2 Berɛsosɛm 20
1 Yei akyi no, Moabfoɔ, Amonfoɔ ne Maonfoɔ asraafoɔ bi tuu Yehosafat so sa.
Later [armies from] Moab and Ammon and some soldiers from [the] Meun [area in Edom] came [to fight] against Jehoshaphat’s [army].
2 Abɔfoɔ bɛka kyerɛɛ Yehosafat sɛ, “Akodɔm bebree firi Nkyene Po no akyi wɔ Edom rebɛko atia wo. Wɔaduru Hasason-Tamar” (En-Gedi din baako ne no).
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is coming to attack your army. They are coming from [the] Edom [region], from the eastern side of the [Dead] Sea. They have already come to Hazazon-Tamar!” Another name for that place is En-Gedi.
3 Yehosafat tee saa asɛm yi, ne ho yeraa no enti, ɔbisaa Awurade akwankyerɛ. Ɔhyɛɛ sɛ obiara a ɔwɔ Yuda no nni abuada.
Jehoshaphat became very afraid, so he decided to ask Yahweh [what he should do]. He also proclaimed that all [the people of] Judah should fast.
4 Na nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nkuro nyinaa so baa Yerusalem, bɛhwehwɛɛ Awurade.
The people of Judah gathered together to request Yahweh to help them. They came [to Jerusalem] from every town in Judah to seek help from Yahweh.
5 Na Yehosafat sɔre gyinaa Yudafoɔ ne Yerusalemfoɔ anim wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no adihɔ foforɔ hɔ.
Then Jehoshaphat stood up in front of the people of Judah in front of the new courtyard of the temple,
6 Ɔbɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao Awurade, yɛn agyanom Onyankopɔn, wo nko ne Onyankopɔn a wote soro. Wo na wodi ahennie a ɛwɔ asase nyinaa so. Woyɛ otumfoɔ ne ɔkɛseɛ a obiara ntumi ne wo nni asie.
and he prayed this: “Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors belonged to, you are surely the God who [rules from] heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. You have great power, and no one can successfully oppose you.
7 Ao yɛn Onyankopɔn, ɛberɛ a wo nkurɔfoɔ bɛduruiɛ no, woampam wɔn a na wɔte asase yi so no anaa? Na woamfa saa asase yi amma wʼadamfo Abraham asefoɔ afebɔɔ anaa?
Our God, you expelled the people who lived in this land while your Israeli people advanced, and you certainly gave it to us who are descendants of your friend Abraham, to belong to us forever.
8 Wo nkurɔfoɔ tenaa ha sii saa Asɔredan yi maa wo.
We have lived here and have built a temple where we, your people, worship you. We said,
9 Wɔkaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ ɔhaw bi te sɛ ɔko, yadeɛ anaa ɛkɔm bi to yɛn a, yɛbɛtumi aba wʼanim wɔ saa Asɔredan yi mu, baabi a wɔahyɛ wo din animuonyam no. Yɛbɛtumi asu afrɛ wo sɛ, gye yɛn nkwa, na wobɛtie yɛn, agye yɛn.’
'If we experience disasters, either from our enemies attacking us or from you punishing us, or if we experience a plague or a famine, we will stand in your presence in front of this temple that is built to honor you, and we will cry out to you when we are distressed/suffering, and you will hear us and will rescue us.'
10 “Na afei, hwɛ deɛ Amonfoɔ, Moabfoɔ ne Seir akodɔm reyɛ. Woamma yɛn agyanom anni saa aman no so nkonim wɔ ɛberɛ a Israel firii Misraim no, na mmom, wɔfaa wɔn ho a wɔansɛe wɔn.
You would not allow our Israeli ancestors to enter the countries of Ammon and Moab and Edom when they were traveling from Egypt [to Canaan]. So our ancestors turned away from those areas and did not attack the people there and did not destroy them. But now they are coming here [to attack us].
11 Afei, hwɛ sɛdeɛ wɔretua yɛn so ka. Wɔaba sɛ, wɔrebɛtu yɛn afiri wʼasase a wode maa yɛn sɛ agyapadeɛ no so.
[We did not destroy them. But now] look at how they are repaying us by trying to expel us from the land that you gave to our ancestors to belong to them [and their descendants forever]
12 Ao yɛn Onyankopɔn, worensi wɔn ano? Yɛnni ahoɔden sɛ akodɔm kɛseɛ yi a wɔpɛ sɛ wɔbɛto hyɛ yɛn so yi. Yɛnhunu deɛ yɛnyɛ, na yɛhwɛ ɛkwan sɛ wobɛboa yɛn.”
So, our God, please punish them, because we do not have enough power to resist/defeat this huge army that is coming to attack us. We do not know what to do. But we are pleading for you to help us.”
13 Ɛberɛ a Yuda mmarima nyinaa ne wɔn nkɔkoaa, wɔn yerenom ne wɔn mma gyina Awurade anim no,
All the men of Judah and their wives and children and babies were standing there in the presence of Yahweh [while Jehoshaphat prayed].
