1 Samuel 20
1 Dawid dwane firii Naiot a ɛwɔ Rama kɔhunuu Yonatan. Ɔbisaa sɛ, “Bɔne bɛn na mayɛ? Bɔne bɛn na mayɛ wʼagya, a enti ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkum me yi?”
And David fled from Naioth, in Ramah, —and came in, and said before Jonathan—What have I done? What is my transgression, and what my sin, before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2 Yonatan teaam sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ nokorɛ. Menim yie sɛ ɔnnwenee biribi a ɛte saa ho, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔka ne nsɛm nyinaa kyerɛ me; mpo, ne nsɛm nketenkete nyinaa ɔma mʼaso te. Menim sɛ ɔrentumi mfa saa asɛm a ɛte sɛɛ nsie me da. Ɛnte saa ara da!”
And he said unto him—Far be it! thou shalt not die. Lo! my father doeth nothing, great or small, without unveiling mine ear, —wherefore, then, should my father hide from me, this thing? There is, nothing, in this.
3 Ɛhɔ ara, Dawid kaa ntam wɔ Yonatan anim sɛ, “Wʼagya nim yɛn ayɔnkofa yi mu pefee enti, waka wɔ ne tirim sɛ, ‘Merenka nkyerɛ Yonatan. Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ mede ɔhaw to no so?’ Nanso, meka wo ntam sɛ, mene owuo ntam kwan nware koraa! Mede Awurade ne wo ara wo ɔkra ka ntam!”
But David sware yet further, and said—Thy father, doth know, that I have found favour in thine eyes, therefore saith he, —Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he grieve; but, indeed, by the life of Yahweh, and by the life of thine own soul, surely there is but as it were a step betwixt me and death!
4 Na Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, “Kyerɛ me deɛ menyɛ!”
And Jonathan said unto David, —Whatsoever thy soul shall desire, I will do for thee.
5 Dawid buaa sɛ, “Ɔkyena yɛbɛdi Ɔbosome Foforɔ Afahyɛ. Ɛberɛ biara, sɛ dapɔnna no duru saa a, me ne wʼagya to nsa didi. Nanso, ɔkyena deɛ, mɛkora me ho wɔ wiram ara kɔsi ne nnansa so anwummerɛ.
And David said unto Jonathan—Lo! the new moon, is to-morrow, and, I, must not sit with the king, to eat, —let me go then, and hide myself in the field, until the evening.
6 Na sɛ wʼagya bisa sɛ mewɔ he a, ka kyerɛ no sɛ, ‘mesrɛɛ ɛkwan sɛ merekɔ me kurom Betlehem, na me ne me fiefoɔ akɔbɔ afirinhyia afɔdeɛ.’
If thy father, enquire, for me, then shalt thou say—David, did ask leave, of me, to run to Bethlehem, his own city, for, a yearly sacrifice, [is to be held] there for all the family.
7 Sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Ɛyɛ’ a, wobɛhunu sɛ biribiara da yie. Na sɛ nso ne bo fu, na ɔgye hwanyan a, wobɛhunu sɛ, ɔrehyehyɛ ho sɛ, ɔbɛkum me.
If, thus, he say—It is well, —thy servant shall have, peace, —but, if it, anger, him, know that harm hath been determined by him.
8 Ɛda saa adɔeɛ yi adi kyerɛ me, sɛ adamfo a maka ntam adi nse akyerɛ wo, ɛfiri sɛ, yɛn nyinaa wɔ apam wɔ Awurade anim. Na sɛ ɛnte saa, na mayɛ bɔne atia wʼagya a, wo ara kum me. Nanso, mesrɛ wo, nyi me mma.”
Thus shalt thou do a lovingkindness for thy servant, for, into a covenant of Yahweh, hast thou brought thy servant, with thee, —But, if there is in me transgression, put me to death, thyself, for, unto thy father, wherefore shouldst thou bring me in?
