —and went forth 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 offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people return unto their lord, unto Rehoboam, king of Judah, —and they will slay me, and return unto 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!”

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, —and said unto them—It is, too much for you, to go up to Jerusalem, Lo! thy gods, O Israel, that 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, put he 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 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 the whole compass 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 made a festival in the eight month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival which [was held] in Judah, and offered up on the altar, likewise, did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made, —and he kept in attendance in Bethel, the priests of the high-places which 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 up on the altar which he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month which he had devised out of his own heart, —thus made he a festival for the sons of Israel, and offered up on the altar, to make a perfume.