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 far on in years; and though they put covers over him, his body was cold.

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 search be made for a young virgin for my lord the king, to take care of him and be waiting on him; and you may take her in your arms, and so my lord the king will be warm.

3 Enti, wɔkyinii ɔman no mu nyinaa, hwehwɛɛ ɔbaa hoɔfɛfoɔ bi. Wɔkɔnyaa Abisag a ɔfiri Sunam, na wɔde no brɛɛ ɔhene no.

So after searching through all the land of Israel for a fair young girl, they saw Abishag the Shunammite, and took 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.

Now she was very beautiful; and she took care of the king, waiting on him at all times; but the king had no connection 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.

Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, lifting himself up in pride, said, I will become king; and he made ready his carriages of war and his horsemen, with fifty runners to go before 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.

Now all his life his father had never gone against him or said to him, Why have you done so? and he was a very good-looking man, and younger than Absalom.

7 Adoniya gyee Seruia babarima Yoab ne ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar too mu, na wɔn nso penee sɛ wɔbɛboa no ama wadi ɔhene.

And he had talk with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they were on his side and gave him their support.

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, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei, and David's men of war did not take the side of 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.

Then Adonijah put to death sheep and oxen and fat beasts by the stone of Zoheleth, by En-rogel; and he sent for all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants, to come to him:

10 Nanso, wamfrɛ odiyifoɔ Natan anaa Benaia anaa ɔhene ho banbɔfoɔ anaa ne nuabarima Salomo.

But he did not send for Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the other men of war and Solomon his brother.

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 Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, Has it not come to your ears that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king without the knowledge of David our lord?

12 Sɛ wopɛ sɛ wonya wo tiri didi mu, na wogye wo babarima Salomo nso nkwa a, tie mʼafotuo yi.

So now, let me make a suggestion, so that you may keep your life safe 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?’

Come now, go to King David and say to him, Did you not, O my lord, take an oath to me, your servant, saying, Truly Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom? why then is Adonijah acting as king?

14 Na ɛberɛ a wɔgu so ne no rekasa no, mɛba abɛsi asɛm biara a woaka no so dua.”

And while you are still talking there with the king, see, I will come in after you and say that your story is true.

15 Na Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene piam. Afei, na wabɔ akɔkoraa posoposo a Abisag na na ɔhwɛ no.

Then Bath-sheba went into the king's room; now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was waiting on him.

16 Batseba kotoo no, na ɔhene no bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na menyɛ mma wo?”

And Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour. And he said, 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.

And she said to him, My lord, you took an oath by the Lord your God and gave your word to your servant, saying, Truly, Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom.

18 Nanso, ɛwiee aseɛ no, Adoniya na wabɛyɛ ɔhene foforɔ a mpo, wonnim ho hwee.

And now, see, Adonijah has made himself king without my lord's knowledge;

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 has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the captain of the army; but he has not sent for Solomon your servant.

20 Na, me wura ɔhene, Israel nyinaa retwɛn deɛ wobɛkyerɛ sɛ ɔnni wʼadeɛ sɛ ɔhene.

And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to say who is to take the place 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.”

For as things are, it will come about, when my lord the king is sleeping with his fathers, that I and Solomon my son will be made outlaws.

22 Ɔgu so ne no rekasa no ara pɛ na, odiyifoɔ Natan bɛduruu hɔ.

And while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 Ɔhene afotufoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Odiyifoɔ Natan aba ha, na ɔpɛ sɛ ɔhunu woɔ.” Natan kɔɔ mu kɔkotoo ɔhene no.

And they said to the king, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he went down on his face on the earth.

24 Ɔbisaa sɛ, “Me wura, woayɛ wʼadwene sɛ Adoniya na ɔnni wʼadeɛ, na ɔntena wʼahennwa so anaa?

And Nathan said, O my lord king, have you said, Adonijah is to be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom?

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!’

Because today he has gone down and has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the king's sons to come to him, with the captains of the army and Abiathar the priest; and they are feasting before him and crying, Long life to 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, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not sent for.

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 this thing been done by my lord the king, without giving word to your servants who was to be placed on my lord the king's seat after him?

