1 Samuel 24
1 Saulo ne Filistifoɔ no ko wieeɛ no, wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Dawid hyɛ En-Gedi ɛserɛ so hɔ.”
And it came to pass when Saul returned from pursuing after the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, David [is] in the wilderness of Engaddi.
2 Ɛno enti, Saulo yii mmarima mpensa firii Israel mmaa nyinaa, de wɔn kɔɔeɛ sɛ wɔrekɔhwehwɛ Dawid ne ne mmarima wɔ beaeɛ bi a ɛbɛn Wiram Mmirekyie Abotan no.
And he took with him three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of Saddaeem.
3 Ɔbɛduruu nnwammuo bi ho a ɛhɔ ara nso na ɔbodan bi wɔ no, Saulo wuraa mu sɛ, ɔrekɔgye nʼahome. Na Dawid ne ne mmarima no wɔ saa ɔbodan no mu akyirikyiri.
And he came to the flocks of sheep that were by the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make preparation, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part of the cave.
4 Mmarima no kaa sɛ, “Ɛnnɛ ne ɛda a Awurade kaa sɛ, ‘Mede wo ɔtamfoɔ bɛhyɛ wo nsa, na woayɛ no deɛ wopɛ biara’ no”. Na Dawid weawea kɔɔ Saulo ho, kɔtwaa nʼatadeɛ ano.
And the men of David said to him, Behold, this [is] the day of which the Lord spoke to thee, that he would deliver thine enemy into thy hands; and thou shalt do to him as [it is] good in thy sight. So David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's garment secretly.
5 Na Dawid adwenem antene no sɛ watwa Saulo atadeɛ ano.
And it came to pass after this that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment.
6 Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no sɛ, “Awurade nim sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ meyɛ saa. Ɛyɛ musuo sɛ obi mɛtene me nsa wɔ obi a Awurade asra no ngo so; ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade ankasa na wapa no.”
And David said to his men, The Lord forbid it me, that I should do this ting to my lord the anointed of the Lord, to lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.
7 Ɔnam saa nsɛm yi so kaa ne mmarima no anim, na wamma ho kwan amma wɔankɔ Saulo so. Na Saulo firii ɔbodan no mu kɔɔ ne kwan no.
So David persuaded his men by [his] words, and did not suffer them to arise and slay Saul: and Saul arose and went his way.
8 Dawid pue baeɛ, teateaam dii nʼakyi sɛ, “Me wura ɔhene!” Saulo twaa nʼani no, Dawid bɔɔ ne mu ase.
And David rose up [and went] after him out of the cave: and David cried after Saul, saying, [My] lord, [O] king! and Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance to him.
9 Afei, ɔteaam, bisaa Saulo sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wotie nkurɔfoɔ ano sɛ merepɛ wo aha wo?
And David said to Saul, Why dost thou hearken to the words of the people, saying, Behold, David seeks thy life?
10 Ɛnnɛ dua yi, wʼankasa wʼani tua sɛ ɛnyɛ nokorɛ. Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade de wo hyɛɛ me nsa wɔ ɔbodan no mu, na me mmarima no bi ka kyerɛɛ me sɛ, menkum wo, nanso mankum wo. Na mekaa sɛ, ‘Merenyɛ no bɔne biara da, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔyɛ obi a Awurade asra no.’
Behold, thine eyes have seen this day how that the Lord has delivered thee this day into my hands in the cave; and I would not slay thee, but spared thee, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.
11 Mʼagya, hwɛ adeɛ a mekura yi. Ɛyɛ wʼatadeɛ sin bi. Metwaeɛ, nanso mankum wo. Yei da no adi pefee sɛ merenha wo, na menyɛɛ wo bɔne biara nso, na mmom, wo na woataataa me so repɛ me akum me.
And behold, the skirt of thy mantle [is] in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not slay thee: know then and see to-day, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou layest snares for my soul to take it.
12 Awurade na ɔbɛhwɛ me ne wo ntam asɛm. Ebia, deɛ woayɛ enti, Awurade bɛtwe wʼaso wɔ deɛ wopɛ sɛ woyɛ me no ho, na me deɛ, merenha wo da.
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord requite thee on thyself: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 Ɛbɛ no se, ‘Abɔnefoɔ mu na bɔne firi ba.’ Enti, gye di sɛ, merenha wo.
As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14 “Hwan na Israelhene repɛ no akye no yi? Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔsɛe ne berɛ taataa obi a ne ho nni mfasoɔ sɛ ɔkraman funu anaa edwie?
And now after whom dost thou come forth, O king of Israel? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea?
15 Ma Awurade mmu atɛn nkyerɛ yɛn mu deɛ ɔdi bem, na ɔntwe ɛfɔdifoɔ no aso. Ɔno ne me kamafoɔ, na ɔbɛgye me afiri wo tumi ase.”
The Lord be judge and umpire between me and thee, the Lord look upon and judge my cause, and rescue me out of thy hand.
16 Saulo buaa sɛ, “Me babarima Dawid, wo na worekasa yi?” Na ɔhyɛɛ aseɛ suiɛ.
And it came to pass when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 Ɔtoaa so sɛ, “Wotene sene me. Wode papa atua me bɔne so ka, nanso me deɛ mayɛ wo bɔne.
And Saul said to David, Thou [art] more righteous that I, for thou hast recompensed me good, but I have recompensed thee evil.
18 Ampa ara woayɛ me papa a ɛboro so, ɛfiri sɛ Awurade de me hyɛɛ wo nsa a, anka wobɛtumi akum me nanso woanku me.
And thou hast told me to-day what good thou hast done me, how the Lord shut me up into thy hands to-day, and thou didst not slay me.
19 Sɛ obi nsa ka ne ɔtamfoɔ a, ɔgyaa no ma no kɔ kwa? Awurade nhyira wo wɔ ɛkwan a wode me afa so ɛnnɛ yi ho.
And if any one should find his enemy in distress, and should send him forth in a good way, then the Lord will reward him good, as thou has done this day.
20 Afei mahunu sɛ, deɛ ɛbɛyɛ biara, wɔbɛsi wo ɔhene, na Israel ahemman no bɛdi yie wɔ wo pɛn so.
And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21 Afei, suae Awurade din mu kyerɛ me sɛ, sɛ wobɛdi adeɛ a, worentwa mʼasefoɔ anaa worempepa me din mfiri mʼagya fie.”
Now then swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, that thou wilt not blot out my name from the house of my father.
22 Enti, Dawid suae kyerɛɛ Saulo. Na Saulo sane kɔɔ efie, na Dawid ne ne mmarima kɔɔ wɔn banbɔeɛ mu.
So David swore to Saul: and Saul departed to his place, and David and his men went up to the strong-hold of Messera.
