1 Samuel 24
1 Saulo ne Filistifoɔ no ko wieeɛ no, wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Dawid hyɛ En-Gedi ɛserɛ so hɔ.”
It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."
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 on 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.
He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts 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.
The men of David said to him, "Look, the day of which YHWH said to you, 'Look, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose, and cut off an edge of Saul's robe secretly.
5 Na Dawid adwenem antene no sɛ watwa Saulo atadeɛ ano.
It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe.
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.”
He said to his men, "YHWH forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, YHWH's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is YHWH's anointed."
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 with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul got up, and went down the road.
8 Dawid pue baeɛ, teateaam dii nʼakyi sɛ, “Me wura ɔhene!” Saulo twaa nʼani no, Dawid bɔɔ ne mu ase.
Afterward David also got up and left the cave, and called out after Saul, saying, "My lord the king." When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.
9 Afei, ɔteaam, bisaa Saulo sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wotie nkurɔfoɔ ano sɛ merepɛ wo aha wo?
David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Look, David seeks your harm?'
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.’
Look, this day your eyes have seen how that YHWH had delivered you today into my hand in the cave, but I refused to kill you, and my eye spared you; and I said, 'I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is YHWH'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.
Now look, the skirt of your robe in my hand. When I cut off the skirt, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life 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.
May YHWH judge between me and you, and may YHWH avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
13 Ɛbɛ no se, ‘Abɔnefoɔ mu na bɔne firi ba.’ Enti, gye di sɛ, merenha wo.
As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on 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?
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, or one 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.”
May YHWH therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he 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.
It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" 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.
He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
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 declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that YHWH had delivered me up into your hand and you did not kill 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.
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may YHWH reward you good for that which you have done this day.
20 Afei mahunu sɛ, deɛ ɛbɛyɛ biara, wɔbɛsi wo ɔhene, na Israel ahemman no bɛdi yie wɔ wo pɛn so.
Now, look, I know 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 to me by YHWH, that you will not cut off my descendants 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.
David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