14 Awurade Honhom baa mmarima a wɔgyinagyina hɔ no mu baako so. Na ne din de Yahasiel a ɔyɛ Sakaria babarima a ɔno nso yɛ Benaia babarima, na ɔno nso yɛ Yeiel babarima, na ɔno nso yɛ Lewini Matania, a ɔyɛ Asaf aseni no babarima.
Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Benaiah, who was the son of Jeiel, who was the son of Mattaniah. He was a descendant of Levi and a descendant of Asaph. He stood up in front of the whole group that was gathered there,
15 Ɔkaa sɛ, “Ɔhene Yehosafat, tie! Mo Yudafoɔ ne Yerusalemfoɔ nyinaa, montie! Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Monnsuro. Mommma akodɔm kɛseɛ nntu mo akoma, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔko no nnyɛ mo dea, na ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn dea.
and said, “King Jehoshaphat and all you who live in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah, listen! This is what Yahweh says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this huge army [that is coming to attack you], because it is not you who [will win] this battle. It is God [who will win it].
16 Ɔkyena, montu ntene nkɔ wɔn so. Mobɛhunu sɛ wɔfiri Sis aforoeɛ a ɛwɔ bɔnhwa no fa a ɛpue Yeruel ɛserɛ no so hɔ reba.
Tomorrow march down toward them. They will be climbing up through Ziz Pass [north of En-Gedi]. You will meet them at the end of the gorge near the Jeruel Desert.
17 Na ɛho nhia mpo sɛ mobɛko. Monnyinagyina mo afa, monyɛ dinn na monhwɛ Awurade nkonimdie. Ɔka mo ho, Yuda ne Yerusalem manfoɔ. Monnsuro, na mommma mo akoma nntu. Ɔkyena, monkɔ hɔ, na Awurade ka mo ho.”
But you will not need to fight this battle. You soldiers from Jerusalem and other places in Judah, just take your positions, and then stand still and watch [what will happen]. You will see Yahweh rescue you. Do not be afraid or discouraged. March toward them tomorrow, and Yahweh will be with you.’”
18 Na ɔhene Yehosafat sii ne tiri ase, na Yuda ne Yerusalem manfoɔ no nyinaa nso yɛɛ saa, de somm Awurade.
Jehoshaphat prostrated himself with his face touching the ground, and all the people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah [who were there] knelt down to worship Yahweh.
19 Na Lewifoɔ a wɔfiri Kohat ne Kora mmusua mu sɔre gyinaeɛ teaam denden sɔree Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn.
Then some descendants of Levi who were descendants of both Kohath and Korah stood up and loudly praised Yahweh, the God whom the Israelis [belonged to].
20 Adeɛ kyee nʼanɔpahema no, Yuda akodɔm no kɔɔ Tekoa ɛserɛ so. Ɛberɛ a wɔrekɔ no, Yehosafat gyina kaa sɛ, “Montie me, mo Yudafoɔ ne Yerusalemfoɔ nyinaa. Monnye Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn, nni na mobɛtumi agyina pintinn. Monnye nʼadiyifoɔ no nni, na mobɛdi nkonim.”
Early the next morning the army left to go to the desert near Tekoa [town]. While they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said to the people, “You people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, listen to me! Trust in Yahweh our God; if you do that, you will be strong. Trust in [what] his prophets [have said]; if you do that, you will be successful.”
21 Ɔhene no ne nnipa no ntuanofoɔ dii nkutaho wieeɛ no, ɔyii nnwomtofoɔ bi sɛ wɔnni akodɔm no anim, nto dwom mma Awurade, nkamfo no wɔ nʼanimuonyam kronkron no enti. Ɛdwom no mu nsɛm nie: “Monna Awurade ase na nʼadɔeɛ wɔ hɔ daa!”
Then, after consulting with some of the people, he appointed some men to go in front of the army, singing to Yahweh and praising him because of his being holy and wonderful. They were singing, “Thank Yahweh, because he faithfully loves us forever.”
22 Ɛberɛ a wɔpagyaa ayɛyi dwom no, Awurade maa Amon, Moab ne bepɔ Seir asraafoɔ no twaa wɔn ho koeɛ.
When they began to sing and praise Yahweh, Yahweh caused the soldiers from Ammon and Moab and Edom who were invading Judah to panic, with the result that they were defeated.
23 Moab ne Amon asraafoɔ no danee wɔn ani kyerɛɛ wɔn adɔmfoɔ a wɔfiri bepɔ Seir so no, kunkumm wɔn nyinaa. Wɔwiee Seir asraafoɔ no, wɔtwaa wɔn ho koeɛ.
The soldiers from Ammon and Moab started to fight against the soldiers from Edom, and they completely annihilated the soldiers from Edom. After they finished slaughtering the men from Edom, they started to attack each other.
24 Na Yuda akodɔm no duruu baabi a wɔgyina a wɔhunu ɛserɛ no so no, wɔhunuu sɛ afunu gugu fam kɔ akyiri. Atamfoɔ no mu baako mpo antumi annwane.