9 Yonatan teaam sɛ, “Ɛmpare me! Wo ara wonim sɛ, sɛ menim mʼagya nsusuiɛ no ho biribi a, anka maka akyerɛ wo dada.”
And Jonathan said—Far be it from thee! but, if I, get to know, that harm is determined by my father, to bring it upon thee, is not, that, the thing that I will tell thee?
10 Na Dawid bisaa Yonatan sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mahunu sɛ wʼagya bo afu anaasɛ ne bo mfuiɛ?”
Then said David unto Jonathan, Who shall tell me, —if thy father answer thee aught that is, harsh?
11 Yonatan buaa sɛ, “Bra na yɛnkɔ wiram hɔ.” Na wɔn nyinaa kɔɔ hɔ.
And Jonathan said unto David, Come! and let us go out into the field. And they two went out into the field.
12 Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, “Ɔkyena akyi sɛsɛɛ, mɛhyɛ bɔ wɔ Awurade Israel Onyankopɔn din mu sɛ me ne mʼagya bɛkasa, na mɛma woahunu deɛ ɔka fa wo ho. Sɛ ɔdi wo ho adanseɛ pa a, mɛma woate no ntɛm.
Then said Jonathan unto David—Witness [be] Yahweh God of Israel, that I will sound my father about this time to-morrow or the third day, and lo! if there he good towards David, will I not, then, send unto thee, and unveil thine ear?
13 Nanso sɛ mʼagya bo afu, na ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkum wo, na sɛ manka ankyerɛ wo ma wo annwane a Awurade nkum me. Awurade nka wo ho sɛdeɛ ɔkaa mʼagya ho no.
So, let Yahweh do unto Jonathan, and, so, let him add—when harm against thee seemeth good unto my father, then will I unveil thine ear, and let thee go, and thou shall depart in peace, —then Yahweh be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14 Na fa Awurade nokorɛ dɔ no bi dɔ me ɛberɛ a mete ase yi. Na sɛ mewu,
And, not only while I yet live, shalt thou deal with me in the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I die not:
15 na ɛba sɛ Awurade twa Dawid atamfoɔ nyinaa gu firi asase ani mpo a, nyi wʼadɔeɛ mfiri me fiefoɔ so da biara da.”
but thou shalt not cut off thy lovingkindness from my house, unto times age-abiding, —no! not when Yahweh hath cut off the enemies of David, every one from off the face of the ground.
16 Enti, Yonatan ne Dawid yɛɛ apam sɛ, “Awurade ntɔre Dawid atamfoɔ nyinaa ase.”
Thus Jonathan solemnised a covenant with the house of David [saying], —So let Yahweh require it, at the hand of the enemies of David.
17 Esiane ɔdɔ a Yonatan wɔ ma Dawid no enti, ɔmaa no tii ne ntam no mu bio, ɛfiri sɛ, na ɔdɔ no sɛdeɛ ɔdɔ ɔno ankasa ho.
And again Jonathan sware unto David, by his love to him, —for, as he loved his own soul, so loved he him.
18 Afei, Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, “Ɔkyena na ɛyɛ ɔbosome foforɔ afahyɛ no. Yɛrenhunu wo, ɛfiri sɛ, wʼakonnwa so bɛda hɔ.
Then said Jonathan unto him—To-morrow, is the new moon, and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty;
19 Ɔkyena akyi, ɛrekɔ anwummerɛ no, kɔ baabi a saa nsɛm yi refiti aseɛ no, wokɔsumaa wo ho no, na twɛn wɔ aboɔ esie no ho.
and, when thou hast tarried three days, thou shalt come down quickly and enter the place, where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the deed, and shall remain by the side of this mound.
20 Mɛto agyan mmiɛnsa afa ne nkyɛn, te sɛ deɛ mereto abɔ biribi no.
And, as for me—three arrows to the side, will I shoot, —as though I shot at a mark.
21 Afei, mɛsoma abarimaa bi aka sɛ, ‘Kɔ na kɔhwehwɛ bɛmma no.’ Sɛ meka kyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Hwɛ, bɛmma no wɔ fa ha; tase brɛ me a,’ bra, ɛfiri sɛ, mmerɛ dodoɔ ko a Awurade te ase yi, wo ho sɔnn; bɔne bi nni hɔ.