28 Dawid kaa sɛ, “Momfrɛ Batseba mma me.” Na ɔbaa ɔhene anim bɛgyinaa hɔ.

Then King David in answer said, Send for Bath-sheba to come to me. And she came in and took her place before the king.

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 took an oath, and said, By the living Lord, who has been my saviour from all my troubles,

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.”

As I took an oath to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Certainly Solomon your son will become king after me, seated on my seat in my place; so will I do this day.

31 Na Batseba sane kotoo no bio, na ɔteaam sɛ, “Me wura, ɔhene Dawid, ntena ase afebɔɔ!”

Then Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour, and said, May my lord King David go on living for ever.

32 Na ɔhene Dawid hyɛɛ sɛ, “Momfrɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok, odiyifoɔ Natan ne Yehoiada babarima Benaia mma me.” Wɔbaa ɔhene anim no,

And King David said, Send for Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And 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.

And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and put Solomon my son on my beast, yes, mine, 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!’

And there let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him to make him king over Israel; and sounding the horn say, Long life to 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 come up after him and he will come in and take his place on the seat of my kingdom; for he is to be king in my place, and I have given orders that he is to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 Yehoiada babarima Benaia gyee so sɛ, “Amen! Awurade a ɔyɛ me wura, ɔhene Onyankopɔn no mmara no mmra mu saa.

And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answering the king, said, So be it: and may the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so.

37 Na Awurade nka Salomo ho sɛdeɛ ɔkaa wo ho no, na Salomo ahennie nyɛ yie nkyɛn wo deɛ no mpo.”

As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon and make the seat of his authority 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.

So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and put Solomon on King David's beast and took 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!”

And Zadok the priest took the vessel of oil out of the Tent, and put the holy oil on Solomon. And when the horn was sounded, all the people said, Long life to 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.

And all the people came up after him, piping with pipes, and they were glad with great joy, so that the earth was shaking with 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?”

And it came to the ears of Adonijah and all the guests who were with him, when their meal was ended. And Joab, hearing the sound of the horn, said, What is the reason of this noise as if the town was worked up?

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.”

And while the words were on his lips, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, came; and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a man of good faith and the news which you have for us will be good.

43 Yonatan buaa sɛ, “Dabi! Seesei ara, yɛn wura ɔhene Dawid, asi Salomo ɔhene.

And Jonathan, answering, said to Adonijah, Not so, but 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 he sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they put him on the king's beast:

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.

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him and made him king in Gihon; and they came back from there with joy, and the town was all worked up. This is the noise which has come to your ears.

46 Afei, seesei, Salomo te ahennwa so sɛ ɔhene.

And now Solomon is seated on the seat of the kingdom.

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,

And the king's servants came to our lord King David, blessing him and saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and the seat of his authority greater than your seat; and the king was bent low 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.’”

Then the king said, May the God of Israel be praised, who has given one of my seed to be king in my place this day and has let my eyes see it.

49 Ɛhɔ ara, Adoniya ahɔhoɔ no nyinaa de ehu gyee bum, firii apontoɔ no ase, na ntɛm so, obiara kɔɔ ne kwan.

And all the guests of Adonijah got up in fear and went away, every man to his place.

50 Na Adoniya no ankasa suro Salomo, enti ɔdwane kɔɔ ntomadan kronkron no mu kɔsosɔɔ mmɛn a ɛsisi afɔrebukyia no so no mu.

And Adonijah himself was full of fear because of Solomon; and he got up and went to the altar, and put his hands on its horns.

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!”

And they gave Solomon word of it, saying, See, Adonijah goes in such fear of King Solomon, that he has put his hands on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon first give me his oath that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.

52 Salomo buaa sɛ, “Sɛ ɔbɛdi me nokorɛ deɛ a, wɔrenha no. Na sɛ wanyɛ saa deɛ a, wɔbɛkum no.”

And Solomon said, If he is seen to be a man of good faith, not a hair of him will be touched; but if any wrongdoing is seen in him, he is to be put to death.

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 sent, and they took him down from the altar. And he came and gave honour to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.