When the soldiers from Judah came to the place where they could look down over the desert, they looked toward that huge army [of their enemies], and they saw only corpses lying on the ground. No one had survived.
25 Ɔhene Yehosafat ne nʼakodɔm kɔtasee asadeɛ. Wɔnyaa adwumayɛ nneɛma, ntadeɛ ne nneɛma a ɛsom bo a wɔntumi nsoa. Na asadeɛ no dɔɔso enti wɔde nnansa na ɛtasee ne nyinaa.
So Jehoshaphat and his soldiers went to take the possessions of their enemies, and they saw that there was a lot of equipment and clothing and other valuable things; there was more than they could carry away. There were very many things, with the result that it took three days for them to collect it all.
26 Nnanan so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Nhyira Bɔnhwa mu. Wɔtoo bɔnhwa no din saa da no, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛhɔ na nnipa no kamfoo Awurade, daa no ase. Wɔda so frɛ no Nhyira Bɔnhwa ɛnnɛ yi.
The following day they gathered in Beracah Valley and praised Yahweh there. That is why that valley is still called Beracah, [which means praise.]
27 Afei, Yehosafat dii wɔn anim ne wɔn sane kɔɔ Yerusalem anigyeɛ so sɛ, Awurade ama wɔadi wɔn atamfoɔ so nkonim.
Then while Jehoshaphat led them, all the soldiers who were from Jerusalem and other places in Judah returned to Jerusalem. They were happy because Yahweh had enabled them to defeat their enemies.
28 Wɔbɔɔ mmɛnta, asankuten ne ntotorobɛnto tuu nten kɔhyɛnee Yerusalem na wɔkɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu.
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they went to the temple, [playing] harps and lutes and trumpets.
29 Ɛberɛ a ahennie a atwa hɔ ahyia no tee sɛ Awurade no ankasa ako atia Israel atamfoɔ no, Awurade ho suro baa wɔn so.
People in the kingdoms of the nearby countries became very afraid when they heard how Yahweh had fought against the enemies of the Israelis.
30 Na ɛmaa asomdwoeɛ baa Yehosafat ahennie mu, ɛfiri sɛ, ne Onyankopɔn maa no ahomegyeɛ wɔ afanan nyinaa.
Then there was peace in the kingdom that was ruled by Jehoshaphat, because God had caused the surrounding nations not to attack it.
31 Na Yehosafat dii ɔhene wɔ Yuda asase so. Ɛberɛ a ɔdii ɔhene no, na wadi mfeɛ aduasa enum. Ɔtenaa Yerusalem dii ɔhene mfeɛ aduonu enum. Na ne maame din de Asuba a ɔyɛ Silhi babaa.
Jehoshaphat continued to rule Judah. He was 35 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.
32 Na Yehosafat yɛ ɔhene a ɔyɛ. Ɔyɛɛ deɛ nʼagya Asa yɛeɛ. Ɔyɛɛ deɛ ɛsɔ Awurade ani.
He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh, like his father Asa had done, and he did not stop doing those things.
33 Nanso, nʼahennie mu no, wammubu abosonsomfoɔ asɔreeɛ no, na ɔmanfoɔ no nso amfa wɔn akoma nyinaa amma wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn no.
But he did not get rid of the shrines on the hilltops, and many of the people still did not faithfully do what the God whom their ancestors belonged to wanted.
34 Yehosafat ahennie ho nsɛm nkaeɛ, firi ahyɛaseɛ kɔsi awieeɛ no, wɔatwerɛ agu Hanani babarima Yehu nwoma a wɔde aka Israel Ahemfo nwoma no ho.
A record of the other things that Jehoshaphat did while he ruled, from when he began to rule until he died, is in the scrolls written by [the prophet] Jehu, the son of Hanani. They are also in the scroll called ‘The History of the Kings of Israel.
35 Nanso, ɛrekɔ nʼasetena awieeɛ no, ɔhene Yehosafat ne Israelhene Ahasia a ne tirim yɛ den no kaa wɔn ho bɔɔ mu.
During his reign, Jehoshaphat made a treaty with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, who was a very wicked king.
36 Wɔyɛɛ ɛpo so adwadie ahyɛn bebree wɔ Esion-Geber hyɛngyinabea.
They agreed that their workers would build a fleet of ships to use to buy and sell [things with other countries]. After those ships were built at Ezion-Geber [on the Gulf of Aqaba],
37 Na Dodafahu babarima Elieser a ɔfiri Maresa hyɛɛ nkɔm, de tiaa Yehosafat. Ɔkaa sɛ, “Esiane sɛ wo ne ɔhene Ahasia ayɛ baako enti, Awurade bɛsɛe wʼadwuma.” Enti, ahyɛn no bobɔeɛ a wɔantumi amfa ankɔdi dwa.
Eliezer the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah [city] warned Jehoshaphat. He said, “You have made an alliance with Ahaziah, [who is a wicked king]. Therefore, Yahweh will destroy the ships that your workers have made.” And the ships were wrecked, and were not able to sail to other countries.