And lo! I will send the boy [saying], Go, find the arrow! If I, say, to the boy—Lo! the arrows, are on this side of thee—take them, then come, for there is peace for thee, and no cause [for fear], by the life of Yahweh.
22 Na sɛ meka kyerɛ abarimaa no sɛ, ‘Hwɛ, bɛmma no wɔ wʼanim’ a, ɛnneɛ, na ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade na ɔse kɔ.
But, if, thus, I say to the youth, Lo! the arrows are beyond thee, depart, for Yahweh hath sent thee away.
23 Na Awurade mmoa yɛn na yɛnni ɛbɔ a yɛahyehyɛ yɛn ho yɛn ho no so, ɛfiri sɛ ɔno ne yɛn danseni.”
But, as touching the matter whereof we spake—I and thou, lo! Yahweh, be betwixt me and thee, unto times age-abiding.
24 Na Dawid kɔtɛɛ wiram, na ɛberɛ a ɔbosome foforɔ afahyɛ no duruiɛ no, ɔhene no tenaa ase sɛ ɔrebɛdidi.
So David hid himself in the field—and, when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat, food,
25 Ɔtenaa nʼatenaeɛ a ɛbɛn ɔfasuo ho a ɛne Yonatan di nhwɛanim, na Abner tena dii Saulo so, nanso Dawid atenaeɛ hɔ deɛ, ɛdaa hɔ bio.
yea the king sat down on his seat, as at other times, by the seat against the wall, and, when Jonathan arose, Abner seated himself by the side of Saul, —but David’s place was empty.
26 Na ɛda no, Saulo anka asɛm biara. Na ɔdwenee sɛ, “Gyama asɛm bi ato Dawid a ɛmma ne ho nte mma saa afahyɛ no ase. Ɛno enti na ɔnni ha ɛnnɛ no.”
Saul, however, spake nothing that day, —for he said to himself—It is, an accident, he is, not clean, because he hath not been cleansed.
27 Na adeɛ kyeeɛ a Dawid afa hɔ ada mpan bio no, Saulo bisaa ne ba Yonatan sɛ, “Adɛn enti na Yisai babarima no amma adidie nnora ne ɛnnɛ?”
And it came to pass, on the morrow, the second of the month, that David’s place was empty, —and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore hath not the son of Jesse come in, either yesterday or to-day, to meat?
28 Yonatan buaa sɛ, “Nokorɛm, Dawid srɛɛ me ɛkwan sɛ ɔrekɔ Betlehem.
And Jonathan answered Saul, —David, asked leave, of me, [to go] as far as Bethlehem;
29 Ɔkaa sɛ, ‘Ma menkɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, me fiefoɔ rebɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ kuro no mu enti, me nuabarima ahyɛ me sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ mewɔ hɔ bi. Sɛ afei, manya wʼanim animuonyam a, ma me kwan na menkɔhwɛ me nuanom mmarima.’ Ɛno enti na wamma ɔhene didipono ho no.”
and said—Let me go, I pray thee, for, a family sacrifice, have we in the city, and my brethren have commanded me, now, therefore, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me slip away, I pray thee, that I may see my brethren. For this cause, hath he not come in unto the table of the king.
30 Saulo bo fuu Yonatan, ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wo ɔba kwasea, ɔbaa brakyewni tuateni ba! Wosusu sɛ mennim sɛ wopɛ sɛ Dawid di ɔhene si wo anan mu de hyɛ wo ne wo maame aniwuo?
Then was Saul’s anger kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of rebellious perversity! do I not know that thou art, confederate, with the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and to the confusion of the shame of thy mother?
31 Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Yisai babarima no te ase wɔ asase yi so no, worennya ɔhene nni da. Soma seesei ara na wɔnkɔfa no mmrɛ me, na menkum no!”
