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 was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
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.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
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 sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides 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 unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it shall seem good unto you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privately.
5 Na Dawid adwenem antene no sɛ watwa Saulo atadeɛ ano.
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart stroke him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
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 he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing 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 stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 Dawid pue baeɛ, teateaam dii nʼakyi sɛ, “Me wura ɔhene!” Saulo twaa nʼani no, Dawid bɔɔ ne mu ase.
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9 Afei, ɔteaam, bisaa Saulo sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wotie nkurɔfoɔ ano sɛ merepɛ wo aha wo?
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hear you men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
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, this day your eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered you to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you: but mine eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth mine 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.
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt 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 you, and the LORD avenge me of you: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
13 Ɛbɛ no se, ‘Abɔnefoɔ mu na bɔne firi ba.’ Enti, gye di sɛ, merenha wo.
As says the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
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?
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, 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 therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
16 Saulo buaa sɛ, “Me babarima Dawid, wo na worekasa yi?” Na ɔhyɛɛ aseɛ suiɛ.
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my 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 he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you 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 you have showed this day how that you have dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into your hand, you killed me not.
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.
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward you good for that you have done unto me 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 well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Afei, suae Awurade din mu kyerɛ me sɛ, sɛ wobɛdi adeɛ a, worentwa mʼasefoɔ anaa worempepa me din mfiri mʼagya fie.”
Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22 Enti, Dawid suae kyerɛɛ Saulo. Na Saulo sane kɔɔ efie, na Dawid ne ne mmarima kɔɔ wɔn banbɔeɛ mu.
And David swore unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men got them up unto the hold.
