1 Samuel 11
1 Ɛbɛyɛ bosome akyi, Amonhene Nahas dii nʼakodɔm anim bɛtoaa Israel kuropɔn Yabes Gilead. Na Yabesman mma bisaa asomdwoeɛ. Wɔsrɛɛ sɛ, “Momma yɛne mo nyɛ apam, na yɛbɛyɛ mo asomfoɔ.”
And, about a month afterward, it happened that Nahash the Ammonite ascended and began to fight against Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Consider a pact with us, and we will serve you.”
2 Nahas kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, na adeɛ baako pɛ na ɛsɛ sɛ mopene so. Ɛne sɛ, mɛtu obiara ani nifa baako de agu Israel nyinaa anim ase.”
And Nahash the Ammonite responded to them, “With this will I strike a pact with you: if I may pluck out all your right eyes, and set you as a disgrace against all of Israel.”
3 Na Yabes mpanin no buaa sɛ, “Ma yɛn nnanson, na yɛmfa nsoma abɔfoɔ mfa Israel nyinaa, na sɛ yɛn abusuafoɔ amma ammɛgye yɛn deɛ a, yɛbɛpene wo nhyehyɛeɛ no so.”
And the elders of Jabesh said to him: “Grant to us seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel. And if there is no one who may defend us, we will go out to you.”
4 Abɔfoɔ no bɛduruu Gibea a ɛyɛ Saulo kurom, bɛkaa asɛm a ato wɔn no kyerɛɛ ɔmanfoɔ maa wɔn nyinaa suiɛ.
Therefore, the messengers arrived at Gibeah of Saul. And they spoke these words in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voice and wept.
5 Saa ɛberɛ no, na Saulo refuntum nʼafuo. Na ɔbaa efie no, ɔbisaa sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn asɛm na asie? Adɛn enti na nisuo abu obiara kɔn yi?” Enti, wɔbɔɔ asɛm a ɛfiri Yabes hɔ aba no ho amanneɛ.
And behold, Saul arrived, following oxen from the field. And he said, “What has happened to the people that they would weep?” And they explained to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
6 Onyankopɔn honhom bɛsii Saulo so dendeenden. Na ne bo fuu yie.
And the Spirit of the Lord rose up within Saul when he had heard these words, and his fury was enraged exceedingly.
7 Ɔfaa anantwie mmienu, twitwaa wɔn asinasini, na wɔmaa abɔfoɔ no soa kyinii Israel nyinaa, de saa nkratoɔ yi kaa ho sɛ, “Obiara a wanni Saulo ne Samuel akyi ankɔ ɔko no, saa ara na ne nantwie bɛyɛ!” Na Awurade maa nnipa no suroo Saulo abufuo no. Enti, wɔn nyinaa bɛboaa wɔn ho ano.
And taking both the oxen, he cut them into pieces, and he sent them into all the borders of Israel, by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever will not go out and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Therefore, the fear of the Lord entered into the people, and they went out like one man.
8 Ɛberɛ a Saulo boaa wɔn ano wɔ Besek a ɔkan wɔn no, na Israel mmarima dodoɔ yɛ ɔpehasa ne Yudafoɔ a wɔn dodoɔ yɛ ɔpeduasa.
And he took a census of them at Bezek. And there were three hundred thousand of the sons of Israel. And there were thirty thousand of the men of Judah.
9 Enti, Saulo somaa abɔfoɔ no ma wɔsane wɔn akyi kɔɔ Yabes Gilead kɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Ɔkyena awia prɛmtoberɛ mu, yɛbɛyi mo afiri mo ahokyere no mu.” Abɔfoɔ no duruu kuro no mu no, anigyeɛ bunkam faa hɔ.
And they said to the messengers who had arrived: “So shall you say to the men who are of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, when the sun will be hot, you shall have salvation.’” Therefore, the messengers went and announced it to the men of Jabesh, who became joyful.
10 Na Yabes mmarima ka kyerɛɛ wɔn atamfoɔ no sɛ, “Ɔkyena yɛbɛba mo so, na deɛ mopɛ no, monyɛ yɛn.”
And they said, “In the morning, we will go out to you. And you may do whatever you please with us.”
11 Nanso, ansa na adeɛ rebɛkye no, na Saulo aduru hɔ dada. Ɔkyekyɛɛ nʼakodɔm no mu akuo mmiɛnsa. Ɔto hyɛɛ Amonfoɔ no so mpofirim, kunkumm wɔn anɔpa mu no nyinaa. Wɔn akodɔm nkaeɛ no bɔ hwetee baabiara a obi mpo nhunu sɛ wɔn mu baanu bi gyina baabi.
And it happened that, when the next day had arrived, Saul arranged the people into three parts. And he entered into the middle of the camp at the early morning watch, and he struck down the Ammonites until the day grew hot. Then the remainder were dispersed, so much so that not even two of them were left together.
12 Afei, nnipa no teaam frɛɛ Samuel sɛ, “Nnipa a wɔka sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ Saulo di yɛn so ɔhene no wɔ he? Momfa wɔn mmra na yɛnkum wɔn.”
And the people said to Samuel: “Who is the one who said, ‘Should Saul reign over us?’ Present the men, and we will put them to death.”
13 Nanso, Saulo buaa sɛ, “Wɔrenkum obiara ɛnnɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade agye Israel ɛnnɛ.”
And Saul said: “No one shall be killed on this day. For today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”
14 Na Samuel ka kyerɛɛ nnipa no sɛ, “Mommra na yɛn nyinaa nkɔ Gilgal nkɔsi Saulo ahennie no so dua.”
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.”
15 Enti, wɔn nyinaa kɔɔ Gilgal, na wɔhyɛɛ Saulo sahenekyɛ wɔ Awurade anim. Na wɔbɔɔ asomdwoeɛ afɔdeɛ maa Awurade, na Saulo ne Israelfoɔ nyinaa ani gyeeɛ.
And all the people traveled to Gilgal. And there they made Saul king, in the sight of the Lord at Gilgal. And there they immolated victims of peace, before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly.