For, as long as, the son of Jesse, liveth on the ground, thou wilt not be established, thou nor thy kingdom, Now, therefore, send and fetch him unto me, for, doomed to death, is he!
32 Yonatan bisaa nʼagya sɛ, “Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkum no? Ɛdeɛbɛn na wayɛ?”
And Jonathan responded to Saul his father, —and said unto him—Wherefore must he be put to death, What hath he done?
33 Ɛhɔ ara, Saulo too pea sɛ ɔde rewɔ no, akum no. Afei Yonatan hunuu sɛ nʼagya asi nʼadwene pi sɛ ɔbɛkum Dawid.
And Saul hurled his spear at him, to smite him. So Jonathan knew that it was, determined, of his father, to put David to death.
34 Yonatan de abufuden sɔre firii didipono no ho. Na ɛda a ɛtɔ so mmienu wɔ bosome no mu no, wannidi, ɛfiri sɛ, ne werɛ hoo wɔ nʼagya animguasedeɛ a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔyɛ Dawid no ho.
Jonathan therefore rose up from the table, in a glow of anger, —and did eat no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had reviled him.
35 Ade kyeeɛ no, Yonatan kɔɔ wiram. Sɛdeɛ wɔahyehyɛ ho no. Ɔfaa abarimaa ketewa bi kaa ne ho a ɔbɛboaboa ne bɛmma ano.
And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went forth into the field, to the place appointed with David, —a little lad, being with him.
36 Ɔka kyerɛɛ abarimaa no sɛ, “Hyɛ aseɛ tu mmirika kɔhwehwɛ bɛmma a metoto no.” Na abarimaa no retu mmirika akɔ no, Yonatan too bɛmma no baako traa no.
And he said to his lad—Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am about to shoot. The boy, ran, but, he, shot the arrow beyond him.
37 Na ɛberɛ a abarimaa no duruu baabi a Yonatan bɛmma no akɔtɔ no, Yonatan frɛɛ no sɛ, “bɛmma no ntraa wo anaa?”
And, when the lad came as far as the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow, beyond, thee?
38 Enti, Yonatan teaam sɛ, “Ka wo ho! Kɔ ntɛm! Nnyina.” Abarimaa no faa bɛmma no sane baa ne wura nkyɛn.
And Jonathan cried after the lad, Haste thee—be quick, do not stay! so Jonathan’s lad picked up the arrows and brought [them] unto his master.
39 Na abarimaa no nnim yei ho hwee; Yonatan ne Dawid nko ara na na wɔnim.
But, the lad, knew, nothing, only Jonathan and David, knew the matter.
40 Na Yonatan de nʼakodeɛ maa abarimaa no kaa sɛ, “Kɔ, soa sane fa kɔ kurom.”
So Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said to him, Go carry them into the city.
41 Ɛberɛ a abarimaa no kɔeɛ ara pɛ, Dawid pue firii baabi a ɔkɔhintaeɛ hɔ a ɛbɛn aboɔ sie no baeɛ. Na Dawid bɔɔ ne mu ase wɔ Yonatan anim, de nʼanim butuu fam. Na wɔfefee wɔn ho ano, na wɔmaa wɔn ho wɔn ho nante yie, na wɔsuiɛ, ne titire no, Dawid.
As soon as, the lad, was gone, David, arose from beside the South, and fell on his face to the earth, and bowed himself down three times, —and they kissed each other, and wept over each other, until, David, exceeded.
42 Akyire no, Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, “Kɔ asomdwoeɛ mu, ɛfiri sɛ, yɛayɛ apam wɔ Awurade din mu. Yɛde yɛn mu biara ne yɛn mu biara mma ahyɛ Awurade nsa afebɔɔ.” Na Dawid kɔeɛ, ɛnna Yonatan nso sane kɔɔ kuro no mu.
Then said Jonathan unto David—Go in peace, —[remembering] that, we, have both sworn in the name of Yahweh, saying, Yahweh shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, unto times age-abiding. And he arose, and departed, —and, Jonathan, entered the city.
