2 Samuel 1
1 Saulo owuo akyi no, Dawid sane firii nkonim a ɔdii Amalekfoɔ so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnanu.
After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days.
2 Ne nnansa so no, ɔbarima bi firi Saulo sraban mu a watete ne ntadeɛ mu, atu mfuturo agu ne tiri mu, de rekyerɛ sɛ ɔretwa adwo baeɛ. Ɔduruu Dawid nkyɛn no, ɔdanee ne ho hwee fam anidie mu.
Then on the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he approached David, he bowed before him, and fell to the ground in respect.
3 Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛhe na wofiri?” Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Madwane afiri Israel sraban mu.”
“Where have you come from?” David asked him. “I got away from the Israelite camp,” he replied.
4 Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn? Ɔko no kɔsii sɛn?” Ɔkaa sɛ, “Mmarima no dwane firii akono. Bebree totɔeɛ. Na Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan nso atotɔ.”
“Tell me what happened,” David asked. “The army ran away from the battle,” the man replied. “Many of them died, and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.”
5 Enti, Dawid bisaa aberanteɛ a ɔbɛbɔɔ no saa amaneɛ no sɛ, “Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wohunuu sɛ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan awuwu?”
“How do you know Saul and Jonathan died?” David asked the man giving the report.
6 Aberanteɛ no buaa sɛ, “Mekɔfirii Gilboa bepɔ so, na mekɔtoo sɛ Saulo sina ne pea so a atamfoɔ no nteaseɛnam ne nʼapɔnkɔsotefoɔ abɛn no ara.
“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” he replied. “I saw Saul, leaning on his spear, with the enemy chariots and the charioteers advancing on him.
7 Ɔdanee ne ho a ɔhunuu me no, ɔteaam frɛɛ me sɛ memmra. Mebisaa no sɛ, ‘Menyɛ ɛdeɛn?’
He turned around and saw me. He called out and I replied, ‘I'm here to help!’
8 “Ɔbisaa me sɛ, ‘Wone hwan?’ “Mebuaa no sɛ, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’
He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I'm an Amalekite.’
9 “Na ɔsrɛɛ me sɛ, ‘Bɛgyina me so na kum me, na me ho yera me yie, na mepɛ sɛ mewu.’
Then he told me, ‘Please come over here and kill me! I'm in terrible agony but life is still hanging on.’
10 “Enti, megyinaa ne so kumm no, ɛfiri sɛ, na menim sɛ tebea a ɔwɔ mu no, ɔrennya nkwa. Na metuu nʼahenkyɛ a ɛhyɛ no no ne nʼabasa so kapo no sɛ mede rebrɛ wo, me wura.”
So I went over him and killed him, because I knew that wounded as he was he couldn't last long. I took the crown from his head and his bracelet from his arm, and I've brought them here to you, my lord.”
11 Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhoɔ sunsuanee wɔn ntadeɛ mu.
David grabbed hold of his clothes and ripped them, as did his men.
12 Wɔtwaa ho agyaadwoɔ, suiɛ, bua daa da mu no nyinaa wɔ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan wuo ne Awurade akodɔm ne Israelman sɛ wɔn mu pii wuwuu saa da no.
They mourned and cried and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord, the Israelites, that had been killed by the sword.
13 Na Dawid bisaa aberanteɛ a ɔbɛbɔɔ wɔn saa amaneɛ no sɛ, “Wofiri he?” Na ɔbuaa sɛ, “Meyɛ ɔhɔhoɔ Amalekni a mete mo asase so.”
David asked man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I'm the son of a foreigner,” he replied “I'm an Amalekite.”
14 Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Na wonsuro sɛ wobɛkum obi a Awurade asra no no?”
“Why weren't you worried about killing the Lord's anointed one?” David asked.
15 Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no mu baako sɛ, “Ku no!” Enti, ɔbarima no twee nʼakofena de wɔɔ Amalekni no, kumm no.
David called over one of his men and said, “Go ahead, kill him!” So the man cut the Amalekite down and killed him.
16 Na Dawid kaa sɛ, “Wʼano ayi mmusuo ama wo ama woawu, ɛfiri sɛ, wo ara na wokaa sɛ woakum obi a Awurade asra no no.”
David had told the Amalekite, “Your death is your own fault because you testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord's anointed one.’”
17 Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.
Then David sang this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan.
18 Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔnkyerɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nyinaa to. Wɔtoo no edin sɛ agyan dwom a wɔatwerɛ wɔ Yasar Nwoma mu.
He ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. It is called “the Bow” and is recorded in the Book of the Just:
19 “Wʼanimuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛ, Ao Israel, awu da mmepɔ so! Akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ!
“Israel, the glorious one lies dead on your mountains. How the mighty have fallen!
20 “Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat, na Filistifoɔ abɔ ose! Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔntene so, na abosonsomfoɔ ansere ahosɛpɛ mu.
Don't announce it in the town of Gath, don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, so that the Philistine women won't rejoice, so that the heathen women won't celebrate.
21 “Ao Gilboa mmepɔ, mma bosuo anaa osuo ntɔ ngu wo so, anaa wo nsianeɛ so. Ɛfiri sɛ, ɛhɔ na wɔguu ɔkofoɔ kɛseɛ no akokyɛm ho fi; wɔremfa ngo nsra Saulo akokyɛm ho bio.
Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you! May you have no fields that produce offerings of grain. For it was there that the shield of the mighty was defiled; Saul's shield, no longer cared for with olive oil.
22 “Saulo ne Yonatan kunkumm wɔn atamfoɔ ahoɔdenfoɔ! Wɔamfiri akono amma no nsapan.
Jonathan with his bow did not retreat from attacking the enemy; Saul with his sword did not return empty-handed from shedding blood.
23 Ɔdɔ ne ahoɔfɛ bɛn na na Saulo ne Yonatan nni, wɔn mu antete da, nkwa ne owuo mu. Na wɔn ho yɛ hare kyɛn akɔdeɛ; na wɔn ho yɛ den kyɛn agyata.
During their lives, Saul and Jonathan were much loved and very pleasant, and death did not divide them. They were faster than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 “Ao, Israel mmaa, monsu Saulo, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔfiraa mo ntoma pa, hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agudeɛ.
Women of Israel, mourn for Saul, who gave you fine scarlet clothes decorated with gold ornaments.
25 “Akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ akono. Yonatan awu da mmepɔ no so.
How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on your mountains.
26 Hwɛ sɛdeɛ mesu woɔ, me nua Yonatan; Ao, hwɛ ɔdɔ a mede dɔɔ woɔ! Na wo dɔ a wode dɔɔ me no mu dɔ; emu dɔ sene mmaa dɔ!
I weep so much for you, my brother Jonathan! You were so very dear to me! Your love for me was so wonderful, greater than the love women have!
27 “Hwɛ sɛdeɛ akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ! Wɔayiyi wɔn akodeɛ afiri wɔn ho, na wɔawuwu deda hɔ.”
How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war are gone!”
