2 Samuel 15

1 Yei akyi no, Absalom tɔɔ teaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ, na ɔbɔɔ mmarima aduonum paa sɛ wɔbɛdi nʼanim.

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 Adekyeɛ biara, ɔsɔre ntɛm na wakɔtena kuropɔn no ɛpono ano. Na sɛ nnipa bi de asɛm bɛto ɔhene no anim sɛ ɔmmu ho atɛn a, Absalom bɛbisa faako a wɔfirie, na wɔakyerɛ abusuakuo a wɔfiri mu.

And Absalom used to rise up early, and stand beside the way of the gate; and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said: 'Of what city art thou?' And he said: 'Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.'

3 Na Absalom bɛka sɛ, “Wʼasɛm yɛ dɛ deɛ, nanso ɔhene nni obiara a ɔbɛtie.

And Absalom said unto him: 'See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.'

4 Sɛ meyɛ ɔtemmufoɔ anka mepɛ. Anka nnipa de wɔn nsɛm bɛba mʼanim, na mabu wɔn atɛn.”

Absalom said moreover: 'Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!'

5 Sɛ nnipa pɛ sɛ wɔkoto no a, Absalom mma wɔn nyɛ saa na mmom ɔsɔ wɔn nsa, yɛ wɔn atuu.

And it was so, that when any man came nigh to prostrate himself before him, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

6 Absalom yɛɛ saa de nyaa Israelfoɔ no nyinaa wɔ nʼafa.

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Mfirinhyia ɛnan akyi, Absalom ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Ma menkɔ Hebron na menkɔbɔ afɔdeɛ mma Awurade sɛdeɛ mahyɛ no bɔ no.

And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king: 'I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

8 Ɛberɛ a na mewɔ Gesur no na mehyɛɛ saa bɔ no sɛ, ‘Sɛ Awurade de me sane ba Yerusalem a, mɛbɔ afɔdeɛ ama no wɔ Hebron.’”

For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Aram, saying: If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'

9 Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, kɔ na kɔdi wo bɔhyɛ so.” Enti, Absalom kɔɔ Hebron.

And the king said unto him: 'Go in peace.' So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 Ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ hɔ no, ɔfaa sum ase somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Israel afanan nyinaa kɔhwanyanee ɔmanfoɔ de tiaa ɔhene no. Ne nkra ne sɛ, “Sɛ mote totorobɛnto nne pɛ a, monka sɛ, ‘Absalom adi ɔhene wɔ Hebron.’”

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: 'As soon as ye hear the sound of the horn, then ye shall say: Absalom is king in Hebron.'

11 Absalom faa mmarima ahanu firii Yerusalem kaa ne ho a na wɔnnim Absalom nsusuiɛ yi ho hwee.

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not any thing.

12 Ɛberɛ a Absalom rebɔ afɔdeɛ no, ɔsoma ma wɔkɔfaa Giloni Ahitofel a na ɔyɛ Dawid fotufoɔ firi ne kurom Gilo baeɛ. Ankyɛre nnipa bebree no ara bɛkaa Absalom ho, na atirisopam no mu yɛɛ den.

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 Ankyɛre, ɔbɔfoɔ bi baa Yerusalem bɛka kyerɛɛ ɔhene Dawid sɛ, “Israel nyinaa atu di Absalom akyi sɛ wɔayɛ dɔm atia wo.”

And there came a messenger to David, saying: 'The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.'

14 Ɛhɔ ara, Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima sɛ, “Monyɛ no ntɛm na yɛnnwane mfiri ha, ansa na waduru ha, sɛdeɛ amanehunu bɛpare yɛn ne Yerusalem kuro mu no nyinaa.”

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem: 'Arise, and let us flee; or else none of us shall escape from Absalom; make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.'

15 Nʼafotufoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Yɛgyina wʼakyi. Biribiara a wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ no, yɛ.”

And the king's servants said unto the king: 'Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.'

16 Enti, ɔhene no ne ne fiefoɔ sii so kɔɔ prɛko pɛ a wannya biribiara wɔ akyire sɛ ne mpenafoɔ edu bi a wɔbɛhwɛ nʼahemfie no so.

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

17 Ɔhene no ne ne nkurɔfoɔ no faa fam, na wɔfaa kuropɔn no fa bi,

And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.

18 maa Dawid akodɔm no bɛtwaa wɔn ho dii wɔn anim. Nnipa a wɔkaa Dawid ho kɔeɛ no yɛ Gitifoɔ ahansia a wɔfiri Gat a ne banbɔfoɔ nso ka ho.

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Na ɔhene no bisaa Gatni Itai a ɔyɛ ɔsafohene no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na woka yɛn ho rekɔ? Sane kɔka wo nkurɔfoɔ ho, na monkɔ ɔhene Absalom nkyɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, woyɛ ɔhɔhoɔ wɔ Israel ne ɔmamfrani a wɔatwa wo asuo.

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite: 'Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king; for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile from thine own place.

