1 Samuel 29

1 Filistifoɔ no boaboaa wɔn akodɔm nyinaa ano wɔ Afek, na Israelfoɔ nso kɔkyeree sraban wɔ asutire bi ho wɔ Yesreel.

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

2 Ɛberɛ a Filistifoɔ ntuanofoɔ de wɔn nsraadɔm akuakuo ɔha ɔha mu ne mpempem retu ɔsa no, na Dawid nso ne ne dɔm retu sa wɔ wɔn akyi a, Akis ka wɔn ho.

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

3 Filistifoɔ asahene no bisaa sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na Hebrifoɔ yi reyɛ wɔ ha?” Akis buaa sɛ, “Ɔyi ne Dawid, ɔbarima a ɔdwane firii Israelhene Saulo anim no. Waba me nkyɛn ha ne me abɛtena bɛboro afe nie. Na ɛfiri ɛberɛ a ɔgyaa Saulo hɔ bɛsi ɛnnɛ yi, menhunuu ne ho mfomsoɔ biara.”

Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

4 Na Filistifoɔ asahene no bo fuu no kaa sɛ, “Ma ɔbarima no nsane nkɔ, sɛdeɛ ɔbɛkɔ baabi a wode maa no no. Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔka yɛn ho kɔ ɔko no, ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ anhwɛ a, ɔbɛdane nʼani ako atia yɛn wɔ ɔko no mu. Ɛkwan foforɔ bi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛfa so ne ne wura Saulo aka abɔ mu a ɛsene sɛ ɔbɛko atia yɛn anaa?

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

5 Ɛnyɛ saa Dawid yi na wɔtoo dwom faa ne ho wɔ wɔn asa mu sɛ: “Saulo akum ne mpempem na Dawid deɛ, wakum ɔpedu ɔpedu no?”

Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

6 Na Akis frɛɛ Dawid ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade te ase yi, menhyiaa mmarima a wɔte sɛ mo, anka mepɛ sɛ mo ne yɛn kɔ ɔko, nanso Filistifoɔ sodifoɔ a aka no mpene so.

So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.

7 Enti, sane wʼakyi na kɔ no asomdwoeɛ mu. Ɛno enti, nyɛ biribiara a ɛbɛha Filistifoɔ no.”

Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

8 Dawid bisaa sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na mayɛ a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde me fa saa ɛkwan yi so? Adɛn enti na ɛnsɛ sɛ meko tia me wura ɔhene no atamfoɔ?”

“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9 Nanso, Akis gyinaa mu pintinn kaa sɛ, “Me nko ara me fa mu deɛ, woyɛ pɛpɛ te sɛ Onyankopɔn ɔbɔfoɔ. Nanso, asahene no suro sɛ wɔde wo bɛka wɔn ho wɔ ɔko mu.

Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’

10 Enti, sɔre anɔpahema, na wo ne wo mmarima no nkɔ ɛberɛ a animu retete no.”

Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.”

11 Na Dawid sane kɔɔ Filistifoɔ asase so, na Filistifoɔ akodɔm no nso kɔɔ Yesreel.

So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.