20 Woduruu ha nnora nko ara. Na ɛsɛ sɛ mehyɛ wo na wo ne yɛn kyini anaa? Me mpo, mennim baabi a yɛbɛkorɔ. Sane wʼakyi na kɔfa wʼakodɔm ka wo ho, na Awurade nkyerɛ wo ne dɔ ne ne nokorɛ.”

Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren with thee in kindness and truth.'

21 Nanso, Itai ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Mede Awurade din ne wo ara wo nkwa ka ntam sɛ, baabiara a wobɛkɔ no, mɛkɔ bi a deɛ ɛbɛsi biara mfa me ho, sɛ ɛyɛ nkwa anaa owuo.”

And Ittai answered the king, and said: 'As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.'

22 Dawid buaa no sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, ka yɛn ho.” Ɛno enti, Itai ne ne mmarima ahansia ne wɔn fiefoɔ kaa wɔn ho kɔeɛ.

And David said to Ittai: 'Go and pass over.' And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23 Awerɛhoɔ kɛseɛ sii asase no so, ɛberɛ a ɔhene ne nʼakyidifoɔ resene korɔ no. Wɔtwaa Kidron bɔnhwa no de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ ɛserɛ so.

And all the country wept with a loud voice, as all the people passed over; and as the king passed over the brook Kidron, all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 Abiatar ne Sadok ne Lewifoɔ no faa Apam Adaka no, na wɔde sii kwankyɛn. Na wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ hɔ kɔsii sɛ obiara seneeɛ.

And, lo, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God — but Abiathar went up — until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Sadok sɛ, “Sane fa Onyankopɔn Adaka no kɔ kuropɔn no mu. Sɛ menya Awurade anim adom a, ɔbɛsane de me aba ama mahunu Adaka no ne ne ntomadan no bio.

And the king said unto Zadok: 'Carry back the ark of God into the city; if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back, and show me both it, and His habitation;

26 Nanso, sɛ ɔne me awie a, ma ɔnyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ ma no.”

but if He say thus: I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him.'

27 Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok sɛ, “Me nhyehyɛeɛ nie: Wo ne Abiatar nyɛ kodɛɛ nsane nkɔ kuropɔn no mu a wo babarima Ahimaas ne Yonatan a ɔyɛ Abiatar babarima ka ho.

The king said also unto Zadok the priest: 'Seest thou? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 Mɛtwɛn wɔ faako a wɔtwa Asubɔnten Yordan kɔ ɛserɛ no so hɔ kɔsi sɛ mɛte mo nkra. Momma mente asɛm a ɛbɛsi Yerusalem, ansa na makɔ ɛserɛ so.”

See, I will tarry in the plains of the wilderness, until there come word from you to announce unto me.'

29 Enti, Sadok ne Abiatar faa Onyankopɔn Adaka no de sane kɔɔ Yerusalem, na wɔtenaa hɔ.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and they abode there.

30 Dawid faa ɛkwan a ɛkɔ Ngo Bepɔ so no so a, ɔrekɔ no nyinaa, na ɔretwa adwo. Na wakata ne tiri so, ɛnna ne nan sisi fam saa ara a ɛkyerɛ awerɛhoɔdie. Na nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nso katakataa wɔn tiri so, twaa adwo ɛberɛ a wɔgu so reforo bepɔ no.

And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot; and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 Ɛberɛ a obi ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, afei deɛ ne ɔfotufoɔ Ahitofel taa Absalom akyi no, Dawid bɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao Awurade, ma Ahitofel ntu Absalom ɛfo bɔne!”

And one told David, saying: 'Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' And David said: 'O LORD, I pray Thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.'

32 Wɔduruu Ngo Bepɔ no atifi baabi a nnipa som Onyankopɔn no, Dawid hunuu Husai a ɔfiri Arki a ɔretwɛn no. Na Husai asunsuane nʼatadeɛ mu, de dɔteɛ afɔre ne tirim, de kyerɛ awerɛhoɔdie.

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the ascent, where God was wont to be worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

33 Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ wo ne me kɔ a, wobɛyɛ adesoa ama me.

And David said unto him: 'If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto Me;

34 Sane kɔ Yerusalem, na ka kyerɛ Absalom sɛ, ‘Afei, mɛyɛ wo fotufoɔ sɛdeɛ da bi hɔ no na meyɛ wʼagya fotufoɔ no.’ Ɛba saa a, wobɛtumi atia Ahitofel afotuo mu, asɛe no.

but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom: I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 Asɔfoɔ Sadok ne Abiatar wɔ hɔ. Ka adwene a wɔafa wɔ me ho, pɛ sɛ wɔkyere me no kyerɛ wɔn,

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 na wɔbɛsoma wɔn mmammarima Ahimaas ne Yonatan na wɔabɛhwehwɛ me, aka deɛ ɛrekɔ so akyerɛ me.”

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye shall hear.'

37 Enti, Dawid adamfo Husai sane kɔɔ Yerusalem, kɔduruu hɔ berɛ korɔ no a Absalom nso duruu hɔ no mu.

So Hushai David's friend came into the city; and Absalom was at the point of coming into Jerusalem.